Tag Archives: Outtersteene

29 July 1917; Sunday

July 1917, , ,

Up at 7 o’clock. Kept fairly busy all day. 3 patients went out. At Y M service at night. Had short walk before with Bob Walker and we were in the Outtersteene Road1 when Fritz2 sent some shells over in the direction of the station3.

  1. The Outtersteene Road is a road, now the D23, running SW from Bailleul (A) to Outtersteene (B), about 5km away. Bailleul station, apparently the objective of “Fritz'” shelling, is at (C). ↩

  2. Fritz: a name given to German troops by the British and others in the First and Second World Wars. ↩

  3. Probably Bailleul station. ↩

21 March 1917; Wednesday

March 1917, ,

Up at 6 o’clock. Blankets handed in about 7 and marched off1 at 8 o’clock. Passed through Bailleul. Arrived at La Clyte2 about noon. Detailed off for the hospital in the afternoon. A fine hospital – previously a school. Sergeant Powell in charge and the usual 6 on the job.   11 kilos.

  1. “Marched off”, from Outtersteene (A). ↩

  2. La Clyte: sic – actually La Clytte in 1917 and now (Flemish) Klijte (B), midway between Bailleul and Ypres (Ieper), on the D23; Michelin square I3. ↩

20 March 1917; Tuesday

March 1917, ,

Up at 7.30. Parade at 10 o’clock. Pottered about all day. Walked into Meteren 1 at night with Harvey and Holman and called at Jeanes2. Had eggs and chips and spent a pleasant evening. Lost our way coming back and arrived about 9 o’clock.

  1. Méteren (B) is 6km NNE. of Outtersteene (A), 5km W. of Bailleul; Michelin square I3. ↩

  2. Jeanes, or Jennis: nothing more is known, although “Jeannes”, also at  Méteren, is mentioned again on 28 April; possibly the same place. A café or similar? ↩

19 March 1917; Monday

March 1917, , ,

Up at 7.30. Had eggs and chips for dinner along with Harvey. Had full marching order inspection and then cleaned the waggons. Walked into Baileul1 in the afternoon. Had tea and then went to the Merry Mauves2 and enjoyed their concert. Returned about 9 o’clock.

  1. Baileul: ALL always omits one ‘l’ from ‘Bailleul’ in his longhand; the transcription follows this, but where he writes it in shorthand, ie phonetically, it is transcribed with the correct spelling. Bailleul (B): is 5km NW. of  Outtersteene (A) and 16km SSW. of Ypres; Michelin square I3. ↩

  2. Merry Mauves: The soldiers’ revue first mentioned on 22 September and again on 26 September 1916, also at Bailleul. ↩

18 March 1917; Sunday

Abridged, March 1917, , , , , ,

Mooned about until 2 o’clock. Came back to the billet and roused Lee Hughes. Up at 6.30. Cleaned up ready for parade. Dull morning. Marched off about 11 o’clock. Passed through Hazebrouck1 and saw the people going out of the big church. Sat by the roadside and had tea served up. Arrived at Outersteene2 about 4.30. Decent village and good billet. Went out with Ridgeport† and had eggs and chips. Supposed to finish guard but didn’t go on it. Had short walk in the direction of Meteren3. Four of our chaps went into Méteren. Turned in early. Had meat and tinned tongue for supper.

22 kilos.

Heard rumour of Bapaume being captured and revolt in Russia4.

  1. Hazebrouck (B): 11km NE. of Boësighem (A); Michelin square H3. ↩

  2. Outersteene (C): Outtersteene is 10km E. of Hazebrouck, 5km SW. of Bailleul (D), Michelin square I3. ↩

  3. Meteren (E): Méteren is 6km NNE. of Outtersteene, 5km W. of Bailleul (D); also Michelin square I3. ↩

  4. The February revolution in Russia had started on 8 March 1917 (23 February in the Julian calendar). ↩