Up at 7 o’clock and on duty as usual. Went with Harvey to a bible class at La Clytte Y M at night. Very nice little meeting. The leader reminded me of Mr Mullens1. He took our names and made a big fuss.
Mr Mullens: A minister from the South Durham Street United Methodist Free Church in Sunderland, where ALL had been a member prior to joining the RAMC. Mr Mullens, Esther and Arthur Mullens are all mentioned occasionally throughout the diaries. ↩
Took over duties in the hospital at 7.30 in the morning. Had a fairly easy day. One man with a foot off died during the morning. We were very sorry for him. Captain Strickland tried hard to save his life.
Up at 6 o’clock and on parade at 7 o’clock. Went up to the dugout fatigue and stayed until 3.45. Worked pretty hard and was tired. Had short walk at night.
Up at 6 o’clock and went up the line on the dugout fatigue. Rained heavily all day and we returned at dinner time after simply unlocking a waggon of stuff. Good news in the papers about the advance at Arras.
Went to service at the Y M at night and played1 for a short while afterwards. Had serious talk with Harvey and felt better after it.
“Played”: Not a game but a keyboard instrument of some sort; a piano or organ if such was available in the YM. ↩
Up at 6 o’clock and out on the dugout after the fatigue. Stayed up until 3.45 and arrived back about 5 o’clock. Sergeant Wilson with us and the chaps pulled his leg all the time. Had a rather awful dinner. Was very tired at night. Had a short walk and went down to La Clytte Y M and listened outside to the Follies.
Slept in the guard tent. Up at 6 and on guard from 6 to 10. Fine morning. Sat in guard tent and read. Lay about most of the day and read a good bit. Sergeant MacDonnell in the tent most of the time and in one of his silly moods. Had a short walk at night.
Heard that we had met with a reverse at Vimy Ridge.
Up at 7 o’clock. On parade at 9 o’clock and told off for the usual fatigues. Went up to the dressing station at 12 o’clock and worked until after 3. Returned close on 5 o’clock, pretty tired, and found that Harvey, Holman and I were on guard at 6 o’clock. Went on first. Finished at 10 o’clock and turned in for the night. A boycott† on a well because a well has been poisoned in the neighbourhood.
Heard that we have captured 11,000 prisoners, over 100 guns, 60 trench mortars and 163 machine guns.
Up at 6 o’clock. Marched off at 7 o’clock. Arrived at the dressing station about 8 o’clock. Spent the morning digging and was very tired after it. Returned about 1 o’clock. Turned out wet in the afternoon so we did nothing in the afternoon. Went to the Y M at night to the Follies. Saw Billington on dancing.
We were shelled pretty heavily going down the road. Got lift in a lorry. One of the North Lancs wounded by the first shell.
Up at 8 o’clock. Relieving party arrived between 8 – 91. The Germans shelled the road very heavily and by about 3.00 were into two fields on the right. Had a bath parade in the afternoon.
Walked about at night.
Heard of the capture of Vimy Ridge.
Up at 8 o’clock. Practically nothing to do all day. Wrote letter to Ernie. Received letter and parcel from home. Cold day and a few showers of snow. Read some of “Villette.”1 The man badly wounded in the arm2 died tonight. I felt a bit queer as is Captain Strickland.
Vimy Ridge captured by the British.
Sat at bay.