Tag Archives: Letters

Diary entries which mention letters written or received by Arthur Linfoot during his time in the RAMC.

3 March 1918; Sunday

Up about 7 o’clock. In bed all day. Bad weather. Went to a C of E service at night and it was very good. They took a full musical service as they had an excellent orchestra (the Dorset†) with them. The orchestra also played a couple of selections which were very fine. I wrote to Charlie and Ernie last thing. Came on duty at about 8 o’clock and turned into bed about one o’clock. My face rather badly broken out round my mouth, but my general health much better.

23 February 1918; Saturday

Up about 7 o’clock. Packing up in the morning. Paraded at 2.30 pm and marched off about 3.15 to Haplincourt1. Vile billets. Received letter from Gertie.


  1. Haplincourt (B): 3km N. of Rocquigny (A). 

9 February 1918; Saturday

Up about 8 o’clock. Down to headquarters. Long argument at night with Sergeant Cooper and the rest on the subject of red lamps1.

Received letter from Ernie to say that he will probably be going on leave about this time.


  1. “Red lamps”, if a correct transcription, almost certainly refers to the widespread use of licensed brothels by troops in France during WW1. According to this piece on WW1 brothels at the BBC, brothels displayed blue lamps if they were for officers and red lamps for other ranks.

    Given ALL’s strong religious principles and his well documented position on a related moral issue, alcohol, there can be little doubt that ALL was against while Sergeant Cooper and the rest were for red lamps, hence the argument noted here, although the exact nature of the argument can only be guessed at.