Tag Archives: Gertie

Gertie was Arthur Linfoot’s younger sister. See the Family page for more details.

24 February 1915; Wednesday

February 1915, , , , , ,

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.

  1. “Elijah”: Mendelssohn’s very popular oratorio. ↩

  2. Victoria Hall: See 10 January 1914. ↩

  3. “Charlie’s things” – he was presumably in the choir. ↩

24 December 1914; Thursday

December 1914, , , , , , ,

[Christmas eve – See footnote1.]

At work as usual. Mill stopped at 6 o’clock a.m. We finished in good time and Tom Fagin† brought his gramophone across and played it until nearly 6 o’clock. I went up town at night and posted some Christmas cards. Called at station for Ernie but he didn’t arrive. Went up town later and called at Wiseman’s both in going and coming. Joe’s face swollen very much and he can’t go out. Bought Gertie a music case. And read a lot of The Manxman2 and went to bed about 1 o’clock. Charlie out tonight. Ernie arrived at Boldon with Hilda and the baby.

  1. ALL didn’t mention, and presumably hadn’t heard of, the first German bomb dropped on British soil on Christmas Eve, 1914. A single German aircraft (which appears to have got away unscathed), dropped a bomb which fell in a garden near Taswell Street in Dover, where there is now a blue plaque on the wall reading “Near this spot on Christmas Eve 1914 fell the first aerial bomb ever to be dropped on the United Kingdom.” ↩

  2. ALL had started to read this book a few days earlier, on 22 December. See The Manxman and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩

4 October 1914; Sunday

October 1914, , , ,

Chapel as usual. Mr Mathews conducting the services. Better than last time but not much use†. Instead of Sunday School the children went into the chapel and sang the songs Mr Mathews had taught them and he spoke a short while. Had usual walks. Mrs Cooke & Bella Spain to tea. Mother and Gertie went with them to the Grange1. Germans bombard Lierre again at night with heavy howitzer.

  1. The Grange: probably the Grange Congregational Church, in Stockton Road. ↩

17 May 1914; Sunday

May 1914, , , ,

Father, Gertie, mother and I troubled with diarrhoea, Father in bed all day. I stayed in in the morning and washed my head. Used some hair tonic too. Went out as usual in the afternoon and at night. Fine day. Talked with Charlie about choir trip. Held meeting at night and decided to go to Durham instead of Richmond. Read a bit of Anna Karenina.

11 May 1914; Monday

May 1914, , ,

Got up about 8 o’clock. Felt a bit off first thing. Lily paid a visit to our house in the afternoon. Not very well. Charlie sang at Williamson Terrace anniversary1. Mother and Gertie at the tea and I went over last thing. Read very little. Played a bit.

  1. “Williamson Terrace”: north of the river, between North Bridge Street and Monkwearmouth (St. Peter’s) Saxon Church; probably a Methodist chapel there. ↩

7 April 1914; Tuesday

April 1914, , ,

Got up at 7 o’clock. Fine morning. Directors’ meeting. I didn’t get away for my dinner until 2 o’clock. Did 3 letters for Mr Lawson. Finished in good time. Went over to the practice at North Bridge Street at night. Sang rather well. Came over with Charlie and Tudie†1. Father not well. Dr Blair in and he is coming again on Thursday.

  1. “Tudie”: Could this be “Trudy”? – ALL’s sister Gertrude is always “Gertie” elsewhere. ↩