Bert Henson Diary - 6
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The War Diaries of Bert Henson
Diary 6 of 10 is summarised below - View full text of Diary 6
Summary of Diary 6
1918 Jan/Feb
20-22
Grand Crist to Outerdom (Scottish Lines). Continue training chaps in signalling. Plenty of aircraft overhead. The Scotts provide great music. Spring is coming.
1918 Feb
13
2/NZ Field Hospital (near Abeele). Woke Sunday 3rd with a temperature of 102.6. Was hustled off to Hospital with suspected trench fever. Well looked after by orderlies, making slow recovery.
1918 Feb/Mar
Scottish Lines (near Ouderdom).
17-7
On my way back here called in and saw my Belgian friends. The Hun are dropping newspaper (printed in French) from the air. Jack McKain is now Sergant-Major. Have restarted at the training school. Money cabled from home. Cooking school set up nearby-getting great food.
1918 Feb
Halifax Camp
8-9
Busy testing the signallers this week. Considerable artillery activity, raids by both sides.
1918 Mar
Halifax to near Staples
10-23
By train and foot. We signallers are billeted in a loft at a farm. Have been running new phone lines, repairing others and have installed a phone exchange. March 15 I am 23 today! Our bombing planes busy. General Russell has inspected us. Have had “baksheesh” (free) parcels from NZ.
1918 Mar
Staples to Courcelles
24-27
Very brief notes about this move. A gap in entries.
1918 April
5-8
Very heavy shelling—Hun have gained ground.
Courcelles to Colincamps
9-10
We relieved the Dinks as Battalion in support. Wet and muddy. Mail from home.
A gap in entries.
Bertrancourt, Bus-les-Artois and lines near Hebuterne
22-29
These 7 days are fast moving. Hun artillery busy. We are in a dugout 30ft undergground. Linemen busy. The Dutch Navy has blocked the entrance to the ports of Zeebrugge and Ostend. Weather damp and overcast. Mail from NZ - none for me.
