Tag Archives: Joe

Joe Wiseman was a close friend of Arthur Linfoot and was married to his elder sister, Mary, known to the family as “Marmie“. See Family page.

22 June 1915; Tuesday

Abridged, June 1915, , , , , ,

At work as usual. Called in the town at dinner time at Hills’ to see about a new typewriter ribbon. Called at Stewarts’ at night to get jacket altered. Played, and Charlie sang. Wrote up diary and shop books. Had walk with Joe.

Father bought some chickens. Mr McKenna1 introduced his new finance bill. Lemberg2 in danger.

  1. “Mr McKenna”: Reginald McKenna, 1863 – 1953, MP 1895 – 1918, Home Sec. 1911 – 15, Ch. Of Exch. 1915 – 16; issued second War Loan June 1915, at higher rate of interest than first (which was made convertible to second); this is said to have committed the UK to higher rates of interest than elsewhere, not only throughout WW1 but during the inter-­war Depression. The “McKenna Duties” of 33⅓% on luxury imports, “to finance WW1”, lasted until 1953. McKenna married a niece of Gertrude Jekyll. He was Chairman of the Midland Bank (now owned by HSBC) after 1918. ↩

  2. Lemberg: the Ukrainian city of Lviv (Ukrainian: Львів, Polish: Lwów, Russian: Lvov, Latin: Leopolis, or German: Lemberg). The battle of Lemberg, 20-22 June 1915, was a short-lived Russian attempt to defend the great fortress of Lemberg against advancing German and Austrian troops during the aftermath of the great German victory at Gorlice-Tarnow. ↩

15 June 1915; Tuesday

June 1915, , , ,

At work as usual. Busy all day. Finished in decent time. Went down to practice. Walked up with Willie Whittaker and Blaikie and Joe.

Air Raid on the Tyne1. Damage to Palmer’s†2 works and 16 killed & many injured. Zeppelins arrived about mid-night. They were seen by some people in the town here.

Miss Aitchison commenced in the Office.

  1. This page at Strong-Family.org has extensive detail about the air raid. ↩

  2. Palmer’s: the shorthand, which is indistinct, looks more like “Abraham’s” or “Abram’s”, but has been transcribed as “Palmer’s” because a) that is known to have been the business most damaged in this raid and b) the detailed record at Strong-Family.org as noted above confirms the same number of fatalities at Palmer’s shipyard as recorded in this diary entry by ALL. ↩

2 June 1915; Wednesday

June 1915,

At work as usual. Busy all day. Played and read a bit at night and had walk last thing with Joe. More wounded coming into the infirmary. Joe commenced work at Doxford’s1. Late work overtime at night.

  1. “Doxford’s”: shipbilders at Pallion, just upstream from Queen Alexandra rail/road bridge. Joe Wiseman worked there for the rest of his life; also Dorothy Wiseman during WWII. ↩

1 May 1915; Saturday

May 1915, , ,

At work as usual. Finished rather late. Played the piano and went out with Willie Whittaker last thing. Joe, Willie and I played ping pong most of the night as it was wet.

“Recruit”1 sunk by submarine, and Two German Torpedo boats sunk by British destroyer.

  1. “Recruit”: British destroyer, 335 tons, sunk by UB6 off Dover, 1 May 1915 with the loss of 39 men. 4 officers and 22 crewmen were rescued. ↩