Up at 8 o’clock. Helped to rig up dispensary during the morning. Did a bit French at dinner time. Walked into Méteren1 at night and called at Jeanne’s†2. Bought an apron for Gertie. Stayed a good while and talked. A young New Zealander there. Returned about 8 o’clock.
Category Archives: 1917
27 April 1917; Friday
Up about 7.45. Breakfast by about 9. Rather dull morning and cold. Didn’t do much all day. In the afternoon changed places with the other chaps and took over a room downstairs. Believe it to be through Bromley. Bromley drunk at night. Turned in fairly early and read a bit. Stayed in at night and wrote a long letter home.
26 April 1917; Thursday
Up shortly after 7 o’clock. Paraded at 9. Cleaning waggons until 12 o’clock. Sergeant-major ordered me over Baileul after dinner1. Gave me five minutes’ notice. Rode down in car with Bromley. A splendid place. Washed and cleaned up in the afternoon and then went to the concert. A very good concert. Good orchestra. First half turns and second half “dramatic fragments.” Looked up news at night, which spoke of heavy fighting. Went to bed late.
Will have to play my cards very carefully. Finished reading Villette2.
“Baileul”: 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. Bailleul (B), is 10km SSW of La Clyttte/Klijte (A). As usual “after dinner” means “after lunch”; the move to Bailleul would have been in the afternoon, not the evening. ↩
Villette: Novel by Charlotte Brontë first mentioned by ALL on 9th April. See also Villette and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩
25 April 1017; Wednesday
Up at 7 o’clock. On working party at 9. Busy in the end place with Harvey again. Worked pretty hard. Sergeant MacDonell in charge. Returned about 5 o’clock. Went to Locre† at night to the Bible class. Saw Sandwith there. Had very good little meeting. Went down with Holman.
24 April 1917; Tuesday
Up at 7 o’clock. On working party at 9 o’clock. Very busy all day in the end breaking through into the old passage. The Germans shelling a battery behind us and we watched shells falling very thickly. Returned about 5 o’clock. Sergeant Watson in charge. Had short walk at night with Holman.
23 April 1917; Monday
Up at 7 o’clock. At the hospital on duty. Cleaned things pretty well up. Finished at night at 6.30 and were relieved by A section. Had short walk out at night.
Went into Kemmel 1 and returned by Locre 2 with Sergeant Powell, Holman and Harvey. Passed a 6” battery firing over our heads.
Kemmel (B): 3km SE. of La Clytte/Klijte (A); Michelin square I3. ↩
Locre/Loker (C) is 3km SW of La Clyttte/Klijte. ↩
22 April 1917; Sunday
Up at 7 o’clock. On duty all day. Read a good deal. Stayed on until 8 o’clock for Billy Truman. Pretty cloudy all day.
21 April 1917; Saturday
Up at 7 o’clock. On duty as usual. Usual day. Finished about 6.30.
20 April 1917; Friday
Up at 7.15. On duty as usual. Busy at dinner time. Received letters from Ernie and Charlie. Replied to both. Fine day. Heard that the French have captured 19,000 prisoners and 100 guns.
19 April 1917; Thursday
Up at 7 and on duty about 7.30. Cleaned things up for the visit of the G O C. 1 He arrived shortly after 3 o’clock and inspected the place. The hospital satisfactory. Went in the car to Reninghelst. Just too late for the concert so went into the Y M hall and heard a band concert by the Royal Fusiliers band. Called in on the way back and had eggs and coffee. Sergeant Powell and Holman with me. Got back at 8.45.
Learn that the French are making a big offensive.
“G.O.C.”: General Officer Commanding. ↩