Tag Archives: Map

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

9 September 1918; Monday

September 1918, , ,

Up about 8 o’clock. Joined Y M party and went by train to Versailles1. Very wonderful place. Built by Louis XIV. Saw church, ball room, throne room, bed room, board† rooms, senate room, mirrors†, etcetera. Went to English theatre at night and had dinner2 in French restaurant.

  1. The map shows the journey from Paris (A) to Versailles (B). B marks the location of the palace. ↩

  2. “Dinner”, for once, actually appears to mean “dinner”, not “lunch”. ↩

7 September 1918; Saturday

September 1918, , ,

Travelled all night in truck and arrived at Rouen about 9 o’clock1. Left our things at a rest camp, had dinner2 at a restaurant and visited the town. Went through St Ouen’s church3 and up the tower, and through the cathedral4. Pleasant day. Moved off at 9 o’clock at night to Paris5.

  1. ALL arrived at 9:00am, having travelled all night. ↩

  2. “Dinner” means “lunch”, as usual. ↩

  3. Saint-Ouen Abbey Church is a Gothic church in Rouen. It is famous for both its architecture and its Cavaillé-Coll organ, described as “a Michelangelo of an organ” by Charles-Marie Widor, which would doubtless have been of some interest to ALL (himself a capable organist) although he makes no mention if it here. ↩

  4. Rouen cathedral; the other famous Gothic church of Rouen. ↩

  5. The map shows ALL’s continuing journey, from Rouen (A) to Paris (B), where he eventually arrived on 8 September. ↩

6 September 1918; Friday

September 1918, , , , ,

Up at 6 o’clock. Set out for Lillers at 7. Left Lillers about 10. Changed at Etaples and left for Rouen1 at 9 o’clock. Travelled all night in box truck.

  1. The map shows the entire journey from Gonnehem (A) to Rouen (D), where ALL eventually arrived on the morning of 7 September, via Lillers (B) and Étaples (C). ↩

5 September 1918; Thursday

September 1918, ,

Heard that our passes were through1. Busy in dressing room and packing all day. Funeral of Walsh, Stothard and Gilmour2 in the morning.

  1. The passes were for ALL’s Paris leave; the application had been submitted on 2 September. ↩

  2. See yesterday’s entry for ALL’s note of the deaths of Walsh, Stothard and Gilmour. All are now interred at Gonnehem British Cemetery, less than ½ km E. of Gonnehem itself, where ALL’s unit was stationed at the time (see map). ↩

27 August 1918; Tuesday

August 1918, , , ,

On duty at 9 o’clock. Not much to do. Lay down for an hour about 4.30. Relieved at 9 o’clock. Had a short lie in bed and then relieved from headquarters. Walked down to headquarters at Gonnehem1 and arrived in time for dinner. Billet in a hut with proper beds and bedclothes. Slept most of afternoon. Had walk after tea with Harvey and Billy Truman and slept with Billy in a real bed. Slept well. Heard from Ranald MacDonald that his brother Kenneth is missing.

  1. Gonnehem (B): 4km N. of Choques (A); Michelin square H4. ↩

6 August 1918; Tuesday

August 1918, ,

Up at about 7 o’clock after a good night’s sleep. Got into cars and moved off about 9 o’clock. Arrived at the advanced dressing station, a château near Choques1 about mid-day. Fitted up a place and went to bed after tea. Came on duty about 10 o’clock.

  1. Choques (B): about 9km ENE of Auchel (A) and mid-way between Lillers and Béthune; Michelin square H4. ↩

30 July 1918; Tuesday

July 1918, ,

Up about 7 o’clock. On duty all day. Orders to pack up and clear patients and packed during the afternoon. Packed all up during the day. Fell in at 9 o’clock near the transport park. Marched off about 9.30. Marched pretty fast but had one long spell. Arrived at Auchel1 about midnight.

  1. Auchel (B), whence ALL had come to Bourecq (A) on 20 July. ↩

20 July 1918; Saturday

July 1918, ,

Up early and packed up. Ambulance paraded at 8.45. Billy Truman and I stayed behind and looked to the disposal of some patients. A corporal in the sanitary section called Linfoot spoke to me and told me about himself. He lives at Manchester but hails from Yorkshire1. Rode to Bourecq2 by car and arrived before the ambulance. Looked to the few patients and opened out hospital in a kitchen shop.

Splendid news from the Champagne district.

  1. Many of the Linfoots, including ALL himself, could trace their roots to North Yorkshire. It is possible that ALL and this new Linfoot were distantly related in some way. See also Family page. ↩

  2. Bourecq (B): western suburb of Lillers, about 8.5 km NNW of Auchel (A). ↩

11 July 1918; Thursday

July 1918, , ,

Up at 4.30 am. Paraded at 6 o’clock. Got in the buses at the top of the hill and rode to Auchel1, a mining town near Lillers etcetera. Rotten billet in the top of a house, next to the roof. Took out a pan-tile to make light. Went to a concert at night given by a concert party, Camouflage, and it was splendid. The best I have seen in France. They sent an invitation for 100 of us and we were marched up. Turned in and slept well.

  1. Auchel (B): About 30km SE of Ouve-Wirquin (A) and 8km S. of Lillers; Michelin square G4. ↩

6 July 1918; Saturday

July 1918, , , ,

Up at 6.30. On parade at 8 o’clock and went for short march. Got passes to Lumbres1 in the afternoon and spent a pleasant night there. Spoke to some Americans. Had a good supper and bought some figs and things. Received letter from Ernie saying that he had seen our Divisional transport de-train but missed me.

  1. Lumbres (B): 6km NNW. from Ouve-Wirquin (A), on the St Omer – Boulogne road; Michelin square E3. ↩