1917 [Kill this page when done ]
1916 Index 1918
Olave's Diary for 1902
[ Her 28th birthday was 22 Feb ]
[There are some footnotes, marked by a number at the end of a word. The footmotes are at the end of the document.]
X
January 1917
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Mon 01 Jan 1917
We begin another year together – hand in hand, heart to heart – and in spite of this devastating war, we are so so happy.
Tue 02 Jan 1917
[ page left blank ]
Wed 03 Jan 1917
Drawn by Peter December 1917
Thu 04 Jan 1917
[ page left blank ]
Fri 05 Jan 1917
[ page left blank ]
Sat 06 Jan 1917
I have told Mother about having another baby, but have not asked her to come to stay here for the event. She has become rather estranged, and, knowing . . . .
Sun 07 Jan 1917
. . . . nothing about Guides, is quite violently “anti- Guide” which is so awkward and difficult and even absurd!
It is also pretty ironical considering what I now am!
Mon 08 Jan 1917
To London.
Speak at meeting at Lady Fripp’s (Portland Place) on G.G. They showed the G.G. films.
Stay at Windsor Hotel. St Ermins taken by Government for offices.
Tue 09 Jan 1917 London
[ page over-scribbled in pencil – probably by Peter ]
See Miss (Browning?) etc about Guides at office. Lunch Miss Nugent. To (Mercers?) Hall & meet R. & Baden. We 3 to Cinema!
Tea & discuss G.G. for 2 hours – with Mrs Low. She has done well with Girl Scout organisation in America.
Wed 10 Jan 1917
See Mrs Daldy at office. She will take Bournemouth G.G. in hand thank goodness. Shop.
Meet & talk G.G. with Miss Michol
Tea with Mrs Rock to hear about Bath Guide enquiry.
Dinner with Hilda & Warington.
R. at Cardiff.
Thu 11 Jan 1917 London
R. returns.
Home office Committee re Juvenile Crime organisation work
Lunch with Hopie1 (sister-in-law). See Guide people at office. Tea with Mrs Warren (a Sussex Guide V.P.)
Fri 12 Jan 1917
See Mrs Furniss (G.G. Oxford County Commissioner) See lots of nurses & engage with at the Boucher Agency as Nurse Anderson gave notice.
Home to Ewhurst.
Baden to stay.
Sat 13 Jan 1917
Hammond (Canadian Scout Commissioner) to stay & goes with R. to Hythe to see ex-scouts with the forces there.
Robertsbridge G.G. Committee – all is well there now.
Sun 14 Jan 1917
To Bexhill to see the babes.
Both jolly & fit though shy of Baden & Mrs Hammond
Mon 15 Jan 1917
R. to London for the day. Baden & I shoot but get & see nothing.
Muriel Missel to stay. She is going to do good work for Guides, here is Sussex & perhaps at H.Q.
Tue 16 Jan 1917
Awful day.
Indoors & did letters all day.
I seem to have developed a fever for work and have it almost as acutely as my Darling Robin!
Wed 17 Jan 1917 Wadhurst
To Wadhurst with Muriel to enrol Mrs Prior to Patrol of Guides.
She had started up this little group “on her own”
Thu 18 Jan 1917
R. to London
Fri 19 Jan 1917
Baden leaves early. Run him to Robertsbridge
Muriel leaves also.
Wash Jimminor,
Robin returns.
Sat 20 Jan 1917
To Bexhill.
Take Peter to his new nursing home.
Bring home lots of luggage from “The (Corner”?)
Sun 21 Jan 1917
Work. Wash dogs & polish cars.
Mon 22 Jan 1917
To Bexhill. Find Peter flourishing & very happy.
R. over to see “Little Mynthurst”
Came back full of it & decide to rush & see it again tomorrow.
Tue 23 Jan 1917 Little Mynthurst
Leave Bodiam early. Breakfast in Tunbridge Wells.
Delighted with Little Mynthurst & take it.
Just in time. Some people tried to do so literally an hour later!
Wed 24 Jan 1917
Little Mynthurst belongs to Miss Christabel Ellis, but we are taking it from a Mr Leonard Stains who has rented it from her.
We are taking over the remainder of his lease just from Feb. 12th for two years at £100 p.a.
Thu 25 Jan 1917 London
See Mrs Guy Baring (Division Comm. in Hants)
Vera Oakes to lunch.
See Miss Whyman ( [ hut? ] worker) G.G. Headquarters Executive meeting. Y.W.C.A. people came to discuss.
They have been (trying?) in the movement.
Alisce & I to see Lady Cunliffe (G.F.S. President) Alice, R. & I dine with Waringtons
Fri 26 Jan 1917
See Mrs Mills (new County Comm. for Middlesex) Dear Babe to lunch.
Robin, Alice & I to see the “Tanks” (on the Cinema) Awfully good. R. very seedy. Ought to go to Huddersfield, but we hurry him off to Ewhurst instead.
Baden comes too.
Sat 27 Jan 1917
[ page left blank ]
Sun 28 Jan 1917
Alice & I to church. Awfully cold.
Mon 29 Jan 1917
Morrissons to tea.
Work hard at letters with dear good Alice – and we are getting our “map” more filled with a network of Commissioners in a good many counties by degrees.
Tue 30 Jan 1917
[ page left blank ]
Wed 31 Jan 1917
[ page left blank ]
February 1917
X
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Thu 01 Feb 1917 = blank page
Fri 02 Feb 1917 = blank page (pencil ‘drawing’ by Peter?)
Sat 03 Feb 1917 = blank page
Sun 04 Feb 1917 = blank page (pencil ‘drawing’ by Peter?)
Mon 05 Feb 1917 = blank page
Tue 06 Feb 1917 = blank page
Wed 07 Feb 1917
To London.
See (hut?) worker. Lunch with Lady Monk Bretton.
See Mrs Reeve (G.G. sec for Surrey)
Home office Committee
Go to see Lady Fripp about G.G. work in London.
To nursing home (22 George Street) for my nose to be done again.
Thu 08 Feb 1917 London
Dr Dan Mackenzie did my nose – with cocaine only.
Didn’t hurt a bit at the time.
Robin up from Ewhurst – to see me – the Darling -
Felt miserable and rotten when he left.
Fri 09 Feb 1917
Very “head – y”
Miss Macdonald & Mrs Rock to see me in bed.
Miss Macdonald has been and is a marvellous secretary, but the work is getting very heavy for her.
Sat 10 Feb 1917
Very head-y indeed. Get up.
Lunch (with R.) with Lady Seely (G.G. County Comm for Notts)
Join Flo Brooke & Baden at Cannon Street.
Home to Ewhurst & bed.
Sun 11 Feb 1917
Pretty bad head & feel rotten.
Pack up things – books etc.
Mon 12 Feb 1917
Furniture vans come and take away all available stuff out of Ewhurst and take it to “Little Mynthurst” near Horley – our new home.
We hope to let it furnished until Sept. when we go there altogether – our lease here being at an end.
Tue 13 Feb 1917
Robin, Baden, Flo, Annie and I – and luggage to (match?) in the big car to “Little Mynthurst”.
Unload vans and get all settled in and beds up in time to sleep in.
Great fun – and we laugh & enjoy the delicious place so.
(Pifus/pipes?) have burst in…
Wed 14 Feb 1917 Little Mynthurst
… the (bad/load first?) lately & leakages happen.
But we settle down comfily & picnic and are a happy party.
Thu 15 Feb 1917
Robin & Baden to London from Redhill Station. There we pick up MacPhail & Mercer (servants) to see “Little Mynthurst
After lunch all start home and get back in the car to Ewhurst.
Tricky work driving in the half darkness but the car went beautifully. Tea in Tunbridge Wells.
Fri 16 Feb 1917
Robin and Baden returned.
This house looks and feels rather empty with about half our things moved to Little Mynthurst; but it will “do” for these next few months.
Sat 17 Feb 1917
Guides rehearse play at the Parish Room.
Sun 18 Feb 1917 = blank page
Mon 19 Feb 1917
Angela Shuttleworth to stay.
Concert at Ewhurst Parish room for & by the Scouts, Wolf Cubs & Guides
Great success and very funny & (primitive?). Made £4.9.6. Angela recited splendidly.
Tue 20 Feb 1917
Angela seedy in bed all day.
She lived at Brampton – where her husband was the vicar – when I was two – and before her marriage then she had been on the stage
Wed 21 Feb 1917
Robin to London
Angela better & walked to Bodiam
Thu 22 Feb 1917
Alice to stay.
Talk Guides (hard?).
She has done Guides for years up in Manchester and is so good at it – and mad keen.
Fri 23 Feb 1917
Angela left.
Miss Ross Thomson to lunch. She has taken on being G.G. County Sec for Kent.
Sat 24 Feb 1917
Alice left.
Robin returned.
Sun 25 Feb 1917
Baden and Flo to church.
Robin seedy with a bout of fever again, and a bad head-ache.
But he is so good about it – and makes light of it.
Mon 26 Feb 1917
I do wonder if Flo will accept old Baden?!
Tue 27 Feb 1917
Baden and Flo to London; practically engaged.
Robin pretty seedy
Wed 28 Feb 1917
Robin better, but not fit to go to London.
March 1917
X
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Thu 01 Mar 1917
To Bexhill. Peter out walking when we got there. So jolly. Take him out in his pram for a walk, and to call on Friede and do shopping
Fri 02 Mar 1917
Robin to London early.
I drive over in (Jimmie?) with Annie to “Little Mynthurst”, with some furniture, for a few picnic day.
Robin comes down from London to Horley station.
Oh it is fun – and we love the place already. It is so “home - y”.
Sat 03 Mar 1917 Little Mynthurst
Dig and grub and bury rubbish! People do live and leave things in a piggy state.
Such fun messing about our new wee home, & it is so fascinating; inside and out. Run to Charlwood to shop.
Pretty country round
Sun 04 Mar 1917
“Tidied up” Little Mynthurst all day & thoroughly enjoy the dear quaint little place – most attractive to look at even if just a bit awkward inside with it’s low beams and communicating rooms.
Mon 05 Mar 1917
Sent Annie back by train from Horley to Ewhurst
Robin and I ran back in Jimmie via East Grinstead, Tunbridge Wells.
Found Flo at home awaiting us. Baden comes by later train.
Tue 06 Mar 1917
All walked to Bodiam Castle.
Wed 07 Mar 1917
Bitter day.
Letters galore and washed Jimmie.
Thu 08 Mar 1917
Robin to London early. Awfully cold.
Flo & Baden more definitely engaged, with the giving of a ring!
But I am not at all sure that she care enough for him?
Fri 09 Mar 1917 = blank page
Sat 10 Mar 1917 = blank page
Sun 11 Mar 1917 = blank page
Mon 12 Mar 1917 = blank page
Tue 13 Mar 1917 = blank page
Wed 14 Mar 1917 = blank page
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Wed 21 Mar 1917 = blank page
Thu 22 Mar 1917 = blank page
Fri 23 Mar 1917 = blank page
Sat 24 Mar 1917 = blank page
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Mon 26 Mar 1917 = blank page
Tue 27 Mar 1917 = blank page
Wed 28 Mar 1917 = blank page
Thu 29 Mar 1917 = blank page
Fri 30 Mar 1917 = blank page
Sat 31 Mar 1917 = blank page
April 1917
X
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Sun 01 Apr 1917 = blank page
Mon 02 Apr 1917 = blank page
Tue 03 Apr 1917 = blank page
Wed 04 Apr 1917 = blank page
Thu 05 Apr 1917 = blank page
Fri 06 Apr 1917 = blank page
Sat 07 Apr 1917 = blank page
Sun 08 Apr 1917
Robin and Baden to Church – but I don’t want to appear in public now!
Mon 09 Apr 1917
Robin digs in the garden.
Rotten letter from Mother.
I can’t understand her strangeness and apparent turning against me.
Tue 10 Apr 1917
Robin digs a soak pit!
He loves playing about here, & he is lovely with the jolly babies.
Wed 11 Apr 1917
MacPhail leaves
Baden leaves tomorrow, and is buying a house at Sevenoaks
Thu 12 Apr 1917
Muriel & Phylis Wake (her friend) to stay to do guide letters, gradually “roping in” more useful people in different counties.
Fri 13 Apr 1917
Work hard at letters with the two girls.
Miss Baird to lunch. All Walk down to Bodiam, and round the lovely old grey walls and moat.
Sat 14 Apr 1917
Walk up to the corner on way to Lordine.
Robin fetches Bessie home from the vet.
Muriel & “P” leave.
Sun 15 Apr 1917
Walked up to Madamses with Robin, and he went on to post letters at Robertsbridge.
Played about the garden, with wheelbarrow & tidied up generally.
Mon 16 Apr 1917 [ Ewhurst Green, Robertsbridge TN32 5TB ]
Betty born at 1.40 – in a fearful hurry. Robin fetched Dr Kendall and District Nurse from Sedlescombe2.
Betty weighed 6 lbs.
Tue 17 Apr 1917
My own Nurse Bennett came.
Expected Betty next week – hence unscout-like unprepared-ness!
[Newspaper cutting of birth announcement – folded, unable to give the details]
Wed 18 Apr 1917
Betty very tiny, and does not weigh 6 lbs quite today.
Has black hair.
Peter & Heather are delighted with her! And so is my Beloved Husband!
Thu 19 Apr 1917
Robin to London.
Feel more myself again.
Nurse straps me up tight and lie very comfily all day.
Fri 20 Apr 1917
Slightest bit of a temperature but not worth mentioning really
Sat 21 Apr 1917
[Pencil note with line through – ]
Nurse Bennett
Jesmond House
Highworth
Wilts
will come for 10£ the month for new baby
Robin at Chiswick – returns in time for dinner
Sun 22 Apr 1917
Bed. Betty very good, and putting on weight and taking the bottle well.
Mon 23 Apr 1917 = blank page
Tue 24 Apr 1917
[in pencil ] David ? ! ! !
But it wasn’t after all!
We had rather hoped for a second son, but no doubt this wee thing will be a joy to us both.
Wed 25 Apr 1917 = blank page
Thu 26 Apr 1917 = blank page
Fri 27 Apr 1917 = blank page
Sat 28 Apr 1917
[at foot of page]
Robin returned, having had the usual busy time with useful work.
Sun 29 Apr 1917 = blank page
Mon 30 Apr 1917 = blank page
May 1917
X
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Tue 01 May 1917 = blank page
Wed 02 May 1917 = blank page
Thu 03 May 1917 = blank page
Fri 04 May 1917 = blank page
Sat 05 May 1917 = blank page
Sun 06 May 1917
Up and dressed and go downstairs.
Mon 07 May 1917 = blank page
Tue 08 May 1917 = blank page
Wed 09 May 1917
Paint the front gate.
Jolly and hot.
Thu 10 May 1917
Drove Nurse to Staplecross in Jimmie to register Betty.
Robin to London.
Fri 11 May 1917
Very busy all day with letters etc. Jolly & hot & had meals out on the lawn. Dr Kendall came
Robin returned
Fetched him in Jimmie from Bodiam
Sat 12 May 1917
Up after breakfast.
Guides here.
Lovely silver cup for Betty from the Guides of Sussex – each Guide & Brownie subscribed 1d.
Sun 13 May 1917
Up for breakfast.
Letters.
Wash Jimmie (car) & Bessie (dog)
Lovely and hot.
Babies picnic at the Castle.
Mon 14 May 1917
Miss Malcolm & Miss Thornburgh to talk over G.G. matters in connection with Y.W.C.A.
We can’t fathom them on their ways.
Aunt Ger arrives to be Betty’s godmother
Cousin Jamie (Purwell/Privell?) arrives to christen wee Betty.
Tue 15 May 1917
Betty Christened in Ewhurst Church at 2.15.
Quite quiet.
Dr Kendall, and Mrs Cunningham (frow Westfield who might do Guides) & her mother and the Morrisons to tea.
Wed 16 May 1917 = blank page
Thu 17 May 1917 = blank page
Fri 18 May 1917
Aunt Ger and I drive over in Jimmie to Little Mynthurst. Annie goes there by train.
Robin comes from London in the evening.
It is looking its very best with all the apple blossom…
Sat 19 May 1917
… and the fresh young greenth on the trees.
It is an adorable homey little place, with such a sweet quaint atmosphere of its own. We garden vigorously.
Lawsons come to see it with a view to renting for the summer.
Sun 20 May 1917
At Little Mynthurst.
It is so sweet & looking its best.
Left the wee Betty being loved & well looked after by good Nurse Dora Bennett.
Mon 21 May 1917
Robin and I motor home to Ewhurst. Aunt Ger goes by train with Annie.
She – as my own godmother and now Betty’s too – cares for me far more than my Mother does!
Tue 22 May 1917
The Lawsons to see Ewhurst with a view to taking it for the summer.
(Later they decided not to)
Wed 23 May 1917
Early train from Bodiam. Stop at Sevenoaks & go and see Baden in his new house (Brooklands, Riverhead)
To London. Shop.
Rosie Kerr to lunch.
G.G. Executive meeting.
Robin & I to see “Damaged Goods”
Wonderful play beautifully acted.
Thu 24 May 1917 London
To see the house for the G.G.O.T.S. & London headquarters in Bryanston Place.
Take Miss Macdonall to lunch at the Scouts Club in Victoria Street.
H.Q. Executive committee.
Alice and I run home to Ewhurst.
Fri 25 May 1917
Atkins’ to see the house, with a view to taking it, but decide later against it.
Sat 26 May 1917
Lots of G.G. letters & Alice is a dear and such a help.
Muriel Messel & Ella Sawbridge (her great friend) to stay.
Sun 27 May 1917 = blank page, but text entered on the next page]
The others to Church. Very hot.
Do heaps of G.G. work. These 3 girls are just right sort.
Capt. Garfield scribbled over & his wife (?great couple) called for tea.
Mon 28 May 1917 [ text entered on the next page ]
Muriel & Ella Sawbridge left.
Inspect about 170 Scouts at the Rectory. Ewhurst Guides here to tea. Also Mrs Faulconer, Mrs Colyer, & Mrs Clayton (the Ewhurst Guide Committee)
Tue 29 May 1917 [ text entered on the next page ]
Alice left. Took her to Robertsbridge in Jimmie.
Miss Joan Leyland3 over from Hawkhurst where she is staying at Alice Baird’s “home for inebriates”
The poor girl doesn’t drink but has ghastly nightmares & walks in her sleep always
Wed 30 May 1917 [ text entered from the previous page - no entry for this day ]
Thu 31 May 1917
Robin went back to London having had a jolly time fishing.
June 1917
X
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Fri 01 Jun 1917 [Ewhurst]
Took Aunt Ger to Robertsbridge Station.
She is a dear old thing, and cares about me quite a lot.
Robin returned
Rather seedy, having worn wet shoes & got a little chill.
Sat 02 Jun 1917
Robin quite seedy. No pain at all – but just tired, and he slept most of the day in the garden.
How blesséd it is to be able to take care of him.
Sun 03 Jun 1917 = blank page
Mon 04 Jun 1917
Mrs Jarvis (G.G. Division Comm of Hastings) drove over to lunch.
Her husband was with Robin in South Africa and the girl, Mary, is his god-daughter.
Tue 05 Jun 1917 = blank page
Wed 06 Jun 1917
Lovely and hot.
Lady Cleveland to see the house.
Thinks her friends Clarks may like to take it.
Old Friede (my German governess of years ago) to stay from Bexhill.
Thu 07 Jun 1917
Robin to London
Do Guide letters hand/hard, and it is jolly chatting over old times with Friede.
oh but how awful to be German these days.
Fri 08 Jun 1917
Robin returned.
Rather head – y, the poor Sweet.
Miss Leyland to tea
Sat 09 Jun 1917
Friede left in the afternoon.
Sun 10 Jun 1917
Robin and I to church in the morning.
Mon 11 Jun 1917
Very busy & very hot. R. still a bit head – y the Darling.
Olivia Burges (G.G. Division Com in South Glos) to stay. Nice girl
Worked at hut in France, & is a keen Scout too
Tue 12 Jun 1917
She left again but I think I have persuaded her to come in to Guides and she will help in Gloucestershire – her “home county”.
Wed 13 Jun 1917
Robin left early for London en route for Cambridge
Great German raid over London by air planes which dropped bombs.4 The train R. was going in was damaged – just as he was actually in Liverpool Street Station – on his way to get into it, and several people were killed -
He helped to keep the crowd calm & then went on and did the things prepared for him there.
Thu 14 Jun 1917
Fri 15 Jun 1917 = blank page
Sat 16 Jun 1917 London
up to London early.
Sun 17 Jun 1917 St Albans
To St Albans in time for breakfast and see Scouts at the (Drymoke?) Green’s home
(in pencil at foot of page) Back to London late.
Mon 18 Jun 1917 = blank page
Tue 19 Jun 1917
(in pencil) Morrisons to tea
Wed 20 Jun 1917 London
To London early
Shop. Lunch with Wise’s at the Oriental Club.
Do work at the office – see film on Montessori method of teaching
Opening by H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught of Boy Scout Headquarters
Thu 21 Jun 1917
(in pencil) Home to Ewhurst
Robin to Aldershot
Fri 22 Jun 1917 Tunbridge Wells
Run over in Jimmie to Tunbridge Wells taking Miss Ross Thomson (County Sec for Kent for G.G. with me. Stay at Spa Hotel and 28 Commissioners of Kent, Surrey, Sussex & London foregather for conference.
Sat 23 Jun 1917
Sessions and paper & discussions more or less all the time.
London Comms. Rosie Kerr. Florence Rock. Grace Browning Veronica Erskine old Lady Massie Blomfield and Mrs White. etc and tall Miss Anstruthe Thomson all getting on well
Robin arrives late
Sun 24 Jun 1917 Tunbridge Wells
Miss Callaway, a Head Mistress made a splendid speech and everybody getting nice and enthusiastic
Mon 25 Jun 1917 Guildford
Conference disbands
Muriel and I to Guildford
Good meeting to form Local Assoc.
Back to Betchworth by evening train where Robin meets us, having gone with Alice to Little Mynthurst
Tue 26 Jun 1917 [Little Mynthurst]
Delicious quiet restful day at Mynthurst. Do letters and go for long walk.
Heavenly little spot this is!
It is funny our having two houses on our hands for these few months.
Wed 27 Jun 1917
Walk to Leigh.
Saw an airman loop the loop beautifully. Never seen it before though of course it is an old trick now.
I wonder when we shall all be flying as a matter of course like we motor now.
Thu 28 Jun 1917 London
To London
Lunch with Lady Cadogan. See Mrs Murray Baillie (new Comm for Kirkcudbright)
Headquarters Executive meeting at 3.
Dine with Alice and her mother & sisters at Langham Hotel. Met my god-mother – Cousin Phoenie Gilstrap5 by chance in a bus!
Fri 29 Jun 1917 Abbotts Hill
Shop and do office.
Lunch with Miss Macdonald at Scouts’ Club. Return & now in the G.S. Staff!
To Hemel Hempstead and stay with Miss Baird at Abbotts Hill school. Speak to people & the girls and inspect guides.
Sat 30 Jun 1917 Woking
Back to London early. Office.
To Woking. Lunch with Mrs Foster (Commissioner there)
Inspect guides at excellent rally.
Good smart displays.
Train to Guildford.
Dine with Miss Thornleigh there & take her back to Little Mynthurst where we sleep the night quite alone.
July 1917
X
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Sun 01 Jul 1917
Take Miss Thornburgh early in Jimmie to Betchworth Station & then to Tunbridge Wells to meet R. who comes there from London. He had a good Scout Rally at Woolwich yesterday.
Home to Ewhurst and the babies.
Mon 02 Jul 1917 [Ewhurst]
Robin rather head-ache-y
Slept in the sun all the afternoon.
(Lily? ) – (the nurse-maid) has German measles in the cottage! Dr Kendall to see her.
Tue 03 Jul 1917
Agnes to stay
(in pencil) 4.29 at Bodiam
Wed 04 Jul 1917
Robin to London.
To Hawkhurst Guides display at Hensill at 3.0.
Thu 05 Jul 1917
To London. Do office work. Lunch with Muriel
Babe comes there too.
To open new G.G. Officers Training School at 3 Bryanston Place
To Birmingham & stay with Mrs Buckling our County Comm for Warwick
Fri 06 Jul 1917 Birmingham
Birmingham G.G. Commissioners’ Conference all day.
Address meeting in Queens College and quite good satisfactory day.
Robin comes from London.
Sat 07 Jul 1917
Meeting of school mistresses about G.G.
Lunch with Lord & Lady Mayoress.
Big Scout Rally – about 8000 Scouts. Jolly.
Guide Rally also
Present Scouts’ prizes.
Sun 08 Jul 1917 Malvern
Robin to London
Muriel & I to Worcester. To service in Cathedral.
Meet G.G. local officers. Lunch with Mrs James (Division Comm) To Malvern & stay in Alice Baird’s extra house.
Speak to St James’ girls. Ripping.
All so keen & jolly.
Mon 09 Jul 1917 Hereford
Visit & speak to Guides at five different schools
Lunch with D.C. Miss Judson
To Hereford. Speak to meeting at the Deanery. Dine there too and hold jolly Guide Rally
See Scouts too. Stay with Miss Hopton at Holmer Hall.
Tue 10 Jul 1917 Brecon
Miss Hopton becomes Div. Comm. for Hereford. Muriel to Gloster, & I to stay with Mrs Evans (C.C. for Brecon) near Brecon. Speak at meeting & enrol about 50 Guides.
Such a quaint party at (Ffrwdgrech ?) sister in law in her caravan etc.
Wed 11 Jul 1917
Join Muriel at Bath. Stormy meeting in evening of officers, whose trouble with their commissioners I have come to try to settle – all a very queer case calling for an “enquiry”.
Thu 12 Jul 1917 Bath
To Bristol to see a possible pensioner for a “Mercer” Charity. See Uncle Matthew Hale too at his house for a few minutes.
Meeting at Bath to form new Local Association. Rally of all Bath Guides
Great bothers though “underneath”!
Fri 13 Jul 1917
To London.
Interviews and work galore.
Lady Euston to see me (new C.C. for Northants) Robin & I to a Revue at Hippodrome
How stupid they are. Stay at Windsor Hotel.
Sat 14 Jul 1917 London
London. Do work at office
Miss Murray to lunch. Nice head of University College
To see Waringtons where Robin went to lunch, & met Hilda Rodewall etc.
R. home to Ewhurst
Rally at Streatham of S.W. London guides. Jolly nice.
Sun 15 Jul 1917
Stayed at Charring X. Hotel.
Home to Ewhurst
Babies lovely.
Picked mushrooms.
Awful heavy firing audible here, from across the Channel
Mon 16 Jul 1917 = blank page
Tue 17 Jul 1917
Run over in Jimmie to Bexhill. Lunch with Lady (Henniker?) Heaton (new Div. Comm. for Rye division in my place)
Committee meeting & good guide rally at St Bernards School
Wed 18 Jul 1917 Eastbourne
To lunch with Mrs Campbell (St Brannocks?) at Eastbourne.
Met nice interesting Dr. (blank space) there who is in charge of big convalescent camp.
Speak at meeting about girls! Clubs & then “open” one.
Speak to & inspect Guides at East Street Council School, at Queenswood and again at Ravencroft School.
To stay at Wootton near (Parkgate?) with Mrs Gwynne
Thu 19 Jul 1917 Brighton
Train on in morning to Brighton. Meet Muriel there. Lunch at St Michaels Hall School. Speak to meeting there
Run out to tea at Preston with Mrs Thomas-Stanford.
Inspect Rally of all Brighton Guides in Preston Park. To stay at Roedean & speak to 60 leaving girls on Guide matters.
Fri 20 Jul 1917
Off to Cold Harbour to stay with Muriel.
Jolly quiet & do letters. Robin comes from London
Picnic on the Forest.
Sat 21 Jul 1917
Robin had bad head. To lunch at Danehill with Harold Messel’s.
Poured with rain & then suddenly cleared in time for jolly rally of about 150 Guides of East Grinstead Division in the garden.
Sun 22 Jul 1917
Home to Ewhurst early.
Babies heavenly and the nursery feels rather full now with three!
I think Robin is a better Mother than I am and gloats over them.
Mon 23 Jul 1917 = blank page
Tue 24 Jul 1917
Robin to London for the day.
Wrote letters and bits for my book solidly from 8 a.m. to 6.15 p.m.!
Babies grand & Heather talks like anything now.
Wed 25 Jul 1917
Got two bunnies from “Grannie (Bateharp?)” in the village. Babies delighted with them and themselves christened them “Withick” and “Douglas”
Thu 26 Jul 1917 London
To London early.
Do office work.
Lunch with Lady Seely (Girl Guide C.C. for Notts) See Mrs Rock and Miss Browning etc also Lady Shackleton (new D.C. for Eastbourne)
G.G. Executive.
Home by 5.5. from Canon Street.
Fri 27 Jul 1917
Write my book! It is planned to be of use for Sussex first and others may find it useful and it will be on sale at Guide H.Q!
Robin comes home.
Rather head-y & bad
Col De Burgh to stay
Sat 28 Jul 1917
Very hot. Jolly free happy day.
Robin is too over worked though, and I wish he could ease off a bit.
He absolutely drives himself, with too much on his hands.
Over-written Monday
Sun 29 Jul 1917
Nice Maud B-P. to stay.
Over-written Tuesday
Mon 30 Jul 1917 Tunbridge Wells
Motor over in Jimmie with Maud & Miss Ross Thomson (from Hawkhurst) to speak at meeting at Tunbridge Wells re Guides.
Home late.
Tue 31 Jul 1917
Muriel to stay.
Do letters hard.
August 1917
X
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Wed 01 Aug 1917 - (not included in this set)
Thu 02 Aug 1917
Morrisons to tea.
Fri 03 Aug 1917 [Ewhurst]
Miss Nugent to stay. She is a splendid help to Robin, and takes as much as she can off his desk.
Sat 04 Aug 1917
Muriel left.
Hawkhurst and Ewhurst Guides to tea in the Parish room.
Games & races after on the road as it had rained all the morning.
Sun 05 Aug 1917
To church.
Mon 06 Aug 1917
Busy letter writing etc.
Babies lovely, and get on well together. Peter still rather frail.
Tue 07 Aug 1917
Miss Nugent left.
Made wire run for the bunnies
Babies love them, but are hardly old enough to really look after them themselves at present.
Wed 08 Aug 1917 [Ewhurst]
Pack – for Mynthurst already & letters, & Robin finishes the G.G. Handbook.
Thu 09 Aug 1917
Maud left and Robin to London early.
Fri 10 Aug 1917
To London early.
(in pencil :- See American newspaper man at Scout office at 10.30. Mrs Ackroyd (Div comm for South Bucks there at 11.)
Stella Ashton to lunch
See Times office to find a cook.
See Canadian war photos at (Goufirl?) gallery.
Dine at Euston.
By night train to Barrow
Sat 11 Aug 1917 Barrow
Breakfast at the Furness Abbey Hotel.
Meeting of ladies & form Guide Assoc. for Barrow.
Lunch at Town Hall with Mayor & nice Mayoress. Scout rally. Very good & see two companies of Guides too.
To Castletown (in pencil – by 5.5. from Barrow, arriving at Carlisle at 8.10.)
Sun 12 Aug 1917 Castletown
Stay at Castletown with dear old Ba Heysham and her wonderful old mother.
People to tea - and see Edythe Gubbins.
Evening to speak at a biggish meeting at Gretna munition factory about Guides.
Appointed Commissioners and they will make a big thing of it.
Mon 13 Aug 1917
Stay Castletown but run with Ba to shoot with Scott Elliott’s near Langholme.
Walked over the moor until tea time. Jolly day & lovely views.
This is awfully good and a real holiday for Darling Robin.
Tue 14 Aug 1917
Robin fishes
Do letters and talk with dear old Ba.
Canon Raunsley comes to stay
Quaint thing. See Guides and talk to them, and a few people to tea.
Wed 15 Aug 1917 Scotland
To Maconels – Edith – Heather’s godmother – 6.30 at Colmonell. Lose our luggage!
Hilda & Warington B-P to Ewhurst, to keep an eye on our three, and the dogs and the servants.
Betty was vaccinated last week.
Thu 16 Aug 1917
Do letters, though Beetle (my typewriter) went wrong temporarily!
Picnic on shore and walk home to Knockdolian over the hill.
Fri 17 Aug 1917
R. shoots.
Edith and I talk and talk about that momentous time in the “Arcadian” when she saw us falling in love!
Picnic on shore again. Lovely view of Ireland, Ailsa & Arran.
Sat 18 Aug 1917 Glasgow
Arrive Glasgow 10.12.
Stay with Aunt Mabel & Uncle Joe Townsend.
Lunch with Scout Commissioners etc.
Jolly Scout Rally of about 4000.
Dinner at hotel with Scout Commissioners again and attend jolly meeting of Patrol Leaders and S.M.s
Sun 19 Aug 1917 Dumbarton
By road to Auchentorlie near Dumbarton to lunch with Mrs (Ferquarson?) Buchanan. Biggish party. Scout rally after of Dumbarton Scouts & Wolf Cubs.
American sailor officers came there & were funny.
Back to Glasgow in a Police Boat up the Clyde & saw wonderful ship building yards.
Mon 20 Aug 1917
Leave Glasgow early to Machie’s at Glenisdell near Tarbert.
Lovely voyage in the boat from Wemyss Bay through the Kyles of Bute.
Perfect day.
Miss Machie (young Comm. in Ayrshire) is an old St James’ school girl.
Tue 21 Aug 1917
Robin went shooting – so good for him to have this sport that he enjoys so much.
In the car along the Loch to a ferry to fetch some people for tea.
Dr Jones & his wife & friend to dinner.
Sore throat.
Wed 22 Aug 1917
More of less wet.
It is pretty here looking onto the Loch Tarbert West.
Heard from Hilda that babies are all flourishing and have taken to her & W. very much.
Thu 23 Aug 1917
R. fishes & catches 9.
Motor in Machie’s car to Minnard. Car meets us there & carries us to stay with Nobles at Ardhinglas, near Inverary.
Beautiful drive all along edge of Loch Fyne.
Fri 24 Aug 1917 Ardhinglas
At Ardhinglas
Wet all day.
Write letters.
Robin fishes.
Such a funny house party here & all do exactly as they like
Mr & Mrs Saxton Noble George Noble (Betty’s godfather) & his daughter Veronica>
The two Saxton Noble’s daughters too who are very pretty, etc.
Sat 25 Aug 1917 Argylshire
Robin & I went fishing. He caught a 3 lb (----se?) & I landed it. Great fun.
Fished all afternoon & evening too but with no result.
Old Lady Noble is 89 and perfectly wonderful – jolly, alert and clever & up and walking about all the time.
Sun 26 Aug 1917
Write letters.
Climb up the mountains. Lovely view over Loch Fyne & saw wild deer on opposite hills.
Mrs Crawley & Miss Ainger and Sir Archibald Geitche staying here also.
Mon 27 Aug 1917
Robin fished all day and caught a fine 6 lb 2 oz salmon on very light trout rod & tackle too!
In motor boat along the Loch to Dunderawe – another of the Noble’s houses. Charming old castle done up. Lady George Campbell living there now. Walk up the Loch with Mrs Saxton.
Tue 28 Aug 1917 = blank page
Wed 29 Aug 1917 Haddington
(In pencil - Leave Arrochar 7.32
Arrive Edinburgh 12.25)
Lunch with Scout people. R. stays in Edinburgh and “does” Scouts. I go to Haddington and see 7 companies of Guides. Stay with Loelia Buchan-Hepburn (C.C. for Haddington) old St James’ girl I “got” last November.
Wed 29 Aug 1917
Back early to Edinburgh.
Lunch with Miss Trotter (Chair of Scottish H.Q.) Address meeting of ladies on Guides.
Tea with Mrs Laurie (Edinburgh C.C.) Inspect Guides at George Heriot School & address them.
Robin did too.
Staying Caledonian Hotel.
Thu 30 Aug 1917
Back early to Edinburgh. Lunch with Miss Trotter (Chair of Scottish H.Q.) Address meeting of ladies on Guides. Tea with Mrs Laurie (Edinburgh C.C.) Inspect Guides at George Herriot School & address them. Robin did too. Stay Caledonian Hotel.
Fri 31 Aug 1917 Edinburgh
Go round old part of Edinburgh with Mr (Maxtone?) Graham.
To Dundee for good Scout & Guide rally.
Dinner with Lord Provost & party.
On by train & see Guides on station platform for 2 minutes at Stonehaven. Stay with Davidsons at Balnagash near Aberdeen.
September 1917
X
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Sat 01 Sep 1917 [Scotland]
Do letters. R. does a Wolf Cub display
I lunch with G.G. Committee. Rally of Scouts & Guides in afternoon.
Tea with Guide Patrol Leaders.
Address good meeting of ladies on G.G.
Stay Balmagash
People to dinner.
Sun 02 Sep 1917 Aberdeen
Robin to stay on board H.M.S. “Orion” at Rosyth
Stay on at Balmagash.
Tea with Lady Adam Smith
Mon 03 Sep 1917 Dunfermline
By train about midday via Perth to Dunfermline
Rotten Guide Comm there gave me tea.
Bad Scout & Guide Rally.
Meeting at 5.0 at Labour exchange there and Robin spoke very well.
I spoke about G.G. too. Dine with Sir W. Robertson & late train to Perth.
Tue 04 Sep 1917 Perth
R. fishes and I. Machie (Div Com in Ayrshire) etc go on the river.
G.G. Commissioners Conference take place at Perth Station Hotel
Good meeting.
Mrs Laurie (C.C. Edinboro’)
Mrs Davidson ( “ Aberdeen)
Miss Buchan Hepburn (“ Haddington)
Mrs Murray Baillie (C.C. Kirkcudbright)
Miss Davidson (Banchory)
Miss Strain (Ayrshire)
Miss Murray (Carlisle)
Miss Hotchkiss (Scottish Sec)
Wed 05 Sep 1917
… Lady Clinton (Devonshire)
Mrs Gregory (Stonehaven)
Miss Ure (Stirling)
Mrs Young (Paisley)
etc.
Excellent sessions practically all day.
Evening spent an hour on the river & then at it again.
We reconstitute the Scottish H.W. & form new executive.
Thu 06 Sep 1917
Session in the morning. Great many comms leave.
Riley leaves Ewhurst
Had her as cook for last four years.
There has been very jolly guide spirit of keenness and happiness these days at the conference.
And all ended up well
Fri 07 Sep 1917
Speak to 400 girls at the Academy at Perth.
Scout Commissioner Conference begins at The Hydro, Dunblane.
About 50 there – quite jolly. Have private view of the Scout Cinema film.
Sat 08 Sep 1917 Dunblane
Conference sessions
I do letters.
Afternoon all to Stirling for rally of Scouts and Guides.
Major Crum had been very good Scout leader here.
Sun 09 Sep 1917
Run up to see Cadets at Victoria College.
To Cathedral service and Robin read the lessons
Lunch with Mrs Stirling at Keir Father Bernard Vaughan there.
See Glasgow Guider
8 Alfred Terrace (in pencil – Hillhead) at Glasgow in the evening.
Stay with Townsends.
Mon 10 Sep 1917 Paisley
To Paisley to see Guides in the morning. Jolly lot. Speak in afternoon to rouse interest in Guides and Scouts at a (in pencil – Meeting at Scout H.Q. of Scout Council etc at 2.15.
Leave Glasgow 4.35)
(Arran arr.?) 7.5.
Speak at meeting & then motor to Castletown
Tue 11 Sep 1917 Lancaster
Stay with dear Ba Heysham & off early to Lancaster
Meeting at Town Hall Lancaster 2.30 got up by Rachel Kay Shuttleworth.
Good affair & met commissioners – Mrs Rawsthorne & Miss Warden (Lancs)
To stay at Tolson Hall, Kendal with Miss Cropper.
Wed 12 Sep 1917 Kendal
Canon Raunsley staying here too & nice Miss Simpson who I hope will be C.C. Telephoned to (Flo?) ( in pencil – at Broad Leys Hospital Windermere)
Inspect Guides at Kendal and speak at quite enthusiastic meeting.
Thu 13 Sep 1917
(half page space)
To stay Murrays at Eden Brows Claudine and her sister Dorothy do Guides & Scouts
(in pencil – R. to London by night train from Carlisle
Sleeper ordered.
Fri 14 Sep 1917 Cumberland
Do letters & talk Scouts & Guides
To see V.A.D. hospital near Armathwaite run by Ida Kentish
Sat 15 Sep 1917
Do letters & leave Eden Brows.
Quite good big Rally of Guides at Carlisle.
Some Scouts on parade too.
George Saul (Scout Comm) dines with me at Station Hotel
(in pencil – Sleeper ordered on train for R. and O. leaving Carlisle at 12.30 (midnight))
Arrive Euston 7.15.
Sun 16 Sep 1917
Mrs Brabazon Combe to breakfast with me at Charing X Hotel to be enrolled as Guide Comm. for Battle.
Mrs Benson and Miss Macdonald came also.
Robin arrived for breakfast & we get home at last.
Find babies splendid
Lovely being home again.
Mon 17 Sep 1917 = blank page
Tue 18 Sep 1917 Ewhurst
Packing and sorting out galore as we now move away from this very dear place – but it has to happen!
Run in big car with Babies to Bexhill
Nice rooms for them to stay in c/o Miss Wheeler, 3 Elmstead Road.
Wed 19 Sep 1917
Do lots of “follow up” letters to Scotland etc.
It was a good thing making all these contacts with people who will work for developing the Guides in these different places
Thu 20 Sep 1917
Went shooting!
3 Duck
1 pheasant
5 partridges
For the last time over these fields that we have trudged over with much joy all these 4 years.
Fri 21 Sep 1917
Robin to London early.
Sat 22 Sep 1917 Hastings
Robin in London for West Ham Rally & a meeting of Workers Education Association
Run in Jimmie to see Friede in her new rooms at Bexhill and to see the dear babies too. To lunch with Mrs Jarvis and go to Hastings Rally of Guides. 8 companies on parade.
Robin home late.
Sun 23 Sep 1917
Pack all day.
In many ways we are sorry to leave here, but we could not buy this house, and so this move was inevitable.
Mon 24 Sep 1917
Van comes early & takes a consignment by road to Little Mynthurst.
Pack and sort & run round in Jimmie to say goodbye to Colyers Jacobsons, Faulkeners, etc.
Brother Arthur’s second daughter born. Diana Katherine and I am…
Tue 25 Sep 1917
… to be her godmother
I leave Ewhurst in Jimmie with Gladys (between maid) & Taffy and (Tucho?)
Horrid leaving, but daren’t be sentimental.
Arrive Little Mynthurst and…
Wed 26 Sep 1917 Little Mynthurst
… unpack and arrange house (frenzedly?), the furniture fitting in pretty well.
Bad air raid over London etc.
Thu 27 Sep 1917
Robin comes in big car with Annie, Mercer (gardner) Bessie retriever, 2 doves, and the gold fish!
Van comes also with things and pigeons, rabbits, ducks & chickens!
Fri 28 Sep 1917
Robin to London.
Unpack and arrange things, especially the Barn bedrooms ready for babies to come to from Bexhill.
Sat 29 Sep 1917
Robin ran down to St Leonards last night & brings the three babies to Mynthurst
(in pencil – arriving Three Bridges from Bexhill at 1.25.)
Bad air raid over London. Saw Star shells over in London direction & shrapnel bursting in the sky.
Sun 30 Sep 1917
Heavenly day of brilliant sunshine.
Perfect sweet place this is, even if not awfully conveniently built for us and our family!
October 1917
X
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Mon 01 Oct 1917 [Little Mynthurst ]
Nurse couldn’t stand the beams etc in the Barn house, so we swapped houses with the babies!
Really much jollier on the whole & much more convenient and, so unique having our flat…
Tue 02 Oct 1917
… across the way for sleeping in!
The babies have colds. Horrid.
They got a nasty microbe at Bexhill
So much for a change of air!
Vans came & the place is getting stuffed with things.
Wed 03 Oct 1917
More and yet more furniture arrives.
A photographer came yesterday and took the family party.
Heather yelled all the time!
But with great difficulty & patience we got it done.
Thu 04 Oct 1917
Left Little Mynthurst at 10. Saw Scout (Tilon?) at (Prethammie?) Hall. Lunch at restaurant if Press people etc.
Robin spoke but I had to go to see Mrs Josslyn at G.G. Office. Also Mrs Astor (Plymouth Commissioner) Dine with Mr Everett & Mr Elevis at Criterion
To Oxford Music Hall to see “Ola Bill”
To Manchester by night
(pencilled – 6.10 from London Road or 6.55
6.40 at ( ----ham?) 7.15)
Fri 05 Oct 1917
Stay with dear Alice Behuno at Altrincham.
Lunch in Manchester to meet 4 D.P.’s
Meeting in Town Hall. I spoke on importance of the Movement!
Good audience.
Sat 06 Oct 1917 Liverpool
(pencilled – Stay at (Holin?) Acre)
Bad cold. To Liverpool Guide Rally
See blind Scouts & Guides.
Spoke (in a hoarse whisper) to Guiders & others.
Back to Manchester & gave prizes at small Scout rally.
Voice went completely.
Sun 07 Oct 1917
Stay in bed all day.
No voice at all.
Jolly holiday!
Babies at home have colds too poor Darlings & it is hateful having to be away from them.
Mon 08 Oct 1917 Matlock
Alice and I go over to Ilkeston (Derbyshire) for Public Meeting and she does the speech as I couldn’t! All went off alright. Mrs (Millie?) Mundy, hostess at lunch.
Motor in evening to Matlock (Bath?)
Big commissioners conference begins!
85 present. Jolly.
I give small address.
Tue 09 Oct 1917
Conference all day
Miss Wakefield spoke on health & (purity?).
Very good.
All commissioners cheery & keen.
A wonderful nice lot.
Pretty strenuous talking to so many.
Wed 10 Oct 1917 Matlock
Conference sessions all day, with excellent talks on various subjects
Thu 11 Oct 1917
Conference ends & all went well and everyone went off happy!
Missed connection & so Muriel & I motored from Lichfield to Stafford. Lunch there with Lady Dartmouth & then spoke at a Meeting at Stafford Town Hall. Good results. Mrs Wardle became County Comm. for Stafford. Stay at (Patshull?) with the Dartmouths
Fri 12 Oct 1917 Wolverhampton
(in pencil - Meeting of Wolverhampton Guide Committee at 11.0 at Y.W.C.A. Rooms in Exchange Street
Leave Wolverhampton 1.11
Arrive Bilston 1.17
Meet Canon Ford & ladies of Committee at the Vicarage.
Leave Bilston 2.49
Birmingham arr 3.23
“ dep 3.52
Paddington arr 7.15
Muriel most helpful
Stay Reubens Hotel
Sat 13 Oct 1917
Office work. R. & I To Chatham. Stay with Admiral Ricardo Admiral Superintendent at the big Dockyard.
Scout Patrol Leaders Conference for R.
Mrs Ricardo took me to nice concert given for wounded soldiers at Cobham
(Lord Darnby)
Sun 14 Oct 1917 Chatham
Walk all round dockyard. Most interesting.
Fine Scout Rally
Guides there too.
Speak to them in Town Hall & Scouts collect in Empire Theatre for addresses.
Mrs Elevis there too.
Home to Little Mynthurst late.
Joyous home coming to
Mon 15 Oct 1917 = blank page
Tue 16 Oct 1917 = blank page
Wed 17 Oct 1917
Wet. Letters.
Go out shooting for a wee bit. Saw lots but got nothing.
Thu 18 Oct 1917
Robin to London.
Arrange the Barn and unpack all day.
Babies going along well, but Peter not yet at all strong and the two girls are fitter than he is!
Fri 19 Oct 1917
See Miss Stead at Guide Office
Do good deal of work
“13th Hussars comforts” meeting for women at Claridges, Mrs Symons & Mrs Twist got it up. And I did what I could to help.
Home together in time for dinner.
Sat 20 Oct 1917 = blank page
Sun 21 Oct 1917
Peter and Heather are lovely.
He is getting much more boyish now, & does such quaint things on his own account.
They always come down while we have breakfast and again at tea and Peter rolled…
Mon 22 Oct 1917
… up his sleeves “to get to work” i.e. to carry a small table about!
Mabel (new cook Annie’s sister) came, and I hope she will do
The “nursery” department doesn’t always fit in smoothly with the “kitchen” and or “house” staff!
Tue 23 Oct 1917 [Little Mynthurst]
Very busy on G.G. “Annual Report”. A wonderful production really showing grand results of work in the past year.
Oh this is an adorable place.
Wed 24 Oct 1917
Wet. Busy day “furbishing” the place.
Babies heavenly.
Peter loves the little cupboard out of the dining room called “the shop” & he sells things for 1/11 etc! not knowing a bit tho’ what it means.
Thu 25 Oct 1917 London
Mrs Maude, President of the “Mothers Union” for a talk
G.G. H.Q. Executive meeting and we get quite a lot done.
Fri 26 Oct 1917 = blank page
(Muriel to stay = scribbled over)
Sat 27 Oct 1917
Muriel to stay.
She is excellent County Secretary for Sussex and now also on H.Q. Committee
Sun 28 Oct 1917 = blank page
Mon 29 Oct 1917 = blank page
Tue 30 Oct 1917
Our wedding day – and each year makes us love each other more – though it seems to reach the top all the time, and cannot become “more”!
Wed 31 Oct 1917 = blank page
November 1917
X
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Wed 31 Oct 1917 = blank page
Thu 01 Nov 1917 [Little Mynthurst]
Robin to London.
Muriel left.
Fri 02 Nov 1917
Maud arrives Horley scribbled over, in pencil
Her address is College Hall, Byng Place, Gordon Square, W.C.1
Sat 03 Nov 1917
Maud comes to stay
She is studying doctoring at London University.
Ramble round after partridges, garden etc.
Sun 04 Nov 1917 = blank page
Mon 05 Nov 1917
Maud left early
Tue 06 Nov 1917 = blank page
Wed 07 Nov 1917 = blank page
Thu 08 Nov 1917
The Lancashire Scout Commissioner Mr Gaddum to stay
Such a good man
Fri 09 Nov 1917
Rather an upset in the “menage” & this nurse will have to go!
Write & ask good Nurse Dora Bennett, who looked after me when Heather & Betty were born, to come here for a bit.
Sat 10 Nov 1917 = blank page
Sun 11 Nov 1917 = blank page
Mon 12 Nov 1917 = blank page
Tue 13 Nov 1917 Chichester
Three Bridges dep 11.12
Horsham arr 11.31
“ dep 11.39
Chichester arr 12.36
Chichester meeting 2.30
“ dep 4.12
(Barnham?) arr 4.25
“ 4.55
(Bognor?) arr 5.6
“ meeting 5.0
Wed 14 Nov 1917 Arundel
Selsey 9.0.
Speak at High School 9.30
Arundel
Chich : 2.28. A. 2.50
Leave 4.59. H.sham 5.45
Thu 15 Nov 1917 Henfield
Meetings re Guides at Henfield and also at Horley.
Excellent audiences.
Saw Scout Troop also
Call on Mrs Wade (mother of Major Wade the ex-Scout H.Q. secretary who is now at (Salonika?)
Home with Muriel to Little Mynthurst
Fri 16 Nov 1917
Robin got a splinter from an old log in his finger but went off to Taunton though feeling seedy & has lost voice a bit
He won’t give in though or let anybody down.
Sat 17 Nov 1917
Muriel left
Alice to stay and we talk & talk & do lots of letters.
Hear Robin is quite bad, with poisoned finger and the Boles are keeping him there in bed for a day or two.
Sun 18 Nov 1917
Very anxious about Robin and feel inclined to rush down to Taunton, but have plenty to do here, so wait a while
Mon 19 Nov 1917
Alice and I swot at letters and go out a bit for walks in between
Robin is not getting better yet
Hateful business & send constant unsatisfactory wires of enquiry
Tue 20 Nov 1917
Letters and cope with “household matters”.
Wed 21 Nov 1917
Nurse Bennett comes to look after the three babes for a bit
Robin very seedy
Wish I could go bang to him but he comes to London tomorrow
Wires in late afternoon to say he can’t
Thu 22 Nov 1917 London
Robin ill
G.G. Executive
Lady Carrick, Mrs Potts & Rosie Kim to lunch in the afternoon hold the official Girl Guide Council Meeting. I took the Chair.
Alice and I to see Mrs Murray Baillie about Scottish G.G.O.T.S.
Fri 23 Nov 1917
Stayed Rubens Hotel
(in pencil) (Marton?) 11.45
Mrs Ashright at office 12.45
Miss Cropper “ 1.30
Lady Kathleen “ 2.45
Alice Baird “ 3.15
Tea with Miss Murray at hers & speak at University College.
Stay with Muriel at her brother in law Gibb’s house in (Hans?) Crescent
Sat 24 Nov 1917 Wimbledon
See Maud 11.0
Hurry down to 1.0 lunch at “Old Trees”
Wimbledon Guide Rally
(pencil) at 2.30 at
Cottenham Park Recreation ground, Cambridge Road.
& wet at St Matthews Hall, Durham Road
Hurry away back to London and catch train to Taunton to join my poor Darling.
Sun 25 Nov 1917 Taunton
Found Robin better than I expected, but he has been bad & looks rotten. He is Not in bed but in his room in dressing gown.
The Boles have been so kind.
Mon 26 Nov 1917
Fuss round my poor Darling who has had such a wretched time here alone and could kick myself for having been tied to doing those things in London and not rushing here.
Tue 27 Nov 1917 Bath
Guide bother at Bath has still gone on, ever since last Nov.
R. was to have gone there but too ill. So I went.
Miss Holland to lunch
Got her to be commissioner
Mrs Long & Mrs Wilson & Mrs Preston King to have a talk.
Meet Captains also, & settle up alright.
The two “causes of the trouble” attacked me too, threatening libel as usual!
Wed 28 Nov 1917
See more people about the row and then run back to the Boles’
They have been awfully good over my poor lamb’s finger.
He is still seedy but well enough to travel again.
Thu 29 Nov 1917
Take Robin to London. Dr Stephen Penwick sees his finger at Rubens Hotel & advises treatment in a home. So he goes to nursing home in George Street where I had my nose done. Run home to Mynthurst myself.
Fri 30 Nov 1917
Make up arears of work, house keeping, etc. See gardeners & engage one – Dennis – to come next week.
Robin had his finger cut open thoroughly again. Had gas – but the brute did not give him nearly enough & it hurt>
Poor dear; it has been so painful too.
December 1917
X
Transcribed by Sue Ardern
Sat 01 Dec 1917
To London early – I saw Robin for half an hour
Leave Paddington 9.50
Newbury arr 12.0
See Guide Exhibition
Lunch with Mrs Hawkins etc. Go to Guide Display & speak. Excellent show.
(in pencil) Newbury dep 5.7
(Theake?) 5.36
Reading 5.49
Stay with Benyons at Englefield House.
Sun 02 Dec 1917
Back to London.
Spend most of day with Robin in nursing home.
He is better, but very tired.
Warington & Hilda called there.
Mon 03 Dec 1917
(Pencil) Theake dep 8.20
Paddington 12.0
Miss Whately a G.G. office at 11.30
Ms Everett “ 12.0
Tue 04 Dec 1917
Take Robin home to Mynthurst
How little did I realise that his getting that dirty log splinter in his finger ^ Nov 16 was going to cause him all this horrid pain & give him such a rotten bad time.
Wed 05 Dec 1917 = blank page
Thu 06 Dec 1917 = blank page
Fri 07 Dec 1917 = blank page
Sat 08 Dec 1917 = blank page
Sun 09 Dec 1917
Miss Whateley, new worker at G.G. office who will be in charge of “Warrants” work to stay.
She may prove good, but she powders her nose too much for my liking!
Mon 10 Dec 1917
Miss Whateley left early.
Tue 11 Dec 1917 = blank page
Wed 12 Dec 1917
Muriel came.
Shopped in Horley.
Thu 13 Dec 1917
Arrange barn, do letters etc.
Robin really more himself again, though that poisoned finger was a far worse business than he thought.
Fri 14 Dec 1917
Robin to London
Muriel left.
Olive Nicholl to stay County Commissioner for Glamorgan. Such a Nice girl, and just the right sort and cares about Guides a lot.
Sat 15 Dec 1917
Miss Holland (new division comm. for Bath) came nominally for the day. But missed train & kept her for night. “Uncle” Elwes to stay for night.
Sun 16 Dec 1917 = blank page
Mon 17 Dec 1917 = blank page
Tue 18 Dec 1917 = blank page
Wed 19 Dec 1917
Mr Everett & I lunch at Scout Club
Princess Mary presents the Guides’ Ambulance to the War Office (Sir Francis Lloyd) in the gardens at Buckingham Palace.
Guard of Honour of Guides there & Rosie Kerr, Everett, Miss Macdonald & self
Princess very sweet but so shy!
Thu 20 Dec 1917
Stay at Rubens Hotel
To see over Munition works at Cubitt’s (Grays Inn Road)
Very interesting big thing
G.G. office for work
G.G. H.Q Committee.
Robin up for day & chaired that & Scout Committee too. Bad fog. Left London at 6.0 & rotten journey getting home at 10 owing to fog & frost
Fri 21 Dec 1917
Lots of burst water pipes & leaks, and chimneys smoke; but I love it all just the same here!
Bitterly cold.
Robin rather cheap & seedy after yesterday. That finger has pulled him down.
Sat 22 Dec 1917
Robin a bit better but the finger still hurts.
Thank goodness we are slacking off rushing work so much.
But there is always too much to do.
Sun 23 Dec 1917 = blank page
Mon 24 Dec 1917
Nurse Bennett left.
Very sorry and she has done the babies a lot of good, morally mentally & physically in her five weeks here.
Maud to stay. 12.55.
We three to tea with Sir Henry Bell at big Mynthurst.
Such a pathetic wealthy mènage!
Tue 25 Dec 1917
Robin & Maud to church at Leigh.
Gardened, and then had a “great” party in the Barn with the babies. Big log fire & Xmas tree with candles & parcels galore made it a perfect Xmas for all.
Wed 26 Dec 1917
The babies are lovely!
I was sitting writing & I heard Robin utter a noise by the fire. I asked what it was & he said he had “Picked up a log” – I asked “a hot log?”
He said “No a cold log” – and Peter chipped in with a merry chuckle “No a warm log” How he does think & reason now. [Peter was 4]
Thu 27 Dec 1917
Betty pulled herself right up in her cot and sat of her own accord firmly for the first time.
- aged 8 months ]Tidied & arranged “the cottage” and things put away in the loft.
Fri 28 Dec 1917
To stay with old Uncle Arthur Soames at Sheffield Park – his huge ugly expensive home
Maud left for Tunbridge Wells too
Sat 29 Dec 1917
New nurse for babes
Lily Stone comes to Mynthurst.
Walked over to Newick & saw 2nd cousin Rev. Clement Powell.
Robin got very tired & felt faint whilst out, but never said anything about it.
Sun 30 Dec 1917 = blank page
Mon 31 Dec 1917
Leave Sheffield Park and I go on to West Hoathly to stay with Muriel.
Robin goes home
He felt and looked very seedy & had not slept well, which is unusual for him.
Forest Row Guides came & sang Charols (sic) at Cold Harbour
Tue 01 Jan 1918
(pencil) East Grinstead dep 9.38
West Hoathly 9.49
Brighton arr 11.6
Attend Guiders Conference
(pencil) Brighton Central 3.50
Horley arr 4.50
Biked home from station
Miss Nugent to stay
Robin seemed a bit better.
Memoranda
(In pencil and lines through) :-
Speak at Mothers’ Union Annual meeting (Church House, Westminster) on June 5th 1918
Jan 18th at Croydon for Mrs Arkwright.
Jan 28th Olivia B. come to stay.
Memoranda
(In pencil and lines through) :-
Alice comes on the 21st of Jan & Olivia B. too?
Arriving 3.1. at Horley
Grace (Blair?) comes Jan 11th.
arriving Horley 3.1.
Jan 24th Lunch with (Gough Calthorpes?)
9 Stratton Street at 1.30.
Memoranda
(In pencil and lines through) :-
Thursday Feb 7th
Speak at Wycombe Abbey School.
(Miss Whitelaw)
Mrs Potts to stay Jan 8th arriving Horley 3.1
Memoranda
I do seem to have got myself fully “embroiled” in the Guides now! And hold rather too many “positions”.
Sussex C.C. and “Chief” and act as Vice Chairman too.
Memoranda
And so 1917 is over and it has been a busy year – and we have done quite a lot!
1 Had Betty.
2 Moved to Little Mynthurst
3 Matlock Conference
4 Became Chief Guide
5 Toured Scotland and visited Herts, Lancs, Cumberland, Staffs, Kent etc.
Memoranda = blank page
Memoranda
January
Self 2.2.0
Extra 3.7.0
House 26.2.10
Total 31.11.10
February
Self 5.19.1
Extra 11.19.0
House 58.14.10
Total - 76.12.11
Memoranda
March
House 34.18.0
Extra 4.11.6
Self 5.19.1
Total 45-9-7
April
Total - 38-0-11
Memoranda
May
House 47.2.0
Self 5.7.6
Extra 2.4.9
Total 54-14-3
Dividends paid into bank early in June
When all May expenses paid up leaves me (out of £382-9-0)
£334-12-2 to last until December.
Memoranda
June
House etc.
Total – 43.18.11
July
House 58.1.8
Extra 4.0.0
Self 8.12.0
Total 70.13.8
Memoranda
August
House 65.5.4
Extra 1.0.0
Self 5.18.10
Total – 72.4.2
September
Total 58-14-11
Memoranda
October
Total 47/3/2
November
Total 88/5/5
December
Total (blank)
1 Hope Soames nee Woodbine Parish, the wie of Olave’s brother Arthur.
2 Five miles South from Ewhurst.
3 Possibly b. Berwick, Q3 1895 ?
4 https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-articles/the-gotha-air-raid-on-london-13-june-1917/
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-air-raids-that-shook-britain-in-the-first-world-war
https://historicengland.org.uk/research/current/discover-and-understand/military/first-world-war-home-front/air/first-blitz/
B-P’s diary :- “Cambridge German planes flying over. Arrived Liverpool St to find my train on fire. Had just been bombed. 4 killed, 6 wounded. Rally of GG Scouts and cubs at Cambridge, -display. PL conference on Militarism and Movement. Dined Mr and Mrs Jardine, Mrs d!
5 Josephine Elizabeth Gilstrap, b. Q2 1859 in Newark; Olave’s mother’s brother’s daughter
---------------
1916 Index 1918
