Tag Archives: Letters

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

14 April 1918; Sunday

April 1918, ,

[Written at top of page above date: “Very wonderful escape and slightly wounded.”]

Awake a fair part of the night. A 4.2 shell came through the roof of the hut above Ben Jenkins, passed over my body and burst a yard off my face. Blew our side of the hut to pieces. Killed MacDermot and Slade† and wounded Belloc†, Ned Phillips, Ben Jenkins and myself very slightly. A piece of shrapnel halfway through my valise under my head1. My equipment and clothing blown up. Wonderful escape. †Felt unwell† in the afternoon. Included† at La Clyte. Wrote home to expound things. Jerry still advancing. At the Y M service at night and enjoyed it. Moved off to another camp2 at night. Slightly wounded.

  1. ALL had written about another piece of shrapnel, recovered from the shoulder of a patient on 26 July 1916, which ALL subsequently kept as a souvenir. While the shrapnel mentioned today would have been a more significant souvenir, ALL makes no mention in the diary or elsewhere of having retained it. However, that fragment might conceivably be the one depicted on the 26 July 1916 entry, if not the one recovered from ALL’s patient that day. ↩

  2. “Another camp”: apparently also near Reninghelst. ↩

12 April 1918; Friday

April 1918, , , ,

Up most of the night. Moved off from Kemmel about 7 o’clock in a car. Did nothing at Vierstraat and got down to it and slept good part of the day. Up for tea and orders to move at night again. Received letter and papers from home. News in the papers more encouraging. Packed up and marched off from Vierstraat at about 10 o’clock at night and arrived at Reningelst road1 about midnight. Went into Nissen hut in a camp there.

  1. “Reningelst road”: assumed to be near Reninghelst (C). The map shows the entire journey, starting from Kemmel (A) and going via Vierstraat (B). ↩

5 April 1918; Friday

April 1918, , , , , , ,

Up about 7 o’clock. On parade and detailed off for the dispensary. Busy all day. Put up flagstaff and flag. Out for short walk at night.

The magazines came out. Bought six and sent them home, Ernie, Charlie, Marmie, Franchie and office1.

  1. ALL may have contributed to this magazine number – hence the copies for home; he mentions ‘writing’ occasionally, and specifically for the magazine on 6 and 11 May 1918. ↩

11 March 1918; Monday

March 1918, , , ,

Up about 6.30 and on duty at 7 o’clock. Wrote letter to Marmie in the morning. Got nicely through work. Had walk to Le Mesnil1 at night with Harvey. Glorious day.

  1. Le Mesnil: Mesnil-en-Arrouaise (B), just SE. of the E19, 3km from Bus (A), 2km from Rocquigny; Michelin square J7. ↩