Diary Entry - 14th May, 1917

Walford: Monday. Our turn to supply Bde orderly officer, so I have to stump out at six a.m. and see everyone water. At four a.m. we had a thunder storm and some lightning. Gunner Bates, my old servant, told me he saw it set a balloon on fire. The Wheeler with a fatigue from each battery was very busy putting up troughs or rather connecting them all so as three pumps would supply them with water and a battery could water with ease. After breakfast, Hoyland went to RA and obtained a leave warrant for two days in Paris. I forgot to mention we all went down to the river for a swim before breakfast but the water was too cold for me and I wasted no time in getting out.