Woke about 7 o’clock. Had breakfast at a station by the way. Finished journey at Hesdin1 at about noon. Got motor-lorries and went to Ouve2, about 30 kilos. Took us about 5 hours owing to breaking down and losing the way. Walked round village at night. Received two letters from Ernie and one from Gertie in which she tells me about her progress at the piano. Decent news from the line. Weather fine. Sergeant Powell unwell. Turned in about 9.30.
Tag Archives: Gertie
9 May 1918; Thursday
Up about 7 o’clock. Not much to do. Got new tunic at night. Fine day. Received letter from home saying that my final Intimation of Wound1 had come through. Also letter from Gertie telling me about her lessons.
We know from ALL’s papers (specifically a document entitled “UNIT REGISTER CARD A.G.Z.500 FRANCE”) that he had qualified for “Wound Stripes: One”, no doubt in virtue of the wound sustained on 14 April; one assumes from this entry that wounds, even minor ones, were formally notified to next of kin. ↩
23 February 1918; Saturday
19 February 1918; Tuesday
Up at 3 a.m. Paraded at 4 o’clock and went off in cars to Haplincourt1 crossroads. Got lorries from there to Achiet2 and train from there to Amiens3. Arrived at Amiens about 9.30. Holman taken rather badly. Had good breakfast and then visited the cathedral. In the afternoon visited the museum and were taken round by a Y M man – a very tactful and clever man. The sculpture work was the most magnificent I have seen, and the pictures were very wonderful. Thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the museum. Had tea and got train about 5.50. Arrived back at 9.45, very tired. Gertie’s Birthday.
23 January 1918; Wednesday
Up about 7.45. A good day. Over 20 gas cases in from 87th Brigade Artillery headquarters. Received letter from Ernie, on the subject of Gertie.
10 December 1917; Monday
Up about 8 o’clock. No rations up so we had iron ration biscuits and bully for breakfast with a drink of tea without any sugar. Paraded at 10. I reported sick and was given duty. The American officer put a bandage on my ankle. Spent afternoon writing a letter home. We tried to improve our billet but the sergeants took it from us because two officers took theirs. Received letters from Gertie, Mother, Ernie and Hilda Linfoot1 in New Zealand. Got down to it about 8 o’clock. Had a look inside of a tank. Walked round inside gate† and was very much interested in it. Quite a lot2 where we are. A rumour that some of us are going to a place on duty.
Hilda Tate Linfoot, ALL’s cousin. See Hilda disambiguation page. ↩
“Quite a lot [of tanks]”: By this stage of the war in late 1917, tanks were deployed in large numbers – see also note on 22 November. ↩
23 October 1917; Tuesday
Knocked about town – round new park with Gertie in the afternoon. Called at Aunt Mary’s and little Jack’s. Invited to Jack’s tomorrow.
28 April 1917; Saturday
19 February 1917; Monday
29 November 1916; Wednesday
Up at 7 o’clock. Parade at 9.15 for inspection and afterwards gas inspection. Nothing to do in the afternoon. Walked into Doullens with Holman and met Harvey there. Went to the picture house. Bought some fancy work for Gertie and Dorothy. Returned about 8 o’clock. Had 4 eggs for tea.