Got to work as usual. Filled a form at the recruiting office. Joe went up with me. The clerk, Mr Burn, distinctly cheeky, but improved as the interview passed on. A bit trouble at home. Mother not well. A nasty night. Got chest measured and eyes tested
At Recruiting Office.
At work as usual. Finished in good time. Hurried to the station and went to Boldon to the Northumberland Fusiliers Concert. Had pretty good time. The Misses Mackenzie, Misses Banks, Mr Davis and Charlie and Blaikie there. Spoke a long time to one to the soldiers. Very much interested in the camp of the soldiers. They were very well mannered and in good spirits.
At work as usual. Busy all day. Played the piano at night, and then went to Mr Chadwicks. Talked to Mrs Chadwick until 10 o’clock, and then stayed and had supper and didn’t leave until 11 o’clock. Talked about speeches1 that we couldn’t quarrel about. They referred to the loss of their little girl2. Mother in bed bad3.
Great Earthquake4 in Italy about this time. About 30,000.
“Speeches”: transcription correct, but perhaps “subjects” was intended. ↩
ALL had first heard of the Chadwicks’ loss on 9 November 1914. ↩
“Bad”: in North-Eastern English idiom means ill or unwell. ↩
Great Earthquake: presumably the earthquake (13.01.15) in Avezzano, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy, said to have been ‘possibly’ the worst earthquake in Italy’s history. The town had been on the shore of Lake Fucino, at that time ‘the largest lake in peninsular Italy’ (this presumably excludes the lakes north of the Po), which was completely drained in the late 19th century, leaving land for cultivation and housing. Population was 42,000, of whom 12,000 died; only the Casa dei Palazzi and a wing of the Palazzo Orsini remained. ↩
My 25th Birthday. At chapel and Sunday School as usual. Managed lesson all right but had trouble afterwards when the other scholars came in to the presentation of prizes by Mr Waggott. Wet day. Didn’t get any walks.
At work as usual. Went up to the Ford Estate with Joe, and watched them drilling a short time. Met Blaikie on the way back and talked a short time. Called at the Echo office but no replies. Read and played a bit. Called for Willie Whittaker. Went to the Memorial Hall1. Mr Newrick’s choir there and Willie Whittaker and I were in the audience. Charlie on the platform. Willie got toothache.
Memorial Hall: See 10 January 1914. ↩
At work as usual. Went up to Recruiting Office and made enquiries. They advised me first to “Go home lad”, then to fill in the registration form. Read and played a bit.
At work as usual. Busy all day. Went down to meeting at night and played for two hymns. Squared up monthly account.
At work as usual. Fathers advert appeared in Echo. Finished rather late. Went down to drill but the key was missing and we got no drill. Went round with Charlie and talked over joining the A.S.C.1
The “A.S.C.”: the Army Service Corps (later the Royal Army Service Corps), which provided a wide range of support, such as clerical services and transport, to infantry and other branches of the Army. ↩
At work as usual. Directors’ meeting. No dictated letters off Mr Lawson. Busy all day. The army open again for clerks. I thought about joining. Decided to put advert in the Echo for Father. Hilda & baby went away in the morning. Finished reading “The Manxman”1.
The Manxman: See 21 December 1914, The Manxman and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩