Item 02: T. J. Cleary diary, 20 August 1917 - 23 August 1918 - Page 45

[Page 45]

stuff coming over a little further up the road.

Friday 8.3.18 Elson visited me today and I returned with him to the Battalion I seen a lot of old faces & received quite a welcome. Fellows who have been away in Blighty a year & upwards were there. There has evidently been a spring cleaning in Blighty & the company shows its effects about 240 strong. On returning to the Dump tonight I heard that 40 had been notified to pack up & rejoin their units in the morning. It would have been an awful "Gutser" if I had been notified. My Paris leave would have been "Napoo" then. Another lot are going Soon, on Sunday I believe so perhaps I am talking too soon.

I have been hearing some risque stories about Paris. One about a certain Hunting incident which I thought was a rather funny story, once, I now find to be an actual every night occurrence at the Wassa. At this place French Soldiers have unusual privileges secured to them by a paternal Government. A guide & 60 Francs makes one monarch of all he surveys at the Wassa between 8.0P.M and 6.00A.M. McLennan told me that last time the 1st were in, they & the Germans were rather flooded out so they both got above ground to bale out their trenches, this mutual arrangement led up to a meeting in no mans land, this in being observed led to the Australians