Army Corps HQ. Bailleul 82 Sets 5h. 53m.] SEPTEMBER, 1915. [23RD, Full Moon 9 35 a.m. [Tsars Wilna?] Army geT clear away having escaped Hindenburgs Trap

THURSDAY 23 [266-99] Worked 12 hours Today puTTing Trenches on Map SheeTs Are working in The school-room - of L'Ecole a Dessin - in a sTone + brick building formerly "PensionnaT du Sr Pourrie PreTre 1786" General Staff in The Mairie - a composiTe bldg. built 1586, restored 1826 - The square clock Tower would appear To be older sTill Mme DeTmoTe-Ricour name of our landlady. WenT in Orders as a/SergT on H.Q. Staff

FRIDAY 24 [267-98] Autumn commences

8-12, 12 20-3, 6-11 working on Trench Maps -beginning to Tell on my eyes + head. Our immediate boss Sgt Trounce is quiTe a slave-driver but does not believe in working himself I sleep in The office over nighT on The sTone. flagging - One of us must always be here night + day 40% Increase in Income Tax 50% on Tea, Coffee + Tobacco - Expected To increase revenue from Tea [?] 4,500,000 Tobacco 5,100,000 + Coffee [?] 290,000

SATURDAY 25 [268-97] 39th Week

Working all day and parT of evening. MeeT Tpr. E. H. Burden 107103 "C" Squadron 2d C.MP 1st CMR. Bde. BriTish Front - Severe fighTing all yesTerday in La Bassee Region over ground capTured by us previous day. The enemy is making deTermined counTer-aTTacks East + N. of Loos. Loos sTill held by us. ToTal Prisoners Today 2600 + 9 field- guns

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BC Archives, MS-0392, Box 1, Volume 4, FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS, Diary and enclosures, 1915.