22 July 1917; Sunday

Abridged, July 1917, , ,

Usual day’s work. Heard that the Russians have stopped fighting in places1 and the Germans are driving them back. Freddie went on leave. Fritz2 shelled a lot. I got a new patient in Freddie’s ward.

German aeroplanes over at night bombing. A lot of anti-aircraft stuff in action and the noise pretty loud.

Off at night and went to Y M with Harry Bascombe and Gus. Had short walk afterwards.

  1. “The Russians have stopped fighting…”: ALL had noted the February Revolution in his diary entry of 18 March, and had also noted a rumour of Russian withdrawal from the war on 19 May. In fact Russian involvement in the war, though increasingly unenthusiastic, continued officially until October/November 1917. ↩

  2. Fritz: a name given to German troops by the British and others in the First and Second World Wars. ↩

19 July 1917; Thursday

July 1917, , ,

Up at 7 o’clock. Cleaned dixie in the morning. Had jacket mended at Madame’s. Ernie down in the afternoon and I walked up to Kemmel†1 with him after seeing the town and having tea at a little place in town. Both had a lot to say. On duty at night. An officer of Freddie’s taken rather worse and needed attention.

Ernie paid me a visit.

  1. Kemmel (A) (if correct transcription), a small town in Belgium just over midway between Bailleul (B), where ALL was stationed, and Dikkebus (C), where Ernie was stationed. ↩

18 July 1917; Wednesday

July 1917,

Up about 7 o’clock. Did some French first thing. Rather dull morning. My night off and went to the Corigs1. Pretty fair show, enjoyed the band. Had walk afterwards by the station. Read a good bit and discussed a bit chess with Walker last thing.

  1. “Corigs”, in longhand, seems the correct reading but meaning uncertain; another concert party?. ↩