On parade as usual. Canteen corporal from 11.45 to 12.30. Wrote home and to Charlie. Went to the post office at night. Lecture in the afternoon as usual. Fine day. Had walk into town to post letter, and returned soon. At Y.M. last thing and an officer of the Fusiliers asked me if I was going out too.
Yearly Archives: 2016
10 January 1916; Monday
On parade as usual. On fatigue at 8.30. Got money from Sergeant-Major and squared up accounts. Went out to Barton’s Farm and paid his bill, and drove to the town in his trap with him and Mr David Mack. Lecture in the afternoon. At the pictures at night with Black and they were so rotten we came out. Drew £10 from bank and sent it on to Ernie.
9 January 1916; Sunday
At church as usual. Sat upstairs in the Presbyterian church1 in the morning, and didn’t stay to the sacrament. Had walk through the deer park2 in the afternoon. At church at night and was in the same pew as the Misses Mack. Missed them after church. Walked up their lane a bit and came back past them with another chap. Walked round that way back to camp. Sang Jackson’s evening hymn at night.
Probably Hulne Park again. ↩
8 January 1916; Saturday
Up at 7.30. Breakfast not until 8.15. Paraded as usual. Went for a walk with Black (after having a bath) and had tea in the town. Saw Miss Mack at night, but merely spoke. Went to try to get into the pictures, but couldn’t.
7 January 1916; Friday
Up at 7.30. Got rations book up to date. Lecture in the afternoon by Lieutenant Macdonald. Called in new recreation room and commenced letter to Charlie. Walked into town at night. At Y.M.C.A. last thing. Went out with Corporal Collins to catch Wilson stealing coals. Waited until after 11 o’clock. Up at the mess about 11 o’clock and it was beastly. Had lecture in the morning by Groves through Lance-Corporal Aitken getting drunk, stealing and generally misbehaving himself. He lost his stripe.
6 January 1916; Thursday
Up at 7.30. Paraded before the adjutant. On fatigue all morning. Had lecture in the afternoon. Went to town to get hair cut and saw Miss Mack but didn’t speak. Wrote letter to Sandwith. Falmer said he had sent a letter for me to the colonel by mistake, but I can’t find anything about it. Went to bed at usual time.
5 January 1916; Wednesday
Ernie’s Birthday. Up at 7.30. All men paraded before the adjutant. I didn’t turn up and was told to do so in future. Went to the pictures at night with Black. Pretty good pictures. Saw the Misses Mack again and Black and I set them up. Got back just at 10 o’clock.
4 January 1916; Tuesday
Up at 7.30. Paraded men again. Collins turned up in the afternoon. Had a bit trouble in the afternoon about a lecture – our men on fatigues. Got late passes and went to Mr Don’s house at night. Had good time. Green, Metgrave and I set two ladies (the Misses Mack1) to their home at High† House and didn’t get back to camp until about 1 o’clock.
At Mr Don’s.
At Barton’s Farm in the morning seeing about the milk account.
Perhaps “The Misses Mack” was how the Misses McGill were known to their friends; at any rate, “Mack” hereinafter supersedes “McGill” in the Diary and footnotes. ↩
3 January 1916; Monday
New adjutant took over command, and inspected us first thing. Looks a smart and decent chap. I paraded men as usual. Went to social at night. Had to leave early as Collins didn’t turn up. Cameron missing too. All the other chaps turned in. Pretty quiet at night. I left social at 9.30.
Social at Pres. Church1.
Probably Clayport church again. ↩