·        Dominion Day. Prepared list of sports but bathing made it impossible to hold them.
·         No parades all day.
·         A little rain.
·         Received parcel and letters.  Answered correspondence.
·         Saw about form for application for a commission.
Artillery very active on right during the night.

·        Church parade at 2PM.
·         Shells dropping around us but no casualties.
·         A very good sermon by Chaplin of 2^nd Pioneer Battalion.
·         Artillery going strong.
·         Standing too.
Received letters.

·        Good news of advance on right.
·         Italians good work. Russians good work, and French and British going strong.
·         Lads pleased.  All anxious to push forward.
Ten successful raids and a good air fight.  One of ours and three of theirs. Our plane got away.

·        Very warm.  Strenuous morning.  All kinds of drills.
·         No parade during the afternoon.
·         Moved to “B: Chipawa Camp at 8:30PM.
·         Good news of advances made by Allies.
Plenty of noise during the night.

·        Morning bright and artillery duel all day.
·         Good news of Allies advance.
·         Drill up till noon; rested all afternoon.
·         Attended lecture on bayonet fighting at Reninghelst.
·         Had sing song in hut.
Received letters.

·        Physical drill at 8AM. Coy Bayonet, Squad, and Batt. Drill up till noon.
·         Walked about and watched aeroplane fight.
·         Saw old Jack. He looks well.
·         Wrote home and to Canada.
Artillery going to on our right.

·        Artillery awful during the night.
·         Quiet during day.  Some fine advances made by British and French.
·         Russians still going strong.
·         Received letters from Canada and home.  Little time for writing.
Rain, heavy rain, during the night.

·        Day fine.  Horse show for the 4^th Brigade.  21^st Battalion did fine.
·         2 firsts, 1 second, and three thirds.
·         Some real dandy horses.
·         Played football in afternoon.
·         Saw Jack and Bob. Had dandy talks.
Wrote home.

·        Divine Service at Chippawa Camp. A fine sermon by Chaplin of Pioneers.
·         Walked about camp.  Aeroplanes about.
Wrote home and received letters.

·        Real fine morning. Beautiful sunshine.
·         Good to be alive.
·         Received photo of cousin.  So pleased.
·         Hard work all morning.
·         Afternoon football with Belgium Artillery.
·         Draw 1 to 1.
Rain during night.

·        Drill all morning; worked hard.
·         Allies going strong-expediting a coup at St. Eloi.
·         Waiting to assist.
·         Lots of reinforcements coming out.
·         Expect draft at 1:30.
Fairly quiet along the line.

·        Drill all morning.
·         Afternoon football.
·         Saw Col. Hughes about commission.  Very satisfactorily settled.
·         Lads played baseball with the 27^th.
·         Lost 8 to 2.
Wrote home and sent souvenirs.

·        Drill all morning and afternoon sports.
·         Belgiums beat us at football 4 to 1.
·         We beat 18^th Battalion at baseball 16 to 4.
·         Colonel Hughes gave farewell speech. 20^th Band in attendance.
The boys chaired the Colonel around the grounds.

·        Paraded at 8AM and gave the Colonel a good send off.
·         Paraded again at 2PM for inspection.
·         Ready for trenches.  Cancelled by Brigade.
·         Laid about and wrote letters.
Sent parcels of souvenirs away.

·        An ideal day.
·         Two parades.  One in morning for inspection and physical drill.  The other for Orders.
·         Relieved 25^th Batt. In “R” Trench and G. H. 2 trenches.
·         Rather a rough journey but that is part of the game.
Capt. Cooper in charge of the Coy.

·        Usual bombardment for Sunday.
·         Germans commenced at 11AM but stopped at 11:30AM.
·         Artillery (ours) going strong.
·         Left G. H. 2 lines and took up position in Ecluse trench.  Good trench but no cover.
Rain…

·        Sunshine and very warm.
·         German artillery quieted by ours.
·         News along the line is good.
·         Received news from home.  Henry in Canadian Artillery.  Frank in Royal Fusiliers, and Sydney in R.N.A.S. Don’t know where he is.
·         Wrote home.
·         Weather changing and artillery very active.
Yser canal on our left also bluff and International Trench.

·        Morning murky but fairly quiet.
·         Found out that I suffer from rheumatism.
·         Artillery doing great. German wire and trenches all blown to Hell.
Can get no news from home.  Mail boats I expect.. Wrote P.C.’s.

·        Morning bright.
·         Commenced building dugout for myself.
·         Artillery still going very strong.
·         General Turner round and seemed pleased.
·         Continual successes along the line.
·         Artillery rumbling all day.
·         Nearly finished dugout.
Aeroplanes about.  Very nervy feats.

·        14 Platoon relieved by 15 Platoon in 20^th and 21^st.
·         A few casualties.  Lads on fatigues.
·         Went scouting with Capt. Cooper.
·         Artillery very active.  A few casualties.
·         19^th Battalion on our left is suffering badly.
·         Good news of Somme battle.
Heard from Canada.

·        Delightful day.
·         Artillery from both sides continually pounding away.
·         Bombing attack of ours successful.
·         Sun makes one think of home and peace.
·         German prisoners not very happy. Only told good news. Seem despondent when told the truth. They believe War to be over end of Aug. or Sept. 
Hope so…

·        Morning grand. Things quiet after an awful night’s bombardment.
·         Good news over the wire.
·         Artillery going strong.  Shells dropping close. Had to shift positions.
Built and finished dugout.  Not at all bad.

·        Morning fine and bright.
·         A few casualties.
·         Relieved by 20^th Battalion at 11PM.  Proceeded to Scottish Wood.
·         Dandy dugouts.  Shells drop close by appearances.  Trees down…
·         Wood smells real dandy.  All kinds of wild birds and flowers.
No news.

·        Honey Suckle adorning my table.  Lovely smell, just like home.
·         Shells dropping very close.  Little damage done.
·         Buried one of the lads at Ridgewood.
·         Lads out on fatigue.
·         Sgt. Smith struck off.
Received no news.

·        Honey Suckle gathered to adorn my table.
·         Guns roaring incessantly.
·         Good news over the wire.
·         Am anxiously waiting to reengage the enemy.
·         Continual rumble going on right.
Issued ammunition, bomb, and flags with oil

·        Morning real dandy.
·         Mine exploded by Germans in front of 26 and 28 Points.
·         Stood to all night.
·         Lots of tools and timbers going up to the front line.
·         Canteen opened in Mic Mac Camp (A).
·         Received parcel from a great friend in Canada.
·         No fatigue parties out.
Company made “D” instead of No. 4 Coy.

·        Rain but sunshine later.
·         Went about Scottish Wood. Saw gun pits made by bombardiers.
·         First class news from all along the line.  Boys seem disappointed that they are not at Somme.
·         More lads struck off.  Very few left now.
Wrote home and received news from Canada.

·        Rain again but the flowers smell so beautiful.
·         Lads returning with roses.
·         Echo from trees and woods of artillery like incessant rumble of thunder.
·         Lads taking life easy whilst in Woods.
·         Received no news from home.
Good news of advances at Somme and Russian advances.

·        Nothing unusual during the night.
·         Lovely morning.  Real dandy weather just lately.
·         Ground smells…
·         A little artillery duel during the afternoon.
·         Received letters.  No paper to reply with.
Rumours about going South.

·        Real fine morning.  Woods look dandy.
·         No service
·         Artillery on move.
·         Good news of more Russian successes.
·         A few shells near Woods.
·          Prepared to leave Wood.
Received letters.

·        Real hot day.  Feel the heat very much.
·         Artillery fairly quiet.
·         Relieved by 29^th Battalion at 11PM.
·         Reached Chipawa Camp at 2AM.
Same old huts but news over the wire is good.

August 1916

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