Feb 7 Off all day. out for eggs & chips dinner & supper Thursday Feb 8 5 years ago to day lost Nell. 14 years ago to-day I froze my feet. Sanitary fatigue 8 AM to 10.30 dismissed from Sanitary fatigue by L.C. Hall at 10.30. Hut inspection by O.C & adjudant I stand to my pack & am all O.K. S Sergt Sharpe is in the hut kicking up a row on a fiddle & yapping his head off trying to taffy us along & make himself a good fellow (quite impossible) after the inspection I clean up & shave ready for two oclock dress parade & speak Sharp tells R.S.M & as the R.S.M is hanging onto his job now by a close shave he reports me & I am for office at 10 AM next day Friday Feb 9. I appear at the O/R & report I could not get water & did not have time to shave before going on fatigue but the O.C clips me seven days C.B & extra fatigues. I should of been tried by my section commander & then this petty crime would not have to go on my sheet, Spotter Sharpe was witness against me.
▸ Where was he?
▸ The war at this time
Operation Alberich begins
On February 9, the German Army begins Operation Alberich, a planned withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, a new defensive position 25 miles behind the current front. The withdrawal will shorten the German line by 25 miles and free up 13-14 divisions for the reserve. Before withdrawing, German engineers systematically destroy everything in the abandoned zone: railways, roads, bridges, wells, and buildings. Trees are felled across roads. Booby traps are planted. The destruction will continue until mid-March.
