All posts by Arthur Linfoot

23 October 1916; Monday

23 October 16October 1916Albert, Brickfields, Map, PhotoArthur Linfoot

Brickfields near Albert — Brickfields camp – see footnote 3

Up about 7.30. Helped in the ward a bit. Packed up things and moved off shortly after dinner. I rode with two divisional patients as bus-man in the first car and the others marched. Arrived about 2 kilometres from Albert¹. The M.G.C.² man and I walked to a Y.M. hut but we got nothing to eat so had some tea. Waited by the fire until about 6 o’clock when the rest came up. Slept in a tent† and had a good night.

Brickfields Camp W³

The map shows the start and end points of this journey, Val-de-Maison (A) and the approximate location of the Brickfields camp at Albert (B). Source. ↩
M.G.C.: Machine Gun Corps. ↩
The Brickfields, an old brick factory on the outskirts of Albert, was used as a large billeting area by Allied troops. Its close proximity to Albert and the front line made it an ideal position for soldiers to stay in makeshift shelters for short periods of time. The Photograph – ‘Brickfields near Albert’ – is from Museum Victoria and not from ALL’s archive. ↩

22 October 1916; Sunday

22 October 16October 1916Val-de-MaisonArthur Linfoot

Lay in bed in the morning but went and helped in the ward in the afternoon. Ran up a temperature of 101¹ after tea so lay down again.

101°F is about 38.3°C, still a moderate fever and still unexplained. ↩

21 October 1916; Saturday

21 October 16October 1916Hospital, Val-de-MaisonArthur Linfoot

On duty in the cellar of the hospital. Felt pretty seedy but managed all right.

The bearers went up the line.

Temperature ran up at night.

20 October 1916; Friday

20 October 16October 1916Hospital, Val-de-MaisonArthur Linfoot

Up in the morning. Captain MacCombie† turned up and he marked me to attend. I helped them in the ward in the afternoon.

19 October 1916; Thursday

19 October 16October 1916Hospital, Val-de-MaisonArthur Linfoot

Felt a good bit better and was up part of the day. Corporal Chapman went out. A Canadian next to me. A lot of Canadians in the hospital. Most of them funny. One or two cheeky.

18 October 1916; Wednesday

18 October 16October 1916Hospital, Val-de-MaisonArthur Linfoot

Felt a bit under the weather in the morning and paraded sick with a temperature of 100¹. Sent to bed in hospital instead of as orderly as I wished. Lay in bed all day. Felt pretty rotten. Corporal Chapman next to me.

100°F is about 37.8°C. ALL was evidently still running a slight fever, though we don’t know why. ↩

17 October 1916; Tuesday

17 October 16October 1916Authie, Doullens, Map, Val-de-MaisonArthur Linfoot

Left Authie about 9.30. Part of the morning† Harry Bascombe left at the hospital in the village. Had to wait several times for the Division to move and in one place had to put off our pack and push the waggons up a very steep bank. Marched about 9 miles. Arrived at Val de Maison¹ about 4 o’clock. I felt pretty rotten and got down as quickly as possible.

Temperature 101.4 at night².

Val de Maison: presumably the Val de Maison (B) in Michelin map square G7, 3km E. of N25, mid-way between Doullens and Amiens, 9 miles/14.5km from Authie (A); it would be about 20km march from Val de Maison to the Brickfields camp at Albert on 23 October. ↩
“Temperature”: Presumably ALL’s body temperature. 101.4°F is c. 38.5°C – a moderate fever – the malaise causing this fever is not specified. ↩

16 October 1916; Monday

16 October 16October 1916AuthieArthur Linfoot

Up at about 8 o’clock. I lay in last. Had good breakfast including Quaker Oats and bacon and bread. A party relieved us in the afternoon and after tea we returned in a motorcar to Authie and I slept by Ike again.

A mouse or something ran over my foot at night.

15 October 1916; Sunday

15 October 16October 1916Authie, LibraryArthur Linfoot

Up at 7.30. Got breakfast including Quaker Oats. Didn’t eat much but read Tom Brown at Oxford¹. Paddy not very well.

Tom Brown at Oxford: A novel by Thomas Hughes, first published in 1861; sequel to the better-known Tom Brown’s School Days. See also Tom Brown at Oxford and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩

14 October 1914; Saturday

14 October 16October 1916AuthieArthur Linfoot

Up at 7.30. Rather short of rations. Had breakfast, and then just lay about and read. Harman and I went over to * * * * and got a loaf of bread and some biscuits. Talk of going over the top on this part of the line. The rats very lively at night.

The Diary of Arthur L. Linfoot

58th Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.