Tommy's War: A First World War Diary 1913-1918
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Wednesday, 7 July
Agnes got a letter from Girvan inviting her and Tommy down for a week.70
Thursday, 8 July
Pa here. Saw him home and went up as Donald was ill. Mrs Cormack and family here in the afternoon. Showery day.
Friday, 9 July
Dull and much colder. Agnes busy getting ready for Girvan. I made jam at night.
Saturday, 10 July
Saw Agnes and Tommy away by the 12.30 train to Girvan. Went out to Ruglen, and had tea at 200 Main Street. Took a walk out to Sam’s shop afterwards. Surrender of entire German forces in German South West Africa to General Botha.71
Sunday, 11 July
Very stormy day and cold and some showers. I went out to Ruglen by Cathcart and 100 Acre Dyke, dined with Sam, then Sam, Nellie and I went to Cathkin and then we had tea. Sam and I went up to see Donald. I got back to Morgan Street at 10.30 p.m.
Monday, 12 July
I’m missing Agnes and the wee man. Got no word from them yet, so I’ll write tonight. Kitchener and the Prime Minister visit our army in France and Belgium.
Tuesday, 13 July
I got a postcard from Agnes and was relieved in mind thereby. Went up to Andrew’s for my tea and spent the evening there.
Wednesday, 14 July
Got a postcard from Agnes. She comes home tomorrow.
Thursday, 15 July
I rose at 5 a.m., washed the floors, cleaned the range and dusted up generally. Went to St Enoch’s Station and met my well-beloved at 7.33 p.m. from Girvan. She looked well, likewise the boy, although he had a cold. Spent the rest of the evening looking at them. Cara Sposa.72
Friday, 16 July
This is Fair Friday, so I left my work at 2 p.m.73 Mr Gordon dropped up for a little in the afternoon. He is working in Polmadie this weekend.74 We all went to the pictures at night.
Saturday, 17 July
I went over to Greenlodge before dinner to see how Donald was keeping. He is still in bed, but improving. After dinner, I went over to the British Oxygen Company, where Mr Gordon is working and had a look around it. Mr Gordon says they are making poison gas for the front.75 Tommy still snuffling. Agnes got a sore head. TCL quite well.
* * *
By 1915, both the Central Powers and the Allies were producing deadly chemical weapons, regardless of their legality. From that year, they both used phosgene (known to Allied troops as ‘White Star’), which was deadlier than chlorine, and from 1917 mustard gas (known as ‘H.S.’, short for ‘Hun Stuff’). Mustard gas produces large, painful blisters on the skin and internal bleeding. Those affected take four to six weeks to die, often in great pain. By the end of the war, public opinion was against chemical weapons and most of the countries involved in the Great War signed the Geneva Protocol, which banned the use of lethal gas and bacteriological weapons, in 1925.
* * *
Sunday, 18 July
Great coal strike in Wales.76
Monday, 19 July
Our lady car conductors have now got tartan skirts.
Tuesday, 20 July
The war is costing Britain £3,000,000 a day now.
Wednesday, 21 July
Germans closing in on Warsaw. Allies steadily advancing in the Dardanelles. Russia sinks about 70 sailing boats of Turkey in the Black Sea. Welsh coal strike settled.
Thursday, 22 July
We went to Greenlodge at night. Donald keeping better, but took a bad fit at the tea table. We got home at 11.30 p.m. It is estimated that 5,000,000 men have been killed in this war so far, and 7,000,000 wounded. O tempora! O mores!77
Thursday, 29 July
Our lady conductors have now got green straw hats.
Saturday, 31 July
Very nice day. We went out to Ruglen in the afternoon. Watched them playing at bowls and then had a seat in the Overtoun Park. Agnes not keeping well, at all.
Wednesday, 4 August
This is the anniversary of the war, the devil’s birthday, so to speak.78
Friday, 6 August
Paid my house insurance today. So let it burn.
Sunday, 8 August
After dinner, just as we were going out, Nannie Gordon came in so we all went out. We went to Queen’s Park and by the River Cart to Cathcart and home by car. After tea we sat in and sang the ‘Hymns of Sankey’ and others.79 Agnes saw Nannie away about 9 p.m.
Monday, 9 August
This is Tommy’s birthday (he is four years old now) so we went to the pictures at night. We got our National Registration Papers today, one for Agnes and one for myself.80
Thursday, 12 August
Glasgow now has over 700 lady car conductors.
Sunday, 15 August
Agnes very ill all day. We went to Queen’s Park in the afternoon and on our return she collapsed, all out, dead beat, up the pole. In accordance with the law, we filled in our National Registration Papers. After that, my name will go on the ‘pink form’, after that the military will commandeer me, after that I’ll go to the front, and after that I’ll be killed I suppose. We are living in great times.
Monday, 16 August
Took the boy out for a walk at night. Fitted up a swing for Tommy. Allied fleet bombard the Smyrna Coast.
Tuesday, 17 August
Agnes in the wash-house afternoon and night. Train smash at Pollokshaws: one killed and 20 injured. German submarine bombards towns on Solway Firth. Nobody hurt.
Wednesday, 18 August
Agnes finished her washing in the forenoon, and ironed for the rest of the day, and does not feel well at night.
Thursday, 19 August
This is pay day and my wages are advanced £15 per annum. Agnes paid Dr Gardiner’s bill (9/-) today.
Monday, 23 August
The pubs start on short time today, by order of the government.81
Wednesday, 25 August
At night we went round by the Hangingshaws and home by Mount Florida. We saw a chip shop there. The woman tempted me and I fell. They were very nice to our supper at night.
Saturday, 28 August
Daisy here about 3 p.m., and we all went out for a walk. Soaking rain came on, so we took car back from Mount Florida. We sat in and had music. I bought Tommy a mouth organ (made in Germany).
Sunday, 29 August
Agnes thinks she will consult her doctor as she is not up to the mark. We went out to Sam’s. Got there at 5 p.m. and then we all went to the cemetery, where poor Lily lies sleeping, and back by the Blairbeth Road. Six German airmen attempt an air raid on Paris. Five German airmen got home again.
Monday, 30 August
Agnes made rhubarb jam today. I sorted out the pantry and put the pram past.82 Its day is evidently over (nous verrons).83
Tuesday, 31 August
Agnes and I got our Certificate of Registration to certify that we have been registered under the National Registration Act 1915. Our King and Country need us. God save the King.
Thursday, 2 September
Germany promises America to warn liners before sinking them.
Friday 3, September
Very nice day. Agnes and Tommy out at night to see opening of a new school.84 They got home at 10 p.m.
Sunday, 5 September
Allan Liner Hesperian sunk without warning in south of Ireland by German submarine.85 Crew and passengers saved.
Monday, 6 September
The Czar says ‘we will fight to a finish’.
Tuesday, 7 September
Very wet day, and close. Called in at McGavigan’s today to see if I could get Duncan a job.86
Wednesday, 8 September
Very hot day. Went into McGavigan’s today but it was NBG.87 We all took a walk to Mount Florida at night and car home again. Ellerman liner sunk by the pirates.
Thursday, 9 September
Zeppelins bombard London: 20 deaths.
Friday, 10 September
The heatwave continues. Donned my straw hat again. Agnes and Tommy in at Coopers in the afternoo
n.88 They were
speaking to the female Hendersons of Montrose Street. A spy executed today in London.
Monday, 13 September
Agnes and Tommy at Sighthill Cemetery in afternoon. Made Tommy a wooden sword. Another Zeppelin raid on east coast. No damage.
Tuesday, 14 September
I ate mackerel today for dinner. Quoth the raven: ‘Never more.’89 British casualties for a year of war: 75,957 killed, 251,059 wounded, 54,966 missing. Total 381,982.
Thursday, 16 September
Kitchener wants more men. Seems as if conscription is coming now. War is now costing £3,500,000 a day. Our army and navy
is 3,000,000 men. We have an army of 600,000 making munitions of war.
Friday, 17 September
Another German spy executed in London.
Saturday, 18 September
Dirty wet day. Took a walk out to Ruglen and gave my tailor his war bonus. Called in at 200 Main Street and had a crack90 with Uncle Willie. This is Belgian flag day.
Wednesday, 22 September
Agnes went and consulted her doctor, and got a very bad report as to her general health. She got a bottle and has to go back when it is finished.
Friday, 24 September
We sorted the bed in the room, as Hetty is coming for a few days.
Saturday, 25 September
Hetty arrived. After tea we all took the car to St George’s Cross and ‘did’ the Great Western Road.91 Agnes not looking well at all.
Sunday, 26 September
Hetty and I went out a walk before dinner out the Carmunnock Road and back by old Cathcart. After dinner we all took car to Burnside and walked up the East Kilbride Road and down the Calderwood Road, and Blue car home. Agnes seems a little better today. Great British victory in Flanders.92
Monday, 27 September
Lovely day. This is the Autumn Holiday, so I have a holiday. Went myself in the forenoon and studied the finer arts in the Art Galleries. After dinner we all took car to Killermont and home by Anniesland.93 Great Brito-French victory. 21 miles of trenches gained for a depth of about 2.5 miles. 23,000 Germans captured.94
Saturday, 2 October
Great march-out today in Glasgow of 10,000 men to encourage recruiting.
Monday, 4 October
Agnes and Mrs Carmichael at some church concert tonight. I stayed at home with Tommy. I like the wee man’s company, although I let on I don’t.
Wednesday, 6 October
Am expecting a visit from the recruiting sergeant to see why I am not serving my King and country.
Thursday, 7 October
Agnes at doctor again tonight for medical advice. She required a lot more rest.
Friday, 8 October
Pouring wet day. Agnes bought a new teapot today. Serbia invaded by Austro-German army. Greece to remain neutral.
Sunday, 10 October
Agnes very ill during night. Nerves up the pole and very hysterical. British advance about 1,000 yards in France.
Tuesday, 12 October
Put on my Sunday best and went to see Andrew and his wife at night. Bulgaria attacks Serbia. Great Britain declares war on Bulgaria.
Wednesday, 13 October
Bulgaria declares war on Serbia.
Thursday, 14 October
Smoothed the legs of the table with a file. Zeppelin raid on London last night. 56 killed and 114 injured.
Friday, 15 October
Nice summer day. The rope of the kitchen pulley broke today and nearly knocked Agnes’ head off. British Army using ‘gas’ in France. British submarine sinks two German torpedo boats in the Baltic.
Saturday, 16 October
Very foggy all day. Got a new rope and attached it to the kitchen ceiling. We all took a walk through Queen’s Park in the afternoon. British losses in the Dardanelles up to 9 October: 126,020.
Sunday, 17 October
Very nice day. Nannie Gordon here at 10.30 a.m. to let Agnes and I go to church (communion). After dinner we all took a walk by the Hangingshaws. Agnes saw Nannie away at 7.30 p.m. Allies declare a blockade on Bulgarian coast.
Wednesday, 20 October
It looks as if I’ll need to be a ‘sojer’.
Thursday, 21 October
Fine day. Agnes went over to see the doctor at night. His report gives me a little more hope. We got a note from the factor increasing the rent 2/- in the quarter. ‘Strafe’ the factor. I went over to Greenlodge myself at night. Duncan has got a job in Glasgow.
Saturday, 23 October
The King has appealed for more men.
Monday, 25 October
Tommy got new slippers today and blew his nose!!!!!!!!95
Thursday, 28 October
Not at my work today. Not very well. Very wet night. Exactly a year ago Lily died. Position very serious in Serbia. I’m afraid Greece and Roumania will join Germany.
Friday, 29 October
Total British losses to 9 October in all fields of operations: 493,294.
Saturday, 30 October
Not well at all so left my work early and crawled home to bed, and spent the rest of the day non compos mentis.
Monday, 1 November
Got a love letter from Lord Derby egging me on to enlist before they make me.96
Tuesday, 2 November
Tommy fell and knocked a hole in the back of his head today.
Wednesday, 3 November
To tone up my system and get more work out of me, Mr Baxter gave me six bottles of Vibrona.97
Sunday, 7 November
Agnes in bed nearly all day. Not well at all. Hysterical and fainting at night. Cheerful day.
Monday, 8 November
Wet day. Agnes not much better and not speaking much.
Tuesday, 9 November
Italians capture an Austrian mountain.
Friday, 12 November
Prime Minister says: ‘Single men first.’98
Monday, 15 November
Sore complaints from Tommy. Is it fever????
Tuesday, 16 November
Tommy in bed all day. Is it the measles???
Wednesday, 17 November
Tommy still in bed. Think it is the cold.
Thursday, 18 November
Hospital ship sunk in the Channel, also boat that went to the rescue. About 80 lives lost. A German mine did the trick.99 Serbia in grave peril. Greece going to play the dirty game.100 Strafe Greece!!
Thursday, 25 November
Recruiting sergeant up at night to assist me in making up my mind. I did not go away with him.
Saturday, 27 November
Went to Ruglen for a bath. Four German guns arrived at the Square today. Captured from the Huns.101
The British Army show off captured German field guns.
Wednesday, 1 December
Serbia practically wiped off the map now. Allies too late again.
Thursday, 2 December
Men took our whirlygig away today. Allies get shoved back in the Balkans.
Sunday, 5 December
About 5 p.m. a nice little girl came up to see us. Hetty Cook by name, a cousin of Agnes. About 6.30 Donald, Josephine and Duncan came in and about 9 p.m. James Crichton came in. He is from France, direct from the trenches.
Tuesday, 7 December
Saw a lady car driver today.
Thursday, 9 December
Heavy snow at night. Could resist no longer. Joined the army today. Group 39 under Lord Derby’s scheme. Tremendous rush of recruits. Was kept waiting three hours. Was sworn in and got my day’s pay – 2/9. God save the King.
Friday, 10 December
Rained all day. Went up to Bath Street to see if I could get my khaki armlet, but they were sold out, so to speak. How are the folk to know I’ve answered my country’s call?