Guy

Close friend

Mentioned: 1916, 1917

A close friend in 1916: wounded that year, and awarded the Military Cross (July 1916, alongside Birkett). A lieutenant in the 2nd Field Company, Canadian Engineers: a tent-mate on the Somme that autumn, with whom Robertson applied for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps, and whose wedding present he records ordering in December. The diary never gives his surname: two 1915 training-camp mentions of a "Guy Knight" / "Guy Kenaught" may be the same man but are unconfirmed.

Appears in the diary · 25 entries

1916

3 April 1916… y started a war on the rt. just beyond Canal. - The lid was off. Party got back with ½ the stuff just as Guy & Pete were starting out to look for them. 4.30 A.M. - Davey & Jim got up with Alex’s kit …
18 June 1916Warm. – A bit foggy in the dome this morning. Went out + watch Pete & Guy playing with the pontoons. – Shires came around + took the service this aft – Went down & …
22 June 1916Hot + close. – The same old stuff all morning. – Went up forward with Guy after lunch. Hot walk. – Fritz busy strafing between Lille gate & shrapnel cor. Also back …
23 July 1916… he O.C. endorsed him & I was ordered to #2 Fld. Amb. – Came back for kit. Mac up from corps. – News that Guy + Birkett got M.C. – Sorry Pete drew nothing. – Returned to #2 F.A. – Sent to #10 C.C.S. …
25 August 1916… ng + lot inspections. – No extras to be carried. Business of sending away surplus kit. – Stuffed in with Guy. – Ditto after dinner. – Called on #1 coy. Put up gore stripe.
31 August 1916… Lots of Motor traffic. – Should like to get a run to AMIENS. – Our mess reminds one of a S.S. picnic. – Guy & I have tent. Rest of the gang sleeping out. – Very muddy looking lot of Anzacs coming o …
2 September 1916… seems to have it on most of the other units – Rumor that V.C. Mac will not be back to Co’y so applied to Guy for his horse. – Guy may go to 2nd Co’y as Capt. – I hope he gets his star but doesn’t ha …
3 September 1916… The chalk is fine stuff to work in. – Our forward Horse lines are in BECOURT Wood. Took a walk over with Guy after dinner. The French must be going to it from the flashes & noise on the left.
16 September 1916… A.M. – Short march. – Poor billets. Starting the usual round of parades again it sure gets your goat. – Guy & I got application blanks to transfer to the R.F.C. – Don’t know what sort of a fist I’d …
17 September 1916… erything seems satisfactory up front. More prisoners gone thro’. 9th Co’y beat us up nicely at Baseball. Guy put in his application for the R.F.C. Mine goes in tomorrow. – Boswell came round after d …
18 September 1916… . Good news LEAVE IS ON AGAIN – Casey goes on the 20th. – It should work around to me in about 6 wks. If Guy has gone to the 2nd Co’y by then we may get away together – Had a disastrous session of J …
19 September 1916… d up & said we can go to Amiens. – Pep’s a good scout, but the cares of an O.C. rest too heavy on him. – Guy & I rode to Acheux this aft. – Casey’s leave cancelled at the 11th hour. – Went down to t …
26 September 1916… ht from the row. – Quite a bunch of Red-patch casualties coming down. – We got our Red-patches to-day. – Guy & I put them up but the C.R.E. told us to take them down. – Football match resulted in wi …
27 September 1916Fine. – Route match. Rode into Warloy with Pete, Guy & Birkett. – Birkett’s nag sure can travel. – I’d like to let nigger out but it woulnd’t …
27 October 1916Showery. – Taking it easy round billets. – Mac got orders to go back to Corps School again. – Guy & Alex came in to dinner. – Pete & I felt quite out of place among the 3-star M.C.’s - Th …
4 November 1916… tened on 6th. Pete came up this aft. – O.C. not back yet. – My leave should be in line on 12th, but told Guy I’d wait till his came. – 3 new saddle horses at Villers. Pete told me to come back & pic …
6 November 1916Beautifully wet + Quite naturally as I was going back to billets. Hurd brought up horses at 9 A.M. Met Guy at billet and rode back to Gouy-Servins with him. – Our leave together is odd as he has a …
10 November 1916Clear. – Guy came up to go over the line. – Sent him round with Wallis. – Met the horse at BERTHONVAL …
12 November 1916… – Wilson spent the night cleaning me up. Got packed & ready to go. – Called on 2nd Co’y with Pete & got Guy’s final orders.
16 December 1916… j. around. Very quiet all A.M. – Bit of a strafe this aft. – Stuck around & wrote a couple of letters. – Guy gets away to Blitey tonight. – Wish I could go along & help him. – Rumour of big Fr. Vict …
18 December 19162A.M. – Just ordered Guy’s wedding present. – This is my hoodoo date with #1 sec. – Will have to look out. – Good …

1917

3 January 1917Windy & drizzly ONE YEAR IN FRANCE Send bid to Guy for dinner + to Bethune for gramophone spring. 3:30 AM – Tomorrow morn. Can’t do more tha …
23 January 1917… led on Hal Mooney on the way down. – Visited the boss, went down to the dentist & had tea at the mess. – Guy was in. – Keyt just off for 2 mos. leave to Canada. – Would like to know how its done in …
12 February 1917… t down to dinner at #2 co’y. – Quite an affair. – Among those present. – Hertzy, The Doc. – Bruce Ross – Guy – Bate, Leger, Tett, Teddy Birkett, the owner of the billet, Pete – A new chat to the 1st …
11 October 1917… pping jobs. – Think I'll wait and see. – Shouldn't mind being in a Field Co'y under Rolly, especially if Guy + Birkett exchanged.

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