The war experiences of 2nd Lt. C. E. Gregory RFC/RAF in 1918
Greg was down for a shoot today, but it was a ‘dud day’ – so Greg went and had a good time in Paris-Plage:
Thursday Aug 15th. Down for a shoot. Dud day. Went to Paris-Plage – good time.
In contrast to today’s unexpected bonus outing, Greg’s previous trip to Paris-Plage was on a scheduled day off, and rather chaotic because of a driver not knowing where he was going:
A day off! And a trip to the seaside at Paris-Plage that didn’t go entirely to plan…
Thursday July 11th 1918. The first of a series of tenders to the seaside went down to Paris-Plage. I was picked out. Tender left mess at 1.30 & owing to driver not knowing the way arrived at Paris-Plage at 5 pm. Raining most of the way, but fine at Paris-Plage – which is quite a nice little place on the coast near Etaples. Had a walk around, dined at the Continental Hotel, & left at 9.30. Arrived in camp at 2 am. Got lost on way home.
About a 45 mile (72 km) journey by road from Rely, and near Étaples, the town is today formally known as Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, often shortened to Le Touquet. The early years of the 20th century witnessed its development, and it became a fashionable resort for Parisians – hence the name.
It took Greg 3½ hours to get there and 4½ hours to get back. Not a great rate of net progress in either direction! Presumably driving was more difficult on the return journey because of a general lack of illumination in the dark. Étaples was still liable to German air raids, much as Greg had experienced when he was first posted to France – less than six weeks earlier, but an age ago: