Item 01: James William Dains diary, 21 November 1916-4 June 1917 - Page 81

[Page 81]

caterpillar as the snow settled on the hats & uniform of the men. The roads became very muddy. Many of the men had blistered feet, some of them raw & bleeding, but they stuck to it & at last we landed at Alquines, a little quiet village where the men were billeted in stables, barns & sheds of all descriptions, wet & cold & footsore. We had great difficulty finding billets for the officers. I am at the priest's place. He is not by any means hospitable but that does not matter. C'est la guerre.

Thursday
Cold, windy, wet. Men have picked up wonderfully. I have had a stroll round Billets.

Friday
Went to Boulonge today. I was up at 5 oclock & set out for a station 5 kilometres away. Eventually I found it but not because my French was good but in spite of my French. I never felt so much like a foreigner in my