on me in consequence. We pass troops going into the Somme & I do feel sorry for them. we arrive at Val de Maison at 5 PM. had a fair meal, meet other fellows that we have not seen for weeks & weeks, we did not carry our packs, (divisional order re packs) our billet is a loft. gaping holes all over it & fearfully cold & bleak. nice & dry & anything dry looks good to me. Tuesday Nov 28 Put the day in quietly. no new boots & cant get my old ones mended & we start a long march in a day or two, weather is rough & cold.
Wed Nov 29. Told to clean up & make ourselves nice & clean. so we shine up a la Portage [Ave] style. Nothing of importance happened. wrote a Xmas letter to Belle. to bed early. Thursday Nov 30. reveille 6.30 Pack up to pull out (rumour we go to Arras) breakfast at 7. hang around in the ice box leave Val-de-Maison on tail end of the 10th Brigade arrive at Beauval at 1.30 PM. four miles. we are not to carry our packs on this march Put into
