Up at 7 o’clock, on duty as usual in the hospital. Finished after dinner and went up to Y M. Wrote two letters, one to Ernie and one to Charlie. Stayed to tea. Came down and received a letter from home. Heard that we are moving this weekend. Went to the concert of the †Shower Shifters†1 and it was not up to much.
Transcription doubtful; no concert party of this name identified. ↩
Busy all day. My free day off and I went with Holman to the church, and cemetery and then to a house where we had eggs and coffee. Afterwards visited the Y M, wrote two letters and heard part of an impromptu concert. Turned in at usual time and had shave etcetera.
Up shortly before 7 o’clock. On duty as usual. Not so busy. Billy Truman a bit better. Wet day. Off at night and went to Bailleul. At the concert and it was very good. With Holman. Called at the house of the Belgians and bought a piece of lace to be sent to Marmie.
On duty as usual. Off in the afternoon and went to Bailleul. Went to concert at night and enjoyed it.
Up at 6.45. At work as usual. My afternoon off. Went over to Bailleul with Harvey. Our team playing football against M.A.C. and lost 1 – 0. At the Merry Mauves1.
Received news of Zeppelin raid and 2 brought down2.
“Merry Mauves”: The soldiers’ revue first mentioned on 22 September. ↩
Zeppelin raid: On the night of 23 September 1916, a group of four Zeppelins comprising L31, L32, L33 and L34 staged a raid on London and the surrounding counties. Two of these, L32 and L33, were shot down, the former near Billericay with the loss of all hands. The latter crash landed at at New Hall Farm, Little Wigborough; the crew survived and were taken prisoner. L33 was not completely destroyed and was used to inform the design of British airships R33 and R34. See also List of Zeppelins at Wikipedia. ↩
Up at 7 o’clock. Church parade at 11 o’clock. Very nice service – C of E – and good hymns O God Our Help, Jesu Lover of my Soul etcetera. Read Bible a bit. Read British Weekly and enjoyed article by Claudius Clear1. Went to concert in the open by the Town Major’s house. Our C.O. and a captain took part in good dialogue. I dropped a 2 franc piece and couldn’t find it at a shop. Called again with Walsh and the woman recognised me and told me where she had found it – on the window sill. Washed shirt, pants and socks and wrote a few letters.
Claudius Clear: alter-ego of William Robertson Nicoll (1851 – 1923), a Scottish Free Church minister, journalist, editor, and man of letters who founded the British Weekly, a Nonconformist newspaper. ↩