Jeff McPhail
Fellow officer, C.R.E.'s office
Mentioned: 1917, 1918
Comrades in the field First named in full on May 11, 1917: in to lunch, with the two of them soon plotting Robertson's Paris leave application together (Robertson leaves the paperwork "on McPhails desk" a week later). Quickly enough of a fixture that Robertson drops to a bare "Jeff" or "McP" for most of the rest of the diary. Works out of the C.R.E.'s office, the divisional engineers' headquarters, which seems to be exactly where postings and leave authority get sorted out: McCallum covers his desk when Jeff himself goes on leave that July, he's the one Robertson calls about a threatened job change in January 1918, and the one he keeps phoning in February 1918 while chasing down his own overdue leave authority.
Appears in the diary · 15 entries
1917
- 11 May 1917Hot. Gouy No excitement. – Took Peake & Tenou over to MAISNIL to see a ball game that didn't materialize. – Jeff McPhail came in to lunch. – Was telling us how easy it is to get Paris leave. – Have been figurin …
- 13 May 1917Hot & close Nothing stirring. – Walked over to MAISNIL BOUCHE thi aft & then on down to Corps. H.Q. – Saw Jeff McP. & got the correct line of dope for applying. – Came back to #1 Co'y. stayed to dinner & s …
- 15 May 1917… non Scott – Maj. Rolston – Pat. Goldie – Padre McGrier – Maj. Bennet, O'connor, Wilgar, Dunbar, Fether, – Wilkes, Jeff McPhail – Maj. Foss & I starred as dancers. – Rolston was telling me of a vacancy on the C.E.'s s …
- 18 May 1917… our destination and rode down to Corps this aft to put in my application. – Had it all written out and left it on McPhails desk when Maj. Rolston told us that Blitey leave was opening up. – That tore it. – We hav …
- 29 May 1917Cool & showery. Nothing much doing. – Geo. McCallum & Ormie Stitt dropped in about 11am. – Rolston & McPhail also were around. – McP said leave would be thro' about the 4th. Corps massed pipe-bands …
- 1 June 1917Warm. Jeff McPhail phoned up & told me he was sending round a car for me to go to Bethune & do some purchasi …
- 3 June 1917… ave warrant came in this aft. – 5th to 15th – Boat goes about 9.30 AM now-a-days so want to get away to-morrow. – Jeff has promised to send up a side-car. – Doubtful if that will carry me & all the junk I wan …
- 3 July 1917Warm-close. Nothing much doing all day. – Jack Oliver was around to get some stuff. – McCallum has taken Jeff McPhail's place at C.R.E.’s while Jeff is on leave. – When he gets back Mac is going to the 4th C …
- 30 July 1917… finding him in, made up my work for the day – save that I went around by the C.R.E.'s & got a couple of maps from Jeff. – Dined at Cup Considerable strafing going on all day. – Rumours that the show up north …
- 3 August 1917… – Seemed to have the wind up 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 …
- 9 August 1917Warm – Showers Maj. Rolston + McPhail came around this aft to talk horse-standing material and have tea. – C.R.E. is on leave + …
- 11 October 1917Fine. – Clear. Cool. Walked over to Camblain with Sewell. – Lovely aft. – Saw Jeff. - Leave thro' – Cashed a cheque + came back. Corps moves tomorrow. – Some more talk abou …
1918
- 16 January 1918Windy. – Rain. Mac came down this morning & stayed to lunch. – My job that Jeff has been threatening me with almost materialized to-day. – Just going to move up to signa …
- 5 February 1918… ort George to see Bull this aft. – He is ready to go on leave at any time so we shall put in right away. – Phoned Jeff but he says it will take almost three two weeks to come thro. Laurie, Peake & Ackester ca …
- 16 February 1918… eed. – His authority came thro’ two days ago, so he is catching the [?].20 from Arras to-morrow morning. – Phoned Jeff. – No sign of my authority. He phoned me about 10 P.M. – “A” branch had received it from …