This is an extract from Arthur Linfoot’s own transcription of his diary, written in 1976.
Up at usual time. Physical drill. Foot and chest inspection in the morning. In the evening wrote letter. Went to boxing match at night and saw six contests. Some decent boxing. Went to bed early after talking with Walsh. Saw three balloons up.
Received letter from Betty telling me that she understood1, but would like to keep on corresponding with me. I replied. Physical drill. [Some words about ‘drill’ crossed out by ALL.] Also foot and chest inspection in the morning. No parades in the afternoon. Wrote letter. Went to boxing contest at night and saw about 6 matches and some decent boxing. Went to bed early after talking a bit with Walsh. Saw 3 observation balloons up.
This is an extract from Arthur Linfoot’s own transcription of his diary, written in 1976.
Up before 7 o’clock. Parades as usual. Practised various methods of carrying helpless men and I carried Lee ‘fireman’s lift’. (I was 9½ st.; Lee 121.) Gas tests in a barn in the afternoon, also tear gas test. Finished reading “Simon the Jester”.
9½ stones is 133 pounds, or a little over 60kg. 12 stones is 168 pounds or a little over 76kg. ↩
Up before 7. Parades as usual. Various modes of carrying in the morning, and I carried Lee fireman’s lift.
Gas test in the afternoon in a barn. Also tear shell test.
Wrote letters at night. Finished reading “Simon the Jester.”
Thunder storm in the afternoon.
This is an extract from Arthur Linfoot’s own transcription of his diary, written in 1976.
Parades as usual. Squad drill and physical drill in the morning and a short route march in the afternoon followed by a pay parade. Read “Simon the Jester” at night.
Parades as usual. Physical drill and squad drill in the morning and a short route march in the afternoon followed by pay parade.
Wrote letters at night and read a lot of a story called Simon the Jester1.
“Simon the Jester”: by William J. Locke, first published 1910; Vol. XI in the Bodley Head Autograph Edition. See also Simon the Jester and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩
Simon the Jester is a novel by by William J. Locke, first published in 1910 and twice made into films, in 1915 and 1925, both silent.
After learning he has but six months to live, the wealthy Simon de Gex decides to tell no one of his impending death and to spend his fortune madly.
Arthur Linfoot wrote that he had “read a lot of a story called Simon the Jester” on 22 June 1916 while stationed at Rainneville in northern France during the build up to the battle of the Somme. He finished the book the next day.
This is an extract from Arthur Linfoot’s own transcription of his diary, written in 1976.
Up at 7 o’clock. Had tooth out. Sat on cart shaft in farmyard and Captain Johnson pulled it out. Route march in the afternoon. Very hot. Stayed in at night and wrote letters. Letter from Leishman, and I replied to it. Had milk and marmalade for supper.
Up at 7 o’clock. Reported sick. Had tooth out. Sat on cart shaft. Captain Johnson pulled it out1. Route march in the afternoon. Very hot. Stayed in at night and wrote letters. Received letter from Leishman and replied to it. Had milk and marmalade for supper. Fine day.
Had tooth out.
Without anæsthetic, naturally; in later life ALL described how the MO, Capt. Johnson, sidled up to him hiding the pincers behind his back. ↩
This is an extract from Arthur Linfoot’s own transcription of his diary, written in 1976.
Up shortly before 7 o’clock. Physical drill and a route march in the morning and a route march in the afternoon. Walked quite a long way and was tired. Had a bath at night in a biscuit tin. Wrote letter home. Broke tooth.