At work as usual. George Crawford’s birthday and I gave him some chocolates. Busy all day. Finished rather late. Stayed in at night, played, shaved, read etcetera. Shop did very well. Wrote up diary last thing. Bombardment of Dardanelles1 continued.
See note on 22 February. ↩
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.
Not much to do at work. Alf back and Frank away. Finished early. I had a bad cold and went straight to Dr Blair’s at night. I asked him to sound me and he said I was pretty sound about the heart and had nothing much * my weakness. Went down to meeting at night and received a share of bills to deliver. Came up with Fred Waggott and talked of the war.
News from the front a little brighter. Dorothy’s 2nd birthday. 3rd casualty list 4796.
Things still slack. Got up at 6 o’clock and went to the baths. Had good time. Had a bit cold and felt off a bit. Played the piano a bit and read at night. Rather gloomy news from the front.
Father’s 59th Birthday. 2nd Casualty list 5,218.
At work as usual. Very little to do and we finished at 1 o’clock without leaving anything back. Troubled a bit with my foot. Charlie got some stuff at the chemist’s for it. Charlie’s Birthday. I bought him a tie. We went up the town and bought Willie and Lily a salad bowl. I went down with it at night and we talked until 10 o’clock. Saw their presents. Read a good bit.
Got up about 8 o’clock. Father not at all well. I telephoned for Dr Blair and he said Father has influenza. Hurried over to the cup tie game and Sunderland won Plymouth Argyle 2 – 1. Went to lecture at Trinity1 by Mr Catto on Israel before the Exile. Had walk to Roker with Willie at night. Received birthday card2 from Hilda.
“Trinity”: possibly Holy Trinity Church, Bishopwearmouth. ↩
This card, especially as it was 14 days late (and see also the entries for 1 and 4 February), was presumably from Hilda Linfoot in New Zealand, the fourth daughter of ALL’s uncle Charles Poulter Linfoot, who with another uncle, William Gaylard Linfoot, and their families, had emigrated on 25 July 1912 ↩
My 24th Birthday. Got up rather late. Finished about 2 o’clock. Went up town for papers. Charlie bought me a stick for a present. Went to the Teachers’ Training Centre and heard a lecture on Buddhism. Went to the Picture House1 with Willie. Had to stand. Poor pictures. Rained heavily most of the night. Got home late. Tried to do bit Pelman2.
Submarine boat3 lost with 11 men in it.
Jack Cook4 died.
“The Picture House” was the name of the first dedicated cinema in Sunderland. It survived under this name until after WWII. Films were also shown in temporary locations, such as the Victoria Memorial Hall. ↩
“Submarine boat”: the A7, which failed to re-surface during an exercise, 16 January, off Rame Head near Devonport. ↩
Possibly a relative of ALL’s mother; she went to Ashington to his funeral on 21 January. ↩
Frank still off. Busy at work. Jack in at night. He and Hilda1 stayed to supper. We played ping-pong between 10 - 11 o’clock.
Got Swan Fountain Pen for birthday present. Ernie sent 4 on to choose from. I wrote to him at night and returned 3. Father, mother and Charlie buying it. Jack and I tried them at night. Charlie working late. Played the piano a bit. Went to boss. Jack gave me the forms duly drawn out, and full instructions what to do.
Presumbly wife of Jack (probably son of Uncle Jack and Aunt Esther - but see fn. on 12 January); had child, 4 April 1914. See Hilda disambiguation page. ↩