Got <up> in decent time and went to work <in> better time. Very busy all day. Got through in good time at night. Played a bit and had short walk with Charlie. Did a bit Pelman1. Looked up a bit grammar. Trouble between Servia2 and Austria & a prospect of all Europe being concerned. Gun running3 at Ulster and 4 people killed in riot. Mr Whittaker called for Father to go and sign loan.
Tag Archives: Father
24 July 1914; Friday
Got up at 6.15 and went to baths. Swimming on my back for first time. Received telegram at home from insurance man and he called and saw Father. I went along at night to Whittakers’ and talked with Mr Whittaker until about 11 o’clock. He was in bed. Decided to write and ask Robsons’ what they propose to do.
Austrian Demands considered to imply challenge to Russians. Russian cabinet meetings.
23 July 1914; Thursday
Busy all day. Did some shorthand in the morning. Compensation man called to see Father, but Father was not in at the time. Willie and Lily called to ask us to tea.
Austrian note presented to Servia1 and a reply demanded within 48 hours.
“Servia”: Serbia was commonly so spelt before WW1; cf. Bartholomew’s Literary & Historical Atlas of Europe, publ. 1910, repr. 1912 & 1914, in Everyman’s Library; also Lady Cynthia Asquith’s diaries for 1915/18. The spelling possibly arose from confusion between В/в (pronounced “V”), and Б/б (pronounced “B”) as actually used in spelling Србиjа. ↩
22 July 1914; Wednesday
Busy at the office. Went down with Father to see if there was an open air meeting but there wasn’t. Had short walk round. Met Dora’s Charlie. Read a bit.
18 July 1914; Saturday
Finished about 1.30. Went to cricket match with Father. Saw Sunderland beat Hendon. Pretty good match. Went to Roker at night by myself. Scarcely saw anyone I knew. Met young George Wilkinson and spoke for a moment or two. Listened to the band for a few minutes. Came up on the car1 by myself.
“Car” means “tram-car”, as usual. ↩
10 July 1914; Friday
Got up about 9 o’clock. Got luggage packed. I called at station and arranged for it to go. Had dinners and went up to the moors and read until train time. Left Bowes at 3.18. Arrived Sunderland about 7.30. Met Mr Whittaker at Durham and came down with him in the train. Had short walk at night with Charlie. Father and Mother went down to see Grandmother. Charlie and I met Willie and Lily in the town at night.
7 July 1914; Tuesday
Got up late as usual. Took Father round by Rokeby and Greta Bridge. Inclined to thunder but got out fine. Called at Egglestone Abbey again. Got 5.47 train back to Bowes. Had walk at night and looked for more flowers.
5 July 1914; Sunday
Got up late. Had walk by Spital Way with Father and Charlie. Stayed in in the afternoon and read and wrote up diary. Rather dull. Went to Wesleyan chapel at night. Better services but much smaller choir and congregation. Preacher not so talkative and apparently more sincere. Had short walk afterwards. Fine night.
4 July 1914; Saturday
Went on the moors with Joe in the morning. Father, mother and Gertie went to Barnard Castle in the afternoon. Charlie and I stayed near home and read. Joe and Marmie knocked about a bit. Played “golf” in the morning with Joe’s ball. Had walk by Spital Way at night.
2 July 1914; Thursday
Sat by the moors in the morning with Charlie and Father. In the afternoon Charlie, Father and I walked up to Sleightholme round by Gilmonby by the moors1. Grand day and lovely scenery. Saw scores of wild rabbits. Didn’t get home until about 8 o’clock. Had short walk at night.