A good bit better. Practised shorthand at night out of the blue book at night [sic] and had a walk last thing.
Category Archives: 1914
13 October 1914; Tuesday
Not much to do at work. Went down to the chapel at night. Pretty good meeting. A whole lot including Mr Mullens, Dick Crossley and Joe Speed “reconsecrated” themselves. Walked round with Joe and discussed Mr Mathews and his methods. Felt pretty dead† off and not inclined for any work.
Belgian Government removed to Havre.
12 October 1914; Monday
At work. Fairly busy. Stayed in at night except to go to the post with a parcel for the negro1 with picture papers in it and a letter to the insurance people confirming the interview. Father went to see Mr Wanless and showed him his hand.
Full news of Antwerp. Various opinions – certain amount of depression.
If ‘the negro’ is a correct transcription, which it may not be, it would refer to one Isaac Abadu, somewhere in West Africa, who had written out of the blue to Charlie, possibly at the Post Office, and was his pen-pal for a considerable time. Picture papers might well have been sent to him. Isaac remained a topic of conversation for many years. See also entry on 1 February 1915. ↩
11 October 1914; Sunday
Felt unwell first thing. Stayed in bed until dinner time. Had walk out in the afternoon. Went to Lily & Willie’s to tea with all the rest of the family but Joe and Marmie. Went to chapel at night. Mr Mathews preaching again and was awful. We talked to Willie Peake until late and didn’t get home until late.
Hear of fall of Antwerp. 2000 Naval men interned in Holland & some Belgian soldiers. Great excitement in town.
10 October 1914; Saturday
Finished in good time. Had a tooth out in the afternoon. Went to the Memorial Hall1 at night. Mr Hollinsworth best one on.
We receive news of dire straights [sic] of Antwerp.
Memorial Hall: see note on 10 January. ↩
9 October 1914; Friday
Got up early and went to baths. Still slack at work. Went down to Wanless’s at night and talked to Willie a bit and then Joe arranged with Mr Wanless to go to the dock with Father on Friday to try if he can work his machine. Walked round by chapel and went into Mission meeting last thing. Charlie had been there earlier and then arranged to give his testimony.
Germans occupy Antwerp.
8 October 1914; Thursday
At work but not much to do. Played a bit at night and read a bit. Received letter from Insurance Co. asking Father to go down for a trial at his machine on Thursday next. We worried that the notice was too short and wrote at night stating that we would try to arrange for next Thursday.
Exodus of Antwerp population. Petrol tanks ablaze. Part of the City in flames. British & Belgian force retires through the night. Boer Commando under Maritz rebelled 1.
“Boer Commando…”: This was the Maritz Rebellion, an organised rebellion against the Union of South Africa. See also 2 December 1914. ↩
7 October 1914; Wednesday
Got up early and drilled. Not much to do at work. Went to Patriotic Concert in Victoria Hall1 with Willie Whittaker and Alf Wright and his sister. Very good concert. The Sunderland Vocal Union were the chorus and Mr L A Nicholson’s orchestra accompanied. Mrs Vincent and Miss Spain, and Mr William Hendry were the singers and a lady recited.
Germans commence to bombard Antwerp2 at midnight with heavy guns & 6 Zeppelin Airships drop bombs3.
Victoria Hall: see note on 10 January. ↩
Winston Churchill rather controversially went personally to take part in the defence of Antwerp, on the arguably slender grounds that Royal Marine troops were involved; he was First Lord of the Admiralty – not an operational appointment – and no longer a serving officer in the Army. ↩
This presumably means “on Antwerp”: the first Zeppelin raids on England are said to have been in January 1915. ↩
6 October 1914; Tuesday
Got up about 7.30. Drilled again. Not much to do at work. Further news about Allies check. Russian Victory in East Prussia. German destroyer sunk by Submarine E91 off the mouth of the Ems.
Belgian King2 & ministers leave Antwerp. Garrison retires to inner ring of forts.
The destroyer was the S116. It was the E9 which sank the Hela (see 13 September); she was scuttled off Helsinki on 3 April 1918 to avoid capture, and was salvaged for breaking up (in Finland) in 1953. ↩
“Belgian King”: Albert I of Belgium ↩
5 October 1914; Monday
A bit more work to do. Got up early and drilled first thing. Went to the Mission at night and didn’t like it. News of a slight repulse to the British advance on the Continent. 3 of the mill lads joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. Mother went to see about Fruit business for sale1 in Dundas Street.
Germans cross the Nethe & occupy Lierre & Duppel. Belgian Army retire to the West.
As already noted on 13 February, the family planned to run a corner shop because Father had no wage since his accident. ↩