Terrell, Frederick Leopold – November 1917
3 November
AM STILL AT school AND DOING FAIRLY WELL. did compass march and came correct.
4 November
A day of rest, something exceptional for active service. Went to church and DEPUTY BISHOP of KHARTUM presided. did sketching for rest of day.
8 November
Paid last night the amount of 5 Francs, am overdrawn to a great extent and was lucky to draw any money at all.11 November
We have had a very wet miserable week Last night it rained practically all night. We are all prepared for church, as we have church parade every sunday.
12 November
All day today there has been a terrible Bombardment going on The worst in the history of the war. It is a corner of hell We have had 7 men gassed in our staff; Bombadier Mason Henderson, Haydon Richards, Jones, Moylan Young 4 have gone to hospital 3 are at waggon lines
18 November
A wet miserable day went to church in morning. after church wrote letters to Mother and Clare went to bed at 8.30 PM
21 November
A wet day out on distant station work from 9 AM until 3 P.M. had lecture in afternoon from 3.15PM to 4.45 P.M. in evening did diagrams turned in at 8.15 PM
22 November
Dull day. mess orderly for day had revision lecture and fuller Phone lecture, dinner, then had full marching order parade at 3.PM. to be drafted into our units for dispatch tomorrow morning as school is breaking up. consequently no exam takes place for the course
23 November
Left 2nd Army school at 7.15 A.M. ARRIVED Cassel station where we entrained for Hazelbroucke arrived there at 9 AM did not get away from there until 3.30 PM arrived at Steenwerck at 5.20 PM and found our unit was not there had orders to stay the night at Rest camp and report to R.T.O At 7.30 AM in the morning.
24 November
Turned out at 6.45 AM got on the move again reported to R.T.O then took train back to Hazelbroucke arrived there at 8.45 AM reported to R.T.O and received orders to stand by as they did not know where our unit was Stayed night at rest camp had all my kit stolen and consequently had to sleep cold
25 November
Turned out at 7 AM reported to R.T.O at 9.30 AM. still he has no news of my unit. got fed up with hanging about. so ditermined to go Bailleul on chance arrived there at 5 PM. saw town major and was billeted for the night. received some rations from Aus. Comforts fund.
26 November
Turned out at 7 AM had breakfast which was a luxury after so many days on short rations, had bacon, bread and Jam and tea then went to advanced 1st Anzac Hq and made inquiries and found battery at 10.20 AM on Bailleul Armentiers Rd. on reporting here found I was a bombadier this day has also been a day of bad luck
27 November
Received letter from Clare dated 19/8/17 & 9/9/17 and received a stun Had a contract taking over stores of B.T.O found things in a bad state and much missing. nevertheless I have to make the best of it.
30 November
The end of another month and not far off the end of another year, I am afraid there will be no end to the war this year
Diary of Frederick Leopold Terrell
