Item 03: Thomas Alexander White diary, 18 May-13 November 1917 - Page 70

[Page 70]

On 23rd we marched from Caestre to Reninghelst, a long wearisome march and arrived at Reninghelst at 4.30pm. Camped in tents that night. A very stormy wet night. The next day 24/10/17 we went into huts & billets in Reninghelst. We messed at Officers' Restaurant, managed by Belgian women. Here we had plenty of omelettes - each egg about a franc. I bought 30 francs worth of Clunes & Torchon Lace for Jay. We were bombed here each night but luckily none fell on our quarters. We left Reninghelst at 5am 27/Oct & marched to a siding near Vlamertinghe. Here we were issued with rum & as we had had no breakfast & had just had a long 5 mile march, it soon made everyone talk.

Some men collared two jars of rum. These could not be found by the officers looking for them - naturally in crowded carriages. Hence we had a great many very drunk when we  detrained near St. Omer,