January 1
Had to fetch small Aster set to Cassel to light up a Christmas tree, this morning and shall stay until tomorrow night, the Welsh Fusiliers are in the place where I have been told off to billet and have never met a more frowsy set in the whole of my life. The Christmas tree looks just the thing. Wigzell gave me his photo last night. Run set from 4 pm to 6 pm.

January 2
Went up to top of Mt Cassel and had a look at the Casino. This is a very big place. Run set from 4 pm to 6 pm. One of the MT chaps told me I had to take it to Poperinghe for a picture show tomorrow night. Billeted in convent St Joseph's. Report to whoever is in charge of Talbot House, Poperinghe as this is where the cinema is to be shown.

January 3
Talbot House, Poperinghe happens to be a sort of soldiers' club run by the C of E for benefit of troops. Col. Anderson is giving a lecture on Dr Scott's trip to South Pole. I shall probably get back to Hazebrouck about 3 in the morning. Left Cassel 12 am. Ran engine from 8. 30 pm 'till 10 pm.

January 4
Ran engine last night from the motor lorry. Left Poperinghe at 11.15 pm for Hazebrouck and then the trouble began. Lorry broke down half way and took two hours to fix up. Got in at 3 am this morning. On leaving Cassel passed Steenwoorde and Abele and then on to Poperinghe.
Unloaded two lorry loads of comforts for Miners Corps. 2^nd Lieut. Norfolk has been shooting his neck about nothing in particular and everything in general. There is a big strafe going on tonight.

January 11
I had an exceptionally big pay. Five francs = 3/7 for fourteen days, working at rates of 2 ¾ per diem.
[Hughie’s "exceptionally big" fortnight’s pay was three shillings and seven pence, which works out at threepence a day – 3c].

February 6
Warned tonight to be ready by 9 o'clock in morning to put Dorman Set in at 170 RE Coys.

February 7
Left shop for 170 Coy. Arrived dinner time at Noeux-les-Mines and took set straight up to Vermelles. Put it in Saville Row Tunnel.

February 10
Run bearing between generator and engine. Staff Sgt Moody took back to shop.

February 12
Moody sent bearing up this morning which I put in a good engine running.

February 13
Moody left to go to another job this evening leaving me on my own. Lieut. Williams RE refuses to allow anyone to sleep in Proto dugout. Slept in winch house at top of tunnel.

February 14
Have permission to sleep in Proto dugout. Received a batch of letters from Lam and home and I think they gave me a fit of the blues. On Sunday 11 went for a bit of a route march to Hulluch and came back right through.

February 15
Sapper Gibson and two other men came up this morning to take over the running of plant. Gibson seems to know his work. 170 Coy have sent no electricians along for the job. I suppose they think one man can look after engine and also keep his mains and lights o.k. This Job could have been running two days ago, only no lamps have come along yet. Fritz came over last night but was driven back. They shot one poor little beggar in one of our communication trenches.

February 16
Left Vermelles Tunnel this morning and came down to Noeux-les-Mines to wait for lamps. I suppose they will come along tomorrow. Shall try and get a change of clothing and a bath this afternoon as I have not had a decent wash since going up to the trenches. Sgt Moody tells me that Capt Morse has gone to Nice for a fortnight's spell as he has a slight touch of pneumonia. In this morning's paper, Sir D Haig says that Fritz will be beaten this year. I hope that he is right.

February 17
Met several of the old No. 6 Boys and they told me that Corp. Bill Mayne had been sniped a couple of days before.

February 18
Went up to No. 3 Section this morning. Run about ¾ mile of cable.

February 19
Slept in Officers' dugout last night. Came back to Noeux-les-Mines tonight.

February 20
Lieut. Norfolk rang up to see Moody and told him to meet him at 253 Coy's headquarters in the morning. Shall be going up tomorrow morning, have some 16 CP and 25 CP lamps.
[The days when light bulbs were rated in Candle Power and not Watts, let alone Lumens. Light bulbs with incandescent filament of carbon rather than metal – see 18 Mar 1918 were already obsolescent in the early twenties].

February 21
Brought 100 lamps up and also Sapper Gibson, Neilson and Noels. Put 15 lights in Saville Row tunnel and 12 in New Cut. Started up 4 o'clock engine and ran until 10 o'clock. Ran fairly well.

February 22
RE have started to make dugout for us. Ran engine all night and closed down at 8 am.

February 23
Went back to Noeux-les-Mines this morning for lamp guards. Of all the messes imaginable this company's officers takes beating.

February 24
Norfolk came up today in a big stew. 170 Coy rang Hazebrouck to say all their lamps had burnt out. Lieut. Woods RE told them absolute lie, which was proved when set was given a run. They put volt testers on and it was proved conclusively that I had not been running at more than 200 volts. Soon a man gets away from this Coy the better as the fools know nothing about this work at all. Had to hop in and alter all the lights in Saville Row. Moody came up this morning.

February 25
Altered all the lights in New Cut Tunnel and ran the cable through Elephant Tunnel.

February 26
Altered all lights in Quarry Alley Tunnel and all along the mining galleries.

February 27
Put up lamp guards on all lights in the whole system.

February 28
Ran engine for four hours today with load, found a few earths which were taken off. Went for a walk along to Vermelles and then through Philistof. Vermelles is an absolute ruin, not one solid house standing. In Philistof the women and children go marching around, it's hard to credit there's a war on, yet only ¾ of a mile away lays the front line. The French citizen must be having a rough time of it. While writing this our guns are giving Fritz "whatoh!" just on our right. Our chaps in the line sent up a few red lights. Fritz is playing a machine gun right onto the entrance to the tunnel.

March 10
Have not had the time to write up anything the last few days as engine has been given much trouble. Brought another Dorman up the trenches last night, had it up by ¼ past three and went to bed. The first time I have closed my eyes for five days and nights and am feeling dead beat.

March 11
Put set together and put switchboard up, everything ready only waiting for 170 Coy to finish the hole through to top of roof for the exhaust and also a rabbit hole to let hot air get away and so cool engine room somewhat.

March 12
Got up at 11.30 and did very near nothing at all for the day.

March 13
Left the trenches this morning for billets and shall stay down 'till the 15th. Slept all day and went for a bit of a walk during the night. The town is like the rest, nothing to do in it but watch people drink beer.

March 14
Been writing letters all day long.

March 15
148545 Sapper L W Gibson 170 RE BEF France. Our lads went over tonight on a bombing raid and got in and blew up eight of his dugouts. The Coy also blew a small mine. The losses on our side were very slight. Fritz’s casualties were pretty severe according to all reports. The bombardment preceding our lads going over was something terrific. I only had two tins of petrol to see me through the night, so closed down from 7 pm 'till 11.30 and so was able to keep lights going when they were most wanted.

March 16
Ran new set for 16 hours and old one for four hours, the miners are driving a vent to allow hot air to get out and so couldn't work half and half until they finish.

March 17
Running new set again tonight and on 'till the morning when the vent should be finished.

March 27
Had a note from Moody yesterday that no work was to be installed unless instructions came from our own people.

March 31
Moody up today and could find nothing wrong. Polarity on switchboards correct. Brought amp metre up and she only shows 9 amps' load. Shall only be able to get about another two lamps on. The Manchesters took over the line from the Leicesters three days ago and about a dozen men could walk through the whole lot of them. Moody tells me Morse has been made a Major. Sent a note to Blair asking him to send my clothes out to me as I was only supposed to stay three days. It is now two months since first coming here.

April 1
I don't know if Fritz was playing April Fool's joke on us or no, but he sent over tear shells for about three hours today and incidentally put the top of tunnel in right in front of No. 27 set. Broke four head trees and two side trees. This is just a bit too close to be nice! This engine room could not be in a worse position if they had tried to find one. About a week ago one of the long head trees in No. 37 Engine Room gave away right over the generator. Found out a couple of days ago that 170 Coy had put some of their Sergeants on spying for when lights go out. This is only to see if I report the same as they do. Have asked Moody to see the OC 170 Coy about it. I suppose they think that I should never close my eyes, I'm afraid they are much mistaken.

April 2
Some of the Manchester came running up to Engine Room saying that Fritz had put Vigo Street dugout in. On going down to the place I found two stretcher bearers looking at the place not even attempting to get them out. This seems to be the usual thing with any of the infantry, run away when any of your mates get buried and see if they can find any miners. There were two buried. We got one out alive but there is not an earthly for the other. I heard the remark passed "he doesn't belong to my platoon, let him stay there". This is nice, isn't it. Shows good comradeship amongst the conscripts. God forbid that Australia should have to resort to this to get men. This mob have the "wind up" proper. We have had about three "Gas Alarms" this morning.

April 3
There were seven men buried yesterday, three were got out alive and four were dead. I took down cylinders of Set 27 last night and put together again. Found pistons carbonised very bad, also tops of cylinders. An earth came on at about 10 pm and told one of the electricians to have a look at the far end Vigo Street. He came back and reported that it was o.k. This chap and myself then went right round the job and could find nothing wrong, so I went to where I had first told him to look and sure enough there was the trouble. This is the usual thing with these blokes of mine. It's a one man job from the word go. God alone knows what they would do, if someone wasn't here with them. There was one man killed and two wounded of 170 Coy this afternoon. Pilkington, the chap killed, had only just won a bar to his Military Medal.

April 4
Fritz put in another Place last night and nipped four more men. Two killed and two wounded. 170 Coy are going to put iron girders up instead of head truss and just about time too. Shall go down to Noeux-les-Mines tonight. Had a bit of an argument with Gibson this morning, the usual thing with us is the shift coming up. Sets the water and petrol, this chap's shift generally misses such things as this and of course I opened out on him. He didn't like it at all, still while I'm in charge here, he has to do his cut, or get out, whichever he prefers.

April 14
Got half a dozen letters this morning. Lam was saying it was her birthday. A coincidence.

April 16
Moody up today. Fritz evacuated Colonge and Morock. Our plant in both places were closed down. I wish he would turn it up altogether.

April 17
Fritz has started to shell Noeux-les-Mines again today, he's always at this game now. Gibson has been shifted off my job and sent to Bethune on motorcycle. I have an idea Fritz is going back from Vermelles before very long.

May 6
Have not had time to write up before so will try again. A number of days ago, Fritz shelled Vermelles very heavily, knocking an advanced hospital about, so as nothing was left standing, right opposite here was a graveyard and I can tell you there wasn't much of it left when he stopped. He has also been shelling Noeux-les-Mines off an on for the last few weeks with 9.2 armoured piercing shells. Last night he was putting them into the Rue de Arras and killed a couple of 3^rd Australians, two women and wounded a couple of kiddies. The bombardment at Leur and Arras are magnificent to have a look at, but to be under them is a horse of another colour. Moody tells me most of our chaps working down that way have been recommended for devotion to duty. Have had several boils on neck and a few days ago a beaut came on the back of my left hand. It has broken now but the hand and arm is still up about twice its normal size and also pretty painful too. The weather is just grand now, could not wish for better.

May 12
Lieut. Wood has taken all my drivers away and replacing them with mugs who don't know how to start an engine. I've taught these other chaps all they know and now have to start over again! Some of these Saturday afternoon mechanics who get a pip are beauts. I wish to God it was all over and finished with.

May 16
No. 1 and 4 Sections have gone over to the Brickfields taking over 251 Coy's work. This Coy 170 were going to build me two engines but after starting they found they could only build one. This is Tres Bien from their point of view but it doesn't correspond with me. The engine rooms we are now in have not the least bit of air in them, with the result the two middle bearings on each engine are very hot indeed, in fact, I shouldn't be surprised if they run. The crank case gets that hot one can't keep their hands on it for more than a couple of seconds at a time. It's Bon running a plant like this and then someone wakes up. Our artillery are still slogging away at Fritz, but it's taking a long time to move him much. Our crowd put Phosferine shells over to him a couple of nights ago and it was pretty to look. Nothing but one sheet of flame.

June 2
Have not had time to keep this written up. Shifted both sets from Saville Row tunnel back to Barts Alley Tunnel, this is a considerable distance from the front line. Had to run new mains about 340 yards. By being here, brings us about centre of the job and so we have less drop of voltage at terminals of circuit. Have had no letters for about three weeks, I hope some comes along shortly.

June 3
Hazeldine had me out of bed a couple of times. One of the plugs was not firing too good. Put up 2" exhaust on Set 37 but had to take one length off as the gas was turning to water too quick. Stan Closs is just straightening switchboard mains and is making a fair job of it. Put up exhaust pipe 2" on Set 27. No petrol came up last night and have only seven tins left.

June 4
Went down to Noeux-les-Mines this morning.

June 5
Had double pole switch and tin off BB oil brought down from Vermelles last night and sent on to Munster Tunnel where we are installing a new plant, also sent up Baffling Bore and pipes for the set. Sent magneto to Robinson Tunnel by shift. Viv Downie is going to be attached to this Coy. He is a hard doer, comes from Tasmania.

June 6
Came up this morning and found everything o.k. Ted Roots has whitewashed walls and roof of engine room and it looks just the thing. Shall rewire Vigo St tomorrow.

June 7
Wired up Vigo St pulled old wire from old tunnels and put in new. Put on seven new lights also wired up headquarters and put in two lights. Worked 'till 12.30 pm.

June 12
Norfolk and Moody came out today. Norfolk very pleased with Job. Someone in my crowd keeps doing something to the carburettor. Perhaps they are trying their knowledge with my own. Shall be going to Hazebrouck tomorrow to get some clothes out. Fritz was sending over some gas shells yesterday. He got 46, 16 of whom died from the effects. Finished off an ink well made from 18 lb nose cap.

June 14
No letters have come along yet but hope some come shortly. There is one of blokes, pulls one of the bellis from top of carburettor float, so as float won't work up. Then goes around shouting that he can always get the engines to run well when he's on. Seems to forget that they are always left and overhauled before he comes up. I have set a trap for him on Set 37 and if he plays with carburettor he'll be for it!

June 15
Did not go to Hazebrouck. Had a tired feeling on this morning. We opened up a heavy bombardment from around Noeux-les-Mines early this morning so did not have too much sleep as this lot woke us up. Shall probably go down next time I come from the trenches. News this morning of air raid on London by aeroplanes. We want a lot more machines for Home Defence. They haven't an earthly in the air with us out here. Should like to see the Russians make a push on the Eastern Front, then it would be look out Fritz on the Western. Received parcel from Mona, have brought the fruit and cream up to the trenches, but the biscuits were all broken up. Have had to send two of my men to Robinson Tunnel to give them a hand over there. These men were duds when I got them.

June 16
Have to bring switchboards out from the wall about another 4" so as to make the back more accessible. 170 Coy have sent up another man to learn how to run an engine and electrical plant. Should like to be able to open my mouth a little bit wider to some of this Coy's officers. I've already been told off by Norfolk for speaking a bit too plain to one of them.
Only told him to get a job he knew something about and not worry himself about things he was ignorant of. The war will finish one of these days and then there may be some straight talk. This Air Raid on London may wake some of the heads up a bit. Why should our women and children suffer, haven't we the same means of dealing out retribution. It can't be brutality if we do. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

June 17
Altered mains on E and W yesterday. Made a double pole fuse box at Saville Row main. They are sending petrol up in four gallon tins. Had governor trouble on Set 37 last night, the clutch has worn so as it won't engage in ring. Rigged up governor rod and she worked "Tres Bien", hardly a flicker in the lights. If Jerry doesn't know where these engines are he ought to as I am exhausting in the open and can be plainly seen emitting a fair amount of smoke.

June 18
Went down to Noeux-les-Mines thinking it was pay day but was put off on account of horse show. Jack Penn going to Boulonge Rest Camp. Downie coming down on Wednesday.

June 19
Blew up a bit of a storm today, any amount of dust. Paid today. Wood sent note 120 gallons petrol every Sunday. Moody rang up to say he was coming up tomorrow.

June 20
Moody did not come up. Put T pieces in exhaust. Altered switchboard.

June 22
Something doing in Sergeants' Hut tonight. Some of them kept pelting Old Gadget 'till about 12 o'clock and then the Old Man kept it up 'till Revielle went this morning and the chaps that started it were going very sore, one chap packed his bed and slept outside.

June 23
Moody out this morning before lorries went up, Old Chidley has had a breakdown and Moody is going up north. I think there is something coming off up that way again and it won't be very long in coming. Am driving a shift tonight, one of my chaps has a septic leg and has been excused all duties.

June 29
Smith reported back for duty today. Shall send him up tomorrow.

June 30
Oliver came to hut and reported Smith and Chamberlin had gone up to Engine Room. Chamberlin takes the place of Closs.

July 4
Percy Piper came out to have a look at job as S Sergeant. I came down and left him. Lieut. Cobbett told me some lights were out. My men say everything o.k. Piper also says o.k. Jake Tighe says it was in his sector, No. 253 runs this lot. Capt Brown says to scrub engine room floor out, don't know whether he's gone mad or no, but it won't be done.

July 28
Young Oliver finished this pair of Jerry's shell cases and finished them o.k.

July 29
Tried to get cases censored but 170 Coy's officers won't do it so you will have to wait a while for them.

July 29
Jock McLeod ordered to go to Lens, going over with infantry. I hope they take their objectives. The big do has started up north and the guns are speaking very plain indeed, and the guns are also busy at Lens. If you could only see the number of guns massed here at Vermelles you would say it's goodbye Jerry.

July 31
Jack Penn is going on leave tomorrow morning. I should say it's just about up to me to go. I can see something doing here in the near future. Jerry was slinging over some big stuff today and put a dugout in where we used to sleep and also one of our old engine rooms. I'm not sorry we're away from there. He brought down one of our aeroplanes the day before yesterday, only fired four machine gun bullets at it. Landed right on top of Vigo St Tunnel. I'm open to bet a few shillings we go over in this position before very long. Our guns are replying very vigorously and seem to be tickling him up somewhat. Have had no letters for goodness knows when. Suppose they will come along some time or other.

August 3
Had radiator 27 off and cleaned it out, she was pretty bad. Only about 3" of mud in the bottom. It seems as if fate is against us in this war, rains like the diggins when we start to push.

August 5
Into fourth year of war. Papers today seem very optimistic that it won't last another four. Here's a bit I culled from the Times today and it is very near right:

This evening about twenty past nine, someone fired a shot across the square and Jack Tighe went across to see who it was. It panned out to be a regular Roughie called Jock Hall. He pulled a revolver out and put it to Tighe's breast and shot him. This Hall has told the OC to take him out and shoot him, as he didn't care what happened. I don't think he will shoot any more men as he will be well looked after now. What I can't make out of it, he wanted to get a Sergeant no matter who it was.

September 5
This chap’s got seven years by Court Martial.

September 7
Received instructions to send all attached men back as they were wanted. After a lot of fighting, I managed to retain one of them. Sid Hazeldine. I was extremely sorry to have lost Ted Roots.

September 12
Had two Canadians sent out today to run 19/16 cable through the main mining lateral. Shall be giving them a list as to their capabilities in the course of a few days. Have an Australian called Barnes on this job with me now, I believe he is not too good as a mechanic but time will show. Had news today, that no leave was to be granted to anyone arriving in France after 31 March in the 2^nd Army so don't suppose I shall get it for some time yet, worst luck.

September 13
The attached men left this morning at 11.45 for Bethune where they will get trained to the Base.

September 20
The 170 Coy have found that Annequin Cole Pit, one of the drives goes several kilometres behind the German lines and in this way have been securing a lot of information. They have put a guard on the Bosche end.

September 26
The Germans exploded several kinds of gas cylinders down the mine tonight and as far as can be ascertained there is not much hope for the seven men who were on guard when he did it. The gas masks which we are issued with are no use whatever as the gas is that strong that it burns the rubber clean away, this is a new kind of gas which he is using, called "Mustard Gas" on it so being like mustard to smell. A Proto or gas life saving apparatus is no more use than our gas helmets, so there is no chance for these chaps that are down the mine.

September 29
Received word this afternoon to report back to Hazebrouck by the 1 October. I have connected my plants up with Hulluch job so am cut out for a job. It would not be believed if anyone out there was told that you could walk almost 10 miles underground from Givenchy to Loos but seeing is believing.

October 1
Reported back today and find I'm booked for rest camp Boulonge tomorrow. Met Les Bingley of 44 Battalion tonight. Major Everett turned windy and had to be sent back to Blighty.

October 2
Left Hazebrouck for Boulonge by motor lorry this morning. The country between the two places is rather pretty, it is all hills and dales. It's a pity it was not in June or July, then the flowers would all be out. Passed through St Omer en route. The rest camp is situated right on the sea front at a village called Ambleteuse, this is one of France's famous bathing and seaside resorts. Between here and Boulogne is a place called Wimereux, it is here where a large number of Khaki Girls have their work to do and by the number of them, they certainly let a lot of Base scroungers get to the front. These girls look a fairly efficient lot. On getting into conversation with some of them, I was told they have the same rations as we have, the only difference between our military life at the Base is they are much better housed than the troops.

October 7
It has been extremely bad weather. We have hardly seen the sun since coming here and wind and rain galore. The Cliffs of Dover are plainly discernible from this rest camp and one is sorely tempted to try and swim it. It was rather amusing, the last lot of Australians who were here pinched a Froggie fisherman's boat and started to row to Blighty, after getting to within three miles of the English coast one of our destroyers picked them up and returned them. So much for the three of them, but they had bad luck not getting there, they deserved it. I have been told that leave opens up for August 1916 men again, so may touch lucky and get leave right on top of this. I won't be sorry if I do. The Australians have been distinguishing themselves again in this new push up North. I'm mighty glad that up to date I've been down South. After all the good things which English critics have said about us, Beach Thomas in the Daily Mail puts the cream on it. He wrote:

So that's not so bad.

October 15
Left Ambleteuse for Hazebrouck last night and got in in the wee small hours of this morning. Left Hazebrouck at 10 am for Vermelles. Found things all anyhow, will straighten them out before long.

October 25
Lit a fire in Barts Tunnel to cook some tea (steak and onions). One of 170 Officers came on the scene while operations were proceeding and went off a treat, we were out on the job from 9.30 am 'till 7 pm with nothing to eat, we told him this but that didn't matter. The fire had to go out. About half an hour after he sent a Lance Jack up to take our names, so do not know how things will go off, when we are able to go down and what's more I don't care very much.

October 26
Nothing came of the matter so all's well. Fred Belcher (Canada) had to return to his battalion.

October 27
Sandy and Slim Jim reported back from Hazebrouck this morning. Sandy got 21 days 2^nd FP and Slim Jim McGuinness got 28 days 1^st FP. These two got into hotts with Military Police some two nights ago and it took the whole of 170 Coy's Sergeants and Noeux-les-Mines MPs to run them in.

October 29
Viv Downie came back from Boulonge today. Went over to Munster to see him. Curtiss, our SM was telling him he was going on leave shortly. I wonder where I come in. Kidded Downie to come over to Barts with me and he stayed all night.

October 30
Downie and myself went out this morning. Sent cablegram home for £20. Met Ted Newton tonight and had some joy in a fish and chips shop. Never laughed so much in my life! Made some enquiries re: claiming Norm and found out a younger brother can claim to be with elder, only in case of like units, but if he can show he is a skilled tradesman, on his OC's recommendation, the transfer is possible, so do not know how we will get on.

October 31
Run new mains from Mains Lateral to fuse boxes in "W". This gives a much better voltage than at present.

November 1
Sanderson and myself went down to Vermelles for a bit of fresh air. Sandy shot a rat in the Engine Room tonight.

November 2
Sent Sandy and Newton to Munster for some wire, but they brought Downie back instead and he slept here instead of going back.

November 3
Put a light in Signals dugout today. Had some fun around there. Took Darkie Marriott with me and we got arguing the point and the Tommies could not understand it at all. Sent Newton to Munster for a pair of fuse blocks and he came back with two boxes complete. He is not a bad slight of hand man at all. On going along the mains last night I found that some dope had pulled one wire clean away from the socket or coupling. On the 30th there was a fall of ground, it pretty greasy on the top in most of these tunnels, caused some soakage and moreover nearly all clay, which does not take much shifting. I have seen minnies penetrate 15’. This fall caught a couple of men who were working there but did no serious damage, suffering from shock. It was rather humorous, one chap was easily got out and the other kept singing out that the top kept coming in and we had to keep brushing the dirt away from his mouth.

November 4
Came out this morning to Noeux-les-Mines. Went up and seen some of No. 3 Tunnelling Coy's boys.

November 5
Jerry shelling Noeux-les-Mines with 9.2's. One shell caught two little kiddies and killed them.

November 6
Jerry caught seven French civilians while he was shelling last night. It makes one's blood boil to hear a shell come over and then see the French kiddies and women with babes in arms cutting off down the road to the dugouts provided. I had to laugh, when he put a shell into a house at the cross roads, a little boy and girl came running over to Downie and myself, the girl holding a piece of red hot shrapnel weighing about three pounds and she said "Allemand No Bon!" (Germans no good). So that's about all the fright Jerry can put into these kiddies here.

November 7
Met Ted Bird tonight and he told me Harold James had gone down the line with sciatica, so he's out of it for a while. Percy Piper came out today and told me I should be going on leave shortly.

November 8
Moody out today and told me he had sent cablegram which I had asked him to do for £10 to be sent to a Mr Sharp, a friend of his. I have not seen Moody for about a month so did not know if he had sent it or not, but I made doubly sure and sent for another twenty a week or so back. The Big Game hunters are out tonight looking for rats so there should be some blood on some bayonets tonight. Came up to the trenches this morning. Jerry put some gas over on our left this morning but got very little here. Have just been telling Ted Newton my first trip to the trenches and haven't got it in here. Went to Kemell Hill with Frisco Standard set on September 30th 1915 arriving back in Hazebrouck some two days later. I remember how I laughed on going into the trenches to think men were such fools as to want to kill one another. It was at Kemell Hill where I saw the French man laying in No Man's Land, who had fallen before the British arrived on the scene. There has been an enormous number of men, lost their lives up around that part. Just a little out of Hazebrouck (about 2 kms) is a little village of Borre where the Bosche shot the priest because he refused to give up the keys of the church. This affair caused a lot of comment when it happened. There are things omitted when told about. I met a chap (French) who had been a prisoner at Leurs for 19 months (yesterday) and got speaking of the shelling of Noeux-les-Mines. He said it was nothing to what we sent over, but Jerry had holed through from cellar to cellar making a subterranean town. Under the ground he had his canteens and such things. He said there was not too much that was any good on top of the ground. It will be hard to get people out there to believe some things which we may tell of, if we have the luck to get back, here's one.
From Givenchy to Hulluch, there is a 6' gallery running the whole way (about 8 miles), branching off this, is all the listening tees. These are used for blowing mines. About 800 from 100 to 400' running to Jerry's line. Then there are 12 infantry galleries varying from half mile to two miles in length, all lit up with electric light and the whole of the excavation has been done since the war and the whole of the dirt has been brought out in sandbags, and there are not many dumps to be seen, small at that. It should not do to have bags piled sky high or Jerry would soon be over to see what was doing.

November 9
Cleats lamp guards and wire came up tonight so shall be able to get on with some work tomorrow.

November 10
Tapped E Tunnel direct off the mains with 7/16ths cable, put in protected "cut-outs". Altered mains running back through switchboards by running from Saville Road Tunnel cut-outs which will enable me to bring Elephant and Barts Tunnels direct to mains when Saville Row is altered.

November 11
Moody came out today. Sent Newton across to Downie. Altered Saville Row mains and rewired it. Moody came out to tell me to go on leave, but money had not come along so had to cut it out. He told me he sent the cable to be sent to a Mr Sharp, a friend of his.

November 12
Wired up the Quarry Tunnel and run new mains for it and also for "W'. Put in 18 lights. Cheshires went on a raid tonight.

November 13
Jerry chased the Cheshires back last night, went over in a fog leaving two machine gunners in a shell hole in No Man's Land, with nine of Jerries. We have been strafing the place proper all day long. Got our chaps in this afternoon. Have heard a rumour the Jerry is on the run Ypres but do not know how true it is. Hope it's right.

November 14
Had a lot of trouble with mains running through the West Face. Some of these miners keep breaking the couplings, causing terminal ends much trouble.

November 15
Mr Piper out today to take me back for leave but it's no go, as I have no money. Took him round to see the Quarry Tunnel. Very pleased with the job.

November 16
Worcesters took over position today. Shift coming up tells us shell landed in a hut in the Billet killing Lance Corp. Paddy Phillips and wounding Trev Smith, they only went down this morning. The shell lifted bed, Phillips and blankets about 100 yards.

November 17
Came back to Noeux-les-Mines this morning and the first greeting was one of Jerry's 9.2's close handy. Didn't take me long to beat it. Put the wind up most of the old soldiers (Mons Heroes). They don't stand shelling too well.

November 18
Went to Bethune for a change with Sanderson and Downie, tried to find the skating rink, but it has been pulled up.

November 19
Came back to Barts this morning and sent Marriott down.

November 20
Went to Givenchy to try and get some photos from Wigzell but it did not come off as he had none. The mob there haven't altered much.

November 21
Marriott missed this morning's bus, but came up tonight.

November 22
Crawford, Welch gave us a dog, but someone Pinched him the same night. Doing a bit of revolver shooting at a half penny in the tunnel, getting some expert with one of these things.

November 23
Worked pretty hard today. Fixed up any bad places in Saville Row. This Somme advance, must be some stunt and should relieve Italy a bit. Jerry putting shrapnel over Noeux-les-Mines.

November 24
Finished Saville Row today.

November 25
Started to go over "W" Tunnel today, found some very bad joints. Marriott went to Miners for a couple of candles, which they refused, so borrowed three or four off an infantry officer, rather a decent chap.

November 26
A couple of letters and Home hand from home this morning. Finished W up today. Put two lights in Stokes Gun dugout (Quarry). Fired a couple of rounds to Jerry. Paid the candles back with interest as infantry do not get very many. Put up a fairly lively bombardment all day, culminating in Drum Fire tonight. Gave him 1,000 gas cylinders at 8 pm when 100 men went over on a raid. Only a blind, in my opinion, or a big do at Lens. Black Dog today, left without leaving address. Jerry put B shaft in at entrance to Saville Row.
Trev Smith died on 23 , buried with full Military Honours (only a new regulation). Before there was no firing party for anyone who was not a commissioned officer.

November 27
The man who was missing when Jerry put B Shaft, was found underneath it. Piper and Moody out today, and to take charge of whole of maintenance from Old Kent Road to Hulluch. Can get leave any time I ask. Have to shift to Munster.

November 28
Put beds out of Barts and brought across to Munster, this is a cold old place compared to my own place.

November 29
Went to Brickstacks with Downie, find things anyhow. Six men buried at Quarries last night at Stand To, all machine gunners. Jerry making things willing. Walked to Barts for rations.

November 30
Went to Brickstacks today, but no wire had come along, so marched back to Munster. Went to right half tonight, found wires broken in mining lateral, Jerry had put a few Minnies on top, and put the infantry W Gallery and also mining lateral in. He's getting pretty warm around this quarter now, put three lights out where the gallery was in, measuring about 20' of tunnel had been blown in, very near time this was done away with. Saville Row has not been fixed up yet.

December 1
Went through Wilsons, Robinsons, Keith Walk, Mills this morning and found things rotten, most of the wiring will have to be done again. Left Munster this evening for Barts job and on the way down Jerry opened up proper with a Minnie and shell strafe. The timbers were dancing around to some order, on reaching Quarry Tunnel found all the infantry withdrawn to the deep gallery, only the posts holding the line (went to Barts with Newton. Pretty good in heavy stuff). The Bosche had put up a barrage at 3.30 in the afternoon and had come over, leaving one killed behind him. He was in our front line, between two entrances to "W Tunnel". I found "W' had been put in to some extent, 16 consecutive settings in one place, a machine gun post in another and a platoon headquarters in another. Went to "E" or "New Cut" and found steps leading up had been knocked in so couldn't see what damage done. Went to Saville Row and Vigo St everything Jake. Landed back at 3 am.

December 2
Went to Quarry this morning, clambered through a hole big enough for a rat with some wire and so got lights on to most of tunnel. Cut out four lights in "W" and brought straight off mains so only cutting out one that was blocked up completely. Found "W" had been blown in, in five places so did not do so bad. Went on to "W" and got in gallery and found about 40' closed, so had to bring mains round another way, this way has only 12 side trees and 16 head trees bashed in, it only needed about two bullets on top and I don't think I should be writing this. Got this fixed up and went to Saville Row, while going up here, some whipper snapper of an officer said "The lights are out in the right half". Asked him had Vigo St been blown in and he said "yes". Asked was it very bad? "No". On going to see I found at least 50' in place was down and couldn't see 2' into it. I found out that Jerry had been over the night before, and had fired a Very light down in amongst some machine gunners in a dugout and had got back without losing any men. It's simply marvellous how these Minnies penetrate. I been under a few strafes but never anything like this one was, still he got no prisoners and we raked in one killed, so saves us making a raid to find out who is in, while he has to make another to get one of our's. Viv Downie, Newton and Marriott have been rewiring Old Kent Road today. It was a bit funny yesterday, Downie said he would go to Candbrin to see where some of our stuff had gone and while there promised to act as Push Party for 170 Coy that might to Old Kent Dump, he went to Candbrin with Sanderson, Hollingsworth and Marriott and got caught in the tail end of this strafe. Old Kent Tunnel is right under the Brickstacks in the world famed Brickfields. If he had not promised the chap at the dump he would do this, none of the men, would have gone with him as I do not believe in being a Push Party for any Coy but our own.

December 3
Went to "W" this morning, but had not holed through, so could not connect the mains up. Went to Saville Row and wired up old Engine Room, which the Leicesters are using as a Coy HQ, as their old one is blown in. Wired up our old dugout, put a light in their officers' cook house, some tin pot officer in the Quarries was shooting his neck about kicking up too much row in front of his dugout. Only rolled a drum of cable down about 16 steps, bag of tools and our working kit. Too heavy for me to carry.

December 4
Came down to Noeux-les-Mines this morning, Jerry shelling with shrapnel all day. Learned this morning, that four Germans came over at "E" New Cut and took a machine gun away with them. One of the infantry captains shot one of our men in mistake for a Bosche and immediately after the Huns shot him through the head. New Cut was put in in another place last night. Harry Ayres was telling me that Harry Ralph was killed a few days ago. Piper came out today and told me to send Downie to Wings Way (Hulluch) and put in a new switchboard. Wanted me to be up tomorrow to ballot for conscription.
Jerry over with a Gotha bombing machine tonight and dropped two bombs.

December 5
Left Noeux-les-Mines this morning 7.30 for Munster tunnel. Very cold indeed, well below 0. My toes were not alive when I reached my destination. Piper and Moody out this afternoon, they want Old Kent Road engines out as soon as possible. Brought out ballot papers and there are four Australians on the job and you can take my word for it, we all voted "Yes" with a big X. Jerry was over again today at Saville Row and wacked a machine gunner on the head with a cudgel and took machine gun, the whacked man and another wounded man back with him. It appears as if he can come over opposite Vermelles just any time he wishes to.

["I understand that there was a majority NO vote in every State except W.A. and I also remember seeing in some later year what must have been a reproduction of a 1918 cartoon showing a map of Australia in which W.A. represented the head of a lion and the rest of Australia, a rabbit" Harry Poole, 1997].

December 6
Went down to Quarry Tunnel and wired up a half of the New Gallery which 185 Coy drove. Sent Sanderson around to Vigo St to see if it were possible to get through to get Vigo St on. He came back and said it wasn't. While in Coy headquarters his hands fell on two suits of Burberry overalls. They are made of rubber and just the ticket to keep the wind and snow, rain out. These things are worth about £6, so we are not doing so bad. The infantry use them for raiding purposes. Ayres reported back to me two days ago. Sent Sanderson, Marriott and Ayres to Old Kent to finish up wiring. Myself and Ayres put in five lights in the New Gallery that 185 drove.

December 7
Newton, Sanderson and Ayres went to Edgeware to spy out the easiest way to bring Potter engines to Cambri dump. Feeling a big crook.

December 8
Fuses blown in Quarry Tunnel, could find no reason for it (light fuses). Givenchy is closing down pretty frequently and so making a very poor light as Hulluch cannot run at the same voltage as Givenchy. My throat is swollen and very sore.

December 9
Givenchy still running anyhow. Sent Newton and Hollingsworth out tonight for rations. They had some joy finding the dump. Sent Sanderson to HQ to go on leave. He has taken my pen to get new plunger put in also a letter and diary to post to home. Gerry put up another Minnie strafe knocking main lateral in at two places. One is about 50 yards past Robinsons and the other is about 200 past Munster (Barts side). He paraded at the Quarry but at present do not know how he got on.

December 10
The place knocked in to the right of Munster is showing daylight, through a hole of about 15' diameter and is about 20' from Jerry's barbed wire so our chaps have the wind up. Throat much better today. There was a chap wounded at the top of the steps last night, had only been out three days and his first time in the line.

December 11
Went to Cambrin Dump to make arrangements to have truck left at Old Kent Dump. Our guns busy while we were going down, the lads went over to see how he was at Hulluch, have been told they took four prisoners. Marriott and Hollingsworth cut out RS in a petrol tin. We have put a red background and have our colours in the two top corners. Newton and I went to Annequin and had chips and eggs. I often laugh, this seems to me to be the most staple diet of the pommies! Brought up our rations. Jack Fowley at dump and came up with him.

December 12
Went to Old Kent to take Petter engines out. We had the assurance of 170 that all bags and timber would have been cleaned out. On going over found we had been sold a pup as Piper seemed a bit crook on it, we decided to go on with the job. 170 officers gave us no assistance whatsoever. After getting to the bags, we then went for a truck and they gave us one with a bad eye bolt. While we were pulling the first generator to the top, the bolt gave way with the result it chased us up the gallery. After getting generator, engines, two radiators and muffling boxes to the dump, Fritz put up a strafe knocking a length of rails up so we had to put camouflage over what we had out and left it. On reaching home we were told that main gallery had been put in on Barts side. He was putting Prussic Acid gas over. Newton and Marriott were giving the lads in Coldstream a cheap Jack show.

December 13
Went up to Old Kent again and got both engines and generator out to dump but as we missed the mule and it was too heavy for us to push, so had to camouflage again. Got back to Munster at 2 am. 170 Coy had started to shift the bags away from Edgeware, they went from bad to worse, only filled the trolley line up from mouth of tunnel to dump, so found it necessary to shift them before we could take anything to the dump.

December 14
Sent Ted Newton to Noeux to make arrangements to have a mill brought up to dump tonight. Rest of us went round at 5 o'clock, I waited 'till 9.30 for Ted. He put his head in mouth of tunnel and sings out "Come on you chaps, here's the donk!" We hooked the mule on and got to Cambrin and Jerry hardly fired a shot, we came over about 2 miles of top, not even any grass growing and never had to duck once. Back to Munster at 10.30.

December 15
Went to New Cut. Fixed up lights, went out 6.30 am. Harry Ayres found that coupling had been broken at Barts' End. Got back at 10 am for breakfast. Went to Quarry all Jake. Found main galleries in at "H". Coupling broke. Fixed it up. Left Hollingsworth home, the rest of us went to Cambrin and loaded up engines. Self and Newton went down with them. Jack Penn got a smack in neck and shoulder with shrapnel, will get a Blighty out of it.

December 16
Went to HQ (170) to give engines a bit of a clean-up, while there Jerry started putting 9.2 Whizz-Bangs over. Newton was walking down the yard when one pitched and burst within 6' of him knocking a Proto store out of existence and scattering a lot of debris about. I was in the lorry and was just getting out to see if I could find the pieces of Ted, when I noticed him chasing a couple of horses that had bolted. He is pounding away at the place. We had only just got out of the yard, when he put another three yards away from the other and put a De Dion engine and saw bench out of action. There was a length of light railway line hit which landed half a mile away. He has dropped notes in Bethune saying he is going to level the place on the 27th. I noticed while shelling all the decorated men were conspicuous by their absence. Only Windy.

December 17
No lorry from Hazebrouck. Piper out today. No need to wait for lorry to come up for engines. He was telling me that Jerry has been shelling Hazebrouck, the past few days, and that there was 100 casualties. This is with 17" naval gun. Jerry shelling Noeux at 4 pm and still at it when we left. Snow for first time yesterday. I was feeling pretty heavy this morning. Brought up my kit as it is much safer up here.

December 18
Ayres and Marriott went to Noeux for pay. Expected them back by ration lorry but did not turn up. Sent their kits up this afternoon. Jerry gassing tonight.

December 19
Ted and I went to Barts side today and on arriving found that Saville Row had been blown in, also another part of Vigo St. Hollingsworth went down for pay.

December 20
Able to get to Saville Row and Vigo St burning again today. Somebody was talking through their hats last night. They only wanted cables shifted from one gallery to another. Marriott and Newton went down tonight. Only took us through about a mile of trenches so nothing doing.

December 21
Went to Old Kent today. Nothing doing anywhere.

December 22
Hollingsworth put five new lights in Stokes Gun position. I went to Quarry and Saville Row and got all lights burning. Ayres and Hollingsworth to Cambrin for rations. Heard today the Jerry put three motor lorries and bath house at HQ yard Noeux out of action.

December 23
Went to Barts this morning and found last three lights in Vigo St out. One of the main joints had come away - mended this. Went up to No. 2 Post, they had recovered the corps of a Lance Corporal who had been buried there. He was unlucky, as he was only caught by right foot and left hand. Never had a bone broken. While working here I got a smack over the left eye, made a bit of a cut along the eyebrow. Ayres, Hollingsworth and myself went to Cambrin met Ted Newton and Marriott with most of our Christmas stuff. Only had four sandbags full of it. Marriott up, Newton back. Had four wallets sent out from Australian YMCA, also some comforts from W.A. Miners' & Tunnellers' Fund.

December 24
Harry Ayres and myself went to Cambrin dump to meet Ted Newton with rations and goose. While going down Railway Alley, we opened up with a strafe and of course Jerry replied. This was at 10.30. While at the dump Jerry started again. We were putting over gas. While we were on the road back Wilsons Way we got caught in another pretty severe strafe, the worst for the night. He had put the trench in in four places. It was Jackaloo scrambling over this part. Just at the end of Wilsons he dropped an aerial dart, one piece hit me on the shoulder, while two hit Ayres, luckily neither of us got cut. Went round the whole of job and made sure all lights were correct. Put three new lights in. Shall go over the whole lot of it again tomorrow morning.

December 25
Jerry and our people kept strafing 'till the early morning hours and then things quietened down somewhat. Got up at 10 o'clock. I shaved and did up like a sore toe. Hollingsworth and Ayres went up through job to Old Kent. While Marriott and myself went through to Saville Row. We got back at 2 pm ready to do justice to goose and things. I think the five of us had a regular blow out. It made the lot of us let our belts out. We lit up the outside of the dugout with five 25 CP lamps, about 5" away from one another, while inside we had three lamps on an adaptor and brought down through a cigarette tin, this was in the centre of the room, in another corner we had a 25 CP over a small table where we do our cooking, then we had another where it would show up the rising sun we have in the door.

December 26
Got out of bed at 12.30 this morning. Harry Ayres, the cook. Hollingsworth, Newton and myself went up to Old Kent as the lights were very low. Ayres and Newton have gone for rations tonight. This is Boxing Day and we have spent it very quiet. The thoughts of another Boxing Day have been with me all day. Should have liked to have been able to go on the river.

December 27
Ted Newton and myself went out to Noeux-les-Mines. Missed the lorry and had to walk down. The snow had frozen and it was some walk! We stopped at Sailly Labourse and had a cup of cocoa at the Church Army Tent, it went down pretty well. Rang up Hazebrouck and had to tell them I could not go on leave.

Sergeants Mess - Engine Room
Schooner on the rocks
Grilled Steakfried in engine oil
Rooty & Porry
Petrol & Oil Pudding
(fan grease flavour)
Jardines on Toast
Char & Cocoa au lait
Beaucoup Salad
Bon Jour ~ Tea Roots Catery

December 28
Stanley came out today for two Petter Engines, which Newton and I loaded. Wire etc. was brought out. Came back to trenches tonight. Sat playing cards till 12.45.

December 29
Some 7/16 wire came up last might, so decided to rewire Wilsons South, as it is in an awful mess. Took Newton with me. No. 1 Section are still ripping and while we were there, the top started to run with him and hang me, if they knew how to catch it up. This held us up for three hours. Eventually we got the mains run out. Sent Ayres and Holingsworth to finish up Coldstream and deaden the switchboards. They arrived back at 8.30. I had just started out to look for them.

December 30
Got up at 9.50 am this morning. Hollingsworth, Ayres and Marriott went through to Old Kent and then on to Cambrin dump where they picked up 75 lamps, 50 lamp guards. Told Charters to have wire sent up to Munster. They got back about 4 o'clock. Marriott and Newton were acting the fool, when Marriott slipped and split his head, about 2½" of a cut being the result. Had he not been blessed with an extraordinary thick skull, he would have most assuredly fractured his nut! Sanderson has not come back, but am expecting him back any time now.

December 31
Newton and myself went up to finish Wilsons, while we were there, met one of the Divisional Signallers, who had short on, but which he could not find. They had sent a complaint into 170 Coy. We cut everything for him and then it was still on so we stopped them with that. We managed to get most of the lights burning. While we were here we struck an officer who was telling us he was going out on a patrol. Let the birds who want prisoners get them. I know of a couple of shell holes where I can keep the cold and wind away and I don’t think the boys will worry much. While we were in here our own trench mortars were dropping short and knocked a couple of our own men. We got back about seven o'clock. We then stayed up playing cards to see the New Year in. At two minutes to 12 we opened up with a machine gun barrage for five minutes and that was all that actually happened here, although on either side there was a pretty severe straffe. Some of the Infantry were out in front of us and wished them the Compliments of the Season. I did not think this time last year we should spend another in France, but lets hope for a better next time.