Up at usual time. Usual day’s work. Gertie’s Birthday1.
Out with Harvey at night and had cocoa in a house.
Day’s work as usual. Went to Y M at night and heard a Scotsman preaching. The service a pleasant change.
At work as usual. Frost again and heavy rain.
Usual day’s work. Frost easier and rain fell.
Up at 7.20. 19 in my tent. Finer morning, though still frosty.
Up shortly before 7 o’clock. Fed tent. Washed and shaved as usual and got ready for M O. Frost again, but fine morning.
Went to Lealvillers at night to the aerodrome picture house. Concert by the Naval Division Follies. A lot of nonsense.
Up at 7 o’clock. Busy all day. Usual work. Went to bed early.
Slightly warmer in the afternoon.
Several British advances made about this time. Also crisis with U S A and Germany. And the submarine ban†1.
Up at 7 o’clock. Busy all day. Finished shortly before 7 o’clock at night. Went to service in YM hut. Ned, the dog1, went with us. Pretty good service. Sang “Sun of my soul2.”
Frost still holding.
This is the only mention in the diary of Ned, the dog. Dogs were used extensively by all sides during the conflict so the presence of a dog is unsurprising. Given that ALL was attached to a medical facility, it is possible that Ned was a casualty dog although he may just have been a mascot or pet. See The role of animals during World War One at the BBC Newsround site. ↩
Sun of my soul, a hymn written in 1820 by John Keble (1792-1866) after whom Keble College, Oxford is named. ↩