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[Page 4]
Hamelet & Corbie, & at La Neuville got a lorry to Daours. It stopped there, & after a while I got one to Rivery & arrived about 9 p.m. I turned in at 10.30. feeling none too like a big stunt, as I vomited what I had for tea again.
7 Aug.
Five of us set off on our long trip up to Bn. this morning. We got separated, the traffic on the road is simply enormous, lorries in thousands, & it is going to be a tremendous stunt. We got a lift up the road as far as an ambulance car was going & walking along blowed if I didn't strike Cobcroft sitting by the wayside. He is a Lieutenant in the 1st Bn. – the 1st Division has just come down south after a long stay on the northern French front. He was asking after Boo. Finally, after various terms of walking, a ride on a different transport, I arrived a Vaire where the B'n are. All issues, rations, bombs, etc. are being completed in preparation for the great stunt to be launched tomorrow. A letter from General Monash was read, saying it was the first time the whole of the 5 Australian Divisions have gone into battle together, & the biggest thing they have yet been in. A Canadian Corps will be on one flank of us & 2 English Divisions on the other, & tanks, aeroplanes & artillery will be in a colossal scale. Lt. Parsonage explained the part our platoons of D Coy have to take. Oh well, one can only trust in Providence. Our Vaire Wood & Hamel stunt on 4th July will be a baby to this. The weather is fine today, it's hard to realise it's the eve of a very big battle. I got my gear ready at 8 p.m., then read Boo's letter & the "Daily Mail". Early in the morning, hell will be let loose. Had a lie down in my clothes at 9 p.m., & had a snooze till 1 a.m., when we had breakfast.
Thursday 8 Aug.
At 2 a.m. we