23 November 1918; Saturday

23 November 18November 1918Father, Joe, LeaveArthur Linfoot

Up at about 11 o’clock. Walked round town with Father in the afternoon and went to Memorial Hall¹ with Joe at night. Not much good.

Memorial Hall: See note on 10 January 1914. ↩

22 November 1918; Friday

22 November 18November 1918Boulogne, Father, Joe, Leave, Map, SunderlandArthur Linfoot

Up about 6 o’clock. Had breakfast at the canteen and paraded early. Crossed by 11 o’clock ¹ and arrived in London shortly after 3. Had tea at the Y M hut and left by the 5.30². Came up most of the way with an engineer chap. Arrived at midnight and found Joe and Father waiting for me.

11 o’clock: Presumably the 11am sailing from Boulogne (A) to Folkestone? ↩
5.30: presumably the 17:30 train from London (B) to Sunderland (C). ↩

21 November 1918; Thursday

21 November 18November 1918Boulogne, Cagnoncles, Cambrai, Leave, MapArthur Linfoot

Up at 5 o’clock. Old John got breakfast for me and we got a car. Left Cambrai shortly before 8 o’clock. Arrived at Boulogne¹ at about 9 o’clock at night and went to a rest camp. Had dinner and slept 14 in a tent.

Left unit on leave.

The map shows this stage of ALL’s journey to home leave, from Cagnoncles (A), via Cambrai (B) to Boulogne (C). ↩

20 November 1918; Wednesday

20 November 18November 1918CagnonclesArthur Linfoot

Turned in but we are moving most of the billets and didn’t get much sleep. Got down to it at night and slept well.

19 November 1918; Tuesday

19 November 18November 1918CagnonclesArthur Linfoot

Stayed up until nearly 2 o’clock. Lay down and slept for about 2 hours. Read some of Great Commonwealth¹. Up at 5 o’clock and got breakfast etcetera for the patients. Lay down and slept a few hours during the day. Had boots repaired.

The Great Commonwealth: see note on 17 July. ↩

18 November 1918; Monday

18 November 18November 1918Cagnoncles, George Crawford, LettersArthur Linfoot

Up at about 7 o’clock. Had walk in the morning. Opened hospital and I was detailed for night duty. Received letter from George Crawford¹. Went on duty at night. Another patient in at night last thing.

George Crawford: as mentioned in 1914 – 15 diaries, an office colleague at Hendon Paper Works; a shorthand note at the end of the 1918 diary appears to say he was in the Army Veterinary Corps, at No 9 Veterinary Hospital, BEF, France. ↩

17 November 1918; Sunday

17 November 18November 1918Cagnoncles, Cauroir, Chapel, Father, Letters, Map, MotherArthur Linfoot

Up at about 7 o’clock. Had bath at Cauroir¹ in the morning. Wrote letters in the afternoon and went to Cauroir to the service at night. Got a bit of a cold and a sore throat.

Received a letter from Father and letter from Mother dated 11th inst. telling me of the doings in Sunderland.

Cauroir (B): written only in shorthand, but seems fairly certain; about 1km SW. of Cagnoncles (A). ↩

16 November 1918; Saturday

16 November 18November 1918Cagnoncles, Haussy, MapArthur Linfoot

Up about 7 o’clock. Marched off shortly after 9. Arrived at Cagnocles¹ about 2 o’clock. Wrote and did French at night. Had short walk.

Cagnocles: Cagnoncles (B), 14km W. of Haussy (A) and 6km E. Cambrai. ↩

15 November 1918; Friday

15 November 18November 1918Ernie, Haussy, Letters, Map, SepmeriesArthur Linfoot

Up about 7.30. Moved off about 10 o’clock and arrived at Haussy¹ about 2.30. Had a good billet. Received letters from home, Ernie and Charlie. 5 men going on leave tomorrow. Had good night’s sleep.

Haussy (B): 10km SW. of Sepmeries (A) and 3km SE. of Montrécourt; see 2 November. ↩

14 November 1918; Thursday

14 November 18November 1918Bettrechies, Ernie, Letters, Map, SepmeriesArthur Linfoot

Up at about 7.30. Ordered to pack up and march off about 11 o’clock. Marched after dinner until nearly 5 o’clock, when we arrived at Sepmeries¹. Received letter from Ernie. Pretty heavy march and we were tired when we arrived. Got down to bed early and slept well.

Sepmeries (B): 15km WSW. of Bettrechies (A) and 9km SSE. of Valenciennes; Michelin square N6. ↩

The Diary of Arthur L. Linfoot

58th Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.