Tag Archives: Charlie

Charlie was Arthur Linfoot’s younger brother. See the Family page for more details.

9 June 1915; Wednesday

At work as usual. Busy all day. Finished about 6 o’clock. Grand day. Had walk at night with Charlie. Played a bit. Mr Balfour1 announced the loss of a German submarine.


  1. “Mr Balfour”: Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, a Conservative politician who had  served as Prime Minister from 1902 to 1905, succeeded Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty following the formation of Asquith’s coalition government in May 1915.  

8 June 1915; Tuesday

At work as usual. At practice at night. Directors’ meeting. I had one letter off Mr Lawson. Got work well up to date. Went to choir practice with Charlie and came up with him, Willie and Blaikie. Grand day. Got measured for suit of clothes at Stewart’s but cost 35/61.


  1. i.e. £1 15s. 6d. (£1.77½ – roughly equivalent to £180 in 2015.)  

5 June 1915; Saturday

Busy as usual, finished about 2 o’clock. Had walk into town in the afternoon and bought a tie with Mother’s money for Charlie.

Russian Flag Day. Mr Churchill made a speech at Dundee1.

Had walk with Willie at night and a soldier stopped us in town and asked us if we thought of enlisting.


  1. The text of Churchill’s speech, seemingly defending his role in the Dardanelles, is available at WinstonChurchill.org

31 May 1915; Monday

At work as usual. Pretty busy all day. Finished in decent time. Played and read a bit. Went to Newcastle with Dora’s Charlie and after walking about all the night found the recruiting office and that they were not open for R.A.M.C. Came home about 10 o’clock at night. News received in town about the heavy loss to the 7th Durhams.

Air Raid on London1. 4 people killed, but nothing very serious reported.


  1. This was the first air raid of the war to target London. Zeppelin LZ-32 flew about 400 miles to reach the English capital. Stoke Newington was the first place to suffer the attack. 

24 May 1915; Monday

At Durham1. Left by the 9.13 train with Charlie and Willie. Had a near shave to catch it. Grand day. At the cathedral service. Charlie left by the 2.4 train. We left about 4.30 and walked home. Arrived between 7.30 and 8 o’clock. Had tea at a café and a wash and brush up in Corporation lavatory. Stayed in at night and read.


  1. Durham: a historic city in North East England, about 14 miles south-west of Sunderland. Durham is well known for its Norman cathedral, mentioned by ALL in this diary entry, and 11th century castle, both designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. 

23 May 1915; Sunday

Fine day. At chapel and School. Went to Mount Tabor church in the morning and heard Rev AL Broadfield preach, and he was very good. Mr Hewitt evangelist preached his farewell sermon at our chapel at night, and it was scandalous. He afterwards had a row with Mr Waggott. Charlie at work most of the day, and I was at Whittakers’ to tea with Blaikie. Fine day.