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[Page 31]
equipment cleaned up a bit, I reported to the M/O with my thumb and he sent me off the same day to the 8th Field Ambulance, which was about 7 miles away. I marched there by myself with full pack up, but was fortunate enough to get a lift in a transport for about 3 miles. The remainder of the way I took steadily and found the Ambulance installed in a fine old French Chateau. There I spent one night and next day was sent to the 2nd New Zealand Stationary Hospital in Amiens. I saw a good deal of that City whilst driving through in Cars. It is I believe, the second or third City in France and one of the better ones with fine avenues and parks. I was only there a day or two before being sent by a long train journey to Rouen, at which City we arrived at night time, and were sent to 9th General Hospital (British). I was kept a few days in bed with a bit of a temperature, once nearly 102, with aching limbs. I think I had caught more cold waiting about for meals at Amiens. My operation was performed on the 17th November, and a few days later I was marked for "Blighty". Leaving by motor convoy for the Station, I saw a little more of Rouen, which seemed a fine City, built alongside of a big range of hills at the base of which ran a river teeming with craft of all kinds, busily loading and unloading. Darkness soon covered the scene and prevented one from seeing any of our journey to Le Havre, where we boarded the Hospital ship "Asturias".
Fog hung heavily almost obscuring our view of that City, but lifted obligingly for a few minutes and revealed a scene which reminded me of our journey from Calais or of the harbour at Boulogne. They seem very much alike in appearance. It was late in the night when we reached Southampton, but that was familiar to me. The train journey to Bristol was at night-time; but I had also travelled that way before.
The last effort of the offensive on the Somme, the capture of Beaumont Hamel, Beaucourt, and Saint Pierre Divion, was made a few days after I had left that front.
Looking back on my experiences, I am glad I went.
W. C. Watson
No 4441, A Coy, 31st Bn
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