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[Page 77]
threw in 7 Francs & tried hard to have a social evening – some 26 of us gathered & got the use of a marquee down at the 5th F. Amb. A Committee selected had been working hard all day, having got permission to go to Albert where they purchased – Champagne – Wine – Beer – Cake – Dates – Preserved Fruit – Chocolate etc. We also had issued to us on Xmas day from Comforts Fund – 1 Pudding to three men, a few nuts & lollies – this constituted our eatables. We made Tables out of Ammunition boxs & laid blankets for a cloth. We had 6 Candles on the tables on empty jam tins also had a nice coal fire in a braizier. We had many toasts, most of which were wet ones. The speech of the evening really was that of H. Page – ex Clergyman & one of our S.Br. His Toast was "Those we have left behind". My Toast, not being too good & having no voice – I was allowed a little liberty, so I picked the Toast (To our Comrades & Bearers who had fallen – their deeds & valour) – which of course needed no speech, we stood with bowed heads for a few seconds & drank the toast in silence. We tried hard to make merry in spite of our gloomy