Attended service at a Baptist church. Met David. Met Mrs. Oswald

Chambers. Attended the evening church service. at 11:00 am on my way back to

the front in Germany.

At Folkston Transit Camp. At 11:00 am left Folkston for Calais arriving there at 1:30

pm. Walked around town for a while. Left Calais at 10:00 pm by train for Holland.

Arrived at transit camp at 10:30 am and had breakfast. Left for B Echelon after

breakfast. Arrived at 8:00 pm. Stayed here overnight.

Left for A Echelon in the morning. Worked on maintenance on the carrier in the

afternoon. Received a number of letters and two parcels from Canada. Stayed at A Echelon

for the night.

At 6:00 am we moved to a concentration area. Had our breakfast. Stayed all night in

a bombed out house. Wrote letters to Alice and mother.

A quiet day with little to do. Ovens and Henry arrive back from leave. Ovens and I

go to Zanton to get some fruit.

Moved to a different area. Rhine Land is cleared. Stayed here all night. Bought a

wrist watch for £ 3.10 and 50 Guilders.

Moved to a different area. Stayed here for the night. Met two girls from the Ukraine

at Zanton.

Moved again out for a rest. This is an all night move. Almost had a crack up with a

Jeep.

Changed radiators in the carrier. Had a chicken dinner. Wrote letter to Alice. Wrote

a number of letters.

Serviced and cleaned our vehicles. Received a letter from Alice, Number 115.

Received from the Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen a monthly paper. Had chicken dinner.

Freddie went to hospital.

Cleaned carrier for inspection. Prepare for guard duty. Received a letter from Alice.

Wrote her one. The boys played the piano all night.

Getting ready for guard duty. Had a chicken dinner. Had a ceremonial parade.

Relieved of guard duty at 10:30 pm.

Was up at 11:00 am. Wrote letters in the morning. Received letters from Francis and

Alice. Wrote letters to Mother and Alice.

Moved to a different area. Built a hut for the men of our section. Was on guard duty,

1:00 – 3:00 pm.

Maintenance on carrier. Changed oil to 50 HD. Received a parcel from Mother and a

letter from Alice.

Maintenance on carrier. Met Stan. Wrote letters. Attended a prayer fellowship in the

evening. Received a letter from Bill Lievers.

Maintenance on carrier all day. Had a bath parade in the afternoon. Received a letter

from Mrs. Walters. Wrote letters in the evening. Went to prayer meeting.

Rise at 7:30 am. Had an ordinance weapon inspection. Maintenance during the day.

Went for a walk in the evening.

Maintenance. Had a lecture on mines. Had a muster parade. Had a gun drill in the

afternoon. Received letters from Harry and Alice, wrote to them.

Colonels speech at our church parade. Had a gun drill. Went to Cyok. Received a

letter from Alice.

Went to a six pounder range gun drill in the afternoon. Received a letter from Alice.

Wrote letters. Attended a prayer meeting.

Various duties all day. Wrote letters in the evening. Attended a prayer meeting.

Went to a rifle range. Didn’t fire. Preparing to move. Moved at 6:00 pm

We cross the Rhine River into Germany. Stayed in a farm yard all night. No mail

today.

Not much to do but wait for orders. Went into the attack in the evening. Stayed in a

barn all night.

- no entry -13

made the terrain impassable for tanks. "D" and "B" companies became pinned down by withering machine gun

fire, and a German self propelled gun created havoc. "D" company had to temporarily withdraw without much

of it’s equipment because it was running low on ammunition and armored support could not get to it. To make

the Fools Day complete, the enemy withdrew in the night leaving only a few diehards behind. Reference D

Maple Leaf article describes the event. Personal Archives

Easter Sunday. Battle is going strong. Took up positions twice today. Wrote to

Alice.

Easter Monday. Various duties this morning. Move at 12:00 noon. Move again at

1:00 pm about 20 miles. Sleep in a cow barn.

Received letters from Annie and Alice. Moved at noon. Took over from Royal

Highlanders.

Various jobs in the morning. Out at a gun position at a little white house. The enemy

blows up a bridge. Wrote letters in the evening.

Moved out at gun position. Shelled by our own artillery. Sniped at. Am on leave

from Battalion. Wrote letters to Alice an others.

Am on leave from Battalion. Wake up at 11:00 am. Went for a shower. Wrote

letters in the afternoon. Worked on the carrier.

Travelled to B Echelon in the morning. Pete on leave to England. Wrote letters.

Moved in the evening. Wrote a letter to Alice.

Maintenance on carrier in the morning. Ramons and I went for eggs to a farmer.

Played softball. George came over to see me. Wrote a letter to Alice.

Various jobs today. Went to a farmer to purchase eggs. Wrote letters to Mother and

Alice. No move today.

Wake up at 11:00 am went for a ride to find A Echelon. George came to see me.

Wrote letter to Alice.

Moved at 9:30 am. After dinner. Pearce and I went back to get some parts from a

disabled carrier. Did odd jobs in the evening. Looks like rain.

Various jobs all day today. Rain in the evening. Prepare to move to Spiers

Moved to Spiers, 53 miles. Arrived at 10:00 am. Received letters from Margaret and

Alice. Sent Maple Leaf Scrapbook to Alice.

Rained all day. Unable to do anything. Am on leave from Battalion at Spier.

Rain today. Moved at 4:30 to Viers. Went to purchase some eggs. Wrote a letter to

Alice. No mail today.

Went for a shower. Wrote letters to Mr. & Mrs. Walters and Alice. Went for a ride

in my carrier. It is very hot today.

Various in the morning. Went to a car park. Drove cars around. Moved in the

evening to Tenbar. Rejoined the Battalion.

Went for a shower. Wrote a letter to Alice.

Was up at night and stand to all night. Suspect a counterattack. Prepare to move.

Received letters from Mrs. Walters and Alice. Alice received the flowers.

Various jobs all day. Prepare to move into Germany. Wrote a letter to Alice.

We are up at 2:30 am and move out at 4:30 am. We are on the road all day. Now we

are in Breman. I am very tired.

Moved up and into the attack. We are up all night. Traveled over mines. They never

went off. Received a letter from Alice.

The battle is going strong. The enemy is strongly resisting. I am very, very tired.

We are out in trenches. It is raining. Received a letter from Mother and Alice. Wrote

letters.

We are in trenches. Jerry is shelling very heavy. Received a parcel from Margaret.

Typed some letters.

We are still in trenches. It is trying hard to snow, and is very cold. Received a parcel

from Francis. Wrote some letters.

We are still in trenches. Jerry has quieted down a bit. Presume to have moved out of

position. It is raining.

We are still in the same place. It is raining cats and dogs.

We are still in trenches. Prepare to move tomorrow. Wrote some letters.

Moved in the afternoon. Rained heavy all day. Received parcels from Harry and

Margaret an one from Alice.

Moved up again. A sea mine goes up and killed 8, wounded 3, and 2 are missing.

Pulled trailer through mud.15

Allard addressed the troops and complimented them on their fine work. Reference D.

mine. Other vehicles had gone over this particular crossroads without trouble. It required the extra weight of

the heavily armored truck to activate the triggering device. The Germans had tunneled into the center of the

crossroads for the ditches to install the mine. Reference D.

Move in the morning. Took up positions. On our way to Oldenburg. Was issued a

new 6 pounder gun. Typed letters.

Moved into battle position. Received a letter from Alice. We are on a waiting game.

We arrive in the City of Oldenburg. The war is nearly over. Peace talks are on.

Received a letter from Margaret and Alice.