Tag Archives: Brickfields

Brickfields was the site of a former brick works to the North of Albert which was used as a large billeting area by Allied troops. Arthur Linfoot arrived there on 23 October 1916. His stay at Brickfields may have been an extended one – excursions to several nearby villages are mentioned on subsequent days and he stayed behind on 24 October after many of his comrades had left – but Brickfields is only mentioned by name once.

24 October 1916; Tuesday

October 1916

Up before 6 o’clock and marched off before washing or shaving. Arrived <at> a dressing station and we were stuck in a tent standing by. Got mud up to the eyes taking down a tent. A few shells came over. Had to move again and put up some new tents. Received parcel from home after my bread ration was finished. Ike† and most of the others went on to the aid post. I was left behind1 on account of being sick. Got down to bed about 8 o’clock and slept pretty well.

  1. “Left behind” might suggest that ALL remained at Brickfields after “Ike and most of the others” left. ↩

23 October 1916; Monday

October 1916, , ,
Brickfields near Albert
Brickfields camp – see footnote 3

Up about 7.30. Helped in the ward a bit. Packed up things and moved off shortly after dinner. I rode with two divisional patients as bus-man in the first car and the others marched. Arrived about 2 kilometres from Albert1. The M.G.C.2 man and I walked to a Y.M. hut but we got nothing to eat so had some tea. Waited by the fire until about 6 o’clock when the rest came up. Slept in a tent† and had a good night.

Brickfields Camp W3

  1. The map shows the start and end points of this journey, Val-de-Maison (A) and the approximate location of the Brickfields camp at Albert (B). Source. ↩

  2. M.G.C.: Machine Gun Corps. ↩

  3. The Brickfields, an old brick factory on the outskirts of Albert, was used as a large billeting area by Allied troops. Its close proximity to Albert and the front line made it an ideal position for soldiers to stay in makeshift shelters for short periods of time. The Photograph – ‘Brickfields near Albert’  – is from Museum Victoria and not from ALL’s archive. ↩