Sharp white frost, and sunny morning. Quiet night with us. Shelves going up in my room, and tables. Things getting ship-shape. Bundle 308 pairs socks came. Another cloudless day, but bitter E. wind. I am the senior C.O. in the Division now. ‘19^th Century’, ‘Contemporary’, ‘Fortnightly’ came today, and Burroughs’ book, ‘The Fight for the Future’, in which the Padre is now absorbed.

9.30 p.m. Weather changing, and I expect rain before morning. Did similar trek today. Front line from 10.00 a.m.-1.00 p.m., and support from 3.00—4.30 p.m. I am making Jimmy Shepherd Sergeant Cook and am sending him on a cooking course. We want a reliable man supervising the cooks, to see the most is made of the rations. Our late Sergt. Cook, a treasure, has gone to England sick. M’Kane, R.S.M., also gone, and Turner, Pratt’s friend from Remounts, got his place.

RSM C H Turner in January 1917. He would be the Battlion’s longest serving Regimental Sergeant Major, serving in that post from November 1916 to September 1918. He would be awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry on 16 August 1917.