Tag Archives: Sheffield

Diary entries written while Arthur Linfoot was in Sheffield during his basic training and while waiting for his deployment to Northern France. See also Sheffield map.

6 September 1915; Monday

6 September 15September 1915Charlie, SheffieldArthur Linfoot

On parade as usual. Rather dull without Charlie.

5 September 1915; Sunday

5 September 15September 1915Charlie, Inwood, Music, SheffieldArthur Linfoot

At Church Parade & saw Charlie. Met him in the afternoon & he sang some things from Elijah¹. Went to Inwoods’ to tea. Had music. At Communion Service. I left him at Soldiers’ Home at 10 o’clock.

“Elijah”: Mendelssohn’s oratorio; remained popular, and widely performed, at least until the 1950s. ↩

4 September 1915; Saturday

4 September 15September 1915Charlie, Inwood, Photo, Sheffield, Stripe, WalesArthur Linfoot

Had breakfasts at 7 o’clock. Welsh Party left at about 7.30. Charlie came in the afternoon. Had photos taken¹ and then spent most of the night at Inwoods’ singing and playing. Stayed until late & Charlie was locked out of S. [Soldiers’] Home & had to sleep in Guard Room.

Group of 12 servicemen, presumably at Hillsborough Barracks, Sheffield: ALL in centre of middle row.

The photo accompanying this diary entry is a postcard, posted on 7 September 1915 to ALL’s mother, with a message saying he was now a lance-corporal. It may be one of those taken on 4th September. ↩

3 September 1915; Friday

3 September 15September 1915Sheffield, WalesArthur Linfoot

Welsh Party picked & none of my friends in it. McNeil Russell & Phillips to go. Russell came in drunk at night.

2 September 1915; Thursday

2 September 15September 1915Sheffield, WalesArthur Linfoot

Turned out for parade as usual. Put into the cookhouse again. Great anxiety about Wales. Got to know at night I was probably not going. Got heavy cold. Put two late passes in.

1 September 1915; Wednesday

1 September 15September 1915Sheffield, WalesArthur Linfoot

On parade as usual. New men included in the afternoon. We had two hours drill in the afternoon. Our corporal told us that that 200 men were to go to Wales on Saturday and considerable anxiety about it.

31 August 1915; Tuesday

31 August 15August 1915Inwood, SheffieldArthur Linfoot

On parade in the morning. [2½ lines crossed out; in part apparently next day’s entry, inserted on wrong page.] On parade as usual. Went to Inwoods’ at night. Corporal Findlater there. Played a game or two. Miss Inwood still away. In the cookhouse all day and it is a rotten job.

30 August 1915; Monday

30 August 15August 1915Charlie, Letters, Sheffield, WalesArthur Linfoot

On parade as usual. Had walk with Dunn, Hoare and Moil. Received letter from Charlie making arrangements for Saturday. A rumour going round about going to Wales shortly.

29 August 1915; Sunday

29 August 15August 1915Chapel, Inwood, SheffieldArthur Linfoot

At church parade in the morning with over-coats. At Inwoods’ to tea and supper with Hoare and a lot of other soldiers. Played a bit. Miss Inwood away for the weekend.

28 August 1915; Saturday

28 August 15August 1915Joe, Marmie, SheffieldArthur Linfoot

On parade in the morning. Cleaned out rooms. I was orderly man, and missed a route march which the other fellows did.

Received postcard from Joe saying Marmie was going through Sheffield¹ and I might see her. Spent the afternoon in the station but didn’t see her. Mr Young† finished off my job. Had tea in the Soldiers’ Home. Played the piano a good bit.

We do not know where Marmie was going; perhaps to Lincoln, where she and Joe had lived up to 1914. ↩

The Diary of Arthur L. Linfoot

58th Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.