Up at 7 o’clock. On parade in the morning. Got pass through for 11 o’clock. Walked out with Black in the afternoon. Met Miss Mack at St Michael’s Church at 7 o’clock. Her elder sister was with her. Set them up home and then her elder sister left us and we had a walk on our own. I left her about 11 o’clock. My watch had stopped and I didn’t get into barracks until after 11.30. Had pleasant walk.
Tag Archives: Mack
11 February 1916; Friday
Up at 7 o’clock. Received letter from Miss Mack making appointment for tomorrow night. Wet morning and the men paraded in our hut. The major told Collins he cannot compliment him on the condition of his hut. Read about chemistry. Went into the town with Black at night and after calling at the Mechanical Institute1 met Miss Mack and her sister and with Black set them up home.
There is still (2013) a Mechanics’ Institute, in a Grade 2 listed building in Percy Street, run by Alnwick Town Council for community use. ↩
8 February 1916; Tuesday
Up at 7 o’clock. Had a cold. Stayed in at night. Walked to town at night. Met the younger Miss Mack and walked up with her and got her sister’s address. Fine night. On parade as usual.
30 January 1916; Sunday
At church as usual. Set Misses Mack a few yards in the morning. In the afternoon walked to the top of the bank with Black and met Sergeant Sharpley. At night went with Sergeant Sharpley to Clayport and afterwards set up the Misses Mack to the farm. Stayed and talked until late and didn’t get back to camp until after Last Post.
29 January 1916; Saturday
Got off duty at 10 o’clock. Went into town before dinner. Met Father and Mother at the station about 2 o’clock. Had dinner in town and then walked through the deer park. Came back by the lane bridge and the bottom of the camp. Back into the café for tea and then to the station. Fine day. Left by the 6.43 train.
Visit to Alnwick of father & mother.
Met Misses Mack at the station and set them up. They afterwards walked up the road with me until 10 o’clock because I had a late pass. Spent a pleasant day and night.
23 January 1916; Sunday
Church parade. Had a cold. At church in the morning and sat in the same pew as the Misses Mack and merely nodded. Didn’t overtake them coming back to camp owing to the man I was with stopping to speak to Mr Douglas. They didn’t turn out at night. Cold worse. Read all the afternoon and finished I will Repay1.
“I Will Repay”: novel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, author of The Scarlet Pimpernel, who lived at Acol (near Thanet in Kent). I Will Repay is the second Scarlet Pimpernel book written by Orczy although it comes chronologically third in the series, after Sir Percy Leads the Band and before The Elusive Pimpernel. See also I Will Repay and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩
22 January 1916; Saturday
On fatigue putting up goal posts in the morning. Had haircut in the afternoon. Football match between Alnwick and camp. Fish† got his nose hurt. In town at night and had supper at a café. Read all the afternoon. Saw the Misses Mack but didn’t speak.
21 January 1916; Friday
Received postcard from Ernie to say he would not be stopping at Alnmouth. Walked into town. Heard that the Misses Mack were in town again.
Ernie & Hilda left St. Andrews1 & returned to Sunderland.
“.. left St Andrews” appears to mean permanent return to Sunderland; Ernie is “at the shop”, sc. Hills’, on 19 February 1916. See also Family page. ↩
16 January 1916; Sunday
At church (Clayport) as usual. Stayed in the recreation room all the afternoon. Walked a few yards with the younger Miss Mack in the morning. Walked up to the camp with Miss Alder and that Tyneside Scotch chap and wished him goodbye. In Y.M. last thing. Played the piano a bit. Received letter case from home.
9 January 1916; Sunday
At church as usual. Sat upstairs in the Presbyterian church1 in the morning, and didn’t stay to the sacrament. Had walk through the deer park2 in the afternoon. At church at night and was in the same pew as the Misses Mack. Missed them after church. Walked up their lane a bit and came back past them with another chap. Walked round that way back to camp. Sang Jackson’s evening hymn at night.
Probably Hulne Park again. ↩