Page:The North Carolina Historical Review - Volume 1, Number 1.pdf/57

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War Diary of Colonel Pratt
55

the home were out in the yard and they invited me to look at their garden, flower and vegetable. It made me homesick for mine. The roses were very beautiful and also the pinks. Vegetable garden looked splendid. The strawberries were ripening and I had a handful of delicious ones. Some were perfectly white and yet ripe and sweet, Later we went into the house and as soon as the light was lit all blinds had to be shut.

June 21, 1918, Friday. Division Headquarters nearly all the morning. Called on the C. R. E. this morning in regard to engineer supplies and location of engineer dumps. At present we have no supplies and no transportation facilities. I tried all the morning to get a conveyance to take me out to the Regiment. Finally arranged for one for the afternoon. Left Division Headquarters about 1:50 p. m., and made a fast trip to camp trying to reach there by 2:30, at which time Colonel Campbell of the British Army was to deliver a lecture on physical training and bayonet work. I reached the drill field where all the regiment was assembled at 2:25 and then we waited until 2:45 before the Colonel showed up. He gave a good talk, that was helpful and encouraging. The boys all looked well and seemed contented. They are all billeted in barns and sleep on straw. The officers have rooms in near-by houses. After the lecture I visited the Headquarters of the Second Battalion and the Train, found everything in good shape. The policing is well done. The handicap is the manure piles in each court. The people will not let you clean them up and they are not very sanitary. The bigger the pile the more influential the family. Came back to Division Headquarters by a new road, through Guemy. Traveling over the country is very interesting indeed and there is always something new turning up to attract the attention. I have been extremely interested in road maintenance and reconstruction. Find that some of my ideas are being put into practice over here.

June 22, 1918, Saturday. Visited C. R. E. this morning and discussed location of Engineer dumps at second line trenches. At 1 p. m. started for Cassel with the C. R. E., Colonel Couchman and Major Fair, of the Military Police. Left the Major as Cassel and then the C. R. E. and myself examined location