Busy all morning. Finished late. Got papers up town. Had short walk round town with Charlie and called for Willie Whittaker afterwards. Walked along as far as Whitburn. Fine night. Saw searchlights playing off Seaham Harbour. Soldiers leaving Sunderland.
Tag Archives: Willie Whittaker
8 August 1914; Saturday
Busy all day. Finished late. George Crawford went on his holidays to Leyburn. Went to Roker at night with Willie Whittaker. Soldiers busy making trenches all along the coast. More soldiers coming into the town. Walked round banks and low end of the town in the afternoon with Charlie. The roads to the dock stopped.
3 August 1914; Monday
Charlie, Willie Whittaker and I went to Seaside Lane on the car1 and walked from there to Marsden and on to South Shields. Crossed the ferry and walked to Tynemouth2. Car back to the penny ferry3, got the train to Sunderland and arrived about 6 o’clock. Fine day and pleasant time. Saw the defending† arrangements at Frenchman’s Bay4, South Shields, and Tynemouth. A large quantity of parapet wired off there†, and the wall in front of the guns levelled to the ground.
International affairs much worse. Grave conjecture as to what England5 will do.
Went to Whitburn at night with Willie Whittaker.
Car means tram-car, as usual. ↩
Curiously, the vowel-signs in the shorthand clearly indicate the pronunciation “Tinmouth”. ↩
“Penny” ferries were for foot-passengers. In the 1947/8 Ordnance Survey revision, there were still a foot-ferry and a vehicle‐ferry from North to S. Shields, and another foot-ferry from Whitehill Point to S. Shields. ↩
Frenchman’s Bay is between Marsden Bay and the mouth of the Tyne, adjacent to modern South Shields. ↩
25 July 1914; Saturday
Busy all morning at work. Boxed with Charlie in the afternoon and played a bit. Read a bit and went over to Roker at night with Willie Whittaker. Listened to the band and walked along to Whitburn and carred1 back. Rather cold night. Charlie at work.
Servia’s2 answer considered unsatisfactory. Austrian ministers leaving Belgrade.
24 June 1914; Wednesday
Not very busy at work. Finished in good time. A bit of a row about closing the letters and we left them so John had to close the big ones. Went across to Roker at night with Willie Whittaker and heard the Royal Irish Fusiliers on the pier. Walked home. Wrote letter to Ernie.
23 June 1914; Tuesday
Not very busy at work. Went down and played at class meeting at night. Played ping pong until late. Had hair cut. Joe, and Willie Whittaker down helping to take down platform. Received letter from Ernie with regard to the insurance question.
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.”
12 June 1914; Friday
8 June 1914; Monday
Got up late. Wet morning. Not much to do. Finished at 5 o’clock sharp. Played a bit. Read one or two of W.W. Jacobs’ short stories1. Went down to the annual teachers’ meeting2. Came round with Willie Whittaker. Made some hair restorer. Went to bed late.
W W Jacobs: very popular writer of comic short stories and novels, mostly on low life in sea‐ports, but with some exceptions, e.g. his best‐known story “The Monkey’s Paw”, a ‘suspense’ short story. See also: Arthur Linfoot’s Library ↩
“Teachers’ meeting” would be Sunday School teachers. ↩