Tag Archives: Ernie

Ernie was Arthur Linfoot’s elder brother. See also the Family page.

5 September 1914; Saturday

September 1914, , , , , , ,

Finished about 1.30. Went to Tunstall Hills1 in the afternoon with Father and saw a destroyer off the harbour. Went to Roker at night with Charlie and met Willie Whittaker at Whitburn. A lot of soldiers in the town. News to hand of the Germans sinking 15 fishing vessels in the North Sea. Received Ernie’s letter stating that if things didn’t improve he was going to <en>list.

Pathfinder sunk by submarine 250 dead wounded & missing2.

  1. See footnote on 15 May 1914 and Sunderland map. ↩

  2. Pathfinder: a 4″gun destroyer, 2940 tons, built 1904, sunk by submarine U21 in the Firth of Forth 14 miles ESE of May Island; a contemporary report says that the majority of the 268 crew were lost. ↩

12 August 1914; Wednesday

August 1914, , , , , ,

Very busy at work. Finished late about 6.15. Went up town with Father and Charlie. A few battle ships off Roker. Soldiers still busy making entrenchments. Read a bit and played a very little. Had walk last thing with Joe. Received postcard from Ernie saying how things were out there1.

A great battle commencing between Liege and Namur. About 2,000,000 men engaged and 200 miles of battle front.

  1. “Out there”: presumably St Andrew’s, where he was working. ↩

5 August 1914; Wednesday

August 1914, , , , ,

War declared against Germany by England

Busy at work. Great excitement caused through war.1

War declared against Germany by England.2

Joe and I went to Roker at night and saw 5 different bodies of soldiers on parade. Soldiers placed in the Salvation Army barracks, Thompson Memorial Hall, Royal Hospital, Roker House, Mrs Chester’s and Lister’s, Reserve houses, Skating Rink, barracks, pottery plot, and warehouses on the docks. Digging trenches along Roker Way. We saw the big 4.7 guns go out to Cleadon. Ernie & Hilda got a baby daughter.

  1. Most of Britain at the time, outside of Westminster and Whitehall, didn’t know about the final commitment to war until the 5th of August. ↩

  2. ALL’s use here of “England” where one might have expected “Britain” may seem odd but was quite usual at the time – many contemporary newspaper reports similarly cite “England” – for example, see this reprint from the Guardian’s archive, which uses both “England” and “Great Britain”, and this from the New York Times. Incidentally, up to the mid-20th century “North Britain” was still occasionally used, and well understood, to mean “Scotland”, which is consistent with interchangeability between “Britain” and “England”. ↩

12 July 1914; Sunday

July 1914, ,

Got up about 9 o’clock. Didn’t go to chapel but had early dinner. Hurried over to Osborne Street to the funeral. Charlie and I were in the cab. Very quiet and orderly funeral. A girl fainted at the grave side. Rev Mr Burt, junior minister in Dock Street circuit conducted the services. We stayed to tea and then came over in the car1 with Lily. Met some of the Gurneys including Ernie Gurney who had been at the paper works. My turn for children’s service at night. Our Charlie helped me. We had pretty good meeting. Mr Hunter preaching and was fair but I didn’t like his manner. Had short walk and talked to Mr Blaikie until late. Uncle Ned buried.

  1. “Car” means “tram-car”, as usual. ↩

9 July 1914; Thursday

July 1914, ,

Went nowhere particular. Walked over the moors to Bowes in the evening. Went down to Gilmonby in the afternoon and read there. Fine day after the storm. Had short walk about the village at night. Moors very fine last thing. I wrote long letter to Ernie and told him all the news.

Received postcard from Jack and letter from Joe (per bus-train†) telling us of the death of Uncle Ned. We altered our plans and arranged to leave tomorrow.

6 July 1914; Monday

July 1914, , ,

Got up about 6.20. Walked in to Barnard Castle with Joe. We mistimed ourselves and had to hurry. Joe left us near to Barnard Castle and ran to the station. We were terribly hot and tired. Sat in the Bowes Museum grounds and read a bit and then walked out to Egglestone Abbey1 and had lunch there. Fine day. Crossed Abbey Bridge and paid our toll. Had lemonades and a ginger beer. Got 3.45 train back to Bowes. Had short walk at night. Fine day.

Received flower books from Ernie and sat a bit at night.

  1. The map shows the location of Egglestone Abbey. See also Bowes map. ↩

28 June 1914; Sunday

June 1914, ,

Got up late. Didn’t go to church until night when Charlie and I went to the Wesleyan anniversary. Singing was awful. Had 3 walks, up moor in the morning, round the south side in the afternoon and at night. Met old farmer and talked with him and his wife. Fine day. Liked the place all right. Wrote to Ernie.