Category Archives: 1916

All diary entries written in 1916.

26 August 1916; Saturday

August 1916, ,

Worked outside in the morning at the dining hall. My afternoon off. Went with Duggins to Baileul1. Walked so far and then jumped on the back of a motor lorry. Had a good day. Posted a few postcards. Went to the Y.M. and played the piano. First time since I have been in France. Went to the pictures and enjoyed them. Rode back in horse ambulance. Charlie Farr, Sam Hall, and Corporal Salisbury† in and they were all pretty well drunk. Had a good day.

  1. Baileul: ALL always omits one ‘l’ from ‘Bailleul’ in his longhand; the transcription follows this, but where he writes it in shorthand, ie phonetically, it is transcribed with the correct spelling. ↩

24 August 1916; Thursday

August 1916,

Up at 6.30. Dressed and went across to headquarters with Taylor and off to Baileul1 C.C.S. for dental treatment again. Drilled a bit more out of my tooth and put me to go back in 6 days. Had a good day.

  1. Baileul: ALL always omits one ‘l’ from ‘Bailleul’ in his longhand; the transcription follows this, but where he writes it in shorthand, ie phonetically, it is transcribed with the correct spelling. ↩

23 August 1916; Wednesday

August 1916

Up at 6.45 and had to hurry. A foot parade on and Taylor had to look after the group and I called the roll†. Scrubbed one out with mop†. In the afternoon went across to headquarters and got a gramophone. It played most of afternoon, very good too. Washed mess tin first, mess tin cover and handkerchief. Wrote a letter home. Went to bed early.

Got friendly with an R.F.A. man called Salkeld, he went out in the afternoon.

22 August 1916; Tuesday

August 1916, ,

Up at 7 o’clock. Kept busy all morning washing floor. Had afternoon off. Received letter from home telling me of Chadwicks’1 departure. Read some of British Weekly. Had eggs and coffee and custard for super.

  1. Rev. Chadwick had been a minister at the South Durham Street United Methodist Free Church, of which ALL had been a member prior to enlisting. Rev. Chadwick was first mentioned on 4 January 1914, and again on many subsequent occasions. ↩

19 August 1916; Saturday

August 1916,

Up at 6.30. Dressed and cleaned up in the hospital. Took over duties at 7.30. Managed pretty well. Only 3 patients in the morning but 9 at night. Came off duty at 6 o’clock. Went into village and listened to band. Called at the café near the hospital and had some coffee and custard. Turned in about 9 o’clock and slept pretty well. Very heavy showers in the morning.

18 August 1916; Friday

August 1916, ,

Up at 6 o’clock. Dressed hurriedly and went on ambulance wagon again to Baileul1. Waited until 11.30 when my turn came and I have to go back again on Monday. Had a tooth out. Arrived back at the hospital about 4 o’clock. Had tea. Went along to the C section hospital and put up bivouac.

  1. Baileul: ALL always omits one ‘l’ from ‘Bailleul’ in his longhand; the transcription follows this, but where he writes it in shorthand, ie phonetically, it is transcribed with the correct spelling. ↩

17 August 1916; Thursday

August 1916, ,

Up at 6.30. Dressed hurriedly and went on waggon to Baileul1 No 1 C.C.S. Waited all morning. The dentist looked at my tooth and asked me to call again tomorrow. Had dinner at the C.C.S. and returned about 4.30. Had tea. Saw †staff bod† who told me I had to commence in the hospital on Saturday. Listened to band in the town. Went with Duggins to a little café behind the hospital and had some coffee and custard. A girl there talks very good English and got to know all our Corps names.

  1. Baileul: ALL always omits one ‘l’ from ‘Bailleul’ in his longhand; the transcription follows this, but where he writes it in shorthand, ie phonetically, it is transcribed with the correct spelling. ↩