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[Page 77]
full of women with Pox when they left they liberated these poor creatures & as they were starving a lot of the 1st Divi caught it through giving them food & being kind to them the Girls reciprocated in the only way the [indecipherable] & there you are. This place is a mass of ruins, unlike the Towns we have come through for here the last stand on this front was made & it was mostly our shells that did the damage It was bombarded 3 times & Bombed 3 little Boys eldest about 9 were telling us yesterday that one of their mothers had just had a [indecipherable] turn. An old woman & little girl came walking in yesterday looking for their home but found it a heap of rubble, Poor things sat down in the mud & started to moan & cry when the Boys took her away & gave her Tea & food & this happens all day long the Lorries are full of returning french & belgiums who have been Prisoners of Years. In the Towns coming here, at night time when the People heard us marching, out went their lights the fear is still on them of the hun altho/ they know that hun is gone. & when they invite you to have coffee with them they stand round waiting on you such is 4 years slavery. They are delighted to see us & are all smiles but what Tragedy lies behind it all.
Friday 29/11/18
Last night we slept in a ruined house with the water dripping in everywhere Rained all day & night & looks like it again to day. half the house fell in but no one was hurt thought it was a mine going up & altho/ tired to death couldn't sleep after it. Came 12 kilos Yesterday on cobbles & raw metal my feet are nearly done for & I think to day will finish me. We are near Le Cateau & to day go almost 6 miles. £64-18-0 £4-5-10 Pat Shelly off to Blighty on leave his 3rd. Rations to day Biscuits & Jam, the officers could get a case of whiskey last night tho/. left here 10-30 a.m. got here 2.P.m about 12 kilos came through Cortillon, Fismes, This place Sacce. done up again not tired but feet awful cobbles again just bathed them in cold water & Put Iodine on them bit better. In cellar here.