Alfred George Richardson’s Diary Nov 1915
1915 diary shows Bombardier Gunner (Signalling Dept) A. G. Richardson 4th Section, West Riding Divisional Ammunition Column R.F.A., Norfolk Barracks Sheffield.
Home Address:- Station House, Ben Rhydding near Leeds. Yorks.
Wagon Lines (1st) Poperinghe
Monday 1st November 1915: Rose at 9.30. Nothing doing all day. Said “Goodbye” to Arnold & left the guns at 6.30 pm in the mess cart. Terrible night. Raining hard. Wet through. Stayed at wagon lines.
Tuesday 2nd November 1915: Up at 7. Raining hard. Nothing to eat. Already “fed up” with the wagon lines. Very ungenerous. Mud awful. Bdr Forster & Wilde leave for D.A.C.
Wednesday 3rd November 1915: Up at 7. Spent whole at wagon lines. Raining. Mud terrible. Miserable doing nothing. T.O. Butler leaves with his kit & mine. Had an awful night.
Thursday 4th November 1915: Left wagon lines at 7 am on forage wagon & arrived back at 9.30. Had a wash! (1st time for 4 days). Rowdy interview with P.W.H. Working all aft. Went to Elverdinghe 6 pm – 12 pm.
Friday 5th November 1915: Up at 6 am to go for forage & rations. Mud terrible. Back at 10.30 am. Letter writing until dinner. Working on new stables in afternoon. On Guard. Raining hard. Cold.
Saturday 6th November 1915: Went for rations at 6.30 & back at 10 am. Letters noon. New stables in afternoon. All camp awakened at midnight to fetch 4 wagons out of ditch. They were returning from Elverdinghe full of bricks. Poor night’s sleep.
Poperinghe.
Sunday 7th November 1915: Up at 6.30 for rations. Back at 10. “Woodbines” issued (35). Raining hard. Mud 9” deep.
Monday 8th November 1915: Rose at 6 am to go for rations. Back at 10. Roads simply treacherous. Fine day. Working & filling sandbags all afternoon.
Tuesday 9th November 1915: Rose at 6 am to go for rations. Back at 10 am. Breakfast. Letters noon. Working at new stables. On Guard. Terrible night.
Wednesday 10th November 1915: Went for rations at 6.30. Back at 10 am & then had breakfast. Letters noon. Working on new stables. Good night’s sleep.
Thursday 11th November 1915: Rose at 5.30 am to go for rations. Back at 11. Letters 12. Working hard all afternoon at new stables. Parcel & letters from home.
Friday 12th November 1915: Rose at 6.30 am & went for rations. Back at 11. Letters noon. Working at new stables all afternoon. Early to bed.
Saturday 13th November 1915: Rose at 5.30 to go for rations. Joined Div. Train at 7. Back at 11. Went for coal in afternoon. On Guard. Wet & cold. Beastly.
Sunday 14th November 1915: Rose at 6.30. Went for rations. Good tobacco & cig issue. Fine day. Building new (winter) bivouac.
Monday 15th November 1915: Rose at 8. Went on Sick Parade with 5 boils on my neck. Dressed them 3 times during day. Early to bed. Made fire in bivouac.
Tuesday 16th November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor at 9 am. Received 3 letters & 3 papers. Writing letters & reading all afternoon. German shelling a good deal.
Wednesday 17th November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor at 9 & 2 pm. Boils improving. Wet day. Letter writing & reading all day. Early to bed.
Thursday 18th November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor at 9 & 2 pm. Boils getting on much better. Plenty of matter issuing. Wet day in aft. Great Air raid by 10 German planes. Bombs dropped quite near us.
Friday 19th November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor at 9. Went with Harry Eagle for letters at noon. Reading & writing in afternoon. Paid 25 francs.
Saturday 20th November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor at 10 am. off duty. Spent day in reading & writing.
Sunday 21st November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor 9.30. On duty again although alt doctor. Went to Amm Col with Amm Stuck.
Monday 22nd November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor 9.30. Neck healing up. Went for rations. Back at 4. Good dinner. Early to bed. Frosty.
Tuesday 23rd November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor 9.30. Went for rations at 11 am. Back at 4 pm. Roads terribly treacherous. On Guard. Very mild. – Rain.
Wednesday 24th November 1915: Got two teams off to Ypres at 6 am. Saw Doctor at 9.30. Neck nearly better. Went for rations at 11. Back at 3.30 pm. Writing letters until tea. Early to bed.
Thursday 25th November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor 9.30. Rations 11 – 3.30 pm. Roads simply awful. Letter writing before tea. Bed 7 pm.
Friday 26th November 1915: Rose at 8 am. Doctor 9.30. Rations 11 – 3.30 pm. On H.Q. Guard. Spent night in ** Bed 8 pm.
Saturday 27th November 1915: Terribly frosty. Saw Doctor 9.30. Rations 11 – 3.30. Recd Gum boots, So’ Wester & waterproof waistcoat from home.
Sunday 28th November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor 9.30. Out for rations 11 – 3.30. Terribly frosty. A.S.C. wagon stuck 3.30 – 5 pm. Received Oilskin from home.
Monday 29th November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor 9.30. Terribly wet. Raining all day. Oilskin etc simply grand. Received weekly pcl from home.
Tuesday 30th November 1915: Rose at 8. Saw Doctor for the last time at 9.30. Neck quite better. Rations at 10.30 – 3.30. On Guard. Not so cold as of late. Decent guard on.