Tag Archives: Music

7 October 1914; Wednesday

Got up early and drilled. Not much to do at work. Went to Patriotic Concert in Victoria Hall1 with Willie Whittaker and Alf Wright and his sister. Very good concert. The Sunderland Vocal Union were the chorus and Mr L A Nicholson’s orchestra accompanied. Mrs Vincent and Miss Spain, and Mr William Hendry were the singers and a lady recited.

Germans commence to bombard Antwerp2 at midnight with heavy guns & 6 Zeppelin Airships drop bombs3.


  1. Victoria Hall: see note on 10 January

  2. Winston Churchill rather controversially went personally to take part in the defence of Antwerp, on the arguably slender grounds that Royal Marine troops were involved; he was First Lord of the Admiralty – not an operational appointment – and no longer a serving officer in the Army. 

  3. This presumably means “on Antwerp”: the first Zeppelin raids on England are said to have been in January 1915. 

6 September 1914; Sunday

[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.


  1. “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. 

  2. Pathfinder: see note on 5 September

  3. The New York Times reports the sinking of the Wilson passenger liner Runo on 5th September 1914. 

11 July 1914; Saturday

Walked up to the town with Charlie in the morning. Met Edward Hodges in Crowtree Road and talked with him for a long time. Called at Grandmother’s on Saturday afternoon and went with Charlie and Jack to Caslaw Tate1 stall and spent most of the afternoon waiting for Jack outside the shops. Went to Roker at night and heard Lucas’s band. It was very good and there were a good many people down. Came home fairly late.


  1. If “Caslaw Tate” is correct, it is possibly Caslaw, Hayter & Tate, the principal local men’s and boys’ draper. 

14 June 1914; Sunday

Sunday School Anniversary. Fine day. Mr Blaikie leading. Willie Marshall playing. Charlie sang a solo at night and a boy from St John’s Wesleyan choir sang two solos. He was very good. The service was successful. Good dinners at night. Decided to continue the service next week. Had walk at night with Ernie, Willie Whittaker, and Charlie. Sang the anthem “Send out thy light.”