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 as usual. My first free day off. Spent it at the Y M writing letters to Mr Eaves, Sister Annie1 and home. Heard a speech and a bit of a debate in the Y M last thing.
Sister Annie may have been a deaconess associated with one or more churches in Sunderland, including the South Durham Street United Methodist Free Church, where ALL was a member. Her name continues to appear in the diaries occasionally. ↩
Busy all day. Finished at 6 o’clock and went up to the service in the Mairie. The padre was very good and we enjoyed the service. Received letter from Ernie, also parcel from Betty.
Heard that at the French victory at Verdun 9 000 prisoners and 81 guns had been captured.
Busy as usual. Managed to get time to write a letter. Finished about 8 o’clock and went straight to bed.
Heard of a French victory at Verdun 1 and that they had advanced 2 miles on a 6 mile front.
“French victory at Verdun”: Seemingly the closing stages of the Battle of Verdun (February – December 1916). ↩
Up about 7 o’clock. On duty 7.30. Cleared all patients for the hospital and packed up. Called down to the C R S 1 shortly after dinner. Billeted in tents. Heard Holman and Truman taken up the town and put on a big double marquee with 27 patients. Got to bed after a search for my blankets. Rain came in through the tents and awoke rather wet. Received letter from Father telling me of accident to Marmie and Dorothy through the oven bursting.
“C R S”: Camp Reception Station. See RAMC Chain of Evacuation. ↩
Up at about 10 o’clock. Went into Doullens in the afternoon and called in at the church. Rather poor service. Had a feed at a hotel but too late for the Y.M. service. Wrote part of a letter. Missed service at the billet.
Up shortly after 7 o’clock. Had breakfast. Received letter from Mother and wrote reply. Dim rainy morning. Received orders first thing after dinner to march off again. Arrived Domart1 shortly after 5 o’clock. Quite a trek. Got shoved into a poor billet but managed to sleep well along with Ben Jenkins in the top of the steps. A lot of trouble about blankets.