Christmas 1916 - John Gibson Pitt, 8th Battalion, A.I.F.

By Christmas 1916 Private John Pitt of ‘D’ Company, 8th Battalion had risen to the rank of 2nd lieutenant. John (who was originally from England), in his own diary records this as he is given leave in Paris:-


Saturday December 23rd

We did grouping practices on the 30 yards range in the morning. In the afternoon we did a road ------ and at 3.30 were given our passes for Paris and straight away put all our best togs on. Had some tea and then got paid which crowned our joy. The train was due to leave Picquigny at 5.38 but we had to do a freeze on the station for two hours before it eventually turned up. We settled down in a 1st class compartment with 3 French officers who were excellent chaps and spoke English very well.

Xmas Eve

We steamed into the Gare Du Nord at Paris after a long journey at 3 am and as ever were just about ravenous a MS Corpl showed us a Red and –uff- underground where we got a good feed. Then we had to start looking for a hotel and it was a good while before 4 of us succeeded in getting rooms at the Grand Hotel. I got room number 949 on the fifth floor. Some Hotel. Turned in at about 4 o’clock. Hot bath and up at 9.30 to breakfast which according to the Parisian style consisted of steaming hot coffee and rusks. This is a beautiful place and there are some big bugs of here of all nationalities. We started off to have a look round after reporting to the RSM. A guide eventually collared Lenbury Dillon and myself and we allowed him to show us around. We went round slowly in a taxi,, he explaining the various places of interest as we went and stopping when necessary. It is certainly a very beautiful city and well named Gay Paris. We had lunch at the Brasserie Universille and then went out exploring again in the afternoon and back to the hotel. We saw the Notre Dame Eiffel Tower, Napoleons tomb and Place De La Concorde, which is a beautiful spot and all the other well known places. We bought tickets for the Opera tonight and after having had tea at the American tea rooms and dinner at Prunier? we made for the Opera Pomique and saw Carmen, which although all in French, we appreciated to the full there being some marvellous singing and acting.

Xmas Day 1916

Up at 9 o’clock. Breakfast. Further exploration of the city returning to the hotel for our Xmas dinner at 1 o/c., 15 Australian Officers being present. Dobbin and I then strolled some more and had dinner at the cafe –ois— and then went to the Nouveau Cirque a variety show. Just caught the 11.4 train by the skin of our teeth. Paris is absolutely full but there are very few British soldiers there at all. We had a very pleasant and educational trip.

Boxing Day 1916

Slept very little on the train and after a very tiresome journey arrived at Picquigny at 6 am. Slept for an hour had breakfast and turned out on parade at 9 o/c. The CO roaring because some of us were unshaven. PT was not too acceptable this morning. Judging distances. Live bomb throwing in the afternoon. Lecture at 5 o/c on German grenades.