27 June 1916; Tuesday

June 1916,

Up as usual. Paraded first thing but it rained. We were told to get ready for moving. Had stew and biscuits for dinner. Helped to load waggons in the afternoon. Walked to the village at night. Packed up kit and marched off at 6.40. Long walk with few rests. Pack again heavy. Heard heavies1 towards the end of the journey. Lost way and had to sit down and wait for the officers finding the way. Arrived destination about 1.30. Had tea served with cheese and bread. Walked on to the billet. Was detailed off for the stretcher parties. Deserted barn. 2 tiers of beds. Slept well. Shell hit church tower as we passed. Sky lit up with the light of the guns. Very pretty.

Left Raineville. And arrived at Lavieville2.

  1. “Heavies”: heavy guns. The front line at the start of the first battle of the Somme was on the E. outskirts of Albert, and the main British sector of the battle straddled what is now the D929 – an old Roman road – towards Bapaume. ↩

  2. Laviéville (B), 5km W of Albert and about 20km E of Rainneville (A), just N of the D929; ref H8. See also June 1916 map (movements since arrival in France). ↩

26 June 1916; Monday

1976

This is an extract from Arthur Linfoot’s own transcription of his diary, written in 1976.

Paraded with the guard. Tossed up and I won the officers’ guard. Had a bath in a biscuit tin. Also on guard at one o’clock and finished at five. Went to the village at night and bought three handkerchieves. Listened to the bank of 8th Glosters in front of the village church. It rained later on in the evening. Owing to the guns again? Saw twelve observation balloons in the air. A damaged aeroplane went through the village on a trailer.

26 June 1916; Monday

June 1916,

On guard in the morning. Paraded with the guard. Tossed up and won for the officers’ guard. Wrote letter home in reply to one received. Had a bath in a biscuit tin. Also at on [sic: presumably ‘on at’] one o’clock and finished at 5 o’clock. Went to the village at night. Bought 3 handkerchiefs. Listened to a band of the Gloucesters in front of the village church. Rained later on in the evening. Heard guns again. Saw 12 observation balloons. Saw aeroplane go through the village on a waggon while band was playing.

25 June 1916; Sunday

1976

This is an extract from Arthur Linfoot’s own transcription of his diary, written in 1976.

Up at usual time. Attended church parade. Wrote letters to Geo. Crawford and Roland McDonald1. Now nine observation balloons up. Noise of guns very heavy at night. Bonny calm evening.

  1. “Roland McDonald”: sic; RM was a Sunderland contact, first mentioned on 30 August 1914, but his name is unmistakably Ranald MacDonald. This is written several times in lists of addresses contained in the diaries, these lists including a service number which leads to this record at Lives of the First World War. ↩

24 June 1916; Saturday

June 1916, , ,

Received letter from Betty telling me that she understood1, but would like to keep on corresponding with me. I replied. Physical drill. [Some words about ‘drill’ crossed out by ALL.] Also foot and chest inspection in the morning. No parades in the afternoon. Wrote letter. Went to boxing contest at night and saw about 6 matches and some decent boxing. Went to bed early after talking a bit with Walsh. Saw 3 observation balloons up.

  1. This letter from Betty may have been her reply to the letter to her written by ALL on 15th June and posted on 16th. Neither of those earlier diary entries offers any clue about the reason for Betty’s understanding. ↩

23 June 1916; Friday

1976

This is an extract from Arthur Linfoot’s own transcription of his diary, written in 1976.

Up before 7 o’clock. Parades as usual. Practised various methods of carrying helpless men and I carried Lee ‘fireman’s lift’. (I was 9½ st.; Lee 121.) Gas tests in a barn in the afternoon, also tear gas test. Finished reading “Simon the Jester”.

  1. 9½ stones is 133 pounds, or a little over 60kg. 12 stones is 168 pounds or a little over 76kg. ↩