Chapel as usual. Mr Mathews conducting the services. Better than last time but not much use†. Instead of Sunday School the children went into the chapel and sang the songs Mr Mathews had taught them and he spoke a short while. Had usual walks. Mrs Cooke & Bella Spain to tea. Mother and Gertie went with them to the Grange1. Germans bombard Lierre again at night with heavy howitzer.
The Grange: probably the Grange Congregational Church, in Stockton Road. ↩
Got up 6.15. Had walk along Hendon beach and cliff with Alf before breakfast. Had a bit of a row with Willie about a football. Sent 5/- to Everyman1 for Persian relief fund. Went to Porteous and had another tooth out. Went to Roker at night with Willie and Charlie. Walked as far as Whitburn.
British troops in Antwerp2. Germans attack with artillery only.
Everyman: see Everyman and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩
“British troops in Antwerp”: See upcoming guest posts by Leading Seaman Arthur Hawes, which offer a first hand account of these events. ↩
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.
“Riot in India…”: Probably the denouement of the Komagata Maru incident. ↩
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.
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. ↩
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.
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. ↩
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.
At work as usual. Not much to do. Went to Mission at night with Joe. Another noisy time. Joe Speed was in good form. Had short walk round. Disagreed with what Mr Mathews said.
The bombardment of Waelhem, Wavre – Saint Catherine & other forts by 11 guns.
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.
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.
Got up early and went to baths. Not much to do at work. Kept pretty fresh all day.