Category Archives: January 1916

All diary entries written in January 1916.

13 January 1916; Thursday

January 1916, ,

Up at 7 o’clock. Told off for station fatigue. Had good morning. Lecture in the afternoon. Bell died about noon. Went to the great invitation social at Clayport. Great spread, cold turkey, duck, ham, trifle etcetera. Played a few games, but generally rather slow. Two sketches1, one bad and one good. Left at 11.30. Spent very good evening. I had to respond to the toast to “Our guests”.

Bell died. Clayport Social. Last day in Sergeants’ Mess.

  1. Sketch here means a short humorous play or performance, consisting typically of one scene. ↩

12 January 1916; Wednesday

January 1916, ,

Up at 7 o’clock. Paraded but was not told off for any work. Got books up to date. Lecture in the afternoon. Concert at night in the Y.M. Presentation to Mr Porrit (who has got a stripe† up) by the colonel. The present was a silver tea service. N.C.Os paraded before adjutant and lectured. After the concert Sergeant Bell1 drove some of the artists home2 and on the return journey had an accident3 with the car and injured himself fatally. Fractured both thighs, jaw bone and skull. Ball4 was with him and was badly shaken and slightly lacerated.

Concert, Presentation, Accident.

  1. Private Thomas Bell M2/149214 probably held acting rank as a Sergeant, possibly due to his duties as a motor mechanic. ↩

  2. This journey was from Alnwick (A) to Titlington (B), according to contemporary reports. See also Alnwick map. ↩

  3. The vehicle, apparently a motor ambulance, left the road near the entrance to Reigham Quarry (C). The accident and subsequent inquest are recorded in the Newcastle Daily Journal on 14th and 15th January 1916. The latter report suggests that alcohol may have been a decisive factor leading to the accident. ↩

  4. “Ball” was Private Ernest Ball (it is not clear which of the many Ernest Balls listed at Lives of the First World War he may have been), who subsequently gave evidence at the inquest into Bell’s death according to the same piece in the Newcastle Daily Journal. ↩

10 January 1916; Monday

January 1916,

On parade as usual. On fatigue at 8.30. Got money from Sergeant-Major and squared up accounts. Went out to Barton’s Farm and paid his bill, and drove to the town in his trap with him and Mr David Mack. Lecture in the afternoon. At the pictures at night with Black and they were so rotten we came out. Drew £10 from bank and sent it on to Ernie.

9 January 1916; Sunday

January 1916, ,

At church as usual. Sat upstairs in the Presbyterian church1 in the morning, and didn’t stay to the sacrament. Had walk through the deer park2 in the afternoon. At church at night and was in the same pew as the Misses Mack. Missed them after church. Walked up their lane a bit and came back past them with another chap. Walked round that way back to camp. Sang Jackson’s evening hymn at night.

  1. Probably Clayport again. ↩

  2. Probably Hulne Park again. ↩

7 January 1916; Friday

January 1916, ,

Up at 7.30. Got rations book up to date. Lecture in the afternoon by Lieutenant Macdonald. Called in new recreation room and commenced letter to Charlie. Walked into town at night. At Y.M.C.A. last thing. Went out with Corporal Collins to catch Wilson stealing coals. Waited until after 11 o’clock. Up at the mess about 11 o’clock and it was beastly. Had lecture in the morning by Groves through Lance-Corporal Aitken getting drunk, stealing and generally misbehaving himself. He lost his stripe.

4 January 1916; Tuesday

January 1916, ,

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.

  1. 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. ↩