TCD MS 10853 folio 60 recto
[1915]
ON ACTIVE SERVICE.
After some delay in disembarking we formed up and marched through the streets of the “Liverpool of France” and found all very strange to our English eyes. Children followed us begging for “bisquies” and “sovenires” and people stared down at us from high windows. The good people of Harve had by this time got used to our men passing through, so our advent caused little stir.
After a brief halt in the town we had a very stiff zigzag climb to the British Encampment on the hill behind. Here we got assigned to tents, about 12 men for each and in the afternoon sheepskin coats were issued to us. In the evening we went to a Y.M.C.A. place and I played the piano, and we had an impromptu concert.