Bath parade in the morning. Off duty in the afternoon and wrote a letter to Betty and cleaned billy-can. Walked to the town at night with Green and turned in early.
Russians capture Trebizond1.
Tag Archives: Mack
16 April 1916; Sunday
At church as usual. At Inwoods’ to tea and supper after writing part of a letter to Betty. Franchie away for the weekend. Millard and two Engineers there.
12 April 1916; Wednesday
On parade in the morning. Bath parade. Had good splash. Off in the afternoon. Wrote letter to Betty. Received one from Ranald MacDonald. Had hair cut. Went into city and straight back. Wrote up diary at soldiers’ home.
6 April 1916; Thursday
Up late. Went to Mill1 in the morning and saw them all.
Nedderton.
Went to Newcastle by 3.30 train. Arrived Stannington2 at 4.5 and Betty waiting for me. Took me to their digs. Introduced to Miss Wells. Had tea. Another chap arrived after tea. Sat in with Betty in front of the fire and talked. Betty had a headache. Had supper. Had to hurry to the station. Betty set me down. Train a few minutes late. Stayed a few minutes in the station. Said goodbye to Betty.
Arrived Newcastle after 11. Left 11.45 and in Sunderland after mid night.
“Mill”: Hendon Paper Mill, where ALL had been employed prior to joining the RAMC. See also Sunderland map. ↩
Stannington: adjacent to Nedderton, but apparently on the rail line. ↩
26 March 1916; Sunday
Out shortly after reveille. Paraded with the duties. On canteen corporal and fire picket all day. Received letter from Betty and spent all spare time replying to it. Felt pretty rotten all day with vaccination.
22 March 1916; Wednesday
On parade as usual in the morning. Half day and off in the afternoon. Wrote long letter to Betty. Out at night for On stable picket at night and slept in the guard room. Spent a pretty restless night.
18 March 1916; Saturday
Up at 6 o’clock. Mopped out room. Paraded at 9 o’clock and had to drill my squad until 10. Missed the next parade as I was looking after chairs and coals. Went to Y.M. in the afternoon and wrote home and to Betty. Had tea with other 5 of our room at the Y.M. Returned to the barracks and then went to the Wesleyan church guild meeting. Met Mr Inwood there and he asked me up tomorrow.
16 March 1916; Thursday
Up at 7 o’clock. On fatigues as usual. Got out early and got the 5.15 train to Morpeth1. Black set me to the station. Betty waiting for me. We walked up by the river side2. It rained pretty heavily. Talked a bit nonsense. Sat beside a gate a good bit. I told her that I loved her, and asked her if she loved me and she said she did. I promised I would have nothing to do with girls and would not forget her, and she promised she would not forget me. She showed me the brooch I gave her. My train was prompt and so I had to leave her on the platform. I kissed her before I got into the train.
At Morpeth.
Morpeth is a town in Northumberland about 20 miles south of Alnwick. ↩
The River Wansbeck. ↩
15 March 1916; Wednesday
On fatigue as usual. Felt a bit sick at having to leave Alnwick and Betty. Put in pass for Morpeth. Everybody interested in our departure. Out with Black at night. Raining all the time. Called at Dons’ and he was away. Mrs Don didn’t recognise me at all. †Just at first† said goodbye to Mrs Proctor.
14 March 1916; Tuesday
On fatigue as usual. News came at dinner time that we are to return to Alnwick1 on Friday. Posted in orders at night. I wrote to Betty and made an appointment for Thursday night at Morpeth. Wrote home too. At the pictures at night with Sharpley and Black. Felt a bit blue at the prospect.
Alnwick: The shorthand clearly has “Alnwick”, but ALL presumably meant to write “Sheffield”. ↩