2/5/17 Was woken this morning by heavy bomb explosions close at hand and machine gun firing at about 6.30 am. Still beautiful fine weather which portends great heat during the day. Several more tents have been erected next to ours, my tent mate and I moved into one of them before breakfast as the one we were in was torn and full of holes that we judged it better not to wait until the bad weather arrived to find out its bad points so took the opportunity of selected the best that we could find, not an easy matter as they are all well worn. Transferred our floorboards into our new abode and otherwise arranged same for our convenience before the arrival of expected newcomers. On duty at 9 am until 2 pm. After dinner, which was by the way quite the best that I have had for sometime, it consisted of boiled mutton, desiccated vegetables and cauliflowers with bread to mix with the gravy, it was both good and liberally supplied, after devouring this sumptuous repast I walked over to Villers-Carbonnel, which lies to the rear of our camp. I observed that several heliograph stations had been established in this neighbourhood and were working. I stopped to read one message, but the receiving operator was rather a dud and the sending station in consequence was obliged repeatedly to send words several times before he got the acknowledgement signal, one dash. Passing on into the village I immediately entered an area of complete wreckage, everything blown up several times so to speak. Portions of skeleton framework of houses and cottages standing out above the heaped up debris in a gaping sort of manner, is all that is left to meet the gaze of a reckless world. Turning sharply to the left I walked down what was once a street, against a round tower (at least what is left of one) I noticed rather a large sized well, on which was a notice board and painted in black letters “required chlorination 2 measures” another well which I passed bore a similar warning in the following manner “dangerous water, unfit for use”. Lying upon the refuse of what was at one time a large house, probably a stores, I picked up a small grocery account book, which I brought away with me. At another place upon the floor of a dwelling I picked up a photograph of a bridal couple, which I also added to my curio collection. In different places I found a couple of small enamel basins which although badly dented and rusty make very useful additions to our tent furniture. I came across several books but only possessed myself of two, they being the least battered and muddy specimens of French literature. I would really love the job of salvaging books. It seems such a pity that these, probably the best product ever accomplished by man in all ages should be allowed to go to rot and perhaps even lost, entirely to civilisation, in a somewhat similar way to that which happened to countless priceless and precious literature of the ancient Chinese who were ordered by a foolish leader to bring out all their books to be burnt upon piles in the public squares, death was threatened to all who attempted to hide any of these brightest jewels of mans creation and genius. A New Years card was when I discovered it in a shell hole completely covered in mud. After washing it when I returned to camp a pretty little girl proved to be the subject upon the reverse side. Picking up and opening what at first sight seemed an unobtrusive piece of paper. I thought at first that I had discovered a valuable not belonging perhaps to the bank of France, especially when a long official looking stamp dropped off. Upon closer investigation however it proved to be merely a receipt for 30 francs 50 from a fire insurance company, still it was yet once more a little item for my already very large collection of scraps for my album in prospective, providing always of course that I am able to get them safely over the water. I now wended my way home. Passed through the grounds of the village church and on through the demolished wall which skirts the northern side of this unfortunate edifice. It was quite a relief too to leave behind such a tortuous bewilderment of mans terrible handiwork. After tea wrote a letter to my dear Aunt Ada. Have also sent off all the above finds and in addition the two small fragments of wired glass, which I picked up the other day. It has been a very lovely day and I am feeling personally rather well in health. On duty at 8 pm to work all night.
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 22:56:30 +0000
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