6 October 1914; Tuesday

October 1914, , ,

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.

  1. 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. ↩

  2. “Belgian King”: Albert I of Belgium ↩

5 October 1914; Monday

Guest

This is a guest post from the diary of Leading Seaman Arthur Hawes.

On going on deck found we were off the coast of France & also discovered that our troop ship was guarded on either side by a British destroyer. We were met outside Dunkirk harbour by a French destroyer & then piloted in. Arrived along side at about 10 o/c & finally landed in the afternoon. After being served out with some grub & also ammunition we found we were off to Antwerp. We spent some hours on the quay amusing ourselves with the French people who came to have a look at us. About 9 o/c got in our train & travelled all night in darkness, as we did not know but what our train would be attacked.

5 October 1914; Monday

October 1914, , ,

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.

  1. As already noted on 13 February, the family planned to run a corner shop because Father had no wage since his accident. ↩

4 October 1914; Sunday

Guest

This is a guest post from the diary of Leading Seaman Arthur Hawes.

Early this morning we were aroused by the sound of the réveillé, & hurriedly dressing we were all soon on parade, where we were told by our Commander that the camp life we had been enjoying at Walmer had come to an end, & we were to pack up at once as we were to leave for Dunkirk at mid-day. We had none of us the faintest idea what we were going to do when we got to Dunkirk, but everyone was overjoyed to think that we were going to make a move anywhere. The camp was soon in a great state of excitement & after a hurried breakfast we packed up & finally at 1.30pm we started off & marched to Dover. Our kits were sent on by train. We arrived at Dover soon after 4 o/c & marched on to the pier, where we had a glorious wait until 11 o/c for the boat to arrive. However we got on board at last, & at 3.30am Monday morning started off. Slept for a few hours in the hold on some cases of provisions & about 5 o/c went on deck.

4 October 1914; Sunday

October 1914, , , ,

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.

  1. The Grange: probably the Grange Congregational Church, in Stockton Road. ↩

3 October 1914; Saturday

October 1914, , , , ,

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.

  1. Everyman: see Everyman and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩

  2. “British troops in Antwerp”: See upcoming guest posts by Leading Seaman Arthur Hawes, which offer a first hand account of these events. ↩

2 October 1914; Friday

October 1914, , , , , , ,

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

October 1914, , , ,

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

September 1914, , ,

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

September 1914, , , ,

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.)  ↩