TCD MS 10822 folio 10 recto
[Feb 20th 1917] wet and foggy. With great luck I managed to get a place in a car and so got back to Sombrin by 9 p.m. No bad going as I did not leave London until after 11 a.m. and owing to the fog, driving was very difficult.
Feb 26th. Still at Sombrin, where I have now got two companies. Went into Dainville one afternoon with the Brigadier to have a look at Trench Wireless. Quite interesting. This afternoon we had a show with the Flying Corps practising with a contact aeroplane – flares, ground sheets and signalling lamps.
March 15th. Nothing of interest to record during this period. Our headquarters remained at Sombrin while the four companies were scattered at Saulty and Mondicourt. At the latter place there was a most incompetent ass as Town Mayor who was constantly causing trouble. On the 14th the 9th Bat arrived here which was a great pleasure; one of their companies arrived here a few days before to practise for a raid. My old Coy A coy. On the 15th we collected the whole Battalion together at last but moved off early the following morning to Simencourt. Our mess at Sombrin has been the most comfortable one that we have had for a long while and we made many friends among the French and the Flying Corps while here.
March 19th. On the 16th we marched to Simencourt, where we were all put in huts. The men are quite comfortable but the officers are not; however we managed to make our beds and chairs and gradually settled down. While here news came in of the Boche retirement on our front and we had orders to stand to, ready to move at two hours notice. This order was cancelled on the 19th. There is as usual much trouble over a football field and training ground. Meanwhile we have taken one until matters are settled. Deluges of rain on the 19th which makes the mud worse than ever.
March 22nd. This weather has turned bitter and for three days the ground has been white with snow, with icy N. E. winds. There seems to be no spring in this country. On the 21st we marched in a snowstorm to Arras arriving there after dark where we found a horrible congestion of traffic. However we settled into billets alright.