Up at 8 o’clock. A tremendous rush to get through and had breakfast late. Decided to go and see Ernie in the afternoon. Set out about 1.30. Walked through Dikbush1 and arrived at the battery, without much trouble, about 4.15. Just in time for tea. He showed me round and I saw his friends – very nice chaps. Left about 6.30. He showed me back almost to La Clyte and we arranged to meet again at La Clyte on Sunday next. Arrived home shortly after 9 o’clock. Slept in the old woman’s cellar and slept well. Visited Ernie.
Tag Archives: Ernie
5 July 1917; Thursday
Up at 7 o’clock. Busy all morning. Lieutenant Jones number 2 turned up again in the afternoon with his ankle trouble and two brothers in beds next to one another.
Ernie called to see me and met me as I was putting Captain Holmes’ kit into the ambulance. He looked round the place, had a wash and brush up and then we had tea in the small town, walked round and back again. I set him up to Locre. He is at Dikbush1 with 8” guns. Told one another a few adventures. Jolly called to see me.
Walked round with Walker at night.
1 July 1917; Sunday
Up at 7 o’clock. Kept fairly busy all day. Went to service at night. Very good service and pretty good sermon though rather too long. Bob Walker with me. Ernie1 not turned up yet. Received letter from home.
Ernie: see 5 July. There is nothing to indicate whether Ernie’s battery was in the Ypres Salient in time to take part in the Messines Ridge bombardment. See also: Family page, and all diary entries tagged “Ernie”. ↩
25 June 1917; Monday
Up at 7 o’clock. Rather late with our work first thing. Out in the afternoon. Lieutenant Gunning and Captain Russell went to C C S. Wrote letter to Ernie. Not much doing at night. Read little satire ‘Pig on Artemis.”1 Freddy Holmes drunk and Dai Davies drunk last thing.
[2 – 3 lines scarcely visible: “…. orderlies ….off a waggon ….. and we had him in …. time. He appeared a bit shaken.”]
German aeroplanes dropped 8 bombs near the aerodrome at about midnight and put the wind up us. The big gun also shelled the rail head.
“Pig on Artemis” may have been an item in a magazine such as Everyman. See also Everyman and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩
4 June 1917; Monday
[Very faint and smudged]
Up at 6.15 o’clock again. Busy all day. My turn on at night. Went to the Y M in the afternoon and wrote a long letter to Ernie. Fine night.
3 June 1917; Sunday
Up at 6.30 as usual. Kept busy all day. Off at night and went to the Y M service. Enjoyed it very much. Had short walk round afterwards. Eric Hardy, Wishaw, Billy Truman, Lennie Protherell†, Peter Simmons and Exley down.
30 April 1917; Monday
Up at 7.30. Spent morning packing up and writing a letter to Ernie lying out on the grass. Grand morning. Went to the Méteren movies at night and enjoyed it pretty well. Wrote long letter to Ernie. Watched aeroplanes going out about 11 o’clock at night. Bromley drunk as usual, and very funny and talkative.
20 April 1917; Friday
Up at 7.15. On duty as usual. Busy at dinner time. Received letters from Ernie and Charlie. Replied to both. Fine day. Heard that the French have captured 19,000 prisoners and 100 guns.
9 April 1917; Monday
Up at 8 o’clock. Practically nothing to do all day. Wrote letter to Ernie. Received letter and parcel from home. Cold day and a few showers of snow. Read some of “Villette.”1 The man badly wounded in the arm2 died tonight. I felt a bit queer as is Captain Strickland.
Vimy Ridge captured by the British.
Sat at bay.
25 March 1917; Sunday
Up at 7 by new time – 6 in reality1. On duty as usual. Sandwith and a friend came very gamely to see me in the morning and we talked all the while. We were issued with waterproof capes in the evening. Received letter from Ernie. Went to service at the Y M at night and after the service played the piano until closing time, while several other chaps sang. Had a good time. First time I have played since last August. Went to bed and swotted a bit French last thing.