1915 [Kill this page when done ]
1914 Index 1916
Olave's Diary for 1915
[ Her 26th birthday was 22 Feb ]
January 1915
X
Transcribed by Carol Pateman
Fri 01 Jan 1915
Motor tour, visiting Boy Scouts on duty as Coastguards.
From Chichester via Littlehampton, Worthing, Hove, etc to stay at Rottingdean
with Stanfords.
Keen on Scouts, & have a nice private school. Scout show in evening.
Sat 02 Jan 1915
On in awful weather to Newhaven - & see Scouts & most interesting stores
being shipped to the Expeditionary Force in France. Enormous quantities of
every sort of thing. To Seaford & to home.
Sun 03 Jan 1915
Colossal post has accumulated to be dealt with.
Mon 04 Jan 1915
Take car to Tonbridge & leave her there to be overhauled.
Village tea for "adults" and bioscope afterwards in Parish Room. They seemed
to like it. 93 came. Worth the expense?
Tue 05 Jan 1915
Ditto for the schoolchildren.
Wed 06 Jan 1915
Went shooting.
3 Partridges.
"Cut aboves" of the neighbourhood to tea. Daws, Colyers-Bainbridge,
Faulconer, Websters etc.
Thu 07 Jan 1915
Robin to London for Scout meeting at H.Q. office.
Poured all day.
Floods awful everywhere.
Fri 08 Jan 1915
Robin returned.
Stayed at St Ermin's Hotel to sample it last night - now we no longer have a
house in London we shall use it.
Sat 09 Jan 1915
Called for by [Mr Medway?] & Admiral Moore in a loaned car & run round
seeing Coastguarding scouts at Rye, Pett, Hastings & Bexhill. Two latter had
crowded parades too. Lunched with Thorpes at Hastings. Home for tea with
Boyd Alexanders.
Sun 10 Jan 1915
Walk round by [Sumpsteed?] & cut "terminal" sticks.
Went in afternoon [afoot or & fool?] about "the estate". Would it were ours.
Mon 11 Jan 1915
Shoot all day. Great fun - and the dogs enjoyed it so.
Tue 12 Jan 1915
Robin to London for [Movers?] Meeting - returning in our car from Tonbridge
with Maud, Donald & Bobbie B-P.
Wed 13 Jan 1915
Make new run for wild duck below summer house plantation
Thu 14 Jan 1915
Robin to London
Fri 15 Jan 1915
Robin returns
Sat 16 Jan 1915
[no entry recorded]
Sun 17 Jan 1915
Maud and Donald spend most of the day in church & chapel.
To church in the morning. Walk to [Ladine?] in afternoon with queer little
Bobbie.
Mon 18 Jan 1915
Shoot round by Longwood and [Padglain?].
Afternoon Bridget Tallents (nee Hole) drives unexpectedly from Hawkhurst
with her nice little husband who leaves soon for The Front. All shoot on the
Marsh.
Tue 19 Jan 1915
Weald of Kent Harriers meet here. People imbibe whiskey & coffee & drink our
health etc! Great fun the way they run round about.
Bobbie went to his Aunt, Gertrude [Grogan?], in London for rest of his
holidays.
Wed 20 Jan 1915
Maud and Donald leave - he goes back to Eton.
Quaint children. Both - all three in fact - are quite abnormal.
Col. & Mrs & Miss Trewen to tea.
Thu 21 Jan 1915
Robin to London.
An hour later get a letter from Mother saying Dad is bad and she is alone, so I
rush to Lilliput seeing R. in London en route. Get to Grey after 10 & very tired
with bad cold, but mind triumphed over matter & am glad I came!
Fri 22 Jan 1915
Dad better & likes to chat. Mother & I talk ceaselessly! Into Bournemouth. Tell
R. to return to Ewhurst, but he came down late to Grey [ Rigg ] instead & we
revive old memories indeed!
Jolly being at the old home again.
Sat 23 Jan 1915
Avril & Bob return today so we run back to Ewhurst. All trains & wires at
loggerheads from snow last night. To cinema in London on the way through.
Get home very late through driving Mrs M. Turner to her home in the fog from
Robertsbridge.
Sun 24 Jan 1915
Cold bad. In bed for breakfast.
Mon 25 Jan 1915
Shoot partridges and the walk & air helps to cure the cold.
Tue 26 Jan 1915
Shoot on the Marsh - and again plod over ploughs all the afternoon. Lovely
game and so healthy!
How marvellous it is the way we both love "country life" & country things and
it is so good for my Robin to be out of doors.
Wed 27 Jan 1915
Motor to Brighton to lunch with Symons. Claud S. (commanding 13th Hussars -
our Regiment) home from the Front for a few days.
Thu 28 Jan 1915
Robin to London
Bridget Tallents to stay.
Fri 29 Jan 1915
Very cold.
Peter has cold in his head, but can stand and crawl very well now.
Sat 30 Jan 1915
Bes left.
Robin returns late
Branch's to stay. She is pretty & nice & he is working hard at the Scout office.
Sun 31 Jan 1915
Walk to Bodiam Castle & afternoon motor round by Winchelsea & Rye.
Tyre punctured.
February 1915
X
Transcribed by Carol Pateman
Mon 01 Feb 1915
Branch's left.
Shoot partridges - last day of the season.
Had about 40 brace all told.
Tue 02 Feb 1915
Harriers meet at Bodiam. D. runs in the rain with them.
Wed 03 Feb 1915
Shoot on the Marsh.
Scouts in the evening. I am helping the 1st Ewhurst "Chief Scouts Own"
together in a way.
Thu 04 Feb 1915
Robin to London stays with Branch's
The new Ewhurst parson calls for T.
Morrison by name & a keen Scoutmaster.
Fri 05 Feb 1915
Robin returns.
Sat 06 Feb 1915
Motor to Wadhurst & Scouts Farm
Pick up Jenkins (R's Publisher) at station en route.
Miss Macdonald (Sec. of Girl Guides) to stay too.
Sun 07 Feb 1915
Jenkins, R & I lunch at Brickwall with Frewens.
Mon 08 Feb 1915
Jenkins & Miss Macdonald leave.
We lunch at Hawkhurst with old Mrs (Dean) Hole and Bridget T. her
granddaughter.
Induction of Mr Morrison at Ewhurst Church. Very nice.
Tue 09 Feb 1915
Shoot a pigeon.
Rev Alfred Morrison & his sister to tea. Quite nice.
Wed 10 Feb 1915
Scout evening
Morrisons to dinner
Thu 11 Feb 1915
To London.
Lunch Mrs Grogan (Florence B-P's sister0
Shop: (Buy Peter a sitting pram.)
Tea Mrs Ritchie (nice lame American)
Stay with nice Gordons (6 Hubert Crescent).
To Charterhouse Mission Gathering after dinner.
S.E.
Fri 12 Feb 1915
To see Arthur & Hopie in their home Bone Hill near St Albans. Road blocked by
troops so miss early train back to London. Jolly seeing them though.
Shop and to see "The man who stayed at home". Good play about German
spies. Khaki audience.
Sat 13 Feb 1915
Shop.
Home to Ewhurst
P.W. Everett's to stay
Sun 14 Feb 1915
To church.
Horrid wet & cold.
Peter christened this date last year. He is jolly now.
- becoming imitative
- loves Robin.
Mon 15 Feb 1915
Everetts left.
Make new hen run & "do about" pigeons laying eggs.
Tue 16 Feb 1915
Lovely sunny day at last.
Make new hen run.
Stroll on the Marsh.
One must go on living in one's home even if there is this wicked war!
Wed 17 Feb 1915
Awful blizzard
Scout evening.
Rev. Alfred Morrison came to help - & to dinner. Baden to stay. Home on leave
from being Censor at Boulogne.
Thu 18 Feb 1915
R fell on knee on quad when running - tripped up by dog Taffy.
Baden leaves.
To London (via Hawkhurst) & car takes B to Folkstone. Lunch at Cavalry Club.
Tea with Aunt Rosie (Flower) her at home day. Stay St Ermines Hotel. To see
nice play called "Kings and Queens" at St James'. George Alexander gave us
seats. Good cast.
Fri 19 Feb 1915
Shop. I go to lunch with Frank B-P. at Wimbledon.
To dentist.
By evening train to Folkstone. Stay at Metropole. R's knee bad.
Sat 20 Feb 1915
Robin's knee worse.
Start motor tour along coast. See Scouts coastguarding at Kingsdown, Deal
Dover (Lunch G. Elliott, clever nice man near Deal) Sandwich, Margate &
Westgate. Tea at Broadstairs at little Bobbie B-P's school, funny coincidences
meeting "Lottie" Walrond[?] of Bradfield, seeing her son there. She recognised
me, though she can only have seen me once ten years ago.
Clara Butt there too.
Sun 21 Feb 1915
Stayed last night St Mildreds Hotel at Westgate.
Robins knee worse.
Call in Doctor Flint who oddly enough attended R's brother George in his last
illness. Continue tour & see splendid Scouts doing their duty at Birchington,
Reculvers, Whitstable. Through Canterbury & picnic lunch. More Scouts at
Hythe & Littlestone & call on Scout Commissioner & so home to Ewhurst.
Saw Dr Winstons boys prep. School scouts at Folkstone too.
Mon 22 Feb 1915
Our birthday.
Heaps of wires.
Robins knee worse & cannot walk & has to give up going on Scout work to
Birmingham tomorrow & tour as War correspondent of French battlefields.
Tue 23 Feb 1915
Doctor Rendal to see R's knee & prescribes rest. Nothing very serious but
painful. Spent day in Q.T. house.
Wed 24 Feb 1915
Ditto
Thu 25 Feb 1915
A day of great excitement for Ewhurst
8.45 Eric Walker literally flew over on his way to France & landed by the
church for breakfast with us. Glorious to see him sail humming away into the
mist - to what?
Late afternoon soldiers doing a sham fight inundated the place
2 subs - Jones & Morgan of the Welsh Regt. stayed the night. Soldiers all left.
It was very impressive when the 50 odd men came tramping up the drive in
our peace home - & Robin spoke to them in the moonlight of their work to be
at the Front.
Fri 26 Feb 1915
To London for a few hours. R. to Mercers.
Shopped and home for tea. R's knee very bad still & painful.
Sat 27 Feb 1915
Spent day in Q.T. summer house again. Very good for Robin to have this rest,
though his knee does hurt and cripple him, the poor Darling. It was maddening
tripping up over Taffy like that!
Sun 28 Feb 1915
Ditto - and typed dozens of letters there.
March 1915
X
Transcribed by Carol Pateman
Mon 01 Mar 1915
[No entry]
Tue 02 Mar 1915
[No entry]
Wed 03 Mar 1915
Doctor Kendal to see R's knee and it is almost better now.
Thu 04 Mar 1915
[No entry]
Fri 05 Mar 1915
Robin to London
Sat 06 Mar 1915
Robin now up to Birmingham for Scout Inspection.
Sun 07 Mar 1915
Robin returns.
Col. & Mrs Parkinson call.
He commands new Welsh Regiment now at Hastings
Knew R years ago at Malta.
Mon 08 Mar 1915
[No entry]
Tue 09 Mar 1915
[No entry]
Wed 10 Mar 1915
[No entry]
Thu 11 Mar 1915
[No entry]
Fri 12 Mar 1915
Robin to London.
For day to Bexhill to shop and see old Friede (our German governess 1897 -
1901)
Sat 13 Mar 1915
Robin to Leicester for Scout Rally.
Took Peter out in his pram.
Miss Janet Lewis to stay. (Kate Terry's daughter)
Sun 14 Mar 1915
Robin returns.
To church.
Parson Morrison & his sister to lunch.
Motor - taking Peter with us - to see Bridget Tallents & her new baby at
Hawkhurst & call on Tuckers at Northiam.
Mon 15 Mar 1915
Miss Lewis leaves.
Motor over to Wadhurst Scout Farm - Take Peter who has a shy fit on & cries
on seeing strangers.
Tue 16 Mar 1915
Harriers meet here.
Robin to London.
I go as far as Robertsbridge to have an extra 20 minutes with him!
Wed 17 Mar 1915
Robin returns in the morning
Thu 18 Mar 1915
Robin rushes up to London again for Boy Scout and Girl Guide Committees.
Take Peter out.
Morrissons to tea. They are so nice.
Fri 19 Mar 1915
Robin returns
Sat 20 Mar 1915
Miss Rumney (teacher at St Aubyn's School at Rottingdean) to stay to talk over
Wolf Cub Scout training.
Sun 21 Mar 1915
Work in Q.T. House
Walk to Bodiam Castle .
Mon 22 Mar 1915
Miss Rumney leaves & Robin to London & on to Sheffield for Scout thing.
Tue 23 Mar 1915
Robin returns.
Wed 24 Mar 1915
[No entry]
Thu 25 Mar 1915
Dear old Friede to stay.
Fri 26 Mar 1915
Robin to London early, looking so sweet in Khaki en route for France to see his
Regiment etc.
Thank Heavens, not to fight.
Sat 27 Mar 1915
[No entry]
Sun 28 Mar 1915
Friede and I to church.
Mon 29 Mar 1915
Friede left.
Mrs McConnell to stay over-night. She was on the "Arcadian" where R & I met
going to the West Indies in 1912.
Tue 30 Mar 1915
Mother to stay
Wed 31 Mar 1915
Sat in Q.T. House & talked ceaselessly.
April 1915
X
Transcribed by Carol Pateman
Thu 01 Apr 1915
Most interesting letter from Robin at the Front. He is enjoying it so
much in some ways amongst "men of war".
Took Peter out in his pram. He is getting more accustomed to Mother.
Fri 02 Apr 1915 [Good Friday]
To church for shortened 3 hour service.
Sat 03 Apr 1915
Letter from Robin.
Horrid wet.
Peter is delicious with Mother now.
Sun 04 Apr 1915 [Easter Day]
To church.
Mon 05 Apr 1915 [Easter Monday]
Wet.
Peter played with Mother splendidly in the afternoon.
He was a little sick in the evening.
Tue 06 Apr 1915 [Easter Tuesday]
Peter rather seedy.
Mother & I motor to see friends at Bexhill - lunch in car, & to call on Tucks and
Rider Haggands at St Leonards.
Robin returns.
Doctor Kendall to see Peter.
Wed 07 Apr 1915
Heavenly having Robin back & he has had a splendid time.
Peter seedy still, we suppose it is an internal chill.
Thu 08 Apr 1915
Mother leaves.
Robin to London for day.
Peter decidedly worse, send for Doctor, who comes late & finds P. much more
seriously ill than we thought. Getting very weak.
Fri 09 Apr 1915
Peter worse again. Doctor and we are very anxious.
Dr comes late again bringing Dr Barker.
Decide it is not meningitis as we feared. P. looks awfully ill.
Sat 10 Apr 1915
Doctor comes twice & pronounces it serious attack of gastric enteritis.
Peter looks ghastly & has wasted away to a skeleton. His deep sunken eyes
dark & tired, & he can hardly hold his own.
Sun 11 Apr 1915
Hospital nurse came last night.
Peter very bad. Signs of possible convulsions frighten us very much & he looks
ghastly poor wee thing.
He goes to sleep when I watch in evening.
Mon 12 Apr 1915
A blessed turn for the better, though he is very bad still.
He slept naturally in the night.
Tue 13 Apr 1915
Peter going on in the right direction and the relief is immense.
General Romilly (old friend of R's) who is commanding at Tonbridge Wells
called for tea.
Wed 14 Apr 1915
Peter still better & beginning to look more himself again.
Hunted for plover's eggs on the marsh.
Thu 15 Apr 1915
Peter really better, & began to chat & smile little ghosts of smiles.
Primrosed beyond Shoreham.
Fri 16 Apr 1915
Robin to London for the day for Mercers.
Primrosed.
Dr Kendall comes each day good little man.
Peter much better.
Sat 17 Apr 1915
Peter splendid and bonnie looking.
Dr Kendall comes just to make sure of Peter.
Sun 18 Apr 1915
Robin and I to church.
Taffy & Tricks lost last night when having their last evening walk - coupled
together.
Mon 19 Apr 1915
[No entry]
Tue 20 Apr 1915
Robin walked to Bodiam and found the two terriers fastened up by a farmer
there.
Morrisons to tea.
Wed 21 Apr 1915
Plover-egged on the Marsh.
Peter splendid and full of laughter.
Thu 22 Apr 1915
Robin to London.
Plover-egged and typed yards of stuff for Robin's record of his trip to the Front.
Fri 23 Apr 1915
Dr Kendall to see Peter - needn't come again to him.
Robin returns.
Sat 24 Apr 1915
The trained nurse leaves, now Peter is so well.
Motor to the Scout farm & picnic lunch en route
Sie Bower to stay.
Sun 25 Apr 1915
Wet.
Sie and I stay in and talk all day. She is sweet & loves her godson Peter.
Mon 26 Apr 1915
Nice day.
Motor with lunch to Winchelsea & out to the sea & back by Rye. Jolly.
Tue 27 Apr 1915
Sie left.
Paint the car.
Wed 28 Apr 1915
Robin leaves early for London & Southampton to speak at a recruiting meeting
there & stay at Netley with Crichtons where we went when we were engaged.
Thu 29 Apr 1915
R. motors along coast inspecting Scouts & stays one night at Grey Rigg!
Aunt Ger to stay here.
Fri 30 Apr 1915
Glorious hot summer day. Sit & chat in Q.T. House.
R sleeps at Uplyme - Devon.
May 1915
X
Transcribed by Carol Pateman
Fri 30 Apr 1915
Glorious hot summer day. Sit & chat in Q.T. House.
R sleeps at Uplyme - Devon.
Sat 01 May 1915
Ditto.
Old M.P. Grace & youngest daughter Mrs Hamilton Grace call.
Sun 02 May 1915
Wet.
Parson Morrison & his sister to lunch.
Walk later.
Mon 03 May 1915
[No entry]
Tue 04 May 1915
Aunt Ger very sweet.
Lovely warm day.
Robin comes flying home from his tour in Cornwall as he is homesick!
Wed 05 May 1915
Sit in Q.T. house and type & Robin draws. First really hot day and have to
change into thin clothes.
Thu 06 May 1915
Robin to London for work & will return late on Saturday.
Fri 07 May 1915
Very hot and lovely.
Robin can't stay away & comes back in time for tea.
Sat 08 May 1915
Aunt Gertrude leaves and Robin to Scout rally at Woodford Green (Essex).
Returns late.
Sun 09 May 1915
[No entry]
Mon 10 May 1915
[No entry]
Tue 11 May 1915
Take charge of Peter for the afternoon. He is dear bright little chap.
Paint the Q.T. house. Very hot.
Wed 12 May 1915
Mr & Mrs Kennan (Scout Secretary) Mr Maching & a Scout friend and the two
Morrissons to tea to talk over Scout local matters.
Two Ewhurst Troops of Scouts have tea on the lawn also.
Thu 13 May 1915
Robin to London escorted by Peter (Nurse & bag & baggage) who goes to
Mother at Lilliput for some weeks change after his illness & whilst I am "busy"
here!
Fri 14 May 1915
Robin addresses Bedford College on Girl Guide aims & methods.
Sat 15 May 1915
Robin returns.
Sun 16 May 1915
[No entry]
Mon 17 May 1915
Walk - R. shoots black cat we have stalked for weeks - & which has likewise
stalked our chicks, pigeons & ducks.
Tue 18 May 1915
[No entry]
Wed 19 May 1915
Winifred Gordon to stay.
Thu 20 May 1915
Robin to London for work.
Fri 21 May 1915
Sit and bask in Q.T. House. W.G. quite an invalid and very nice.
Sat 22 May 1915
Bask.
Lovely day
Robin comes back by road in a lovely nice Standard two seater car - on trial -
but decide to keep it.
Sun 23 May 1915
He is second hand but "as good as new" - having been done up now & only
built last year. £190. - -
Mon 24 May 1915
Bask & groan over awful railway accident near Carlisle on Sat. Enormous & sad
list of casualties.
R. takes W.G. to see Dexter (Northiam) in little car "Jimmy".
Tue 25 May 1915
Jimmy drives round to house on the lawn. It is a jolly toy.
In our big car to picnic on Silver Hill.
W.G. left.
Wash the big car thoroughly!
Wed 26 May 1915
Morrisons to tea.
Nurse Bennett comes ready for emergencies!
Paint Q.T. house
Thu 27 May 1915
Robin to London
Very windy.
The Rhodos in the garden are ablaze.
Fri 28 May 1915
Robin to fish with brother-in-law Bob Davidson near Brockenhurst & to sleep
and to see Peter at Lilliput.
Lots of ships blown up - awful.
Sat 29 May 1915
Robin returns.
Put my house in order.
The new baby should arrive soon!
Sun 30 May 1915
Type letters with Robin & stroll about.
Rather cold again.
Drive in "Jimmie" round by Longwood & Lordine.
Mon 31 May 1915
Lovely day.
Wash "Jimmie" & R. drives him about the garden!
Walk down by the "Home Covert" and "do about" all day.
June 1915
X
Transcribed by Carol Pateman
[Unusually, entries 1st June to 21st June 1915 inclusive are written in pencil and
not fountain pen. All other entries in fountain pen unless otherwise stated]
Tue 01 Jun 1915
Heather born at ten minutes to nine -
Church Bells rung for Heather.
Wed 02 Jun 1915
Both flourishing
Robin fishes near Rye all day with old Daws
[Birth announcement undated unattributed press cutting affixed to diary :- ]
"The wife of Lieutenant-General Sir Robert
gave birth to a daughter on Tues-
day at their home, Ewhurst Place, Ewhurst,
Sussex."
Thu 03 Jun 1915
Heather rather squawky but strong and healthy.
All so peaceful and pleasant lying in bed with lovely sun streaming in - able to
read the paper. But oh! the awful war and these hundreds of splendid lives
being lost.
Fri 04 Jun 1915
Robin to London on his way to Manchester
Heather quieter and very greedy
Lots of congrats from various sources
Sat 05 Jun 1915
Extremely well & able to write this.
Heather goes out for her first walk in the garden.
Dr came
Sun 06 Jun 1915
Robin returns.
Dr came
Read "Children of the Dead End".
Enthralling book by the navvy author
Mon 07 Jun 1915
Dr came
Tue 08 Jun 1915
Miss Nugent to do Robin's work.
Dr came
One pencil letter to Mother allowed by nice Nurse
Wed 09 Jun 1915
Dr came at tea time.
Air ship flew over the house. Appeared over Hawkhurst & came straight for my
window.
Thu 10 Jun 1915
Heather does yell - but is a dear little thing.
Fri 11 Jun 1915
Robin to London for a few hours
Dr Kendal came
Heather is going to be fair and a B-P to look at.
Sat 12 Jun 1915
Robin to London again for G.G. display in the evening.
Write two letters
Sun 13 Jun 1915
Expected R home in the evening. He arrived at 1 having been driven to Grig to
see Peter without my knowing.
['Grig' possibly shorthand for 'Grey Rigg']
Mon 14 Jun 1915
Dr Barlow at Parkstone says Peter has rickets & must have very careful
management with massage for some months.
Pencil letter or two.
Tue 15 Jun 1915
Miss Nugent for a few hours to do letter for Robin.
Wed 16 Jun 1915
Allowed to have my typewriter on the bed for a little work and to step from
one bed to the other!
Thu 17 Jun 1915
Robin to London for Girl Guides meeting. The re-organising is getting under
weigh.
Dr came
Fri 18 Jun 1915
Robin returns at tea time
Lie doggo
Sat 19 Jun 1915
Robin to London after lunch to inspect Scouts Defence Corps in the Park
Returns late.
Sun 20 Jun 1915
Up!
Sit out quite a lot & type.
Nice & slim & able to get into original clothes!
Aeroplane flew over high & fast.
Mon 21 Jun 1915
Up and walk about upstairs.
Heather growing quite jolly & has quite a face.
Tue 22 Jun 1915 [pencil]
Up and type a lot of letters for Robin out in the Q.T. House.
Lie there all afternoon. Delicious
[change to fountain pen]
Photograph Heather on the lawn.
She is 14 ounces 7 lbs.
Dr Kendall came.
Wed 23 Jun 1915 [pencil]
Up & do work with Robin in the morning. Lie out in Q.T. house.
Colder.
Robin to fish with old Daws in the evening near Rye.
Thu 24 Jun 1915
Robin to London for St John's Ceremony.
Cold and grey.
Fri 25 Jun 1915
[No entry]
Sat 26 Jun 1915
[No entry]
Sun 27 Jun 1915
General "Sammy" Steel and Mrs Rouson to lunch.
S.S. is commanding the 2nd Canadian Contingent that is going to the Front
quartered now at Folkstone.
Mon 28 Jun 1915
My Darling gives me First lesson in driving "Jimmie" sitting by me and holding
his breath as I make - or rather the wee car makes - squawky noises!
Tue 29 Jun 1915
Robin fishes all day with old Mr Daws near Rye.
Busy all day with typing and "doing about".
Walk to Post Office.
Wed 30 Jun 1915
Second lesson in driving Jimmie. Great fun.
Peter returns from Lilliput. Has grown a lot.
His new Nurse Dunning comes too.
July 1915
X
Transcribed by Carol Pateman
[entries in fountain pen unless otherwise stated]
Thu 01 Jul 1915
Robin to London (via Haywards Heath in Jimmie)
Nurse Bennett goes. She has been very nice.
Peter adorable and the lawn becomes a crèche. It is too funny having two fat
babes
[continued across Friday page]
sleeping in prams in the sun. Peter likes Heather and tries hard to talk.
Fri 02 Jul 1915
Robin inspects Scouts at Ardingly & motors himself on to Brighton.
Agnes (B-P.) to stay.
Sat 03 Jul 1915 [entry in pencil]
Robin returns.
Drive Jimmy from Prawls
Sun 04 Jul 1915 [entry in pencil]
To church.
Morrisons to lunch.
Drive Jimmie to Bodiam - all 3 of us to see the dear old Castle.
Mon 05 Jul 1915 [entry originally in pencil and inked over]
Agnes left. Take peter in Jimmie round by Staplecross Drive back
[direct entry in ink] and now feel safe!
Tue 06 Jul 1915 [entry on pencil]
To Battle to register Heather
Drove Jimmie all the way home. Great fun, as we took Peter with us and he
loved it & shrieked with laughter.
Wed 07 Jul 1915 [entry originally in pencil and inked over]
Mrs Benson comes for the day, & is photographed with our children!
[direct entry in ink] She is helping R. a lot over the Guides.
[entry originally in pencil and inked over] Drove Jimmy & quite safe now [direct
entry in ink] I think though I don't know how a car works inside!
Thu 08 Jul 1915 [entry in pencil]
Mealing & Davies (Scout man) to lunch.
Robin to London
Drove him to Robertsbridge in Jimmie & back by my lone.
Fri 09 Jul 1915 [entry in pencil]
Took Nurse and Peter for drive round by Whatlington & Sedlescombe. I do like
driving Jimmie. Ran him to Robertsbridge too.
Robin returns.
Sat 10 Jul 1915 [entry originally in pencil and inked over]
Take Robin & Peter for a drive in Jimmie by Bodiam & Sandhurst.
Sun 11 Jul 1915 [entry originally in pencil and inked over]
Hear big guns booming all day
Where? on the coast?
Drive in Jimmie with Robin and Peter. He loves it & is getting [direct entry in
ink] bigger and more sensible now & not such a baby.
Mon 12 Jul 1915 [entry in pencil]
Very busy getting things ready.
Drive Robin & Peter to Hawkhurst.
Cousin Jamie Powell comes to baptise little Heather (stop at the Rectory) Dear
Aunt Con Smythe and Mrs Maconnell to stay. They are the two Godmothers.
Tue 13 Jul 1915 [entry in pencil]
Vast preparations all morning. Miss Nugent to stay to act as my A.D.C.!
Mealing& Rw.-Davies to lunch
Scout band from Licenced Victuallers school by motor bus.
The Christening of Heather at 3.15 & garden party afterwards Howling success.
Glorious day. About 300 scouts lined road to church & did
[continues across Wednesday page]
Display & help clear the lawn afterwards
24 girls came from Roedean & waited on guests for tea were quite [nipping?]
Mother came with Uncle Arthur who stood proxy for brother Arthur as
Heathers Godfather.
________________________________________________________________
[Press cutting affixed to diary 13 July, source not known:
"The infant daughter of Lieutenant-Gen. Sir Robert Baden-Powell was
christened at St James' Parish Church. Ewhurst, n Tuesday afternoon. The
ceremony was performed by the Rev James Powell, cousin of Sir Robert,
assisted by the Rev A Morrison, Rector of Ewhurst. The child, who was born on
the 1st June, was named Heather Grace. The sponsors were Lady Smythe (aunt),
Mrs Maconnell, and Captain Soames, Lady Baden-Powell's brother." ]
Wed 14 Jul 1915 [entry in pencil]
House party left in rain and cold
[rest of sentence unreadable] etc.
Thu 15 Jul 1915
To London
Shop. Lunch with Hilda & Warington.
To benefit Matinee for Canadian Red X. at Queens Theatre.
R. spoke & gave chocolate boxes to Canadian ex-Scouts in the contingent,
At Home at Jenkins' (the publishers) office of booksellers. Me the only lady!
Interesting
Fri 16 Jul 1915
Stayed St Ermins Hotel.
Mr Everett to breakfast
Meet Peter & take him to be inspected by Sir Thomas Barlow. Favourable
report.
To pick up R. at Mercers Hall & see Baden who is off again to the Front
tomorrow.
Motor to Walton on Thames, nominally for R. to be "filmed" but too wet. Stick
in a ford - most comic.
[continues across Saturday page]
Look over a house for Girl Guides farm & back to London & Ewhurst.
________________________________________________________________
Sat 17 Jul 1915
In Jimmy to Wadhurst & Professor Findlay comes to see over the Farm. To
Tunbridge Wells to see old Miss Faithfull about giving the house we saw
yesterday.
Mother comes to stay. What luck it was that we
[continues across Sunday page]
Chose our lucky 13th for the Christening & party! The only fine good day in the
week.
Drive Mother and Peter in Jimmie.
Robin inspects local Volunteer Reserve force at Staplecross
Sun 18 Jul 1915
[no entry]
Mon 19 Jul 1915
Drive with Mother, Peter and Robin in Jimmie to Northiam. R. walks home
from there & Mother & I run around about.
Tue 20 Jul 1915
Mother left in her car.
Robin and I took Peter for a drive in Jimmie to Hawkhurst.
Eric Walker (our Secretary) is a Prisoner at Mainz.
Wed 21 Jul 1915
Robin left early.
Took Peter with his nurse for a drive in Jimmie.
Old Friede to stay.
Thu 22 Jul 1915
Wet all day.
Court, our soldier chauffer who has been at the Front ever since the war
began, came for a night. Has been on leave after being slightly wounded. Dear
fellow.
Scouts to see him, & Morrisons & their two girl friends to dinner.
Fri 23 Jul 1915
Ran Court into Robertsbridge in Jamie.
Took Friede for drive with Peter round by Staplecross & Brede. It does him
good to motor & he loves it.
Sat 24 Jul 1915
Took Friede to the Police Station at Battle to report her being here; as an "alien
enemy" she has to. Nice little Mrs Mather (from near Manchester) over from
Crowborough with her wee son of two to tea. Peter very interested.
Friede left.
Sun 25 Jul 1915
Take Peter for a drive in Jimmie
Robin is having an interesting time at Calais etc seeing Y.M.C.A. huts.
Mon 26 Jul 1915
Very busy. Take Miss Morrison in Jimmie up to Staplecross & in afternoon
again her & her two girl friends and Peter round by Hawkhurst, Hurst Green,
Roberstbridge. Tea at the Rectory.
Tue 27 Jul 1915
Take Peter for a drive.
Take Jimmie to be looked at by Jasson.
Robin returns - pleased over all he did and saw - but it is blessed to have him
home again.
Wed 28 Jul 1915
St James' Day Fete in the Rectory Garden.
Rained - but tea went off well. We helped.
Thu 29 Jul 1915
Start in Jimmie on our five weeks tour.
Via Horsham, Godalming, Farnham, Basingstoke to Essart near Newbury. Stay
with C. C. Branch's.
Lovely run & Jimmie went well.
Both drove.
Fri 30 Jul 1915
Berkshire
Robin fishes with our host in the Test.
Drive [Maguire?] Branch in Jimmie.
Fetch Miss Maxwell-Lyte to stay.
Pretend to her to be a lady chauffer!
Charming house & view here - & M.B. & her 3 boy babes are sweet.
Sat 31 Jul 1915
Via Wantage Faringdon, Lechlade Stow to Middlehill the Flower's place near
Broadway & see Herbert (the school master of West Downs, Winchester) in
camp with 30 boys as scouts there. Call on Flowers & Rite. On to Stratford &
stay at the Hill with Archie Flowers
To "The Taming of the Shrew".
[continues across Sunday page]
See F. R. Benson after the awful performance.
August 1915
X
Transcribed by Carol Pateman
Sun 01 Aug 1915
On via Evesham. Scout inspection in the town. Then to Pershore - ditto &
Scout service in Abbey. Thence to Worcester. Lunch with Scout officials.
Inspection of Scouts by Shine Hall. Jimmie ribs a bit! Then on via Bewdley,
Much Wenlock, Ware to stay at [Bryon Eston?] near [Wrestham?].
Mon 02 Aug 1915
Aunt Julie sweet. Noël staying & rather jumpy.
Robin has fever.
Scout rally near [Wrestham?], & lunch with Arthur Evans! Cornwallis Wests
there, awful old things!
Poured with rain.
Tue 03 Aug 1915
Wales
Robin better.
On in Jimmie via Llangollen, Curwen & over huge lovely hills, dropping down
through Festiniog [Ffestiniog] to stay at Wern near Portmadoc [Porthmadog]
with Dick Graves! Lovely man. R fished on the way & we had lovely picnics.
Wed 04 Aug 1915
Dick G is brother of Aunt Con. Smyth and a dear.
Scout rally on the lawn at Wern.
Lunch party.
Scour rally at Pwhelli [Pwllheli].
I drive Jimmie there with a Miss Jones, jolly Sir Henry & Lady Cunninghams
staying.
Thu 05 Aug 1915
Wales
Robin fishes. Dick G & I lunch with his sister Hilda at her jolly wee house near.
After Dick takes me down & all over his slate mine near Festiniogg [Ffestiniog].
Most interesting.
When running in Jimmie near Basingstoke, stopped and spoke to a Scout.
Robin said "I'm a Boy Scout too". "No Sir. Scoutmaster Sir" he replied.
Fri 06 Aug 1915
Motor - piloted by Dick who is Commissioner - & see Scouts at Carnarvon
(parade in Y.M.C.A. hut [crossed out word]) also at Conway of about 70 Scouts.
Picnic lunch, and on to Colwyn Bay Scout Rally & Full day. Horrid crowd.
Staying night with Hon. Mrs [Berdrich?] at Coed Coch near Abergele. Nice
daughter
Sat 07 Aug 1915 Cheshire
On in Jimmie via Rhyll [Rhyl] - where we had punctures, through [marshy
country?] to Ledsham. Stay with Fox's at Inglewood. Rally of Birkenhead &
Wirral Girl Guides about 600 in a big tent. I nominally inspector! & we have a
delightfully friendly afternoon with them & their officers.
Sun 08 Aug 1915
Miss Royden (G.G. Commissioner) staying. Leave Jimmie at Chester & just
catch Irish Mail for Holyhead.
Cross to Dublin & am fearfully amused at my first glimpse of Irish life.
Walk about Phoenix Park & peep into old Barracks R. was in years ago there.
Sleep Shelbourne Hotel.
Mon 09 Aug 1915 Ireland
Start early in train for Recess, Connemara. Jolly place. Lakes, streams &
mountains and wildness such as we love.
Comfortable Railway Hotel.
Tue 10 Aug 1915
Robin fishes all day out of a boat on Lake Derryclare.
I loaf and read.
Jolly and lucky in weather.
Walk back.
Wed 11 Aug 1915
Ditto.
Thu 12 Aug 1915
Ditto.
Fri 13 Aug 1915 Dublin
Hurry back to Dublin. Shop & the Shelbourne Hotel.
Then to stay with Lord Meath in [Kebundling*]. Lord [Mouch?] etc to dinner.
Lord M is sweet. His eldest son Lord [Andee?] was wounded last year and was
with Brother Arthur when he was too.
[ Transcribers note: Possibly Killruddery,Bray, home of Lord Meath, also see 15th
August entry (writing clearer).]
Sat 14 Aug 1915
Walk around lovely Bray Head.
Good Scout rally in pouring rain in Dublin.
Girl Guide rally also. Very successful.
Sun 15 Aug 1915 Ireland
To church.
To see Lord Powercourt's lovely garden. Tea party there. A Miss Bowers turns
up who came to Renishaw the day I smashed my head! In 1896!
Mr Quan Smith fetches us from Killruddery to stay at Bullock Castle, Dalkey.
Awfully funny. The place stank!
Mon 16 Aug 1915
Huge ghastly early Victorian dinner party last night.
Prayers and cutlets for breakfast. R. inspects 13th Hussar men in Dublin.
To stay with Capt. Harry Green at the Curragh. Dear little man. Nice people,
Tennis party. They have nice little lady gardener.
Tue 17 Aug 1915
Go and see H.G's stud. Great breeder of race horses. Wonderful lot. Great
cattle too.
I hate the waste of money over racing and in spite of having the horse
breeders side of the question explained I think it is rotten.
Wed 18 Aug 1915 Cork
To Cork.
Good scout display & muster in a Volunteer Hall.
Train and walk to Ballincollig and the Barracks there where Robin was
quartered. Stay Hotel.
Extraordinary feeling of revolt & hatred of the English and Ulster in the rest of
Ireland.
Thu 19 Aug 1915 Killarney
To Mallow and leave luggage there & spend the day at Killarney. Lunch at
Victoria Hotel. Row on the Lake. Very beautiful. Tea at Lake Hotel lovely view.
Slept at Station Hotel at Mallow.
Fri 20 Aug 1915 To Dublin.
Lunch at Shelbourne Hotel & entertain Col. Kennard, Major Head (5th Y G's) &
tall nice man who stammers!
To Belfast. Stay with Sir Robert & Lady Kennedy. Nice people with four
daughters. Robert Patterson (Scout Commissioner) in evidence.
Sat 21 Aug 1915 Belfast
See garden etc.
Lunch with Lord Mayor of Belfast in beautiful City Hall.
Splendid Scout rally of football ground. R. Patterson is a first rate worker.
Sleep again at Cultra Manor.
Jolly Scout campfire in woods after dinner.
Sun 22 Aug 1915
Motor with Patterson to Strabane.
Lunch with Delap (He fearsome, & she friend of Mrs [Cleurathlo?]) See Scouts
there. On to Londonderry. Scouts church parade and service. Tea with
pompous Mayor. Dragged around the Cathedral by the Dean. Dine with Mrs
Watt. Sleep Hotel in Derry.
Mon 23 Aug 1915 Londonderry
Motor to Cookstown and see Scouts there.
Village decorated in R's honour.
Lunch with Young's & party at Ballymena Scouts & beastly recruiting around
meeting. On through beautiful Antrim Glen. Tea with Lord & Lady Antrim at
Glenavon. See Scout Troup there. To Larne & sail for Scotland.
Tue 24 Aug 1915
McConnel's motor met us at Stranraer last night. Lovely crossing and lovely
peace and quiet here at Knockdolian.
Mrs Mac. is sweet.
Robin fishes.
Picnic tea by the sea.
Wed 25 Aug 1915 Ayrshire
Lunch out in the garden. Robin shoots & fishes all very jolly.
McConnel's brother. & Mrs Mac's brother Cobbold & his wife etc etc staying.
Local Scouts rally & have food in the garden.
Thu 26 Aug 1915
Robin shoots & fishes again. Jolly drive in the car.
Lunch in the garden. Tea on the shore.
Mrs Mac and her stolid husband were on the "Arcadian" in Jan. 1912 and she
saw me falling in love with Robin and vice versa!
Fri 27 Aug 1915 Castletown
Leave earliesh by train. Find dear Jimmie at Dumfries (wither he "trained" from
Chester). Run down and picnic in him at Sweetheart Abbey.
Scout rally at Dumfries. Very Good. Keen lot of workers.
Run on via Annan & Gretna to [Castlebun?], to stay with Ba Heysham
Local scouts measure up.
Sat 28 Aug 1915
Ba has gone Scouts must. George Soul, very nice Commissioner staying.
Robin fishes. Big Scout rally at Carlisle. Excellent lot. Big crowd. Ought to be
more Scouts.
Girl Guide gathering too. Sleep [Castledown?]. [Edythea Goolbrin?] jolly & Ba
sweet.
Sun 29 Aug 1915
Their Mothers wonderful and about tho' blind.
To Penrith. Received by whole town, scouts & Mayor. Welcomed with many
speeches. Picniced near Keswick. Lovely journey via Derwent Water, Thirlmere,
Grasmere etc to Windermere. Big excellent Scout rally. Big ditto tea! Row on
lake by sea Scouts. Motor to see epileptic Boys Home
Mon 30 Aug 1915
[Entry for 29th August continues across this date]
at Starnthwaite where they are training them as Scouts, with wonderful effect.
See Kendal Girl Guide en route. Sleep at Cleare House with the good
Commissioner Sladon.
In motor launch [steered?] by Sea Scouts to Lakeside. On in Jimmy via Levens
(lovely garden) Lancaster to Southport. Crowds & Mayor receive and lunch us.
Excellent scout inspection after it. On to Ormskirk &
Tue 31 Aug 1915
[Entry for 30th August continues across this date]
see Scout Headquarters there. To Parbold to see collies.
Arrive for tea at St Helens. Whacking big crowd & Mayor etc "receive" us. Oh
the dignity of "Jimmie"!! Big Scout rally - & stay with Sir David Gamble at
Windlehurst.
Tuesday.
Go over Pilkington's thrilling glass works. Most wonderful. On in
Wed 01 Sep 1915
[31st August entry continues on 1st September, page not available to
transcriber.]
September 1915
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Tue 31 Aug 1915
Jimmie via Macclesfield to Buxton. Picnic
high up near the "Cat & Fiddle". Lovely
view. Jimmie did the big hill perfectly.
Buxton Scout rally. Quite good boys.
They had a big tea given by the awful
Mrs Shaw - (wife of Commissioner)
with whom we stayed at Whitehall.
Wed 01 Sep 1915 Derbyshire
Motor to Rowsley near Haddon Hall.
Robin fishes. Jolly rest. Sleep at the
Peacock & run in Chatsworth Park.
____________________________
Thu 02 Sep 1915
Via Uttoxeter & Lichfield (where we mend punctures & see
Cathedral & Dr Johnson's home) Coleshill to
Wootton Warren. Stay with Guiness'.
Fri 03 Sep 1915
Muriel G. engaged to a cousin. Her
nice brother home from Dardanelles wounded
In Jimmy via Banbury, Buckingham
to stay with Aunt Con Smyth at
Stone. Called on [Desny's?] at Horwood.
on the way. My old "Friede" had
been their governess after she left us in 1901!
Sat 04 Sep 1915 Aylesbury
Scout rally in Hartwell Park.
Sun 05 Sep 1915 Sheffield Park
Through Maidenhead to Windsor. Picnic
in Great Park. Via Guildford Horsham etc to stay
with Maude Arthur at Sheffield Park.
Brother Arthur and Hopie there too.
A. so much better.
Mon 06 Sep 1915 Home!
Robin is paraded round the garden
all morning. Run back to Ewhurst.
Heavenly being at home again.
Tue 07 Sep 1915
Very busy settling again.
Nephews Donald & Bobbie & Maud to stay.
Wed 08 Sep 1915
Robin and I up early to London.
Shop, & R. does office.
Meet Heather (returned from
Mother at Grig)
& back to home..
Stroll out to look for
partridges after tea
& see 40 in quarter of an hour.
Thu 09 Sep 1915
Lovely day.
Shoot.
Brought home with us Robin's jolly
present to me.
"Beetle" a sweet
portable type-writer who will
be invaluable.
Fri 10 Sep 1915
Motor to Rye.
Bobbie hurt his eye - chopping wood.
Not bad.
Lunch picnic near
Rye. On to sea near Pett.
Paddle - jolly.
Tea picnic.
Sat 11 Sep 1915
Lady St Helier and her grandson
young [Allunsen?] to lunch.
Nice boy at Eton & mad on scouts
and worships R.
Sun 12 Sep 1915
Take the three Children to
Church. They are not very easy to know.
Queer manque day.
Lots of work, and plans going
ahead for my going out to work in the
Y.M.C.A. in France.
Mon 13 Sep 1915
Yards of typing.
Shoot. Two birds in the bag.
Picnic tea in the dip field.
Nice old Alan Campbells came
over from Battle to see us.
Tue 14 Sep 1915
Robin and I to London for a few hours.
Shoot. when we returned. Got
my passport for going to Calais to
work as "barmaid" in Y.M.C.A.
hut for soldiers.
Wed 15 Sep 1915
To Buckhurst Scouts Farm.
Picnic there & Lady St Helier &
her grandson join us there & we take
dear Parson Morrison, Col. Sladen there.
Baden to stay as he is home for a week
from the trenches.
Thu 16 Sep 1915
Shoot partridges
Robin runs off to London. We
all picnic near Longwood and
shoot. 2 bunnies 2 partridges & one water hen.
Donald drives Jimmy.
Fri 17 Sep 1915
All go early up to London.
Baden jolly. Goes back to Flanders
on Monday.
Take Bobbie to the zoo - and shop &
see him off to school.
Robin and I to stay at Grig.
All jolly. Mother sweet. Peter ripping.
Sat 18 Sep 1915 Lilliput
Picnic near Studland. Lovely.
Peter is so well and jolly. Says
lots of words now though no sentences.
Dad as well & nice as he can be.
Sie staying too. Quite jolly.
Sun 19 Sep 1915
Walk to Haven and go over to
see Mrs van Raalte on Brownsea. She is
jumpy.
Peter lovely and crawled about on
Robin full of fun.
Mon 20 Sep 1915
Home to Ewhurst by tea there.
Ran down to see Auriol before
leaving at Lilliput House where
she is [living?]. She didn't enjoy it -
and nor did I!
Tue 21 Sep 1915
Shoot.
Picnic lunch out below
Padgrain.
Wed 22 Sep 1915
To Battle to be
inocculated against typhoid.
Fell seedy all afternoon.
Miss Ashton (who goes to Calais with me)
to stay & discuss things.
Thu 23 Sep 1915
Miss Ashton left. Robin to
London early.
Mother does not approve of my going
to France, but as my Robin agrees &
I want to, she comes round a bit,
& will have Peter there all the time.
Fri 24 Sep 1915
Received extraordinary letter from Eric
Walker who is a prisoner at Mainz
Some odd hidden meaning in all he
says & he wants food sent to him.
Robin returned
Sat 25 Sep 1915
Work hard typing. Robin
re-writing "Scouting for Boys".
Shoot.
Lovely day.
Sun 26 Sep 1915
To church.
Mr Morrison to lunch. Work.
Major & Mrs Lang & friend Mrs
Anderson to tea. He
is Soldiering at Crowborough. Met
him at Worcester
Mon 27 Sep 1915
R. & I to London to see about my
Permit.
Shop. Call on Y.M.C.A.
Ladies Workers Committee in Bruton
Street to get instructions.
They say 3 months stay there (at Calais)
at least!
Tue 28 Sep 1915
Shoot. 3 partridges and
one of the pheasants!
Wed 29 Sep 1915
Man comes down to "film" us.
Takes scenes of us arriving in the car.
Working in the office. Going out
shooting with dogs, etc.
Dr Kendall pushes in 2nd lot of
anti-typhoid microbes.
Thu 30 Sep 1915
Robin to London.
Pay calls in Jimmie with
Mr Morrison.
Feel rather seedy.
Very cold.
October 1915
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Thu 30 Sep 1915 [not available]
Fri 01 Oct 1915
Robin returns.
Very busy putting my house in order.
Sat 02 Oct 1915
Shoot and blackberry.
1 Pheasant, one partridge.
Sun 03 Oct 1915
Lovely day.
Blackberry & work.
Mon 04 Oct 1915 = blank page
Tue 05 Oct 1915 = blank page
Wed 06 Oct 1915
To London early.
Hare round getting permit " etc and clothes with Stella Ashton.
With R. to shop.
Cinema Theatre - evening to splendid play " the Ware
Case" Gerald du Maurier etc. Perfect acting.
Thu 07 Oct 1915 France!
Robin, Stella and I
Leave Charing X. 8.30. for Folkestone.
Cross to Calais.
Met by Y.M.C.A. people & go to the
Mercers Hut. We shall live in a
comic cottage near.
Attend behind the bar in the evening.
Ripping work
Conjuror entertainment
in the evening.
Fri 08 Oct 1915 Calais
Robin staying at Hotel
comes & fetches us to see awfully interesting
ordnance & supply stores. Bakery where
50 tons of bread goes to the Front per day.
Lunch with Colonel Nicholson. He takes
R. & me to see remount
& sick horse camps.
Ripping work at the hut.
Robin comes & speaks there.
Sat 09 Oct 1915
R. slept in our cottage last night.
Shop and work most of day at the hut.
Theatrical performance in the evening.
Strenuous coffee out pouring!
The men are nice & splendid good
fellows - mostly
in the R.A.S.C. - working in Repair shops.
Sun 10 Oct 1915 Val-de-Lievres Calais
To church in "our" Hut - given by the
Mercers and to be "staffed" by Scout
men & women.
Stella's father old Burchhardt Ashton
is "the boss" and he got her and
me to come here.
To No 1 Camp Hut cinema. R. speaks &
Mr Virgo to the men.
Mon 11 Oct 1915
Our cottage is a horrible little box
of a place at the end of a row -
(with an out door "earth closet!")
But it is handy for getting to our hut
quickly, and we are making it
clean & habitable & after all use it
really chiefly only for sleeping in.
Tue 12 Oct 1915
To Y.M.C.A. H.Q. in the town.
Tea party of other workers & a sort
of concert - chiefly "in our honour"!
Robin spoke, and encouraged them
all to do their jobs as well as possible
Wed 13 Oct 1915
Robin comes from his hotel early and
we go shopping
Stella and I get bikes, and run
down to the casino Y.M.C.A tent to help tidy
up. See hospital barge unloading wounded soldiers
Thu 14 Oct 1915
Robin goes on to Boulogne to visit
more Y.M. Huts.
Bike down to the Belgian Hospital after
working at the Casino tent again.
Mrs Baxendale runs it. Sort of concert
& the poor dear sick men loved it.
Fri 15 Oct 1915
Busy at our hut until 2.0 then
to Casino tent until 5.30. Then
to Hut 1 at Camp 1. and I
take the chair for lecture by Mr Lindsy
on Burns to a small audience!
Sat 16 Oct 1915
To Casino tent to relieve Mrs Robertson. My
cold pretty bad & lost my voice
Concert in our Hut. The F.A.N.Y's
came to perform.
Sun 17 Oct 1915
Church in our Hut
To Casino tent for afternoon.
Cold rather bad
Busy evening at Our Hut, so had
no time to think about if I
Feel ill or not!
Mon 18 Oct 1915
Go round the work-shops with S.M. Jessart
Awfully interesting
These men that we serve in our hut are all here
for mending boots, uniforms, weapons
etc sent back from the Front for repairs.
Tue 19 Oct 1915
Go round the gas helmet works
Wonderful. Miss Moyan in charge of that part - Nice
woman of great experience. Run down on my bike
to number 2 Anglo Belgian hospital to
see it and tea with Mrs Alexander and
Matron, Miss Stokes...
Wed 20 Oct 1915
... who was in Brussels
and nursed Germans there. Saw Louvain
burning, and then got away to France
Shop walking in the town. Stella
and I get on very well together &
take it in turns to get up early & get
breakfast. Very amusing
for a change emptying the
bath into the street!
Thu 21 Oct 1915
(in pencil)
To the Casino tent for a few hours.
R.A.M.C. orderlies talking: "That's the
mortuary over there. Lots
of blokes pegging out
lately. They do post
mortems. The orderly has
to cut them open and
sew them up again all...
Fri 22 Oct 1915
... for 1/6 a day!
What a point of view!
Two poor fellows died
in the ambulances
on the way to the
hospital from the
hospital barge.
___________
Sat 23 Oct 1915
Mrs Alexander and Miss Stokes to
tea, and go round "the works". Most
interesting. Major
Everett takes us.
Busy evening in the hut -
and we do get some pretty strenuous
"rush hours" at times.
Sun 24 Oct 1915
Church in our Hut. We always
have lunch in our small dining
room beyond the Hut's kitchens.
on duty all afternoon.
A good many of the men rather
drunk in the evening having been
in the town. Disgusting
Mon 25 Oct 1915
First wet day.
We all chase off to the "Mairie"
offices. To get our
"Permis de Sejours"
Most amusing,
all of us straggling after each other and
being given different directions at each
place ! - so French?
Tue 26 Oct 1915
Did our hit in the morning & left
Stella to continue
I went to Casino tent and then
to small hospital
St Preire across the
canal. Sad place.
and only infectious
cases. Back late-ish.
The cottage is very comfy really.
Wed 27 Oct 1915
Busy time at our hut. It is ripping.
Bike tyre burst.
So we walked out along Dunkirk Road. Jolly pretty
day, and quite pleasant to have
a real walk almost into the country
Thu 28 Oct 1915
Wet again.
Fri 29 Oct 1915
Biked out to see Remount Camp of
800 odd houses near Pemplaique?
Big business putting up stables & looks as
if the war was to last years. Col.
Whatman showed us all
Lovely run & lovely day. Saw dear old
white cliffs of Dover.
Sat 30 Oct 1915
Very busy morning at the hut.
After to tea with the F.A.N.Y. Corps.
at their hospital.
Big Burn worry.
Our wedding day
& Peters 2nd birthday. How I wish
my two Boy Scouts were here.
Sun 31 Oct 1915
Church at the hut. Afternoon "off"
Played in the cottage at letters & things.
I am jolly glad that I came over
here to do this;
but I do wonder how long I can bear it!
Mon 01 Nov 1915
Wet.
Went into the
St Pierre Church
for a wee bit during Mass.
Write letters, and
get clothes washed" Wearing
uniform all the time does simplify
ones "dress".
November 1915
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
[Sun 31 Oct 1915 = not available]
[Mon 01 Nov 1915 = not available]
Tue 02 Nov 1915
Wet all day.
Wade to work in the hut through ankle deep mud.
Mr Poaching came & gave a splendid performance. Awfully
good. Reciting & songs
& straight clean talk.
Wed 03 Nov 1915
Our cottage is awfully cold - but
we are getting pretty tough
and busy too - and it really is funny to think that
I have a home a few miles away -
and - oh dear! - that Darling husband there too!
Thu 04 Nov 1915
Worked hard all morning
Took a few hours "leave" and Stella and I
Biked to Guines.
Awfully jolly day
and these expeditions are comic. It is a
great thing being labelled as Boy Scouts
Ventriloquist at the hut.
Fri 05 Nov 1915
Tea party at our Mercers Hut. Great success. Mr Ashton & I co-hosted!
Mrs Waggett Col. Young
Mrs Pooley Col. Enskine
Mrs Alexander Col. Nicholson
Miss Stokes " Slade Baker
Miss Franklin Maj. Everett
Miss Mordaunt " Nightingale
Miss Moyan Mr Sitters
Rev.Nailward " Moody
" Nichels " Pochin
" Parker " Feather
" Wood
" Butsa
Etc etc. 47 in all.
Sat 06 Nov 1915
Call on A. S. M. (Major Henderson)
about getting a permit to go to
meet Robin at Boulogne, as he is coming over again soon -
thank Heaven -
Sun 07 Nov 1915 Calais
Church in the hut. Padre's discourse as annoying as ever.
Mr Pochin spoke about "Brotherhoods"
as they have started one in this camp.
Mon 08 Nov 1915
Very busy morning in the hut.
Walk about Calais getting permits!
Huge mirth at the Mairie because I
explain that we had bicycles "parceque
c'est pleu vite que marcher"!
Tue 09 Nov 1915
By train to Boulogne
(Mrs Alexander & her brother Col. Going) with me)
Meet Robin on quay. Heavenly!
Motor out to Etaples
with McCowen who is running all Y.M.C.A. huts in France.
See our site where out Scout hut is going to be & where I
shall go to work soon.
Sleep Folkestone Hotel at Boulogne.
Wed 10 Nov 1915 Boulogne
Stroll about the town.
Glorious being together again. Bowen Cooke
girls come & bath!
By train to Paris arriving there late.
Stay Grand Hotel.
Boulogne is a much busier base than
Calais. Saw a lot of the dear dirty Tommies
going on leave straight from the trenches.
Miss MaClavery (Stella friend) comes to Calais.
Thu 11 Nov 1915 Paris
"Do" Paris - in lady Scoutmaster's uniform and hat!
It is a lovely grand place - We walked about enjoying it all
day - ending with a cinema show!
La Madelaine, Place de
la Concorde, Tuilenes,
Notre Dame, Pantheon
Luxembourg, Invalides
Glorious place it is.
Saw in the courtyard a
lot of captured German guns & trench mortars.
Fri 12 Nov 1915
Leave Paris 8.
Arrive Calais 3.15.
Back to work at the Mercers Hut again.
Robin speaks to the men on the Scout Movement.
Robin stays in the cottage with us. Great
fun, & so comic having been back in civilized
hotels & bath rooms again!
Sat 13 Nov 1915 Calais
Robin and I walk out from the St
Olmer Road train railhead, across to
the tram railhead on the Dunkirk Road.
Those roads to the Front have a horrible
fascination for me.
Sun 14 Nov 1915
Awful fighting going on everywhere.
The poor Serbians are having an awful time.
our Gallipoli war has gained nothing
and tremendous rows and questions going
on in the Government about the conducting
of this awful endless war.
Mon 15 Nov 1915
To work in Y.M.C.A. hut 1 in Camp 1.
Lunch at Terminus Hotel with Colonel
Nicholson - R. & I.
Awfully windy and cold. Walk round &
see big waves with Robin.
It is fun having Robin here & we four have great jokes.
Tue 16 Nov 1915
To work in Y.M.C.A. Hut One (Camp 1.)
Robin and I tram out to Guinis & have
a nice walk out
towards the forest.
Jolly day.
Mrs Wilson (dear good
worker in our hut) to
tea in the cottage, &
Miss Moyan comes also & has a bath!
Wed 17 Nov 1915
Work in the hut.
& our own work in the Rabbit Hutch
is a good deal.
Robin is heavenly & does "house work"
lighting fire & heating bath water etc. in
the mornings.
All to Cinema of good war pictures in the
[Rena?] Royale.
Thu 18 Nov 1915
To Hut 1. At Camp 1 to help a bit.
Walk & shop with Robin in the rain
in the afternoon.
Mrs Pooley & her sister in law to tea
in the cottage.
Fri 19 Nov 1915
Robin off by train to Abbeville & will
be fetched by General Allenby's car for a
visit to the Front.
Work all morning at Hut 1 in
Camp 1. Chiefly
the bakers from the huge bakery.
Met Wilfred Wilson in the town
driving an ambulance
Sat 20 Nov 1915
Busy morning at the hut.
We all 3 tram to Guines and go for
long jolly hurried walk through the Forest.
Concert at the hut.
Sun 21 Nov 1915
Church at the hut with a new Padre.
Busy day writing in the jolly little cottage.
Mon 22 Nov 1915
Robin has gone back to England.
Foggy morning but turns into a
lovely pink & blue day.
Having had my Beloved with me
for even that short time has refreshed
me for my task here.
Tue 23 Nov 1915
Long jolly walk round by Marck and
back by the St Olmer Road.
We did 14 miles altogether on our
feet to-day.
Wed 24 Nov 1915 = blank page
Thu 25 Nov 1915
Our days are very routine-y.
But the pouring out and chatting
to the men never palls - and I am sure they
like a friendly touch to relieve
the monotony of the daily bind
Fri 26 Nov 1915
It may not appear to be of much value for
"winning the war"
But at any rate one is "serving" actively
and I am very thankful for this chance of being
of this much use for a time anyway.
Sat 27 Nov 1915
Frightfully cold.
But working hard I don't
seem to notice it.
Sun 28 Nov 1915
To church in the hut.
Awfully cold.
50 French Scouts to tea in the hut.
(Scoutmaster Sergent)
Jolly lot of boys. We enrolled 4 old Scouts,
as future workers.
20 ex-scouts now soldiers came also.
Mon 29 Nov 1915
Ms Stiven and Mr Hommet (A.S.C. officers) to
tea. This New Army is very quaint.
Can they really be called "soldiers"!
[Tue 30 Nov 1915 = not available]
[Wed 01 Dec 1915 = not available]
[Thu 02 Dec 1915 = not available]
December 1915
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
[Tue 30 Nov 1915 = not available. In France]
Wed 01 Dec 1915 = not available
Thu 02 Dec 1915 = not available
Fri 03 Dec 1915 = not available
Sat 04 Dec 1915 = not available
Sun 05 Dec 1915 = not available
Mon 06 Dec 1915 = not available
Tue 07 Dec 1915 = not available
Wed 08 Dec 1915 = not available
Thu 09 Dec 1915 = not available
Fri 10 Dec 1915 = not available
Sat 11 Dec 1915 = not available
Sun 12 Dec 1915 = not available
Mon 13 Dec 1915 = not available
Tue 14 Dec 1915 = not available
Wed 15 Dec 1915 = not available
Thu 16 Dec 1915 = not available
Fri 17 Dec 1915 = not available
Sat 18 Dec 1915 = not available
Sun 19 Dec 1915 = not available
Mon 20 Dec 1915 = not available
Tue 21 Dec 1915 = not available
Wed 22 Dec 1915
Robin comes from England to
Boulogne. Stella & I walk by
Canal & feel sorry to be going away.
Lost my voice with a cold. Great
rehearsals for Xmas performances
Thu 23 Dec 1915
Shop & go to station
twice hoping to meet
Robin - He comes
by car for a few
minutes with Miss
Dewar (my lady
Scoutmaster successor
here for work)
Fri 24 Dec 1915
Do A.P.M. & Y.M.C.A. office
about leaving Calais. Miss Dewar
comes. Nice girl.
Very good concert at the hut.
Our cottage pretty full with us four
2 cats & a dog!
Sat 25 Dec 1915
Very busy day.
Church in hut.
Great rehearsals.
A.O.C. have their dinner.
The staff of the hut
gives a concert.
Huge success & great fun.
I thank & make speech & play fiddle.
Sun 26 Dec 1915
Church in the morning.
Farewell lunch at
the hut for us
& dear old Wilson
Great Scout tea party French scouts
Belgian Scouts, ex-scouts & I
enroll 14 future scout workers.
Mon 27 Dec 1915
Leave Calais early
Mrs Pooley drives us to Etaples.
Stay at Y.M.C.A Hotel at Le
Touquet. Robin much better from
his few days holiday here.
Tue 28 Dec 1915
Walk to Paris Plage
and also up to
see how our new
Scout hut is getting on.
Workmen still in it.
Wed 29 Dec 1915
Jolly walk in the woods. Very
pretty & jolly sand dunes. Go to
look at the P. & O. wreck on the
beach - The Socotra
stranded a few weeks ago. Go to
hut. Not ready yet.
Thu 30 Dec 1915
Shop. Walk & do letters.
Rather nice few days' holiday
at this charming place - but
want to get started at hut
work again.
Fri 31 Dec 1915
Do a little preparing of hut.
Tea at Duchess of Westminster's Hospital
yesterday.
Great dinner party
of soldiers - many old friends of Robin's
Mad games & dancing on a woolly carpet!
ADENDA
Cash Account
for 1915
- - - - - - - - - -
At end of Nov. new
allowance paid in.
so started then with
£412. 12. 3. in bank.
During December spent
£89. 6. 5. which
leaves £323. 5. 10
in bank to last until
May 30th when new lot
comes in.
ADENDA
Cheques paid for
January expenses
- - - - - - - - - -
Wages 11. 1. 8.
Grocer 10.17. 10.
Dairy 5. 17. 1.
Butcher 10. 17. 10
Fishmonger 2. 0. 0
Laundry 5. 5. 10
Baker 1 7 7
House 9. 10. 5.
" " Extra 5. 10. 7.
Self 8. 8. 6.
" Extra 7.19.4.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Total 78. 16. 8
ADENDA
February
Wages 11. 1. 8
Grocer 8.19. 9.
Dairy 4. 15. 10
Butcher 6. - . 11
Fish 3. 2. -
Laundry 4. 14. 1
Baker 2. 15. 10
House necessaries 27. 4. 3
" Extra 10.6.8
Self 6. 15. 0
Total 85. 16. 0
ADENDA
March
House - 52.17. 6.
Extra 4.10. 0.
Self 9. 9. 2
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Total - 66: 16: 8.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
£. 91. 16. 6. Left to
last until 30th May
as I have spent
320 : 15 : 9. Out of
last allowance paid in
30th Nov. of 412. 12 . 3.
ADENDA
April
House - 59.14.8
Self 5.11. 0.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Total 65. 5. 8.
___________________
May.
House 19. 9. 10
Self 2. 17. 8
Extra 8. 4. 4
_________
30. 11. 10
(Robin paid books.)
ADENDA
June
Extra - 5. 11. 3
Self. - 4. 2. 7
House - 56.11. 4.
___________________
Total - 66. 5. 2.
July
Self. - 5. 0. 11
House - 68.14. 1
Extra. - 16. 18. 9
___________________
Total - 90.13. 9
ADENDA
August.
House expenses - 26. 19. 5.
Self 4. 5. 5 .
Extra 4. 5. 6.
_________________________
Total - 35 - 10 - 4.
September
Self - 30 . 5. 11
House 53. 5. 6
Extra 3. 0. 0
______
Total - 86 - 11. 5.
ADENDA
So far I have spent
279 - 1 - 8
out of allowance of
408 - 13 - 11
in bank 30th May.
______________
That leaves me
129 - 12 - 3
to last until new
allowance comes in
on Nov. 30th 1915.
_______________
ADENDA
October
Self 11. 0 . 0
Extra 3. 15. 0
House 46. 13. 8
_____________
Total - 61 8. 8
ADENDA
November
Self 8. 17. 0
Extra 3. 10. 0
House - 49. 16. 11
________
Total 62. 3. 11
ADENDA
December
Self - 10. 0. 0.
Extra - 10. 0. 0
House - 19. 6. 11
_______
Total - 39. 6 - 11.
[Memoranda = last page blank]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Butt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Sherbrooke_Walker
Possibly a "Trade name" ? But quite a common tern; also "Q.T.Hut" Q.T. was a common term for "Quiet"
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/bodiam-castle
Gathered Primroses
Fox terriers
Hrvested
She it was who introduced her to B-P
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintinshill_rail_disaster The deaths of 226 and 246 injured make this the
biggest railway disaster to have occurred in Britain.
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/learning-and-events/first-world-war/quintinshill-disaster-22-may-
1915/#:~:text=At%206.45am%20on%20the,line%2C%20near%20Gretna%20in%20Dumfriesshire.
Rhododendrons ?
The husband of Olave's sister Auriol; a tea planter in Ceylon, but originally from near Salisbury.
Mars Ethiope Spennymoor and Tullochmoor -
https://uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/losses_year.html?date=1915-05#google_vignette
To 'lie doggo' slang for to lie still and quiet, to 'lie low'
---------------
1914 Index 1916
