Tag Archives: Work

Arthur LInfoot was employed as a clerk at the Hendon Paper Mill in Sunderland prior to joining the RAMC. He rejoined the company after demobilisation and remained there until his retirement, rising to become a Director of the company by that time.

8 March 1915; Monday

March 1915, , ,

At work as usual. Took over summary. Went down in the car first thing and was pretty late. Busy all day. Had a bit trouble with Geordie1. Sands in, probably for the last time before they go away. Finished about 5.30. Came up with the new boy. Mr Scott found a mistake of £2 pounds [sic] in my sales book. Charlie finished soon. Tried a bit music. I played a bit. The shop doing very badly.

  1. “Geordie”: if correct – how ALL commonly referred to George Crawford, his office colleague at the Paper Works. ↩

6 March 1915; Saturday

March 1915, , ,

At work as usual. Finished rather late, about 2 o’clock. Did fairly well in the shop. Put front room carpet down. Played a bit. Father completed his first week at work and received 26/3 altogether with the wages and compensation. Had walk with Willie Whittaker at night, and he told me Jack Robson and his Mrs had been separated. Received new war book from Hills’.

5 March 1915; Friday

March 1915, , ,

At work as usual. Fairly busy in the office. Received news that the U81 had been sunk by destroyers and the crew taken off. About 5/-­ short of * in the shop. Paper hanger busy up stairs. Called in and saw Willie Wanless and went on afterwards to Grandmother. Grandmother very ill and may die at any time. Met Joe there. Called at Gordon’s on the way up and got some chocolates. Saw more wounded soldiers being taken into the infirmary.

  1. The U8; sunk 4 March 1915, all crew rescued as ALL says. ↩

3 March 1915; Wednesday

March 1915,

At work as usual. Fairly busy all day. Received intimation that Olive<r> had to go on to the boss’s letters and John on to the consignments and Rowley to stay where he is. Official Reports of Sturdee1 & Beatty2 in the papers. A German Submarine rammed by a Newcastle steamer. Stayed in at night and played and had a bath. Mrs Rowe and Annie3to tea.

  1. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee, 1st Baronet, GCB, KCMG, CVO (9 June 1859 – 7 May 1925). ↩

  2. Admiral of the Fleet David Richard Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO, PC (17 January 1871 – 11 March 1936). ↩

  3. Annie: Not positively identified but probably not Sister Annie from church. Annie with no other qualification is mentioned in one later entry on 27 November 1918, also in conjunction with Mrs Rowe. This may suggest that this Annie was a relative of Mrs Rowe (a daughter?). ↩

2 March 1915; Tuesday

March 1915, , ,

Pretty busy at the office. Wrote for two boys to call. Two boys called and were interviewed by Mr Aitken with regard to the office-­boy’s job. I shaved and played a bit, and went round by Gordon’s and paid his bill and placed an order. Called by the chapel and came up with Blaikie and Billy Whittaker. Talked to Blaikie until after 10 o’clock. Lay awake tonight with toothache.

1 March 1915; Monday

March 1915, , , ,

At work as usual. Tom Faichen commenced in the mill. Father recommenced work at 9 oclock, first turn out since his accident. I had to do Mr Aitken’s letters, the summary, and the forecasts. Received news that the Queen Elizabeth 15 inch gun ship1 has been engaged at the Dardanelles. Wrote for two boys to call.

  1. HMS Queen Elizabeth was launched on 16 October 1913 and entered service in January 1915. She was the only modern battleship to participate in naval operations in the Dardanelles. ↩

25 February 1915; Thursday

February 1915,

At work as usual. Played the piano at night. Went down to meeting, but was rather late and they hadn’t one. Received word that the Clan M’Naughton1 had been lost with all hands, about 280 people.

  1. HMS Clan McNaughton was a passenger/cargo vessel, converted to auxiliary cruiser in November 1914; lost off N. Ireland (last contact on 3 February), due to one or more of: severe weather; inexperienced crew; top-­heaviness due to gun-­mounting; possibly a drifting mine. ↩