Tommy's War: A First World War Diary 1913-1918
Page 14
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Thursday, 11 May
I telephoned doctor in afternoon to call and see Agnes. He is not so pleased now. I worked late tonight.
Friday, 12 May
Doctor up again. Agnes confined to bed. I’m working late again, and washed the kitchen floor when I came home.
Saturday, 13 May
Lily Ferguson here in the afternoon to see the invalid. Connolly and another rebel shot.33 The last of the leaders.
Sunday, 14 May
Rained all day. Agnes still in bed. Doctor up at 8 p.m. He says Agnes is doing fine.
Monday, 15 May
Josephine here at tea time and Nannie Gordon at night. Agnes up for a little today. Things are looking better.
Tuesday, 16 May
Very nice day. Agnes up a little more today. Mrs and Miss Clark here in the afternoon to see if we wanted to take our holiday house in Rothesay. Maybe we wanted, but we are not taking it.
Thursday, 18 May
The Summer Bill is now law. On Saturday I have to put the clock forward one hour.34
Saturday, 20 May
Nannie Gordon here in the afternoon. I cleaned the room windows and laid the carpet. We sorted up the room generally. Air raid on Kent. One of the aeroplanes shot down.
Monday, 22 May
Agnes very ill early in the morning and got worse during the day. I went for doctor at dinner time and stayed off my work. Doctor calls it lumbago, so Mrs Carmichael and I spent the afternoon boiling Agnes alive with hot fomentations.35 I went back to my work at 5.30 and worked till 9 p.m.
Tuesday, 23 May
This being the King’s birthday, I had a holiday. Spent the morning boiling Agnes. Doctor up again. Agnes worse and very fevered. She can’t eat or sleep. Went to doctor for powders. Tommy out all day. I wrote Hetty at night, asking her to nurse Agnes for a season. Fierce fighting at Verdun.
Wednesday, 24 May
This is Empire Day so I doff my hat to the good old flag. Got Agnes some more powders and went round at night for a sleeping draught. Doctor up today. Says her complaint is pyelitis (see dictionary).36 Hunted Tommy up at night and put him to bed.
Friday, 26 May
Very nice day. Doctor up today. I went round at dinner time for a bottle. Doctor told me Agnes was very ill indeed. Jean Crozier here at night. We got a letter from Hetty and James Cook intimating the death of their mother, who is an aunt of Agnes. I am asked to funeral. Military Act is now law. Everybody must be in the army except those on war work and medically unfit.
Saturday, 27 May
Doctor up in afternoon. I have to get Agnes citrate of potash.37 Her temperature down a little, but very worn out at night.
Sunday, 28 May
Doctor up. Agnes slowly improving. She has to get curds and cream for her dinner. Duncan up at night.
Monday, 29 May
Doctor up. Agnes’ temperature normal now. She has to get a switched egg. Josephine here at night.
Tuesday, 30 May
Fine day. Doctor up. Agnes to be allowed to sit up in bed.
Wednesday, 31 May
Doctor up again. Agnes to get potatoes for her dinner. Hetty Cook here at dinner time, and Lily at night. And so ends the merry month of May.
Thursday, 1 June
Agnes still very weak. May Crozier here at night. I wrote up to Bath Street and returned my calling-up notice. I’m not going to be a soldier yet. Russians held up in Armenia.
Friday, 2 June
Doctor up today, says Agnes is getting on fine. Mrs Gordon and Nannie here at night. Agnes up at night for half an hour, but was in a state of collapse by the end of said half hour. Wae’s me. Battle of Verdun something ferocious.
Saturday, 3 June
Isa here at night. Agnes a wee bit better today and was up over two hours at night. Hetty went away home at night about 10 p.m. Word today of a terrific sea battle in North Sea [Battle of Jutland]. Entire German fleet engaged, beaten and sent home with great loss. British losses (sunk) Queen Mary (battle cruiser), Indefatigable (battle cruiser), Invincible (battle cruiser), Defence (cruiser), Black Prince (cruiser), Warrior (cruiser), Tipperary (destroyer), Sparrowhawk (destroyer), Ardent (destroyer), Fortune (destroyer), Turbulent (destroyer), Nestor (destroyer), Nomad (destroyer), Shark (destroyer). Five or six thousand of our men lost.
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The greatest naval battle of the war was fought between the British Grand Fleet and the High Seas Fleet of the Imperial German Navy on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea off Denmark. The Battle of Jutland, the only full-scale clash of battleships of the war, ended inconclusively, despite the severity of the fighting and the number of ships involved. By the end, the British losses totalled three battle-cruisers, three armoured cruisers and eight destroyers, with 6,094 killed, 510 wounded and 177 captured. The German losses were one battle-cruiser, one pre-dreadnought, four light cruisers and five torpedo boats, with 2,551 killed and 507 wounded. After this conflict, the German navy restricted its operations against the British navy to submarine and mine attacks.
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Sunday, 4 June
My birthday. Agnes not so cheery today. Hetty being away, I suppose. I suppose I did my best to keep things going. Jenny and Kate Roxburgh here in the afternoon. To keep things humming, Mrs Gordon and Ella arrived about 6 p.m.38 Agnes up for an hour or so.
Monday, 5 June
Doctor up today. Nellie here at dinner time, and Josephine came tumbling after. Agnes to get eating her usual. I brought my own pet typist up at tea time to see Agnes. Agnes got up about 8 p.m., and did a little sewing to keep her hand in. She’ll be better one of these days.
Tuesday, 6 June
Agnes made the dinner today all by herself. We had no visitors today. Disaster near Orkney. British cruiser Hampshire mined and sunk, about 12 survivors. Lord Kitchener and staff on board and all drowned.
Wednesday, 7 June
Agnes up for a little today and at night. Mrs Cormack came in at night and wearied the immortal souls out of us for a brace of hours. Day of mourning in the British Empire for Lord Kitchener.
Friday, 9 June
Father here in the afternoon. He told Agnes that Donald has given up his situation. He is no longer fit.39 Duncan came at night. Agnes feeling so-so. I washed the floor and cleaned the windows.
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The sudden death of Lord Kitchener in June 1916 was a great blow to the British and other Allied forces. Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener was a respected Anglo-Irish career soldier turned politician, who was appointed Secretary of State for War shortly after hostilities began in 1914 by Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith. Despite Kitchener’s poor performance as a politician, he stayed in government because of his popularity with the public. He died on 5 June 1916 when the cruiser HMS Hampshire, which was carrying him on a diplomatic mission to Russia, struck an enemy mine west of Orkney and sank. Kitchener, his staff, and 643 of the 655 crew members drowned or died of exposure. His body was never found.
A monument to the military leader was constructed on Mainland, Orkney, near where the Hampshire went down. A panel reads: ‘This tower was raised by the people of Orkney in memory of Field Marshal Earl Kitchener of Khartoum on that corner of his country which he had served so faithfully nearest to the place where he died on duty. He and his staff perished along with the officers and nearly all the men of HMS Hampshire on 5th June, 1916.’
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Saturday, 10 June
Agnes very ill-looking when I got home. Ella Gordon here doing odd jobs.
Sunday, 11 June
Nice day. Agnes up from dinner time. Tommy has got a bad cough. German official casualties: 2,924,586 total. Killed 734,412; prisoners 146,665; missing 191,857; wounded 1,851,652.
Monday, 12 June
Agnes up all day. Isa here at night. They did some painting on a hat of Agnes’, which is a great success. Doctor up for the last time (so he says). Agnes to drink four pints of milk a day and must get a holiday. In
a weak state of mind tonight I bought Tommy a flute.
Wednesday, 14 June
Beautiful summer day. I’ll need to be getting a straw hat. Agnes out today for the first time and feeling fine. Great rejoicings.
Thursday, 15 June
Beautiful day. Got my summer straw hat today. Agnes at Queen’s Park in afternoon with Daisy and Mrs Carmichael. Mrs Cormack in at night with Tom Howard (the lodger) direct from the trenches.
Friday, 16 June
Agnes went to doctor and got a bottle to put the breath of life in her. I went to Greenlodge Terrace at night. The Elder here in my absence. Got home 11.15 p.m. Agnes very indignant.
Saturday, 17 June
Took Agnes and Tommy in car to Ruglen. We had a word with Mina Henderson and Jessie Keith. We then walked up Stonelaw Road. Saw some soldiers being reviewed. We spoke to Mr and Mrs Clark. After that we had a seat in the woods and then got train from Burnside to Mount Florida and car home. Agnes feeling fine.
Sunday, 18 June
Was at church myself today. Communion. Agnes not so chirpy today. We all went to Queen’s Park after dinner. Tommy had on his new suit.
Tuesday, 20 June
Agnes not so well. I’m getting worried again. Made a cricket bat at night for Tommy. At his request.
Wednesday, 21 June
We went to Greenlodge at night. Donald very ill again. Agnes’ back is very sore again, so I’m afraid she is in for her old trouble again. Miserable times.
Friday, 23 June
Agnes in bed till dinner time, then she got up and went to the doctor and got a new bottle. She went to bed early. I cleaned all the windows at night.
Saturday, 24 June
Very warm day. Agnes not well at all. What a life! Every fit man between 18 and 41 in Great Britain is considered to have enlisted. God save the King.
Casement (above), a former British consul, was an Irish nationalist who had tried to recruit the Germans to that cause after the start of the First World War. He was put ashore in Ireland days before the Easter Rising by a German U-boat, captured by the authorities and tried on charges of treason, sabotage and espionage against the Crown. He was found guilty, sentenced to death, and hanged at Pentonville Prison in London on 3 August 1916.
Sunday, 25 June
Agnes stayed in bed all day. I’m not feeling well now myself. Think I’ll bust up. Tommy broke his bat yesterday. Evidently he uses it as a hammer.
Thursday, 29 June
Agnes at doctor today and got another bottle. I cleaned the covers and room fire irons. Sir Roger Casement sentenced to death today for high treason.
Saturday, 1 July
At last! The big push!! British and French take the offensive. Great fighting. The Battle of the Somme started at 7.30 a.m. today.
Monday, 3 July
Nice warm day. Tommy getting abused by the young microbe next door called Alec Gray. So I spoke severely to the aforesaid young microbe surnamed Gray. His ma then abuses Agnes. I’m thinking of taking a run over to Belfast in August. The ‘push’ continues.
Wednesday, 5 July
Seeing that Agnes is a little better, I thought a little entertainment would do her no harm, so off we went to the Majestic.
Thursday, 6 July
Fine day. We have a woman today to do the washing. Agnes very tired at night. I went over to Greenlodge at night. Donald up but he is a wreck.
Monday, 10 July
Agnes went to doctor at night and got another bottle. He has given her permission to go to Prestwick for a fortnight. A super U-boat arrives in America with a little cargo.
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The Battle of the Somme, which lasted from 1 July until November 1916, was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the war. More than 1.5 million people were killed or injured in six months as the Allies tried to break through German defences in northern France. On the first day alone, Britain sustained 67,470 casualties, including 19,240 dead.
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Tuesday, 11 July
Tommy very ill, sick and vomiting. Consternation. What will it be? We gave him medicine and put him to bed. I showed Agnes how to iron at night. I did a few dozen hankies.
Wednesday, 12 July
Rained all day. Tommy a little better, but Agnes not so well. My hair is turning grey. Josephine up for a little at night. Donald is going to a home for some months to see if it will help him. Would to heaven it could cure him. U-boat shells Durham coast: one woman killed.
Thursday, 13 July
Nice warm sunny day, so on goes my hay hat again. Tommy keeping better and out all day. Ella here in afternoon arranging about Prestwick. Agnes very busy getting ready.
Friday, 14 July
Very nice day. This is Fair Friday so got away at 2 p.m. To celebrate it in a befitting manner, we all went to the Cinerama in the afternoon. The government have cancelled all holidays, so that we can get plenty of shells.40
Saturday, 15 July
Not being a munition maker, I have a holiday. Spent the forenoon helping Agnes to pack up. I also cleaned the kitchen windows. We met the Gordons in St Enoch Station. Saw Agnes, Tommy and them safely away. I shed a few tears. She is away for a fortnight. I went home and out again. Went to the Barrows and then to People’s Palace.41 Came home for tea. Walked out to Ruglen and called up at 200 Main Street.
Sunday, 16 July
I’m all on my own now. Went to Queen’s Park before breakfast. Went out for a big walk after dinner. Round by Clarkston and Giffnock.
Monday, 17 July
Got a postcard from my well-beloved. ‘All well.’ So was duly elevated. The war is costing Britain £6m a day.
Tuesday, 18 July
Very dull day and too cold. Pity the poor orphan. I think I’ll make a dinner tomorrow night. Wonder how Agnes and Wee Tommy are doing. British going ahead: 84 guns and 11,000 prisoners since the big push started, and the French have taken 12,000 Germans. Holidays postponed till after the war.
Wednesday, 19 July
Beautifully warm, sunny day. Hope Agnes is getting the same. Laid in a fresh stock of provisions, to wit loaves, cheese and cocoa. Walked out to Ruglen at night. Up Stonelaw round Blairbeth and down Mill Street. Called in at Bowling Green and saw Sam. Went up to house with him and had tea. Home 12 p.m. Saw an aeroplane. Got a letter from my dearly beloved today. I will write her anon.
Thursday, 20 July
Weather perfect. Very warm. Made unto myself at night sausages and potatoes. After that I took a walk to Maxwell Park. Saw another aeroplane tonight. German naval prisoners in Britain – 136 officers, 2,056 men. British naval prisoners in Germany – 45 officers, 364 men.
Saturday, 22 July
After my solitary dinner I went over Cathkin Braes. Had a glass of new-laid milk there. It was fine. Called in at the Gorbals Library on my way home. Got the messages and then had my tea. Got a postcard from Agnes. She is well.
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Communications
Thomas’ diary mentions only a few communication methods, and these make his world seem almost medieval when compared to today’s society. People visited each other’s houses, often to make arrangements for a later, longer visit or to invite one family to visit another. There were postcards and letters to keep in touch over greater distances, such as when people were on holiday. Christmas and New Year cards were also posted to distant friends and relatives. There were at least two mail deliveries a day, even on Christmas day, but none on Sundays. Postage was cheap – stamps were 1/2d and 1d – and deliveries were quick and often.
There was, for a few people, also the telephone. Thomas’ office was connected to the network, but the diary entries suggest that there was only one receiver and that it was the preserve of a distant department, perhaps the boss’s secretary. He writes of getting telephone messages, and only once or twice of taking or making a call himself. Messages and calls were generally restricted to family illness and death.
Perhaps more available, but less frequently used, was t
he telegram, a message dictated to a phone operator or handed in at a post office, then sent across telephone lines to an office near the recipient, printed out and hand-delivered. Payment was by the word, so messages were kept brief.
For news of the war, Thomas relied on two newspapers, The Glasgow Herald and the Bulletin. The first, a daily broadsheet published in Glasgow since 1783, provided detailed local, national and international coverage of current affairs, business and politics. The second, also produced daily in the city from 1915, was an illustrated paper that provided a more visual record of the day’s events in the United Kingdom and on the war front. Thomas often copied the headlines from these papers into his diary, or summarised the contents of news stories. Press stories concerning the war, both on the Home Front and abroad, were vetted by the official censor.