Unloading wagons all day at loop. Nothing unusual to note.

Shells flying all around us. We did not know where to go out of it, but it has finished now. A quiet day otherwise.

Arrived back from work at 5.30 a.m., then had to wait until 7.30 a.m. for breakfast. Then got in bed for two hours, then unloading wagons again until 8.30 p.m. Had an excellent tea to-day.

Working all night until 5.30am. February 6th. Unloading military trucks. 2ft. gauge. Nothing to eat except two biscuits since dinner on 5th February. Very cold. Had a job to keep warm.

Breakfast at 7.00 a.m. Some of our mates shifted to Bray? [Bray-sur-Somme] others left behind walked round the battlefields of Gulleynont, Longeval, and Thiepal? Several graveyards about.

The following additional information is from Martin Farebrother:

Guillemont, Longeval, Thiepval (most sappers did not have access to maps).

Breakfast at 8.0 a.m. Squad drill until 11.00 a.m. Then searched battlefield we are camped on for souvenirs, but only found German bullets. Had a service in our own tent at night among ourselves.

Now in sound of artillery guns. Several shells passing over us during night. We are situated in a horseshoe curve thus:- [A diagram shows Plateau surrounded by deep horseshoe curve with the enemy on the far side.]

The following additional information is from Martin Farebrother:

At this time, and until the German retreat to the ‘Hindenburg Line’ in March 1917, Plateau and Frise were quite near the front line where the Battle of the Somme ended in November 1916. Froissy was slightly further from the front line.

Fell in 8.00am. Squad drill. Had a Turkish bath. Left Audr[u]icq at 9.00 pm in box trucks for Plateau. Arrived 6.00 am February 3rd. Enjoyed the journey although tired.

Unloading timber all day. Good feed at night of steak etc. Heavy frost all night. Boots frozen hard. Hats frozen. Blankets dripping wet with dew from top of tents.

Unloading timber all day from railway wagons. Very cold all day. Had pork and potatoes and haricot beans for one shilling* at B.E.F.** canteen. Sharp frost at night.

*£4.50/$6.10 in 2022 currency

**British Expeditionary Force