10th Battalion patch. Image courtesy Australian War Memorial
10th Battalion – February 1918
FEBRUARY 1 – ALDERSHOT CAMP
Kit inspection by companies in morning and general cleaning up after tour of duty in the line.
2.
Commanding Officers inspection in morning and commencement of training.
3.
Church parade in morning – no parade in afternoon.
4.
Musketry party of 7 Officers and 153 O.R.s proceeded to area today – Major H.N. HENWOOD party.
5-23.
Training carried out daily from 0900 to 1200. Recreational training in afternoon.
[NOTE – according to “The Fighting 10th” by Cecil Lock, 1936, this period of time included frequent trips to the cinema, concerts and dinners for the men, along with boxing bouts and football matches. This month also saw the battalion celebrate a belated Christmas 1917, with prizes for best camp hut decoration and more football played in the afternoon.]
24.
Training carried out as per syllabus.
25-26.
Word received to “assemble” during evening. Everything ready to move in 20 minutes.
27.
Prepared for forward move.
28.
Battalion moved to TOURNAI camp.