Up shortly before 7 o’clock. Fine at first but rain later in the morning. Busy as usual.
Monthly Archives: December 2016
20 December 1916; Wednesday
Up about 7 o’clock. Missed the parade. Got off in the afternoon and went in the bus to the football match. About 14 kilos ride. Lovely day. Enjoyed the ride. Our team lost. Loyal North Lancs 3 – 1. Divisional band after dinners. Got back at tea time. Only peas†.
19 December 1916; Tuesday
Up about 7 o’clock. Busy all day. Went off to Y M at night. Mr Lloyd George [entry apparently uncompleted.] 1
David Lloyd George had become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom a few days earlier, on 6 December 1916, following the resignation of Herbert Asquith. It is possible that ALL had intended to write a note to this effect, or to comment on some act or decision by Lloyd George subsequent to his appointment as PM. ↩
18 December 1916; Monday
Up at 7 o’clock and on duty rather late. Missed the parade. Got all the tent cleaned up and everything went pretty smoothly all day. Cold weather.
17 December 1916; Sunday
Busy all day. Finished at 6 o’clock and went up to the service in the Mairie. The padre was very good and we enjoyed the service. Received letter from Ernie, also parcel from Betty.
Heard that at the French victory at Verdun 9 000 prisoners and 81 guns had been captured.
16 December 1916; Saturday
Busy as usual. Managed to get time to write a letter. Finished about 8 o’clock and went straight to bed.
Heard of a French victory at Verdun 1 and that they had advanced 2 miles on a 6 mile front.
“French victory at Verdun”: Seemingly the closing stages of the Battle of Verdun (February – December 1916). ↩
15 December 1916; Friday
Up at 7 o’clock. Very busy all day and no time for anything else but work. Went to bed about 9 o’clock.
14 December 1916; Thursday
Up at 6.30. Breakfast at 7 o’clock and on duty at 7.30. Very busy all morning. Everything in a terrible mix up.
Read part of Bethmann Hollweg’s speech1
See note on 12 December. ↩
13 December 1916; Wednesday
Up about 7 o’clock. On duty 7.30. Cleared all patients for the hospital and packed up. Called down to the C R S 1 shortly after dinner. Billeted in tents. Heard Holman and Truman taken up the town and put on a big double marquee with 27 patients. Got to bed after a search for my blankets. Rain came in through the tents and awoke rather wet. Received letter from Father telling me of accident to Marmie and Dorothy through the oven bursting.
“C R S”: Camp Reception Station. See RAMC Chain of Evacuation. ↩
Coming up in 2017, community screenings of Asunder and a performance at the Barbican Milton Court Concert Hall, London on 12 February.