Item 06: Frank H. Molony diary, 25 March 1918-7 August 1918 - Page 233
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[Page 233]
August 5, 7
288.
A place made for poetry: by a wide circling pool of bright green tiny-leaved covered water, a splendid tree of branches that bend again to the ground – black branches tracering the live green of their leaves. Another tree, standing sentinel before the main building, a mauve clear trunk, and branches that fantastically twist and turn, and leaves as large, and more gracefully pointed than those of the grape: in yesterday's sun the colour of the trunk and branches, mauve green and gold dappled. Now in the pale sunned afternoon sheep are grazing about: but the shepherd is not by Millet [Jean Francois Millet] rather by Hassal [John Hassell].
Disappointed at the Rupert Brooke book not arriving.
289. Allonville, Aug. 7
The last entry, to compleat to the midnight arrival at Allonville.
Yesterday a long day, packs up and away from Wardrecques by 4.30, and in the deep grey of the morning along the wet road to St. Omer.
A long day in the train, twenty of us in a clean cattletruck, so full room for sleeping.
Detraining in the early evening, clear skies, sun and roads under the thin Somme mud.
Packs up and away again: once we followed a Tommy's directions, and lost a mile in the approach direction.
Climbing a great hill by the country lovely in the shadow, the sky by the sun's setting a flaming cloth of gold.
In the narrow dark hedged, sunken road by a lorry collected "Maps" and a scattering of other staffs, and carried us in: on to the rear H.Q. where we collected papers and gear.
Then till 2 this morning along main roads and bye roads, past the Madelaine, on through dark country, the morning mists, slowing rising and growing.
Then to the Chateau: all the deep