Up at 7 o’clock. On duty about 7.30. Not so much work – only about 50 cases all day. Stayed on all night and let Billy Truman off. Felt very tired in the night. An aeroplane dropped bombs not far away and we had a few cases in.
Tag Archives: Kemmel
20 September 1917; Thursday
Up at 5 o’clock. Got on our overalls and waited until 9 before the first batch of wounded were down. I worked most of the day with the new American officer, Lieutenant Gutteridge. Went off about 8 or 9 o’clock. Between 4-500 cases.
Day of big push1.
Mr Aitken died2.
Battle of Ridges commenced3.
“Big push”: Presumably the “Battle of Ridges” mentioned below. ↩
Mr Aitken had been ALL’s boss at the Hendon Paper Mill. ALL’s longhand note recording Aitken’s death on this date was added later; the news had not yet reached him. ↩
“Battle of Ridges”: Probably the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. Sometimes called “Battle of the Menin Road”, this was the third British general attack of the Third Battle of Ypres. The battle took place from 20–25 September 1917. Like the above longhand note about Mr Aitken, this was probably added later – ALL clearly knew of a “big push” on this day but probably only later came to know it as “Battle of Ridges”. ↩
19 September 1917; Wednesday
Getting dressings and finishing the dressing room all day and until pretty late at night.
18 September 1917; Tuesday
Getting dressings and suchlike again. Worked a bit at night preparing the dressing room etcetera.
17 September 1917; Monday
Up shortly after 7 o’clock. Busy getting cotton-wool all morning with Jennings. Out at night for short walk. Went on to Kemmel Hill and looked round about the country. A fine view from the hill.
16 September 1917; Sunday
Up about 7 o’clock. Busy all day getting dressings along with Jennings for the push. Walked to Locre at night and were just in time for the sermon. Bought some plums afterwards and met Eccles of the 57th1; returned to Kemmel about 9 o’clock and read a little in bed.
The 57th: presumably the 57th Field Ambulance. ↩
15 September 1917; Saturday
Up about 7 o’clock. On general fatigue all day. Men going up the line almost every day. Expecting the attack any time now. Fine weather. Walked on to a little hill and had eggs at a little house.
14 September 1917; Friday
Up at 7 o’clock as usual. Walked into Locre at night. Had eggs and tomato at a house. Got back about 9 o’clock.
13 September 1917; Thursday
Up about 7 o’clock. Marched off at 8 o’clock. Commenced with the ironwork on the dugout. Returned at usual time and were sent back to Kemmel1 – Holman, Harvey, Driver and myself. Got there about 8 o’clock.
Fritz2 shelled a lot in the afternoon to our left. Dug up 2 French soldiers and one English soldier.
8 September 1917; Saturday
Up at 7 o’clock. Names of men to go up the line called out on parade and mine included. Parade 11 o’clock for pay and parade for departure about 12.45. Arrived Kemmel1 at tea time. Had tea and then moved on to our old dugouts at Vierstraat2. Turned in in good time. Very hot day.
Kemmel (B): 12km E of Boeschepe (A) 9km E. of Berthen, 4km S. of Dikkebus; Michelin square I3. ↩
Vierstraat (now Wijtschate; Flemish) (C): 4km NNE. of Kemmel, 2km SE. of Dikkebus, 5km SW. of Ypres; Michelin square J3. “Old dugouts” would seem to imply that ALL had been here before (possibly in April 1917), although this is the first time that Vierstraat is mentioned by name. ↩