A stretcher case in about 2 o’clock. A lot of shelling in the night. Did a scrap of French, wrote a letter home, washed a pair of socks and my feet and read a bit. Relieved in the morning at about 9.30. Slept a little in the afternoon and got down soon at night. Absolutely tired out. Jerry over at night and terrific anti-aircraft gun fire.
All posts by Arthur Linfoot
12 August 1918; Monday
Lay down at 3 o’clock and got up at 6. Washed out the dressing room. Got into bed at 9 but couldn’t sleep and slept very little all day. Fine day. News that the total number of prisoners now exceeds 77 thousand down south. On again at night at 9.30pm.
11 August 1918; Sunday
Up all night as usual. Not much to do. Off at 9 and went to bed and slept pretty well. On again at night at 9 o’clock.
10 August 1918; Saturday
Off duty at 9 and went down to headquarters at about 9.30 to have new eye-pieces fitted into our box1 respirators. Met Harvey, Holman and Benn. Returned in the afternoon. Headquarters bivouacking in a wood. Harvey and Benn returned with us to relieve the day men and Holman went up stretcher bearing. Lay down after tea and talked with Billy Truman about home and leave. On duty about 10. Jerry bombing at night and shelling pretty heavily.
Heard from the Somme that we have advanced 10 miles captured 25000 prisoners and 400 guns.
ALL’s shorthand reads as ‘Beck’s’, but he probably meant ‘box’ as no Beck’s respirator is traceable; see also 13 August 1917. ↩
9 August 1918; Friday
Up all night and rather tired. Heavy shelling round about but none too near. Relieved about 9. Read some of The History of Mr Polly1. Up with diarrhoea a few times during the day.
Heard that the British have advanced to Ruyaulcourt2 and taken 17 thousand prisoners and 250 guns.
New number of the magazine out.
Turned in to sleep from 3 am to 6.
The History of Mr. Polly: 1910 comic novel by H. G. Wells. See also The History of Mr. Polly and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩
Ruyaulcourt (if this is correct): 12km E. of Bapaume, in the old Somme battlefield, retaken by the Germans in their March offensive; Michelin square K7. ↩
8 August 1918; Thursday
On duty all night and nothing to do. Did some French. Turned into bed shortly after 9. Didn’t get much sleep owing to Billy Montessori†. Went on duty again at 9 o’clock.
The Wilts backed up and advanced a *.
A Wilts brigade advanced their line a good bit and the Germans fallen back a couple of kilos on the front.
7 August 1918; Wednesday
Up all night and troubled sleep in the morning, turned in at 9 o’clock and slept until late.
Went to work about *. Worked all
On duty again at 9 o’clock.
6 August 1918; Tuesday
Up at about 7 o’clock after a good night’s sleep. Got into cars and moved off about 9 o’clock. Arrived at the advanced dressing station, a château near Choques1 about mid-day. Fitted up a place and went to bed after tea. Came on duty about 10 o’clock.
5 August 1918; Monday
Stayed up until 4 o’clock and then lay in until 6.30. A lot of uncertainty about moving. Did practically no work and only wasted time all day. Read Bible a bit at night and felt it was a bit down in the dumps but afterwards all right. Received orders that we were on the advance party in the morning so Billy and I turned in after supper about 10 o’clock and slept well.
4 August 1918; Sunday
Up at 6 o’clock. Turned in after a walk round the village. Heard that we were moving tonight or tomorrow. Sergeant Gunn on. Did a little French and wrote two letters. Good news from the south. Went on duty at 8 o’clock. Quiet night. Talked until about 2am.