Up about 6 o’clock. Marched from Kemmel at 9.45. Arrived outside Bailleul at about 1 o’clock. Cleaned up and wrote some letters. Went into Bailleul with Harvey and Holman and had a good tea, then went into the concert hall and enjoyed the concert. The 63rd Divisional party. Returned to camp shortly before 9 o’clock.
8 November 1917; Thursday
Up about 7 o’clock. On parade at 9 o’clock. Helped to pack in the morning. Got pass to Bailleul in the afternoon but Ernie didn’t turn up there so I only went into Locre. Returned in good time.
Heard of the death of Willie Whittaker 1 in a letter from Ernie.
ALL also recorded this in a note added to his diary on the date of Willie Whittaker’s death, 22 October 1917. ↩
Sunderland Daily Echo 8 November 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR
Image and text via the British Newspaper Archive.
WHITTAKER – – Killed in action October 22nd1, 1917 aged 22 years, 2nd-Lieut, William Gaylard Whittaker2, Northumberland Fusiliers, dearly loved son of William and Agnes Whittaker.
See ALL’s retrospective note of W’s death on 22 October – coincidentally, the news actually reached ALL on 8 November, the same day that W’s name appeared in this Roll of Honour in the Sunderland Daily Echo. ↩
See also: William Gaylard Whittaker at Lives of the First World War. ↩
7 November 1917; Wednesday
Up about 6 o’clock after a poor night’s rest. Relieved about 10.15 and arrived at headquarters about noon. On parade in the afternoon for inspection before leaving Kemmel. Wrote letter at night.
6 November 1917; Tuesday
Up at 6 o’clock after a poor night. Only one walking case to take down. Talked a good bit with Mark Jackson. A fair number of shells came over but we managed all right.
Somersets went over the top on the left.
5 November 1917; Monday
Up about 7 o’clock. Had breakfast, packed up kit and went up the line in the car to spoil bank and then walked on to right† post. Had quiet journey up and quiet morning. Not much doing all day and no cases.
4 November 1917; Sunday
Up at 7 o’clock. Went up on the car to spoil bank on working party and stayed until about 3 o’clock. Rode down on two lorries. Ernie waiting for me. Harry Bascombe looked after him and got him tea. Ernie stayed to the beginning of the Y M service. He was wearing the Military Medal. I set him up the way back to the brasserie, and we talked all about my leave and all the rest of it.
Saw Ernie first thing after leave and he was wearing the Military Medal.
3 November 1917; Saturday
Up about 7 o’clock. On fatigue all day [“morning” written above, but “day” not erased]. Got pass to go and see Ernie in the afternoon. Walked to Dikbush and when I found the place he wasn’t there. Got tea with them and left about 5 o’clock, after speaking on the telephone to Ernie. Walked back by La Clytte and called in to Y M C A. Got back about 8 and wrote to Charlie but didn’t get letter finished. Warned for working party in the morning.
Sunderland Daily Echo 2 November 1917
MILITARY MEDAL
Newspaper image and text sourced from The British Newspaper Archive.
Mrs E. W. Linfoot1, of 16, Nelson Street, has received a letter from her husband, Bomb. Linfoot, R.G.A., intimating that he has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery and devotion to duty on October 4th. Bomb Linfoot was an assistant with Messrs Hills and Co., stationers, Fawcett Street, prior to joining the Colours in May, 1916, and has been six months in France.
2 November 1917; Friday
Up at about 7 o’clock. On fatigue all day. Wrote part of a letter at night to Charlie. Called in at Y M.