Lt Burnard, Royal Flying Corps WW1 diary
OTD 1918. Airman on Western Front with 35 Squadron, then prisoner of war. Ex-army #Somme #Passchendaele.
Sunday. August 31st [September 1st]. Yesterday I got my cheque cashed – the cheque written on May 6 at Rastatt – so our refusal to pay did do good. Still, 3 months! Today I got a very long letter from Tootsie, jolly interesting, saying exactly how the news came through about me. Must have been pretty chronic for five weeks. Gerson and I are having quite a little local excitement on our own. Qui vivra, verra!
Friday. August 30th. Got up at 6.30 and played with Miller a set of Badminton against two RFA merchants. Won after a topping game.
Thursday. August 29th. Our combine of 4 scored heavily. Got 11 parcels between us. Duce 7. Miller 2. Myself 2.
Sunday August 25th; Got a letter from Dad dated June 14, sent to Rastatt (although on June 12 he wrote to Karlsruhe). It seems that he thought I was inebriated when writing, and put April 23 instead of May 23 – since I also mentioned I had actually met Hanna, whereas in my p.c. from Karlsruhe I am hoping to find him soon. Excellent example of erroneous detective work, Dad. I’m glad they didn’t send the latest parcel of clothes to Rastatt, since both letters and parcels seem to get hung up there.
Got a Red Cross issue of a pair of pyjamas, a handkerchief, a collar and a shirt! My first clean clothes for 5 months. I shut up my socks in a suit case at night out of respect for the other members of the room. Think of it, same socks for five months, occasionally washed in cold water!!
Friday August 23rd. Judged the game to be a draw. 6 – 6.
Wednesday. August 21. Block II played Block I chess; 12 boards; played 2nd board, and won my game against Bewlay; score 5½ – 5½, and top game left to Bewlay and me to adjudicate.
Sunday. August 18th. Went with Miller into a combination with Duce and Gerson, forming a quadruple alliance. Works excellently!
Saturday. August. 17th. Understand that the cells are a washout. Tant pis!
Thursday. August. 15th. Wrote home. Got a whole batch of letters from England.
Wednesday. August 14th. Have it on fairly good authority that we, Duce, Gerson and I, are getting 3 days cells starting on Saturday, for being late on parade yesterday. We have every intention of appealing, as we consider the sentence grossly unjust; but personally, I shan’t mind very much. The one thing that you can get free and for nothing in this country is experience, and it would be a pity to leave without a dose of ‹clink› as we used to call it in the army. Overate myself yesterday. Feel the need of light diet today. Had porridge for brekker; chicken marengo, spaghetti in tomato sauce, potatoes and baked rice pudding for lunch. ’Elp!!