Up about 7.30. On fatigue all day. Detailed for walking wounded post in the morning. Went to service at night and it was very good. John and Billy with us. Party came down the line smothered in mud.
Yearly Archives: 2018
12 January 1918; Saturday
Up about 7.30. On parade at 9 and fatigues all day. Read article by A G G1 on the war and the churches and also a sermon on “Providence” by J Fort Newton2.
AGG would be A G Gardiner (1865 – 1946), editor of the Daily News 1902 – 1919 and popular writer. ALL had previously mentioned a book by A G Gardiner. Prophets, Priests and Kings, which he had read while on holiday in St Andrews in 1915. See Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩
11 January 1918; Friday
10 January 1918; Thursday
On guard at 2 o’clock. Called the others up at 7. Chopped wood first thing. On again from 10 to 12 and from 4 to 6. Fritz1 sent over a few whizzbangs2 at night about tea time. Off guard at 6 o’clock. Went to bed soon and slept well.
Dreamed that I was going to marry Mildred Woodruff3. Received long letter from Charlie.
Fritz: a name given to German troops by the British and others in the First and Second World Wars. ↩
Whizzbangs: high-velocity, low-trajectory shells giving only brief audible warning of approach. ↩
Mildred Woodruff: Never mentioned in the diaries other than here. Identity unknown. ↩
9 January 1918; Wednesday
Up about 7.30. On fatigue all day. Wrote long letter to Ernie <as part> of greeting. Put on guard at night. Snowing heavily. Got about 2 hours’ sleep.
8 January 1918; Tuesday
Up about 7.30. On fatigue all day. Felt a bit off form and went to bed early. Received letter from Mother.
The air full of peace talk.
7 January 1918; Monday
Up about 7.30. On fatigue all day. Read a bit and wrote a letter or two. Received parcel from home.
6 January 1918; Sunday
[Three lines of shorthand crossed out – apparently the next day’s entry.]
Up at 6 o’clock and on guard. Finished my turn at 10, but relieved the others from eleven. Finished guard at 6 o’clock. Went to special Newton1 thanksgiving service in the little chapel at night. Rather dull.
Joseph Fort Newton, 1876-1950, Texan Baptist minister; studied at Harvard under William James (elder brother of Henry James), served at London’s City Temple 1916-20, travelled widely in British Isles, gained international fame through his sermons. See also 12 and 18 January entries. ↩
5 January 1918; Saturday
Ernie’s Birthday. Spent the day on fatigue. Warned for guard at 4 o’clock to go on at 6 o’clock. Received letter from Father and replied to it. Went on guard. Did from 6 to 10.
4 January 1918; Friday
Up about 7.30. Spent morning looking after our little dugout. A new lot from the 52 Ambulance took over and arranged for us to go on night duty. Immediately after dinner received orders to return. Went down in the car just in time for tea. Went to A section billet in the big cellar. Had a cold on chest and felt a bit off form. Got down to it about 5.30 and slept well.