Category Archives: 1914

All diary entries written in 1914.

13 July 1914; Monday

Got up about 7.45. In good time for work. Took over and typed summary. Got through all right. Warm day. Went down to Grandmother’s at night Ned Smith came in for drink. Did a bit writing and got diary up to date.

12 July 1914; Sunday

Got up about 9 o’clock. Didn’t go to chapel but had early dinner. Hurried over to Osborne Street to the funeral. Charlie and I were in the cab. Very quiet and orderly funeral. A girl fainted at the grave side. Rev Mr Burt, junior minister in Dock Street circuit conducted the services. We stayed to tea and then came over in the car1 with Lily. Met some of the Gurneys including Ernie Gurney who had been at the paper works. My turn for children’s service at night. Our Charlie helped me. We had pretty good meeting. Mr Hunter preaching and was fair but I didn’t like his manner. Had short walk and talked to Mr Blaikie until late. Uncle Ned buried.


  1. “Car” means “tram-car”, as usual. 

11 July 1914; Saturday

Walked up to the town with Charlie in the morning. Met Edward Hodges in Crowtree Road and talked with him for a long time. Called at Grandmother’s on Saturday afternoon and went with Charlie and Jack to Caslaw Tate1 stall and spent most of the afternoon waiting for Jack outside the shops. Went to Roker at night and heard Lucas’s band. It was very good and there were a good many people down. Came home fairly late.


  1. If “Caslaw Tate” is correct, it is possibly Caslaw, Hayter & Tate, the principal local men’s and boys’ draper. 

10 July 1914; Friday

Got up about 9 o’clock. Got luggage packed. I called at station and arranged for it to go. Had dinners and went up to the moors and read until train time. Left Bowes at 3.18. Arrived Sunderland about 7.30. Met Mr Whittaker at Durham and came down with him in the train. Had short walk at night with Charlie. Father and Mother went down to see Grandmother. Charlie and I met Willie and Lily in the town at night.

9 July 1914; Thursday

Went nowhere particular. Walked over the moors to Bowes in the evening. Went down to Gilmonby in the afternoon and read there. Fine day after the storm. Had short walk about the village at night. Moors very fine last thing. I wrote long letter to Ernie and told him all the news.

Received postcard from Jack and letter from Joe (per bus-train†) telling us of the death of Uncle Ned. We altered our plans and arranged to leave tomorrow.

8 July 1914; Wednesday

Got up rather late again. Family went to Barnard Castle. Charlie and I walked over the moors to Cotherstone and train to Middleton. We went in the motor bus to High Force1 and stayed there a short time. It rained shortly before we left. Heavy thunder shower and some thunder as we crossed the moors. Rather an experience. Moors very wild and the clouds very low. We were drenched and had to change all our clothes. Had short walk about the village at night.

Uncle Ned2 died. He took very ill early Monday morning and had to be taken to the infirmary at once to be operated upon. He never recovered but gradually sank and was in terrible pain.


  1. High Force: A waterfall on the river Tees, location marked on map. See also Bowes map

  2. As noted earlier, Uncle Ned was Edward Beauman Linfoot, father of Charles Edward Linfoot.