TCD MS 10822 folio 26 recto
[July 6th 1917] quality however have completed us up to strength. On the 5th we had to send away a guard of honour to Bavincourt for the King. We were specially selected out of the Division as being the smartest Battalion which is a great honour.
July 12th. On the 10th we received our orders to move North and on the 12th we marched to Candas 9 ½ miles where we entrained. It was a very hot morning and the men were rather exhausted as they were carrying heavy packs. The train journey was quite quick and we actually left Candas at the appointed time. The men were packed 40 or more in cattle trucks and after a seven hours train journey we detrained at Bailleul where we had another march of three miles to our camp on the far side of the Town. We are all crowded together in a small field, but for H. Q. we have room in the farm house.
July 13th. We were woken up during the night by bombs being dropped on the Station. Luckily none came near our camp. Soon afterwards a long range gun shelled Bailleul. In the afternoon Lacey and I went for a very nice ride and climbed up to the top of Kemmel Hill where we had a very fine view over Messines and the German lines beyond.
July 14th. A rather noisy night and many bombs were dropped around. The Archies were very busy and a dynamo that works a searchlight just outside my window made sleep impossible. We started off for a route march at 7 a. m. and soon afterwards a shell from an 8 inch naval gun landed not 100 yards from us. Several more came over and it seemed to be going very close to our camp. On the route march we had a heavy thunderstorm and on returning to camp found that shells had landed on either side of our transport doing no damage and another had fallen close to our farmhouse, and a large piece had come in through the window and broke our only china tea pot.
July 15th. Very heavy rain during the night, so that there was no disturbance by aeroplanes. Rode over and had lunch and tea with