supper, go on night guard again but get relieved after fifteen min write a 3 sheet letter to Belle. + send a bit of a cravat. Sat apl 20. San fatigue. Squad drill in P.M. Sunday apl 22. Wood fatigue, but no wood to fatigue, cut off for 9 AM Mass but no service. Guard 1-4 PM sleep in evening feel awfully sick temp 102°. Monday Apl 23 San fatigue loaf off at 10 AM Squad drill in P.M. Nice warm days. Heavy bombs going on all night + last all next day! - Broke - spent all my money on grub. Tuesday Apl 24. General fatigue, nothing doing Wed Apl 25. San fatigue. Thursday Apl 26, cook-house fatigue Friday Apl 27. Sent to Grand Servins + Truencourt with 125 blankets leave at 8.15 AM + get back to Estrée Cauchy at 4 P.M. Green envelope issue reinstated + 2 letters a week. 3 from B. Last night first for two weeks G.E. M[?] tries to get a night roll call. Sat apl 28.- Birthday- General fatigue East[er?] parcel from B. + 3 more letters, making 6 in 3 days.
▸ Where was he?
▸ The war at this time
April 1917: Crisis month
April 1917 is the worst month of the war for Allied shipping. Allied shipping losses total 881,027 tons, the majority of it British. Britain's grain reserves drop to six weeks' supply. The submarine campaign threatens to starve Britain out of the war. Under mounting pressure from Prime Minister Lloyd George and others, the Admiralty agrees in late April to trial the convoy system. Merchant ships will travel in escorted groups rather than sailing independently.
