O'Donnell diary, 6 December 1917-29 April 1918 / James Francis O'Donnell - Page 55
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[Page 55]
[Transcriber's Note:- James O'Donnell enlisted in May 1916. He was a 31 year old sporting journalist and married. He was wounded in action in March 1917 and returned to England. This part of the diary begins on his return to France at the end of 1917 and concludes with his being gassed in April 1918. He was involved in the Australian operations to counter the German offensive in March 1918 including the taking of Villers Bretonneux. Pages 178 to 153 (in that order) of the diary cover his first period in France from Dec 1916 to March 1917 when he was wounded in action. It is a particularly revealing account of life in the front line]
Start of Diary. - 1917
Arrived in Havre on Dec 6th - Humped our packs to Base, five miles out. That night went into City & dipped our nose in foaming beakers & gazed on the wine while it was red: Everything gay & bustling The French, unlike the English, do no take their pleasures sadly. We had a bon time among the sprightly Mame Belles: on Dec 8th we started