Keep Smiling

Keep smiling is the personal motto of my great grand uncle.
 He was a signaler in the 14th Royal Irish Rifles B.E.F.
I was originally posting stuff in my other blog Dice of Doom. But I've decided to switch over to here as this blog is more wargaming focused I figured it was more appropriate.
My grandfather's uncle kept a diary of his experiences during the war. I have a copy of the typewritten transcript of his diary. I am intending to post on the hundredth anniversary to the day any of his diary entries. It's kind of an ambitious project but I look forward to it.

Entry #3  December 3, 1914 
We were removed to Bundoran. Three companies were billeted in the G.N.R. hotel, but my company was billeted in houses. We were lucky enough to fall in with a fine little cottage with only one inhabitant- an old man - who gave us the entire run of the house. So we had every comfort, and was a bit of a change from having to patrol the tent at nights to try and keep it down. Just before Christmas my company moved into the hotel, as half of the battalion was on leave. We slept on the floor of the smoke room. It was there I had my first Christmas dinner in the Army. Our officers were very kind to us. We had a splendid dinner, after which we had sports. And as the weather was very Christmasy we spent an A1 holiday. We remained here and repaving every day until the 30th.

Entry #4 December 30, 1914
I left Bundoran for eight days leave in Belfast. Remaining in Belfast until 8 January.

Entry #5 January 8, 1915
I joined Battalion which had in the meantime moved to Randalstown. This camp was situated in Shanes's Park and was very muddy at first but improved through time. Here we continued our training. Including some fine group marches with full pack to Ballyscullion and Drumadarragh, distance is about 30 miles. We also had a recruiting March to and through Ballymena where we got a fine reception. My spare afternoons here were spent either in Antrim or in Mr Mooneys, a kindhearted old gent who always made me at home. As I had my bike here I visited most of the surrounding country, and altogether had an a one time. I was very sorry to leave Randalstown, which we did on July 6.