Tag Archives: Map

Diary entries which illustrate the locations of the events recorded using maps. See also Maps.

31 December 1918; Tuesday

Up at about 6.20. Worked in the afternoon until nearly 4, then got on the car with Harvey etcetera and went to Fienvillers1 to headquarters for the dinner. Met all the old boys and helped to get ready for the fray. Commenced dinner about 7.30. Had splendid feed including roast pork. After dinner a whist drive, Sergeant Powell top and short singsong. Major McMee present after dinner for a while and replied to a toast. Sergeant-major, Sergeant Powell, Sergeant Chapman and Burden and the nursing orderlies. 25 present. Sang Auld Lang Syne at midnight.

Nursing Orderlies dinner.


  1. Fienvillers (B): 10km along the D925 from Doullens (A) toward Abbeville; Michelin square F7. 

7 December 1918; Saturday

Up at 5 am and fell in at 7. Entrained about 10 o’clock and arrived at Amiens about 6. Entrained in supplies train to Longpré1 and changed again to Doullens. Nurse with child beyond Longpré and Doullens. Left Doullens about 10.30 to walk to Longuevillette2 and got lift on a car. Arrived about 11 o’clock and got down in a hostel.


  1. Longpré: presumably Longpré-les-Corps-Saints, as on previous journeys. 

  2. The map shows this stage of ALL’s journey from Boulogne (A) to Longuevillette (E; Michelin square F7): 5km SW. of Doullens (D), via Amiens (B) and Longpré-les-Corps-Saints (C). 

6 December 1918; Friday

Arrived at King’s X at about 6.30. Crossed by tube to Victoria and left there about 7.30. Arrived Folkestone at about 10 and left at 2 o’clock. Slept part of the way across and * †landing nest the rest†. Stayed below. Arrived at Boulogne1 at about 5 o’clock. Marched up bank to camp and got bills and francs. Got down about 10 o’clock.


  1. The map shows ALL’s journey from Newcastle (A) to Boulogne (D), via London (B) and Folkestone (C). 

22 November 1918; Friday

Up about 6 o’clock. Had breakfast at the canteen and paraded early. Crossed by 11 o’clock 1 and arrived in London shortly after 3. Had tea at the Y M hut and left by the 5.302. Came up most of the way with an engineer chap. Arrived at midnight and found Joe and Father waiting for me.


  1. 11 o’clock: Presumably the 11am sailing from Boulogne (A) to Folkestone? 

  2. 5.30: presumably the 17:30 train from London (B) to Sunderland (C). 

21 November 1918; Thursday

Up at 5 o’clock. Old John got breakfast for me and we got a car. Left Cambrai shortly before 8 o’clock. Arrived at Boulogne1 at about 9 o’clock at night and went to a rest camp. Had dinner and slept 14 in a tent.

Left unit on leave.


  1. The map shows this stage of ALL’s journey to home leave, from Cagnoncles (A), via Cambrai (B) to Boulogne (C). 

17 November 1918; Sunday

Up at about 7 o’clock. Had bath at Cauroir1 in the morning. Wrote letters in the afternoon and went to Cauroir to the service at night. Got a bit of a cold and a sore throat.

Received a letter from Father and letter from Mother dated 11th inst. telling me of the doings in Sunderland.


  1. Cauroir (B): written only in shorthand, but seems fairly certain; about 1km SW. of Cagnoncles (A). 

16 November 1918; Saturday

Up about 7 o’clock. Marched off shortly after 9. Arrived at Cagnocles1 about 2 o’clock. Wrote and did French at night. Had short walk.


  1. Cagnocles: Cagnoncles (B), 14km W. of Haussy (A) and 6km E. Cambrai. 

15 November 1918; Friday

Up about 7.30. Moved off about 10 o’clock and arrived at Haussy1 about 2.30. Had a good billet. Received letters from home, Ernie and Charlie. 5 men going on leave tomorrow. Had good night’s sleep.


  1. Haussy (B): 10km SW. of Sepmeries (A) and 3km SE. of Montrécourt; see 2 November. 

14 November 1918; Thursday

Up at about 7.30. Ordered to pack up and march off about 11 o’clock. Marched after dinner until nearly 5 o’clock, when we arrived at Sepmeries1. Received letter from Ernie. Pretty heavy march and we were tired when we arrived. Got down to bed early and slept well.


  1. Sepmeries (B): 15km WSW. of Bettrechies (A) and 9km SSE. of Valenciennes; Michelin square N6. 

10 November 1918; Sunday

Up about 7 o’clock and moved off at about 9.30. Arrived at Bettrechies1 about noon. A D S people and most of the bearers arrived shortly afterwards. Heard that peace was imminent and that the German navy was in a state of mutiny. Had long walk round about village at night with Harvey and sleep† with Billy Truman. Received letter from home at night.


  1. Bettrechies (B): halfway between Houdain-lez-Bavay (A) and Bry; i.e. now moving W. after the long march E.