Left Charlie at York at at 2 oclock a.m. Changed at Normanby. Arrived Sheffield barracks about 5 o’clock. On duty at 6 o’clock. Very sleepy all day and scarcely managed to peg along. Went to bed soon at night.
Monthly Archives: September 2015
19 September 1915; Sunday
Got up at about 9 o’clock and had to hurry to chapel to the Harvest Festival. Had walk with Father in the afternoon. Mr Blaikie, and Willie Whittaker to tea. We were at chapel at night and sang Sun of my Soul, and Charlie took the solo. Said farewell to everybody. Charlie had a big crowd to see him off including some from the chapel and Mr Newrick and his daughter. Went to Newcastle, changed again at York and left Charlie there.
18 September 1915; Saturday
Arrived home about 12.30 a.m. Didn’t expect me. Charlie and Joe at the station waiting for Ernie. Ernie arrived about half an hour later. Father in bed and didn’t know that we were all here. Got up about 9 o’clock. Telegraphed for an extension until reveille. Went to the office1 and saw them there. Stayed in in the afternoon. Blaikie called and we had a few songs. Went to Grandmother’s later and saw them. Called into town at night and then went down to the chapel. Decorating for the Harvest Festival. Spoke to a good many people.
“The office”: Hendon Paper Mill, where ALL had been employed prior to joining the RAMC. See Sunderland map. ↩
17 September 1915; Friday
At hospital as usual. Had a bit trouble about the pass, but got it about 5 o’clock and got 5.38 train to Sunderland. Met Herring† and his sister in the station and came up with them. Spent a couple of hours in York and had supper there. Arrived Sunderland 12 midnight. Received 10/- wages.
16 September 1915; Thursday
At hospital as usual. Put in a weekend pass. Excited about Charlie going away.
15 September 1915; Wednesday
At hospital again. Received telegram from Charlie saying he is on final leave this weekend & is going to the Dardanelles.
14 September 1915; Tuesday
Up at 5.30. Had breakfast at 7 o’clock and went with the party to the Wharncliffe War Hospital. Stayed until 12 o’clock. Attached to a medical ward. Spent afternoon as usual. Received telegram from Charlie saying he can get home this weekend.
13 September 1915; Monday
On duty as usual and on the parade ground. Received word that I had to go with a party to the Wharncliffe War Hospital1 in the morning.
“Wharncliffe War Hospital”: 3 miles NW of Sheffield city centre; it was the building of the West Riding Asylum, offered by its Board as a war hospital early in 1915, effective from 1 April 1915; over 2,000 beds, X-ray section, 3 operating theatres etc. See also Sheffield map. ↩
12 September 1915; Sunday
On Fire Piquet1 & Canteen Cpl. C.B.2 all day. Tried to clean belt, wrote to Willie Whittaker and wrote up diary. Song† by men in the barrack room at night.
Piquet or picquet: Pronounced picket; refers to a soldier or small unit of soldiers maintaining a watch. This may mean a watch for the enemy, or other types of watch; e.g., in this case, “fire picket”. ↩
“C.B.”: “confined to barracks”, usually signifying a low-level military punishment (incorporating frequent inspections in full kit, extra fatigue duties etc), popularly known as ‘jankers’; but ALL seems to be using it here in a purely literal sense – he couldn’t leave barracks due to his picquet and canteen duties. ↩
New feature added: Interactive Maps.