Yearly Archives: 2016

18 June 1916; Sunday

This is an extract from Arthur Linfoot’s own transcription of his diary, written in 1976.

Up at 7 o’clock. Could hear the guns at the front very distinctly. On Church parade at 9. Open air service. After the service each of us were given a pair of socks. First time I have been at a field service. In the afternoon lay in a field writing a letter to Mr Inwood. Watched aeroplanes playing about. Fine day. Went to field service again at night. Had discussion with Lee about singing words in hymns which we didn’t agree with. Walked to the village in the evening.

18 June 1916; Sunday

Up at 7 o’clock. Church parade at 9 o’clock. Open air service. After service we were given a pair of socks each. First field service I have attended. Spent the afternoon in the field writing a letter to Mr Inwood and watching aeroplanes playing about. Fine day. Went to service in the field again at night. Read Epistle of St. James. Had a discussion with Lee about singing words in hymns which we don’t believe. Short walk in the village.

Can hear guns at the front very distinctly.
Had one cup of coffee.
Received 4 letters.

17 June 1916; Saturday

This is an extract from Arthur Linfoot’s own transcription of his diary, written in 1976.

Up at 7 o’clock. Paraded first thing and cleaned waggons. An hour’s physical drill – and pretty hard too. A nice little route march in the afternoon. Walked into the village at evening and bought a paper. (Probably Paris edition, Daily Mail). Russians still advancing. Posted letter home.

17 June 1916; Saturday

Up at 7 o’clock. Paraded first thing and cleaned waggons. An hour’s physical drill and pretty hard too. Nice little march in the afternoon. Walked into the village at night and got a paper. Russians still advancing. Posted letter home and one to Green.

Fine night.

Called at farm house and had two glasses of coffee.
and heard guns at the front very distinctly.

16 June 1916; Friday

This is an extract from Arthur Linfoot’s own transcription of his diary, written in 1976.

Paraded 7 in the morning and marched to Rainneville. The whole Brigade passed before us and it was an impressive sight. Full marching order. About eight miles. Warm day. New billet in a barn at a French farmhouse. Better and cleaner than the last one. Had café au lait in the farmhouse. Went to bed early (i.e., lay down on the straw). Wrote letter home.

16 June 1916; Friday

Paraded in the morning and marched to Raineville. Parts† of whole brigade marched past and it was a most interesting sight. Carried full pack about 8 miles. Warm day. Found new billet. In a barn in a French house. I had coffee and lay in the house. Quaint old fashioned house with big fire place. New billet much cleaner than the old one. Went to bed early.

Raineville1.

Wrote letter home and posted letter to Betty.


  1. Rainneville (B): 10km NNE of Amiens and about 30km E of Longpré-les-Corps-Saints (A); on D11; ref G8. ALL spells it “Raineville”, but it is only identifiable in Michelin with the two n’s; the location seems consistent. See also Note on Locations in France