Item 01: William Daniel Hardy diary, 9 October 1915-31 December 1916 - Page 128

[Page 128]

2 Thursday
We left Vauchelles-les-Domart about 9.30 am & marched to Picquigny arriving there about 2 pm. It was very muddy & raining all the way, owing to having very bad boots my feet were soaken wet. It was very hilly country we passed through & altogether the scenery was very pretty. Picquigny is a fairly large place & now is full of Australians & Tommies. Had a look round the town during the evening. Paid 40 Francs in the evening.

3 Friday
There appears to be a very large factory near here as the whistle is continually blowing. We are billeted in what used to be a fairly large place & A. section Bearers are in a large room on the third floor, we are very comfortably quartered. 7 bearers & 3 tent division are allowed leave to Amiens daily, I am putting in for leave tomorrow, but as only small percentage is allowed off I may not get it. The weather is very good now but very cold of a morning.

4 Saturday
We had gas helmet drill with the box respirators & a route march in the morning, owing to having bad boots & sore feet I didn't go on the route march. There was a football match on this afternoon between this Amb & the 16th Battalion, the 16th Battalion won. About thirty of us had to go down to the Somme river & wash waggon in the afternoon.

5 Sunday
Got leave for Amiens & after waiting 3 hrs for a train we eventually arrived there. It is about 8 miles from here & is a large City. I had a splendid time.