Yearly Archives: 2014

2 October 1914; Friday

Got up about 6.20. Went to baths. Pretty busy at work. Stayed in at night and wrote to Ernie. Went out last thing and called by the chapel. Charlie and Father there. They said the meeting was better.

Riot in India & about 20 natives and one Englishman killed1. British Navy commenced to mine North Sea. Heavy bombardment of Belgian trenches. Belgians retire across the Nethe. Germans occupy outer ring of forts.


  1. “Riot in India…”: Probably the denouement of the Komagata Maru incident

1 October 1914; Thursday

Not much to do at work. Slight signs of general improvement. Mother and Father to tea at Uncle George’s. Went down to meeting at night. It was slightly improved but very noisy. Policemen going round asking people to keep lights out or as low as possible.

H.M.S.Cumberland captured 10 merchant ships1 and one going out for the Cameroons. The lights in the town very much reduced. Lière forts destroyed.


  1. According to Wikipedia, HMS Cumberland was sent to West Africa after the beginning of the war in August and supported operations in the Cameroons where she captured 10 German merchantmen at Douala on 27 September. 

30 September 1914; Wednesday

At work. Not much to do. Sands and Bob came down in the morning with their uniform on. They are going to Ravensworth Castle tonight1. Got money. Went to Porteous and had two teeth extracted at dinner time. It didn’t hurt much. Fine day. Had walk out last thing after playing a good bit.

Waelhem & Wavre-­Saint Catherine completely destroyed. Waterworks behind Fort Waelhem blown up. Belgian infantry fight well.


  1. Ravensworth Castle: presumably an Army camp; there are two Ravensworth Castles, one at Lamesley in Tyne & Wear, SW. of Low Fell, the other at Ravensworth village in N. Yorkshire between Richmond and Barnard Castle; the former appears to have been used as a training camp in 1914 having been abandoned by the Liddell family in 1910. The castle is now partially destroyed as a result of subsidence caused by mining. 

29 September 1914; Tuesday

Not much to do at work. Stayed in at night and read some grammar up. Had short walk up the town at night with Charlie. Rather cold night. Received news that the Emden had sunk other four British ships in the Bay of Bengal. Nothing fresh from the front

Magazine of Waelhem blown up. Wavre & Saint Catherine put out of action. Lière1 bombarded.


  1. Lière: spelled Lierre on 5 October; now Lier (S. of Antwerp.)  

27 September 1914; Sunday

Mission conducted by Mr David Mathews commenced. He preached only poorly and I didn’t quite agree with all he said. His service at night was awful and more like a Salvation Army meeting. He managed better in the School and held the attention of the children pretty well. Had usual walks. Fine day. Mrs Cooke and Bella Spain at our chapel.

Germans bombarded & occupied Malines.

26 September 1914; Saturday

Finished in good time. Finished about 1.30. Went up the town in the afternoon with Charlie and he got measured for a suit at the Store1. I called at Porteous the dentist and he examined my teeth and agreed to take 2 out next Wednesday. Went to Roker at night with Willie Whittaker. Came back on the car2.

The Belgians retired from Malines to line of outer Antwerp forts.


  1. Store (if correct reading) would mean Co-operative Retail Store 

  2. Car means tram-car, as usual.