Lives of the First World War

known 18th March 1915

March 18th As it was getting cold last night and were allowed no lights on deck even to smoke, I went below to sleep. Rather impossible. Was just dozing off when the stopping of the engines awakened me this morning. We had arrived in a French port; it was just 4am and getting light. Havre. Not disembarking until 8am. So gazing round the port, and at the other transports – a large number – that came over with us. Breakfast of bully beef and ration biscuits – sole grub. O, those biscuits! Very sustaining; contained chopped meat; but not palatable. Later. We landed at 8am; and the first thing we saw were nurses, a hospital train, and a Red Cross ship. Still we were all gay and singing. The town struck me as the dingiest I have ever seen. No men at all. Women tram concuctors and crossing sweepers. Children all begging for bis-kit. Horrible cobble stones. A sad town. Soo marched off, about eight miles to a rest camp 1000 feet up and very cold and windy. First through dingy street and street of rising dust, then up a steep hill, and then went under canvas. O, it was cold! Nothing to do, nor to read. Only bully beef and biscuit to eat. A very keen wind was blowing too. Queen Mary’s Gift (A Gift from Queen Mary and the Women of the Empire), a vest and socks , were served out. Very tired indeed, with an incipient bilious attack. Wish somebody would invent a support for the hip when sleeping on a board floor.

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