At church in the morning and evening. Took duty in the dining hall for Sharpley. Betty at church at night. I was in their pew. Sang one nice hymn. Sat and talked to her a good bit after her sister had gone into the house.
Tag Archives: Mack
11 March 1916; Saturday
On fatigue in the morning. Went out to meet Betty at night. Snowing pretty heavily. We stayed in a gateway all the night. I told her I was interested in her and she admitted interest in me. Was terribly wet when I returned to the camp. A few minutes late. Fell over a netting at the top of the camp. Most of the men in the room on pass. Corporal Collins on leave.
10 March 1916; Friday
On fatigue as usual. Met Betty and her sister at night. It was hailing heavily. She came out again and we had a short walk together. I was late in leaving her and ran into Mr Arrowridge† and we came down together. He showed me a new road into the top of the camp.
4 March 1916; Saturday
26 February 1916; Saturday
On parade as usual in the morning. Read a bit in the afternoon. Met Betty at 5.30 on the High† Road. Snowed pretty heavily both when I was waiting and when we were together. Sheltered behind a tree in the High† Road, and then again in the plantation at the foot of the High† House Road. Talked a good many things. I told her about our family and she told me about her people too. Elder sister married and in Glasgow, brother at the front. Other sister school teacher and younger sister at home. Brother younger too. Grandmother died recently. Told me that she had knocked about with a chap for 3 years and he went to the front. I said was he gone 1 and she said yes. Left her at 9 o’clock. Had a pleasant night.
“Gone”: Possibly a euphemism for “dead”, presumably having been killed in action? ↩
25 February 1916; Friday
On parade as usual. Met Betty at night on the HH House Road1 and stayed out with her until after 9 o’clock. Talked a fair amount of rot and a bit sense. She said she knew I was imaginative. Spent a pleasant night. Arranged to meet early tomorrow night. Late pass stopped.
Black went on pass for the weekend.
“HH House Road”: has not been definitively identified. However there is a Heckley High House (marked on map) to the north-west of Alnwick, the location of which which would appear to be consistent with the diary record.
20 February 1916; Sunday
Got up late. At chapel late with Father in the morning. Went with Ernie at night and sat in Tulips’pew. Went down in the car and saw Gertie in it. Called at Grandmother’s in the afternoon and saw her, Aunt Esther and Uncle Jack. Spoke to a few chapel friends. Ernie and Hilda and Moira to dinner and tea and we had two chickens and pork for dinner. Played piano a bit. Sent postcard to Betty.
At Home.
Ernie’s finger better, Father’s not much. I got out a spelk1. Shook hands with Father.
18 February 1916; Friday
Received letter from Betty in reply to mine1. Wrote acknowledgement and said that I would be travelling through Morpeth. Out in the town at night and got one or two things. A bottle of scent for Gertie and a brooch for Dorothy.
ALL wrote his letter to Miss Mack on the 15th February and received a reply from Betty on the 18th. ALL continues to use Miss Mack’s first name only from this point on. ↩
15 February 1916; Tuesday
On parade as usual. Down by the station with a party and rode up and down on the motors. On the same job in the afternoon. Stayed in at night. Wrote letter to Miss Mack.
13 February 1916; Sunday
Up at 7 o’clock. At church as usual. Walked up road in the afternoon. At church with Sharpley at night. Walked round with him afterwards but missed Miss Mack. Fine moonlight light [sic] and enjoyed the walk.