Got up early and went to baths. Still slack at work. Went down to Wanless’s at night and talked to Willie a bit and then Joe arranged with Mr Wanless to go to the dock with Father on Friday to try if he can work his machine. Walked round by chapel and went into Mission meeting last thing. Charlie had been there earlier and then arranged to give his testimony.
Germans occupy Antwerp.
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.
Everyman: see Everyman and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩
“British troops in Antwerp”: See upcoming guest posts by Leading Seaman Arthur Hawes, which offer a first hand account of these events. ↩
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.
“Riot in India…”: Probably the denouement of the Komagata Maru incident. ↩
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.
Finished in good time. Finished about 1.30. Went up the town in the afternoon with Charlie and he got measured for a suit at the Store1. I called at Porteous the dentist and he examined my teeth and agreed to take 2 out next Wednesday. Went to Roker at night with Willie Whittaker. Came back on the car2.
The Belgians retired from Malines to line of outer Antwerp forts.
Not busy at work. Finished about 2 o’clock. Went down to chapel at 4 o’clock but there was no-one there for me. Went down again at night and made up a tray. Had walk round the town last thing with Charlie and Willie Whittaker.
Very little to do at the office. Went up with Charlie to see Uncle George about compensation business and stayed most of the night. First time we have been in his new house.
Insurance man called at dinner time and I met him. We talked for about an hour. Made me late for work after dinner. Rode Charlie’s bicycle there and back. Went along and saw Willie Whittaker about insurance and spent all the night talking about it.
Hardly anything to do. Went down to practice with Charlie and Howard†. Came round with Blaikie and Willie Whittaker and Charlie.
[In longhand above date] Germans fall back from Paris after two days fighting1.
At church and School as usual. Managed pretty well at School. Had rather shorter walks than usual. Charlie at work in morning and afternoon. Received news of the sinking of the “Pathfinder”2 & loss of about 240 lives caused through striking a mine. Also the Runo liner3 with loss of about 20 lives. Gen. French’s official report stating that 15000 men have been lost and that our men were in every way superior to the Germans. I had bad cold and sat out <of> the choir at night. Communion service. Charlie sang a bit of a solo in the anthem.
“Germans fall back . .”: this was the First Battle of the Marne. The Germans’ rapid advance had been intended to finish the war in the West so as to free most of their troops for the war in Russia, and although their southward drive came East of Paris, instead of West as originally planned, it nearly succeeded. It failed however (leading to the 4 years of trench warfare), partly because their communications became too extended, but also because General Galliéni, who had been left with troops to defend Paris, on his own initiative took the opportunity to attack the German right (western) flank as they were moving South of Paris. ↩
Pathfinder: see note on 5 September. ↩
The New York Times reports the sinking of the Wilson passenger liner Runo on 5th September 1914. ↩