Up at 5.30. Turned guard out at Reveille. Relieved at 9.15. Went to bed. Had short walk and went to Inwoods’ for tea. At church at night and Inwoods’ to supper.
Yearly Archives: 2016
6 May 1916; Saturday
On Lower Gate. Rather damp morning. Met Sergeant Carlisle of Alnwick and talked with him for a bit. Rain all day. Nothing special happened. Turned down at mid night.
5 May 1916; Friday
On parade. Wet day. Inspected by C.O. and removed to another draft. Water-washing proceeding. Went into town at night and returned early. Wrote to Betty. Went to bed about 10.15.
4 May 1916; Thursday
On parade. Started water-washing barrack rooms. We moved down stairs while it was being done. Returned to our own room to sleep. At Inwoods’ at night and played a new game. Returned shortly after 10 o’clock.
3 May 1916; Wednesday
Returned to barracks about 4.15. Went to bed 4.30. Turned out on parade at 7 o’clock. Bath parade. Dismissed for the day afterwards. Slept before and after dinner. Went with Green to Soldier’s Rest in town. Played ping pong at night. Went to bed rather late.
2 May 1916; Tuesday
Got up about 5.40. Slept a bit before breakfast. Wrote letters and didn’t go on parade. Received letter from Don. Paraded in the afternoon and received arm Red Cross. Went out at night. Sent parcel1 home, had hair cut and did a few things. Returned to barracks early with Green.
Zepp. Raid2.
Turned out shortly after lights out. Had to go to Cinderhill† police station. Stayed until 4 o’clock and listened to the men and policemen talking.
The parcel would have contained any possessions not allowed in France (except the Diary!). ↩
According to The Diary of the Great War at the web site of the Western Front Association, five Zeppelins (including L20 and LZ98) raided Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Scotland on 2 May 1916: about 100 bombs dropped. 9 killed, 30 injured. ↩
1 May 1916; Monday
Returned from station after mid night. Up early for 7 o’clock parade. Only a few on parade. Ten turned up in the afternoon. Zeppelin raid at night and waste <of> time.
30 April 1916; Sunday
[The pages for 29 & 30 April, which face each other, are badly smudged, in part illegible.]
At church in the morning. Band of Hope and * anniversary. Went again in the evening with Green. At Inwoods’ to tea. Slipped away from church at night to see the men before they go. Draft went to France. 500 men and a few N.C.O.s. All Alnwick men<,> nearly went with them. Paraded 9.30. Marched off about 11 o’clock. Awful crowd in the town. Great excitement. Left station shortly after 12 o’clock. The band played them out and there was tremendous cheering. Shook hands with Jackson, Foot, Metcalfe, Plummer, Parkin†, and all the rest of them. Also Willie Hunter, and George Baglin†.
29 April 1916; Saturday
[The pages for 29 & 30 April, which face each other, are badly smudged, in part illegible.]
Men parading for their gear. Off in afternoon. Went into town and had a bath with Green. Met Bennett and went to Cinderhill1 café for tea. Some fun with the girls. Went to concert at night at Victoria Hall. Met Mrs Inwood and Franchie and a lot of RAMC men. I went with them to supper. Very good concert.
“Cinderhill”: uncertain transcription, but there are Cinderhill Lanes both N. and S. of Sheffield, so it may have been used as a name for a business. ↩
28 April 1916; Friday
Men paraded for their things. Didn’t do much. Still not on the draft. Pay parade. Arranged with Grattan Hunter and Mullin about buying something for Inwoods. Went into town and chose a present.