Gus

Fellow officer

Mentioned: 1917, 1918

Recurs throughout 1917: a couple of sets of tennis in late July, and, in the same stretch, "very busy designing a monument to be erected on the Ridge," earning him the nickname "the tombstone maker" (the joke behind the site's own note on that planned, informal 1917 memorial concept). Comes and goes through the second half of the year: moves to the 1st A.T. Company in early August, then reappears repeatedly that autumn and winter for tea and dinner, including passing along a garbled rumor about the Battle of Cambrai on November 20.

Appears in the diary · 23 entries

1917

26 July 1917Fine. Gus is very busy designing a monument to be erected on the Ridge in memory of the 9th. – He i …
27 July 1917Hot & close. A couple of sets of tennis with Gus before lunch. Walked over to FRESNICOURT to see Bull. – Rather warm. – Found him a trifle …
3 August 1917… about something but thought I explained matters satisfactorily. – Any how this eve. Jeff phones up that Gus is to take over the horse-standings and l am to stay over at Gouy and run the yard for Wo …
4 August 1917… ad a hair-cut + finished McCurdy's book. – Came back + spent the rest of the day being sore at myself. – Gus moved down to the 1st A.T. Coy where he will take up his abode.
13 November 1917… k a load, oysters & fish. – Took a run over to Camblain this aft. – more for the walk than anything. Saw Gus & went over his various jobs. Copious strafing going on all the time up front. – Also cop …
20 November 1917Drizzly Gus came in this morning with a yarn about several Divs. hopping the bags down Cambrai way, v …
27 November 1917… tead of going down to the yard. – Hard to write a letter full of Christmas spirit on a rainy day in Nov. Gus came down to tea & dinner. Murray's friend Burt blew in again with another chap in time f …
2 December 1917… he missed his train & started for Arras on foot. We sat around the fire and were pessimistic all aft. – Gus came down & joined the merry party. – Stayed to tea and dinner. – Laurie blew in later. – …
23 December 1917… dark. – Fritz has been fairly active with his raids lately. Went over to V Sq'dn & had tea with Rigby. – Gus came back off leave and will shift down to live with us to-morrow. – A glorious night to- …

1918

7 January 1918Coldish. Going to be trouble with the chinks soon. – They are the limit. Nothing much doing to-day. Let Gus go off to bed too early again to-night. -6
23 January 1918Fine. All serene till Bull Boswell appeared on the scene about 3 P.M. – Gus & I took him to the show after which we visited the club & picked up deGannay & brought h …
27 January 1918… rted to be in, but none appeared. Wrote to R. Scott this evening & then went in & discussed the war with Gus till the fire went out. – We decided that we’re licked.
1 February 1918… revented me from taking my life in my hands and dropping it in the incinerator. Walk up to St. Eloy with Gus this aft & then went over to the 215th to tea.
10 February 1918… – Windy. Got vouchers for £6-3-3 for being D.R.O. during the elections. – It all helps towards leave. – Gus & I walked over to Havesnes & had tea with Clover & Co. Sneath of the 12th came in to din …
12 February 1918Fair. Gus & I went to ARRAS on the morning leave train. – Visited Ordinance, lunched at the club, d …
6 March 1918Fine. Resumed duties (9) in the yard, assisted by Gus. Sgt. Watts is leaving us for the Postal Corps. – S.M. Duff left for the base last week. …
15 March 1918… ers. – Macdonald (Am. Eng.) came in to lunch, on his way back. – Tobin went back to Aubigny. – Skipper & Gus walked in. Kreilsheimer took Tobin’s place.Hank Smith, Junkin + Smee came in to tea. Rede …
20 March 1918Rainy to Fine. Went to the Cinema with Gus this aft. The odd Gotha over to-night.
21 March 1918… has had a few. – Mac & Jenkins came in to lunch with a yarn that the boche had attacked in three places. Gus & I walked up to 3rd D.A.C. this aft morning. Murray came back from Hosp. Laurie & Salmon …
29 March 1918… rough stuff here. – Hodgins was down this A.M. – We may take over Maroeiul park as N. Corps may move. – Gus & I took a walk this aft. in search of news or spies. – Visited the cemetery with a view …
16 April 1918… ng on the lorry, to get my hair cut. but was out of luck. – Barber “blessé” – Plenty of rumours round. – Gus has one that Fritz came over at Loos & got chewed up – Murray’s is that we advanced a few …
17 April 1918… same. – Also speaks of Fr. troops in Flanders – Probably Foch’s reserve army is to be heard from soon. – Gus moved to SAVY this aft.
21 April 1918… to-day by an epidemic of spring fever. – Sign painters shop the worst hit & also the busiest. Lost 5 to Gus as the Hun has not penetrated to Hazebrouck. – The hun has Rheims on fire.

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