On duty as usual and on the parade ground. Received word that I had to go with a party to the Wharncliffe War Hospital1 in the morning.
“Wharncliffe War Hospital”: 3 miles NW of Sheffield city centre; it was the building of the West Riding Asylum, offered by its Board as a war hospital early in 1915, effective from 1 April 1915; over 2,000 beds, X-ray section, 3 operating theatres etc. See also Sheffield map. ↩
On Fire Piquet1 & Canteen Cpl. C.B.2 all day. Tried to clean belt, wrote to Willie Whittaker and wrote up diary. Song† by men in the barrack room at night.
Piquet or picquet: Pronounced picket; refers to a soldier or small unit of soldiers maintaining a watch. This may mean a watch for the enemy, or other types of watch; e.g., in this case, “fire picket”. ↩
“C.B.”: “confined to barracks”, usually signifying a low-level military punishment (incorporating frequent inspections in full kit, extra fatigue duties etc), popularly known as ‘jankers’; but ALL seems to be using it here in a purely literal sense – he couldn’t leave barracks due to his picquet and canteen duties. ↩
Scarcely anyone on parade in the morning. The Welsh Party went away at 7.30. Saw last of Dunn, Hame, Young, Lewis, Spink & all of them. Didn’t get a chance to shake hands with Young, Spink or Lewis. Spent afternoon up Ecclesall1 way with Moil. Had tea at Miss Lumsden’s & went to Y.M.C.A. afterwards. Received belt.
“Ecclesall”: SW. suburb of Sheffield, 2½ miles from city centre. See Sheffield map. ↩
On parade as usual. Had wild† squads out. Managed pretty well. A bit upset about all the chaps going away. Went to Inwoods’ at night, but only saw Colman†. Received 8/‐ wages.
Had to take discharged man to the station in after<noon> with me. He was in fearful condition with drink.
Had a squad out trying to drill them. In a bit of a fog all day, but managed pretty well. Called in at Inwoods’ at night and had some music.
The Welsh Party chosen. All the men from P Company excepting the latest recruits, physically unfit and the hospital party.
On parade as usual. Had to go to Orderly Room in the afternoon & received first stripe along with other chaps. A good bit excited about new position. Went with Sandwith to a friend’s house & had supper.
On parade as usual. Busy all day. Went to Inwoods’ at night. Received stripe Tuesday12.
“Stripe”: this was a single stripe, denoting lance-corporal; a full corporal got two stripes, a sergeant three. On this day ALL also sent his mother a post card to inform her of his promotion – see photo accompanying the 4 September entry. This may have been promotion to ‘acting’, ie temporary, rank – ALL reverted to Private on arrival in France; see 31 May 1916 – but see also the second footnote. ↩
In an interview given by ALL in 1976, he says “I am the only man in France who went through the war Lance Corporal acting Private with Lance Corporal’s pay.” It would appear that ALL’s later demotion from “acting” Lance Corporal may have been a mistake. ↩
On parade as usual. Rather dull without Charlie.
Had breakfasts at 7 o’clock. Welsh Party left at about 7.30. Charlie came in the afternoon. Had photos taken1 and then spent most of the night at Inwoods’ singing and playing. Stayed until late & Charlie was locked out of S. [Soldiers’] Home & had to sleep in Guard Room.
The photo accompanying this diary entry is a postcard, posted on 7 September 1915 to ALL’s mother, with a message saying he was now a lance-corporal. It may be one of those taken on 4th September. ↩