Up at 7 o’clock. On parade in the morning. Got pass through for 11 o’clock. Walked out with Black in the afternoon. Met Miss Mack at St Michael’s Church at 7 o’clock. Her elder sister was with her. Set them up home and then her elder sister left us and we had a walk on our own. I left her about 11 o’clock. My watch had stopped and I didn’t get into barracks until after 11.30. Had pleasant walk.
Category Archives: 1916
11 February 1916; Friday
Up at 7 o’clock. Received letter from Miss Mack making appointment for tomorrow night. Wet morning and the men paraded in our hut. The major told Collins he cannot compliment him on the condition of his hut. Read about chemistry. Went into the town with Black at night and after calling at the Mechanical Institute1 met Miss Mack and her sister and with Black set them up home.
There is still (2013) a Mechanics’ Institute, in a Grade 2 listed building in Percy Street, run by Alnwick Town Council for community use. ↩
10 February 1916; Thursday
Up at 7 o’clock. On parade as usual. Working for West in the morning, sweeping out new V.A.D.1 Lecture in the afternoon. Stayed in at night. Read a book on chemistry and went to sleep. Went to Y.M. at 9 o’clock. Reported Zeppelin raid on North East Coast. Got pretty heavy cold, was up at night.
V.A.D.: Voluntary Aid Detachment. ↩
9 February 1916; Wednesday
On parade as usual. Not feeling very fit. Lecture in the afternoon. At the pictures at night with Black. His girl and another sitting next to us. Late in getting back.
8 February 1916; Tuesday
Up at 7 o’clock. Had a cold. Stayed in at night. Walked to town at night. Met the younger Miss Mack and walked up with her and got her sister’s address. Fine night. On parade as usual.
7 February 1916; Monday
Not well in the morning. Up at 7 and on parade as usual. Got easy fatigue for a good job. Lay in bed after duty and didn’t have any tea. Had some soup. Wrote letters. Felt pretty bad in the lecture.
6 February 1916; Sunday
No church parade on account of wind. Went down to Clayport as usual. Walked up the road in the afternoon with Black and had a bath afterwards. At church in evening with Sharpley. Went into his hut afterwards and sat and talked until tattoo.
5 February 1916; Saturday
On parade in the morning as usual. Watched our camp play the Northumberland [?Fusiliers] and lose by 3 to 1. Had tea in town with Black and walked round a bit.
Changed straw in our palliasses1 and received pay.
Straw mattress; sometimes spelt as Fr. Paillasse, but Army pronunciation always ‘pally-ass’. ↩
4 February 1916; Friday
On parade as usual. Lecture in the afternoon. Stayed in at night and read. Went down to Y.M. last thing with Black.
3 February 1916; Thursday
On parade as usual. Lecture in the afternoon. On fatigue with Copeland. Walked to town at night with Black and then returned to camp.