Up as usual and on duty. [Next sentence crossed out, apparently anticipating the start of the sentence “Arranged ..” in the next day’s entry.]
25 December 1916; Monday
[First line of entry badly smudged.] Up and to the hospital as usual. A * * dinner at 4.15. A good spread. Social at 7.30. Ludd, Webb and John Dory in. Spent a pleasant day in spite of being away. Rained heavily at night.
24 December 1916; Sunday
Spent the day as usual. Went to service at night. The Mairie occupied so we went to the canteen tent and heard a service there. The padre spoke very nicely on kinship†.
Driver mad drunk. Shortrigg and I undressed him and he slept after fighting† a while.
23 December 1916; Saturday
Spent day in the usual way. The men from the top hospital came down to our place. They were in the next tent to me.
22 December 1916; Friday
Up at usual time and spent day in the usual way.
21 December 1916; Thursday
Up shortly before 7 o’clock. Fine at first but rain later in the morning. Busy as usual.
20 December 1916; Wednesday
Up about 7 o’clock. Missed the parade. Got off in the afternoon and went in the bus to the football match. About 14 kilos ride. Lovely day. Enjoyed the ride. Our team lost. Loyal North Lancs 3 – 1. Divisional band after dinners. Got back at tea time. Only peas†.
19 December 1916; Tuesday
Up about 7 o’clock. Busy all day. Went off to Y M at night. Mr Lloyd George [entry apparently uncompleted.] 1
David Lloyd George had become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom a few days earlier, on 6 December 1916, following the resignation of Herbert Asquith. It is possible that ALL had intended to write a note to this effect, or to comment on some act or decision by Lloyd George subsequent to his appointment as PM. ↩
18 December 1916; Monday
Up at 7 o’clock and on duty rather late. Missed the parade. Got all the tent cleaned up and everything went pretty smoothly all day. Cold weather.
17 December 1916; Sunday
Busy all day. Finished at 6 o’clock and went up to the service in the Mairie. The padre was very good and we enjoyed the service. Received letter from Ernie, also parcel from Betty.
Heard that at the French victory at Verdun 9 000 prisoners and 81 guns had been captured.