Monday Jan. 1, 1917

Fair day.

Lecture in equipment in A.M. and Half holiday in PM

Jake & I are now in the Equipment & Interior economy class. This was a two week course but is now being crowded into one week.

Went down town in the afternoon for a bath. Had dinner at Maestrani's and afterward went to a show at the Pleasure Gardens. It was named "Betty" and was very good.

Received a letter from May dated Dec 13th and also the Sunday World of Dec 10

Tuesday Jan. 2, 1917

Rain last night but none during the day, except for a short time in the morning

Lecture in equipment in A.M. and signaling in the P.M. both buzzer & semephore.

There is talk of a Rugby game between the officers at Ross Barracks & those of Risboro to take place next saturday.

Received a letter from May dated Dec 11 & one from Lexie posted Dec 15th

Wednesday Jan. 3, 1917

Fine day - Sun shining

Lecture in Equipment all morning. In afternoon our Lecturer in Veterinary Service failed to show up So were were allowed to return to our rooms

Cav Mooney visited us tonight to leave a haversack of apples - some of a box he'd received from Canada. It was a treat indeed. They had been packed at Burlington.

Wrote May tonight

Thursday Jan. 4, 1917

Fine day - sun shining

Signalling with buzzer and semaphore with flags all morning.

In afternoon Mr. Kear took an 18# Gun apart. This is in connection with our equipment.

Mess night.

Received a box of Dates & candies from May & Bob. It was posted Dec 6th and a parcel containing wool sox & gloves.

McDowell in to see us this evening along with a Chap named Avery who is taking the O.T.C. He had been in France 16 months. McDowell tells me that Ley & Woolfry (two men of the first 67th Draft) have been wounded.

Friday Jan. 5, 1917

Another nice day, but it got foggy towards evening.

Had an Examination in Interior Economy this morning. In afternoon viewed Mr. Kear put the 18# gun together.

Saturday Jan. 6, 1917

Rain last night

Had exam. In Equipment in A.M.

Went down to Folkestone in the afternoon and made a few purchases

Played Billiards in the mess in the evening with Jake and Britton

Sunday Jan. 7, 1917

Very cold during the night but mild during the day with rain towards evening

Attended church service in the morning and played Billiards for a while in the afternoon.

Received a parcel from Home containing cigarrettes & Gloves. Also the Sunday world of
Dec 17 from May and a letter from her dated Dec 20th

Wrote May & Father & Mother

Monday Jan. 8, 1917

Rained heavily during the night and raw and cold during the day.

Started in on the Gunnery and ammunition course. The gunnery was just elementary stuff and was monotonous.

A presentation was made to the officers of 82nd Howitzer Batteries who are leaving shortly for France by Col. Mills on behalf of the officers of Risboro & Ross Barracks.

After dinner, visited Fred Mills for the evening.

Tuesday Jan. 9, 1917

This has been the worst day since landing in England. Rain and sleet all day with a regular gale coming down from the North. Thank goodness I'm not in France!

Gunnery all morning and a lecture on the DMK3 Telephone in the afternoon.

Received a parcel from May containing 2 pr sox, one knitted by Mrs. Watson.
Wednesday Jan. 10, 1917

Fine day. Slight snowfall and frost last night

Saw by Daily orders that I had been transferred to the 4th Division at Whitby Camp. Can't understand why at all as I made no application. On inquiry I found that I'd been asked for by the 4th Division. Packed up my goods tonight and leave tomorrow morning. I'm sorry to go as it separates Jake & I.

Received a parcel from Essie and the Doc. And one from Bill & Lexie, containing smokes. Also received one from May containing apples. Lexies dated Dec 5, Doc's Dec 20th

Thursday Jan. 11, 1917

Rain.

Left Shorncliffe at 8 23 A.M. Spent an hour in London and had lunch at the Strand Palace. While at Waterloo Station saw a number of privates just arriving from the front on leave. They were wearing steel helmets, goat skin coats and were covered with mud from head to foot. Had just come out of the Trenches.

Arrived at Milford, and reported to the 4th Divisional Head quarters to Major Hansom at Whitby Camp. Find I'm to go into Trench Mortars. Not very cheering news, but it is part of the game and some one must do it.

Wrote to May and to Jake at Shorncliffe

Friday Jan. 12, 1917

Rain most of the day. The mud is worse here than in Shorncliffe.

Wandered around the lines during the morning and met a number of the officers. In the afternoon got busy on making a stores book for the T.M.B.

Have been attached to the 16th Bdge for Quarters and rations.

Quite a number of the officers here are men who have already been at the front. The stories they tell are enough to make ones hair turn grey.

Am living with Dick Collard for the time being.

Saturday Jan. 13, 1917

Rain and sleet.

Worked on the stores book while not talking to Major Hansom about his experiences in France.

I find that the majority of the officers here are a fine bunch.

Sunday Jan. 14, 1917

Damp and a little sleet.

Hung around the room all day.

Monday Jan. 15, 1917

Very Dull but no rain

Finished up the Stores book to day.

The 16th Bdge are going out for a night march to take up a position. Set out night lines &c. They expect to be back about noon tomorrow.

Wrote to May. And to Father & Mother.

Tuesday Jan. 16, 1917

Very cold last night and freezing in the shade to day.

Visited the various Infantry camp to arrange for the transfers of some men who have volunteered for the T.Ms.

Received a letter to day from Jake enclosing letters to me from Canada. - 2 from May dated
Dec 23 & 25th - one from Bob dated Dec 25 and one from Mrs. Watson of the same date.

Wednesday Jan. 17, 1917

No rain to day and Thawing

Visited the infantry camp looking for recruits at [?]. Rounded up two of them. And incidentally met Soper of the 116 Battalion who has been here for some months. The last time I saw him was in May in Toronto when he was on his way to get married. Certainly surprising how one runs into old friends and acquaintances. Had a game of bridge in the afternoon with him.

On account of the reorganization of the 4th Division C.F.A. the subalterns are notified that 24 of them will have to leave the Division and are advised to join the T.M's

Wrote May tonight

Thursday Jan. 18, 1917

Raining and very sloppy

Again visited the infantry regarding the transference of men from them to us. Most of the battalions objected to any of them going to us. However fixed that up by having H.Q's order them to do so. A rough jolt to the infantry.

Moved into a new room this evening. Am now with Capt Butler (paymaster) Capt. Cowan (Veterinary officer) Mr. Aboth (D.T.M.O.)

A big party held last night - Numerous inebriates. It broke up somewhere around 3 A.M.

Friday Jan. 19, 1917

Dull dismal day with drizzling rain.

Nothing much doing in the T.Ms in the morning so stayed in the mess.

In the afternoon visited the Dugouts to decide on a place to build a Trench Mortar emplacement.

Great excitement around the camp, as the new organization has been announced. Some batteries are entirely broken up and the section Commanders sent to other batteries

Received a letter from May Dated Dec 31 and the Sunday World both forwarded from Shorncliffe

Saturday Jan. 20, 1917

Damp and drizzling. Every thing very muddy.

Visited Guilford this afternoon with Hal Manning. Took train both ways. Bought an identification disc and a souvenier spoon to send to May. Guilford is another of these quaint old English cities. It boasts of an old castle of King John's.

In the evening a big party was held in the mess as an obsequy to the 16th Bdge. I side stepped it as it looked like a real drunken party.

Received a letter from May Dated Jan 3 and one from Jim dated Jan 4. These were forwarded from Shorncliffe

Visited "Short" Longworthy of the 15th Bdge in the evening

Sunday Jan. 21, 1917

Snow Flurries and freezing

Hung around the room all day.

Had a farewell dinner tonight before the breaking up of the Brigade. The wives, mother & sisters of the boy were invited. Some 10 or 12 appeared.

Wrote to May and to Lexie

Monday Jan. 22, 1917

Fairly cold and cloudy

Visited Aldershot this afternoon to get a pair of Field Boots from the British ordnance. "Short" Longworthy accompanied me. Took a bus here for Guilford about 8 miles, then caught another bus for Aldershot 10 miles. Had tea at the Victoria Hotel and caught the bus back at 6 P.M. arrived here 8.30

Received a letter from Jake and also one from May Dated Dec 27th

Tuesday Jan. 23, 1917

Cold with slight snow flurries

Moved our office and are now occupying the old quarters of the 62nd Battery.

Also moved our into new rooms and I am now in the old 13th Bdge quarters which has been taken over by the D.A.C.

Received a knitted scraf and 1 pair of sox from May and also a pair from Maizie enclosed.

Wednesday Jan. 24, 1917

Cold today.

Nothing much doing all day. But trying to get the men squared away properly. Succeeded in getting their beds and other furniture for their rooms issued.

Visited "Short" Longworthy this evening.

Wrote to May.

Thursday Jan. 25, 1917

Cold and sun shining at intervals

Nothing doing all day.

Received a letter from the Doc, and one from Evelyn. Doc's dated Dec 31 and Eve's Jan 4th

Friday Jan. 26, 1917

Cold and cloudy. The ponds frozen over sufficient for skating.

Nothing important on today.

Arranged for Irwin 7 Burrows to be transferred to the TM's from Shorcliffe, but it was canned in the afternoon by the Div. H.Q. Sufficient supernumerary officers are being turned over to us whether they wish to come or not.

A house-warming was held in the Mess in the evening. Quite an amount of booze was consumed during the evening.

Saturday Jan. 27, 1917

Cold and windy. No snow, so lots of dust.

Have had sufficient men and officers transferred to us from the surplus to bring us up to strength.

Stuck around the mess all evening with a bunch of men who have been in France and listened to their tales.

Sunday Jan. 28, 1917

Cold with sun shining.

Borrowed Capt. Ringwoods horse this afternoon and went for a ride with Bill Abboth and "Short" Longworthy. Rode out to Frensham Pond Inn and had tea. A very nice place and, I believe, quite popular with week-end couples - no questions asked.

I certainly enjoyed the ride as it was the first one in nearly 3 months.

Received the Sunday World of Dec 31/16

Wrote to May & to Father and Mother.

Monday Jan. 29, 1917

Cold and clear.

Caught 8.15 Train for London. Registered at the Regent Palace Hotel. Finished buying most of the stuff I'll need at the front. Got it at Junior Army & Navy Stores, Waterloo place.- Gamages, Holborn - AW [?], Haymarket.

Saw Ed. Johnston at the Regent Hotel along with his brother who is in the Trench Mortars 2nd Div. and who was on leave.

Had Lunch at Simpson's and dinner at the Savoy.

Tuesday Jan. 30, 1917

Cold & cloudy.

Transacted what business remained and caught the 4 10 Train from Waterloo. While there visited the Lost Baggage Dpt & recovered my cane which I had left on the train on my first trip to Milford.

Got back to the barracks about 6 P.M.

Received a bunch of Sarnia Canadians from Gladys which kept me busy reading all evening.

Wednesday Jan. 31, 1917

Snow Flurries and Milder.

Attended to a few details in connection with the T.M.'s Posted the men and officers to the batteries.

Received a letter from May Dated Jan 7 - one from Bob of Jan 6th - one from Deeks of Jan 5 - one from Father & Mother of Jan 7

Officers are as follows for T.M.B.

Wm. Abboth D.T.M.O.
Bernie & myself
Waddington
Short
McEachern
Wilson
McClanaghan
Robinson