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[Page 11]
and people came from all directions to see us. And then we started to exchange our badges for fruit and smokes and various other things such as wine rum and shampaing then the whistle blew and on we went again. And I think it was the Lyon Valley that we followed for miles crossing the river two or three times. Then we found out that we were on the road to Parris and that we were within 50 miles of it and we are preparing for a good time going through and we are wishing all sorts of things would happen while passing the station. And as the train rolled on our hopes grew higher until we came to a junction station named Jugnavee (or some name like that) and on the Platform was a notice 9 Killos to Parree that is about 6 Miles that is where we found out that we were bound for Flanders or Belgium. And our hopes were shattered for we were going from Parris now at the rate of 30 miles an hour on the road to Callaix and Bolounge. Which towns we passed through in the small hours of the morning of the 31/3/16. We had got passed Bolounge about 2 hours when someone shouted out look at the Zepp and in the rush we broke 2 windows to find that it was only a British air ship doing Patrole work on the channell the trenchs started to come into sight then we came to Eatoples [Etaples] where army waggons were lined up and we thought our end had come for we could see tents in the distance and it was all sand. But anyhow we passed on to St. Omer then on to Hazelbrook [Hazebrouck] where we saw British and French red cross trains some empty some full we were shunted into the back of the station yard and told to get out with all our kit.
We had some Bully, Tea, and Biscuits. Then there was a fatigue party called for but no one volunteered as they wanted to get to there destinations as soon as possible. For they told us in Egypt that when we got to France we would be billeted in small village in private houses 3 or 4 men in a house so we all wanted to be together at the end of the traveling so they detailed the party off and the rest of the Btn formed fours and with the band in front we marched away from Hazelbook to the tune of the French Anthem. And other war tunes to a little Village called Wallen Cappell [Wollon Capel]. Then we were halted in the Market square. And it was funny to hear the boys picking there place of abode. But after the Colonel and a few of the British heads had a look around we were marched off in 4 companys each coy in a different direction we went to a farm house about ½ mile away 11 Platoon was left there and the other 3 platoons went to the next farm. Now 11 platoon was shown where we had to live it was in a large barn with pigs and fowls running all over you if the door happened to be left open on the morning of the 1/4/16 we were lined up and the Colonel gave us a lecture and told us to try and behave ourselves and if we did he would try and get us leave into Hazelbrook the next week end so he did. But needless to say a lot was into that town before we got leave to go. Well for the next week we did not do much only in the gas line we had to go through the gas and get issued with gas helmets the H.P. Brand at that time on the 8/4/16 I, Mc, and some others got 7 hours leave to Hazelbrook which we enjoyed very much the Germans had been in this town in 1914 but not strong enough to hold it so they had to leave. The people gave us a very good time in there. One shop we went into the girl told us