April 17, 1918
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My birthday. To-day I reach the 30th year mark and certainly feel it at this moment. This is my fourth birthday in the army, and I sometimes feel that I’m tired and would like a spell. Just at the moment I am feeling very weak and ill. Last night was another bad one, I was up several times and then we were shelled, one falling within 10 yards of our cottage and breaking a window only.
Between my sickness and Fritz I was feeling anyhow. Slept in until 10a.m. to make up for the poor night, but found as soon as I turned up at the station there was plenty to do. Several gas cases were coming through, and our new officers were fresh to the treatment. It appears that the sector has been heavily shelled with mustard and we have had hundreds of casualties.
About 600 went through from the sector during the day. Was kept fairly busy during the afternoon, and began to feel better towards evening.Turned in about 10 pm into the best bed I have had in the village. I am now in a cottage with the WO. and 3 other Sgts. and have it all to ourselves just as the people left it.
Each night the others cook a substantial meal for supper, there being potatoes and onions in the house, other things being obtained by a little fossicking. Of course coal and fuel is plentiful and the stove is a good one. Rhubarb and a few such things are also plentiful, but they are no tfor me as my condition will not allow of it.