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.
All posts by Arthur Linfoot
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. ↩
2 January 1916; Sunday
1 January 1916; Saturday
Falmer roused me to shake hands and wish me a Happy New Year. Lay awake until about 3 o’clock. The men in the hut making a bit row. Got up about 8 o’clock. Had breakfast about 9 o’clock. A chap had a scrap with the sergeant-major and I formed part of the escort to the guard room for him. Had turkey for dinner about 2.30. Wrote letter to Billy. Stayed in at night and read. Metgrave† asked Bennett, Salisbury and myself to the YM to have tea with him. A man in the guard room last night with his lip badly cut and I dressed it with the help of Bulmer and Walsh, both drunk. Quiet night and was thankful.
31 December 1915; Friday
30 December 1915; Thursday
The Scotchmen all away. Paraded as usual. Kept busy all day. A big dance in the sergeants’ mess. I didn’t go. In town in the morning with motorcar. Walked up to the farm where we get the mail and made our account out. Out at night last thing. In Y.M. a bit. Read and wrote letters home and to Franchie.
Dance in Sergeants’ Mess. X Friday.
[Written on next page (Friday) – ] Thursday Got books squared pretty well up.
29 December 1915; Wednesday
Got up at 9.30. Round the town in the morning. Got new battery hand lamp. Spent afternoon visiting Willie Wanless, Grandmother and Whittakers. Said goodbye to Joe at dinnertime. Raining at night. Arrived in Alnwick 11.15 and got to camp shortly after. Raining in torrents. Got to bed late.
28 December 1915; Tuesday
Got up late. Played the piano. Called at Lily’s, George Crawford’s and the Mill1 in the afternoon. Had a fairly long talk with Aitken, who hinted that our jobs were filled. Played piano and ping pong at night. Saw Willie off at 9.30 in the morning. Saw Billy off.
“Mill”: Hendon Paper Mill, where ALL had been employed prior to joining the RAMC. See also Sunderland map. ↩