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Thursday, November 1, 1917

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lorries close together loaded with gas shells burning + a fierce blaze is on, a little farther on a ration lorrie has its back wheels in the ditch, its front wheels shot half off + the driver laying dead under the engine which is still running O.K.

At Frosts Turnbull of the 1st wanted a written order from us before we could leave the line Four of us give him the slip + walk to Ypres, the others get sent back to the shell hole relay. At the prison we go into Cell 61. Fritz hits the rear end of the building with a bomb + I beat it into the dressing room. I now feel pretty sick. the gas seems to have me fine + I feel real poor.

Thursday Nov 1. I feel down + out I stay in dressing station all day at supper time S. Sergt Ross of the 12th tells me I am to report sick. I determine to stick it + whilst finding a fresh place to sleep. meet Corpl Jack Turner + he warns me for the line next morning at 2:30 AM. rotten luck.

Where was he?
The war at this time

Between assaults

Early November brings a brief respite between Canadian attacks at Passchendaele. Three dry days from November 3-5 allow preparations for the next assault. The 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions relieve the battered 3rd and 4th. The third phase of the attack is set for November 6. The objective is Passchendaele village itself (or what remains of it). German shelling has reduced it to rubble, but the high ground it sits on still dominates the salient.