Tag Archives: Bourecq

Arthur Linfoot was stationed at Boureq, a Western suburb of Lillers in the Pas-de-Calais department, from 20 July to around 30 July 1918.

30 July 1918; Tuesday

Up about 7 o’clock. On duty all day. Orders to pack up and clear patients and packed during the afternoon. Packed all up during the day. Fell in at 9 o’clock near the transport park. Marched off about 9.30. Marched pretty fast but had one long spell. Arrived at Auchel1 about midnight.


  1. Auchel (B), whence ALL had come to Bourecq (A) on 20 July

27 July 1918; Saturday

Up at 7 o’clock. Rain most of the day. Wrote letter home and one to Ernie. Received letter from Harvey. Did a little French and washed some clothes. Heard of the Coventry strike1.


  1. There was an engineering and munitions strike in Birmingham and Coventry in July 1918, caused by ‘the embargo’: a Government prohibition of the employment of additional skilled men in specified firms; it applied to very few firms, and was not generally known until a misleading notice by one of the affected firms drew attention to it. The strikes ended after a week, when the Government announced that those still on strike on 29 July would have their protection certificates withdrawn, making them eligible for conscription. 

24 July 1918; Wednesday

Up about 7 o’clock. On duty at 8 o’clock. Fine morning. Pretty busy especially at dinner-time owing to dentist being here. Finished at 6 o’clock and went down road a bit with Sergeant Powell and Billy Truman. Had a good talk with Sergeant Powell on after-war problems and the cause of the war.

A lot of bombing in the night and a German plane brought down not far away.

21 July 1918; Sunday

Up about 7 o’clock and on duty at 8 o’clock. Not much to do all day, but fiddling about all day, no work of my own. Wrote letter home and went to C of E service and stayed to communion but didn’t partake of it. Had short walk afterwards with Billy Truman. Slept in headquarters billet again. Slept pretty well.