Resumed work. Busy all day. Shaved at night. Read in afternoon. Wrote up diary. Had short walk with Charlie. Played a bit.
Tag Archives: Charlie
5 April 1915; Easter Monday
Got up about 8 o’clock. Went by train to South Shields, car1 to Tyne Dock, ferried to Albert Edward Dock, trammed to Wallsend, and then to Walker, ferried to Hebburn, walked to Bill Quay, and train from Pelaw home. Saw some light cruisers and destroyers, one submarine, and the Malaya. Walked to Penshaw Hill2 in the dark with Willie Whittaker. Charlie back at work. Had some music at dinnertime. Fine day.
The King proclaimed3 that alcoholic drinks are prohibited after today.
“Car” means tram-car, as usual, although ALL uses “trammed” here too, meaning the same thing. ↩
This was not a formal proclamation by King George V – in fact he publicly supported a campaign against the consumption of alcohol begun by Lloyd George by promising that no alcohol would be consumed in the Royal household until the war was over. This promise failed to influence even the Cabinet, let alone the public, but the King observed it himself. ↩
2 April 1915; Friday
Went down town to meet Willie and went to Durham Road Wesleyan church. Didn’t care much for it. Went to Penshaw Hill1 2 in the afternoon with Willie Whittaker and Charlie and hurried back to go to the chapel tea. In time for the second sitting down. Mr Scroggie† preached in the afternoon but we didn’t hear him. Stayed to service. Reverend W. T Harding preached and was very good. Mr Hood spoke and was rotten. Had short walk round last thing.
Anniversary Services & Tea at Chapel.
Penshaw Hill: landmark 4 miles from Sunderland on the Chester-le-Street road; referred to in the folk song “The Lambton Worm”; since 1844 crowned with a replica of the temple of Hephaestos in Athens, built as a tribute by his tenants to John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham and 1st Governor of Canada, known in his time as “Radical Jack.” It is said that it was to be completed with an equestrian statue of the Earl (a life-size maquette which was formerly in the Baron’s Hall at Lumley Castle), but that the tenants changed their mind after the Earl’s agent put their rents up. ↩
Some descriptions of Penshaw monument, for example that at Wikipedia, state that it is a half scale copy of the temple of Hephaestos and others, for example at the web site of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, that it is twice the size of the original. In fact neither is true, although the topological similarity between the two buildings is deliberate and undeniable. ↩
28 March 1915; Sunday
Went to the Royalty Church in the morning. Nice church, good music and pretty good sermon. At Sunday School in the afternoon and had 3 classes. At North Bridge Street at night to hear Penitence, P[ardon] & Peace1. Miss Brackwill took the soprano and Tom Leyden the baritone solos. Billy Marshall and Billy Whittaker with me and Charlie in the choir. Had usual walks. Rather wild weather and some snow. The Falaba2 torpedoed and over 100 lives lost.
“Penitence, Pardon & Peace”: oratorio by John Henry Maunder (1858-1920), organist in Sydenham and Forest Hill; better known for oratorio “Olivet to Calvary.” ↩
RMS Falaba was the first passenger ship torpedoed in WW1, and an American engineer L C Thrasher was among the 104 lives lost, causing an international incident as the Kaiser had declared British waters a war zone as recently as 18 February; but Falaba was carrying explosives, which duly exploded. The submarine was U28. Location probably S. of Ireland, as Thrasher’s body is said to have been found after the Lusitania sinking. ↩
27 March 1915; Saturday
Finished work about 2 o’clock. Went down to the north side of the river and saw the Hebe1 and† submarine and then walked on to Roker with Joe. Went to Roker again at night with Willie Whittaker and Charlie. Very cold and rather wild.
H.M.S. Hebe was completed as a torpedo gunboat, but was converted along with her sister Onyx to submarine depot ship before the War. Hebe served with the Sixth Submarine Flotilla based on the Tyne, 10 or 12 miles north of Sunderland, from 1914 to 1916 ↩
26 March 1915; Friday
At work as usual. At recruiting office at night and arranged to join the Army Medical when called upon. Probably it will be about 6 weeks’ time. Charlie and I carried some deeds† down to Rowes’ last thing and called at Gordon’s for some chocolate. Stormy night.
13 March 1915; Saturday
At work as usual. Finished in decent time. Was riding bicycle home and tyre burst in Hastings Street. Left bicycle at George Crawford’s until Monday. Played piano and suchlike. Went down to the Peter Benefit† boot shop and bought some new boots. Father hurt his arm a bit at work. Had long walk at night with Charlie and Willie Whittaker. Car-red1 up *2 Street and then walked round by the Grindon Road. Bicycle punctured. New boots 12/6. Father hurt his arm slightly.
8 March 1915; Monday
At work as usual. Took over summary. Went down in the car first thing and was pretty late. Busy all day. Had a bit trouble with Geordie1. Sands in, probably for the last time before they go away. Finished about 5.30. Came up with the new boy. Mr Scott found a mistake of £2 pounds [sic] in my sales book. Charlie finished soon. Tried a bit music. I played a bit. The shop doing very badly.
“Geordie”: if correct – how ALL commonly referred to George Crawford, his office colleague at the Paper Works. ↩
7 March 1915; Sunday
Too late for chapel. Had a walk with Joe up Chester Road and back before dinner. Went with Charlie to the Salvation Army Meeting where he sang two solos and I played. A very interesting meeting. Went to Whittakers’ to tea. Miss Butler and Edie Hunter there. At chapel at night. I played for children’s service and Mrs Chadwick spoke. Came up with Billy Peake and Billy Whittaker. Sang anthem very badly and a Miss Wilkinson from Thornhill sang very nicely.
24 February 1915; Wednesday
At work as usual. Finished in good time, but fairly busy all day. Went to Elijah1 at night in the Victoria Hall2, performed by the Vocal Union. Principals, Mr Herbert Brown, Mr Matt Newton. Madam Catherine Vincent and Miss Lottie Beaumont, were all good. Was with Helen, Olive, Winnie and Willie Whittaker. Mother, Father and Gertie there and Charlie too. I went to Whittakers’ last thing for Charlie’s things3, because he had changed before at their house.
Victoria Hall: See 10 January 1914. ↩
“Charlie’s things” – he was presumably in the choir. ↩