“Corporal Flint has died, in hospital, of gas.”

“July 23rd.

“Breakfast in bed.  Up 7.30.  Parade 8.  Training during the morning.  There were also lectures by company commanders on the forthcoming operations, and a lecture on the compass by Major Brighten.  In the afternoon General Stockwell spoke about the forthcoming operations to all officers and N.C.O.’s.  His speech was very interesting....  He is to have his Headquarters in Wieltje Dug-out.  He said that casualties of this brigade while in Ypres this time had been 26 officers and 470 men.  I have been very busy with matters relating to the push all day.”

“July 24th.

“Battalion parade 8.30 a.m., followed by lectures on the forthcoming operations and a lecture to officers and N.C.O.’s on field messages by Major Brighten.  In the afternoon platoons marched to Poperinghe to bathe at the Divisional Baths in the Square—­just by the church, I left Valley Camp with my platoon at 1.45.  We marched via St. Janster Biexen to Poperinghe and there bathed.  Then I took my N.C.O.’s—­Sergeant Baldwin, Corporal Livesey, Lance-Corporals Topping, Tipping, Heap and Hopkinson, and also Sergeant Dawson, to see a model of the battlefield at the Divisional School.  We were ages finding it.  We went the wrong way.  But we eventually went along the Switch Road and found it.  It was 6 p.m. by then.  So I gave Baldwin, Topping, Tipping and Heap a pass to have tea in Poperinghe.  Dawson and Hopkinson did not want one, so they set off back.  I went into Poperinghe and had a drink of citron.  I felt very tired.  Then I set off back to Watou.  I came across Dickinson returning on horseback.  Then I caught up Sergeant Dawson and Lance-Corporal Hopkinson; and we got on a lorry which took us right as far as St. Janster Biexen.  We then walked back to Valley Camp.  I had dinner.  Then to bed, feeling a little seedy.”

“July 25th.

“Breakfast in bed at 8.  Dickinson, feeling very bad, stayed in bed.  I also felt washed out.  I expect it is the gas at last taking effect.  At 10 a.m.  I set off with one officer and one N.C.O. from each company to reconnoitre the route to Query Camp.  Beesley and I with Sergeant Clews and Sergeant Malone went one way; the others went another way.  We found ourselves wrong, but eventually got right.  It was raining, the route was thick with mud, and I felt very weary.  I soon felt done to the world.  We had some coffee in a hut on the Poperinghe road, about a mile from the town; then walked on to the Switch Road, right along that and on to the main Poperinghe-Vlamertinghe road.  Here Beesley and his sergeant went one way and Sergeant Clews and I went another—­right along the main road.  We had a drink of citron at a little hut named Villa Franca.  Then we turned to the left at Brandhoek Cross Roads, went through B Camp, and eventually reached Query Camp.  I felt horribly fatigued and also had a most annoying cold....  Soon Beesley and his sergeant turned up.  We had