Tag Archives: Willie Marshall

Diary entries which mention Willie Marshall, a friend of Arthur Linfoot whose marriage to Elizabeth Jane (“Lily”) Linfoot is recorded on 10 June 1914.

21 March 1914; Saturday

March 1914, ,

Got up in decent time. Finished about 1.30. Had short walk in the town in the afternoon. Went to the King’s Theatre at night and saw “The Daughter of the Regiment”. It was very good but not so good as the pieces I saw previously. Willie Marshall and Willie Whittaker with me. A crowded house. Wet changeable day. Ulster Crisis very acute1.

  1. “The Ulster Crisis” refers to the first signs of Protestant opposition in Ireland to the Home Rule legislation of Asquith’s government, which was followed by widespread gun-­running and civilian armament; and to the “Curragh Mutiny” by British Army officers in Dublin, who announced that they would resign their commissions rather than lead military action against the Protestant opposition to Home Rule (see 23 March.) Although these troubles were put into suspense by the outbreak of WW1 in August 1914, it was never considered possible to introduce military conscription in Ireland. The Dublin uprising ensued in 1916. ↩

17 March 1914; Tuesday

March 1914, , , ,

Not very much to do at work. Played at night and went down to the chapel last thing and helped Jim to put up the curtains and things. Came round with Willie Marshall. St Patrick’s social at the Victoria Hall1 and there were a lot of drunken Irish people dancing beside the Palatine2 last thing at night. I went up to Brumwell’s3 and got Father a fiddle string. Joe at Leeds. He wired to say he had taken the place to start on Monday next.

  1. Victoria Hall: See note on 10 January. ↩

  2. “Palatine”: the Palatine Hotel, in South Bridge Street. ↩

  3. “Brumwell’s” (if correct): hardware shop in John Street (or Frederick Street?) with very comprehenisve stock. ↩

10 February 1914; Tuesday

February 1914, , , ,

Busy all day. Father still improving. Went down to clear work at night. Willie not there. Willie Whittaker and I called for him. Went in to see him. His father told us, rather reluctantly, that he had not *. Got home shortly after 10 o’clock. Mr Marshall was putting gramophone records on to amuse Willie, who was in bed. Poor practice. I was the only bass. Directors’ meeting1.

  1. Directors: this would be the Board of the Hendon Paper Works – noted because of the extra work the meeting would have caused for the office staff. ↩

8 February 1914; Sunday

February 1914, , , , , , , ,

Charlie out soon. I got up after 9 o’clock. Off chapel in the morning. Mr Crew preaching. Went down to School late. Father still improved. Willie Marshall in charge†. Charlie, Willie Whittaker and I went over to North Bridge Street1 Presbyterian church at night and heard Mr Middlemiss† preach and Mr Newrick play2. Joe Speed on at our church. Very poor turn out there. Mr Mullens called at our house. Uncle Jack, Aunt Esther, Jack and Hilda3, and Uncle Jack and Aunt Bella and Uncle George all in. And Mrs Spain.

  1. North Bridge Street: in Monkwearmouth, north of the Wear. ↩

  2. Mr Newrick: well-­known local organist and music teacher; ALL took lessons with him. ↩

  3. See Hilda disambiguation page. ↩

16 January 1914; Friday

January 1914, , , , ,

Got up about 9 o’clock. Warm damp day. Got on very well at work. Finished in good time. Marmie’s party at night. Charlie bad and went to bed soon. Mr and Mrs Wells, Mr and Mrs Grey. Willie and Lizzie Whittaker. Willie Marshall. Mrs Wiseman.1 Kit † and Rosses †. Father didn’t go down there. And Willie Peake and Mrs. Rather slow at times. Played a few games and danced a bit. Finished about 2 o’clock. <I> played for the dances.
Marmie’s Party.

  1. Mrs Wiseman: presumably Joe Wiseman’s mother. ↩

7 January 1914; Wednesday

January 1914, , ,

Got up at 8 o’clock. Fine day. Felt pretty fresh. Finished in good time. Went along to Willie’s about 7.30. Willie Whittaker called for me. Charlie followed us. A good number there including Chris Beresford, Misses Boyce, Dick and May, Billy Rawson and Miss Douglas, Willie Peake and Edie, Natty and his girl, a Mr Bannister and his wife. Stayed until Nearly 2 o’clock. I got the booby prize. Charlie sang 2 songs. I played for one. Chris Beresford sang, and Miss Boyce. Natty and Willie played. Charlie and I set Edie Hunter along home. Went to bed about 2.30. Enjoyed it pretty well.

Marshall’s Party.

2 January 1914; Friday

January 1914, ,

Got up about 9 o’clock. Went to the infirmary with Father1. Had short walk round town and got papers and diaries. Called for Willie Marshall and arranged to go out with him in the afternoon. Went for him after dinner. Walked along to Whitburn2 and back. Went to pictures at night. A good number present. Played whist before supper. Had different games after supper and we left about 3 o’clock. Enjoyed ourselves pretty well.

  1. “Went to the infirmary”: probably in connection with the work-place accident to Father’s hand; see later entries. ↩

  2. Whitburn: then still a fishing village, a mile north of the Sunderland built-­up area. ↩

1 January 1914; Thursday

January 1914, , , , , ,

Shook hands with Joe1 first. George Bagley2 second. Polly Abigales † 3rd. Had an invitation to Jenny Arkleby’s †3 but didn’t go. We all went to bed about 2 o’clock. Charlie4 slept the year out. He started at 5 in the morning. Ernie5 and Hilda arrived about 12 o’clock. We had turkey for dinner. Had short walk in the afternoon. Arranged a ping pong table down stairs and played a bit. Company arrived about 7 o’clock. The Whittaker family6. Willie Marshall. The Christopher Street people7, Ernie and Hilda. Had jolly time and supped about midnight.
Our Party.

  1. Joe Wiseman was the husband of ALL’s elder sister Marmie; he had moved to Lincoln in 1905, date of return to Sunderland not recorded. ↩

  2. There was an extensive Bagley family in the 1930-­‐40’s, but their relationship with George B. is not recorded. ↩

  3. P. Abigales and J. Arkleby (if correct) are unidentified; hereinafter, identified names are annotated (if at all) on first appearance, and names not identified receive no annotation. ↩

  4. Charlie was ALL’s younger brother, working in the Post Office. ↩

  5. Ernie was ALL’s elder brother, married to Hilda (née Tulip), at this time living in St Andrew’s. ↩

  6. The Whittaker family were members of the South Durham Street Methodist Church, and included a son Willie, whom ALL quite often mentions; he mentions Willie Marshall probably more often, but as he commonly omits their surname, it is sometimes hard to be sure which of the two he means. Willie Whittaker shared his middle name Gaylard with All’s uncle William Gaylard Linfoot (who had emigrated to New Zealand in 1912), which suggests a possible family connection; all the people mentioned in the diary would have known (which is doubtless why ALL never refers to it) that Willie Marshall, mentioned in this 1 January entry, had visited New Zealand at some time in 1913, for reasons which will become apparent to readers by mid-1914. ↩

  7. See the Family page for an explanation of “Christopher Street people”. Christopher Street is just W. of the S. end of Hendon Road. ↩