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Pte William Eley
British Army 9th Battalion Rifle Brigade
from:Barton Hill, Bristol
(d.18th Aug 1917)
The Diary of William Eley 1888 – 1917
Monday 26 My first early parade sick of cleaning butteris Vaccinated about 11.15 I should think about 50 of us in the same number of minutes. Commenced raining about 6.oc Stomach ache. Had first ??? from home Mr Newth had to leave first from old Ne?thh how worried he is
Tuesday 27 Kit issued in the afternoon Good day work just us on Platoon d??ln
Wednesday 28 Hardest day we have had First cold bath Hard thunder storm whilst having bath rifle issued
Thursday 29 Usual drill Raining so drilled us in hut Full kit and cat inspection
Friday 30 Usual drill for the first time we put on our pack for inspection L?? for tea, Pay day 3/-
Saturday 1 jul Acted as orderly called out at 11.30 for inoculation. Doctor said I had bad skin like a rhionsstrrus. Went to bed at 6.30. lovely weather
Sunday 2 July Stopped in bed until 10.30 Went on cliff in afternoon and out on platoon bridge in afternoon.
Monday 3rd Changed st?ir in beds 1st parade 2.00, got indgestion rotten and vaccination itching
Tuesday 4th Got on all right with drill all the platoon. Had lecture on stopping hemorage, first aid trench feet etc. Another lecture on trench tools etc and sab??ting
Wednesday 5 Had a rotten drill on ?????? the platoon anyhow put me squad leader. Rotten what did I ???? had 2nd hair cut. Had 100 cigarettes from H.G.T
Thursday 6th Had a decent day. Rifle exercise in Stand & Load position, Oh our arms. Rotten indigestion.
Friday 7th Good day kept us a bit late Pay day 4/- oh that 4/- Rotten indigestion left off eating meat
Saturday 8th Good mornings work, for physical drill we had a quick march striped shirt front open. Had tea at Seaford, Rotten indigestion
Sunday 9th Had rotten indigestion on Church Parade had tea at cottage close by what a change.
Monday 10th Reported sick with stomach troubles, had medicine and duty, fall in at 6.00 and were told to be careful as the army was too old to be bad at falling sick, but I was rotten
Tuesday 11th Decent day. Stomach a little better, went 4 time for medicine and managed to get one dose at last, which was far different to what I had had before.
Wednesday 12 Good day A good bit of rifle drill. Stomach a little better, put in for my first pass but very doubtful as we take on garrison work at weekend.
Thursday 13 Had good day. Lecture on history of Glos' got my first pass for weekend Indigestion much better
Friday 14 Good day 3/6 Nothing important
Saturday 15 First day on pass
Sunday 16 Home on Pass
Monday 17 Home on pass Returned to camp 11.10
Tuesday 18 Good day,nothing of importance
Wednesday 19 Half Holiday for sports, tea in Seaford
Thursday Fairly good day. Indigestion much better
Friday First day with rifles on Battalion parade, First day on miniature range (passed) Pay day 6/- X 3/-
Saturday 1st March With band and feet inspection Fine Out to tea
Sunday 20th Assistant orderly Out to tea Got a wisp on my eye
Monday 25th Orderley
Tuesday 26th As Usual
Wed 27 All wrong on Battalion Parade. Threatened to stop all passes in B company
Thursday 28th Blooming bad day a double march from 10.00 to 1.00 and then back with our shirts wet through sweat and striped and went on physical drill but with no ill effect Went to boxing bout.
Friday 29th not a bad day Pay day 3/-
