Tuesday, 15 May
Cold dull day. A woman in today to do the ceiling.42 I did some more painting at night. Agnes cleaned the kitchen clock and broke its blinking door!!!!
Wednesday, 16 May
Painted some more tonight. Russia offered peace by Germany. Great Italian offensive launched. Great German efforts to regain Bullecourt from the British.
43
Thursday, 17 May
Finished the painting in the kitchen tonight. Nellie here at tea time and away shortly after. Hetty Cook here tonight. I saw her away in car. Not so many merchant boats sunk this week. Italians capture over 3,000 Austrians. American destroyers arrive in British waters.
Friday, 18 May
Dull, cold, wet and windy. Working late tonight. Duncan in when I got home. America’s first contingent arrives in Britain. A medical unit. British complete masters of Bullecourt now.
Saturday, 19 May
Did some repainting in the kitchen on some unsatisfactory work. Took a walk over Cathkin at night. British transport Cameronia (Anchor Line) sunk by U-boat in Mediterranean. 140 lives lost. Naval fight in the Adriatic. 14 British drifters sunk. HM Dartmouth and HM Bristol with Italian and French destroyers chase Austrians away.
Sunday, 20 May
Took a walk down to the docks to see if we had any ships left. We have.
Monday, 21 May
We both got up early. Agnes whitewashed the bathroom and I superintended. Dogfight in the Channel. French and German destroyers. Nobody hurt.
Tuesday, 22 May
This is a holiday. Victoria Day. So I painted the scullery. After dinner we all went to the Cinerama. Made a start with painting bathroom at night. Japanese destroyers assisting to keep the peace in the Mediterranean.
Wednesday, 23 May
Beautiful summer day, so off goes my overcoat and on with my Sunday suit. Working late at night. Finished painting bathroom when I came home. Tommy got new trousers. In order to gain a new lease of life Agnes started taking Sanatogen.44
Friday, 25 May
Working late tonight. Agnes finished out the scullery today. Great Italian victory: 10,000 prisoners. 10 batteries of British artillery assist.
Saturday, 26 May
Terrific hot day. Some little showers. We all went to Pollok Estate in the afternoon to get sunburnt. Nellie here re Agnes’ costume. I painted inside the press door tonight. Biggest air raid yet on England by German aeroplanes: 95 killed, about 200 injured, three raiders shot down. Another Italian victory, 3,500 prisoners.
Sunday, 27 May
In the forenoon Tommy and I went out by Govan and saw the ‘packet of Woodbines’, in other words a Russian cruiser Askold which has an unusual number of lums, to wit five.45 It has seen some fighting in the Dardanelles Campaign. We crossed ferry over to Partick and re-crossed at Finnieston, admired all the boats and got car home at the Toll.46 Tommy tired but happy. Caught three mice in bunker today. Agnes put up the bed hangings at night.
Monday, 28 May
Exceptionally warm. Working late. Thunder and lightning and heavy rain on my way home. Had to see Mrs Dunn and her boy on the car after I got home. Caught another mouse in bunker this morning. Italians have now captured 22,000 Austrians. Ten years ago today I took office boy (Andrew) out in a boat on Burnside. He is now leaving shortly for the front.
Wednesday, 30 May
Another mouse committed suicide this morning. Put green paint on mantelpiece at night, and some plaster in the room grate. I’m a very handy man to have in the house. No getting Tommy in these light nights. Italians captured on Italian front since 14 May: 23,681 men, 36 guns, 148 machine guns and 27 trench mortars. Hospital ship Dover Castle sunk by U-boat. Armed liner Hilary (Booth Line) sunk in North Sea. British destroyer sunk by collision. Help.
Friday, 1 June
Fine day but very windy. Cleaned kitchen windows tonight. Varnished the mantel and painted the book case. Russian war workers are going to strike.
Saturday, 2 June
Did some artistic work on the kitchen wall, started to put the black line around.47 After tea I took a walk to Ruglen. Agnes and Tommy went into the town. Lull on the Western Front. British army preparing for another spring.
Monday, 4 June
Rained solid all day long. Have started to come home at dinner time in a motor.48 It’s the goods.49 Gave my bookcase its final coat of paint. Complained to the factor about our lum, and the man came over and gave it a dose of oil (not castor). This being my birthday, Agnes made a dumpling in celebration thereof. Sir Douglas Haig launches new offensive on Souchez River. Desperate fighting.
* * *
Transport
Transport in Glasgow in the early years of the twentieth century was dominated by the Glasgow Corporation Tramways Department, set up by the local authority in 1872. By 1914 it had 200 miles of track and 500 double-decker carriages, carrying 430 million passengers a year over a network stretching from Dalmuir in the west to Uddingston in the east, and from Bishopbriggs in the north to Rouken Glen in the south. The tracks went beyond the city boundary, to the suburbs where the middle classes lived and to the green places where people of all classes took their leisure. The longest journey, from Paisley to Uddingston, cost 7d for 14 miles.
The first tramway line was a 2.5 mile route from St George’s Cross, north-west of the city centre, to Eglinton Toll on the south side of the River Clyde. This route was leased by the Glasgow Corporation to the Glasgow Tramway and Omnibus Company, a private concern, for 22 years. By the end of its lease, the company had extended the network to many parts of the city, on tracks laid down by the corporation. On the north side of the river, the routes reached Maryhill, Kelvinside, Whiteinch and Springburn; on the south, Mount Florida, Pollokshaws and Paisley Road Toll, which marked the boundary with the burgh of Govan. In 1893, when trams were still horse-drawn, the company owned 300 trams and more than 3,000 horses.
In 1894 the corporation became the first British municipality to own and operate its own public transport system and the tramway network was soon extended to the various suburban towns and burghs that became part of the growing city in the years around 1900. By the turn of the century the corporation had electrified the system, putting the horses out to grass and allowing citizens to travel in faster and better-lit cars. By 1910 Glasgow trams were familiar sights as far north as Killermont and Bishopbriggs and as far east as Uddingston, Baillieston and Cambuslang.
The trams could not stray from the rails embedded in the street or the power lines suspended above, which were carried by crosswires secured to the walls of buildings with diamond-shaped brackets called rosettes. These can still be seen on some buildings on Glasgow’s main roads, more than 40 years after the demise of the trams. The tram took its power from these lines through a spring-loaded trolley pole fixed to its roof. Because there were no turning circles at the termini, trams had a driver’s platform at each end. Seats on the lower floor faced inwards, while those on the upper deck faced forward in the direction of travel. At the end of each journey, the conductor flipped the pivoted seat backs so the seats again faced forward. The conductor also, by means of a long rope, disengaged the trolley pole and re-engaged it facing the rear.
The trams were painted in jaunty colours: bright orange, the colour of the Tramways Department, on the lower level, and one of five colours (red, blue, green, yellow or white) on the top. These colours were intended to help passengers identify which cars were approaching. While there were far more than five tram routes, care was taken that no tram routes sharing the same colours ran along the same street. The destination boards at the front and sometimes also along the sides of the tram also proclaimed the service number and route. In 1914, the manager of the tramways was James Dalrymple, whose name was on the side of each car. It was a standing joke that he was better known than the Lord Provost or any other civic dignitary.
The cars offered cheap, clean and reliable transport from home to work, church, sport or leisure. For Tho
mas or Agnes ‘taking a run’ into town or to see a relative cost just a few pennies. Fares were calculated by the number of ‘fare stages’ passed through, but in 1914 the typical fares would have been ½d for 1 mile, 1d for 2½ miles, 1½ d for 3½ miles, 2d for 4½ miles, 2½d for 5¾ miles and 3d for 7 miles.
James Willock, writing in 1922, saw many benefits of the tramway system:
This far-flung system of municipal transport, to which the Subway has been added this year by purchase from a private company, has a distinct social value. It efficiently and conveniently links up the suburbs and the open country beyond with the city. The facilities it provides for getting about are constant invitations for the citizens to leave the overcrowded centre and live outwith the city. The trams will undoubtedly help to solve the problem of overcrowding in the congested areas of Glasgow.50
As well as the tram ‘cars’, there were also the ‘motors’, the Subway and the suburban train system. The motors, or motor buses, first made an appearance in 1914, operated by a number of private companies. They all ran services from George Square in the city centre, radiating out to the populous suburbs and sometimes to the countryside beyond: one of the first services went as far as Cumbernauld, 14 miles to the north-west of Glasgow. The motors shared the roads with trams, a handful of private cars and many horse-drawn lorries, vans and carts, all easily keeping within the 20mph speed limit. The motors ran on petrol, but a number were converted to use coal gas during the First World War, when imports of fuel were scarce. The gas was carried in a bag slung on the roof of the bus, which caused Thomas to note that they looked like Zeppelins.
Buchanan Street viewed from Argyle Street.
The Glasgow District Subway opened to the public on 14 December 1896, under the ownership of the Glasgow District Subway Company. The system, which is the third-oldest subway system in the world after the London Underground and the Budapest Metro, had 15 stations linked by 6.5 miles of twin tunnels, each 11 feet in diameter and ranging in depth from 115 feet (below Glasgow Street in Hillhead) to 7 feet (between Kinning Park and Cessnock stations). Transport buffs are keen to point out that it is the only public transport system that runs on rails 4 feet apart, 8.5 inches narrower than the standard railway gauge. The rather limited route, from the city centre to the west end, Govan, the south side and back to the centre, reflected the spread of the city’s population at the time, and changing patterns of work and housing left some stations without a hinterland. By 1918 the system was carrying almost 21 million passengers, but was not making the profits its owners expected. The Glasgow Corporation took over the system in 1922, and the Glasgow District Subway became part of the Glasgow Corporation Tramways Department.
The suburban train system ran from the four main termini in central Glasgow: Queen Street Station (opened in 1842), Buchanan Street Station (1849), St Enoch’s Station (1876) and Central Station (1879), each operated by a different railway company and with no connecting services. Thomas mentions ‘seeing off’ his various visitors from Queen Street Station or Glasgow Cross Station. The former, owned by the North British Railway, ran trains to Edinburgh and Aberdeen, while the latter stood on the line owned by the Glasgow Central Railway (part of the Caledonian Railway) that ran from Maryhill Central in the north-west of the city to Newton in Lanarkshire to the east of the city.
* * *
Wednesday, 6 June
Blowy, bleak sort of day. Agnes and Tommy in town when I came home, Tommy getting a new pair of shoes at 10/6, which I paid for the last pair of boots for myself. Went to Queen’s Park at night. Saw Mr Carmichael in his garden plot and came down the road with him accompanied by Agnes and Mrs Carmichael, who had appeared on the scene. Big aeroplane raid on the Thames. 16 lives lost. Germans lose 10 machines.
Thursday, 7 June
Spring cleaning the room tonight. Another British offensive started in the west on a nine-mile front near Ypres. American warships arrive in France.
Friday, 8 June
Cleaned room windows at night. Duncan arrived at night to cheer me up. Great British victory in the new offensive. Biggest mine exploded in the world’s history by us (about 600 tons). 6,000 Huns captured. United States commander arrives in London.
British ammunition wagons moving up to the front along the Ypres-Menin road.
Sunday, 10 June
Very warm, sunny day. Was in Queen’s Park before breakfast. Put on my straw hat today. After dinner took Tommy out a walk to Maxwell Park. British have now captured 7,000 Germans in the big victory. On this day in 1910, Agnes and I got married.
Monday, 11 June
Very nice day, chilly at night. After tea Agnes went out to Ruglen to see Nellie re her costume. I took Tommy out later and took her home.
Tuesday, 12 June
Very hot day. A thunder plump at night and a few fireworks. Agnes and Tommy in town in the forenoon. Agnes got ribbon for her hat. British armed fishing boat fights five German seaplanes and destroys two of them.
Wednesday, 13 June
May here at night trimming le chapeau of Agnes. Great air raid on London by German aeroplanes. 110 killed and hundreds injured. Greek king abdicates.
Thursday, 14 June
Cleaned every window in the house tonight. Agnes and Tommy out at Ruglen. Agnes getting a fit-on.51 They got home 9 p.m. Zeppelin shot down in North Sea by our navy. Big explosion in munition factory at Ashbourne (England). 50 killed.
Saturday, 16 June
Weather perfection. Stopped today for my holidays. In the afternoon took Agnes and Tommy to town. Agnes bought a new hat and I a new cap. Nellie here at night with Agnes’ new costume. They both went out again to town for more new hats. British armed liner Avenger sunk in the North Sea by U-boat.
Sunday, 17 June
Weather perfect. Very hot. Agnes donned her new blue costume and went to church (communion). She looks a treat. After dinner we all went to Cathcart and had a seat in the cemetery. After tea we went to Queen’s Park to see all the knuts.52 Zepp raid on south-east coast. One Zepp and crew entirely destroyed.
Monday, 18 June
The start of my holidays. We are spending them at home. In forenoon I was in Shawlands by the Cart.53 In the afternoon we all went to town. Went into the St Enoch Picture House. After tea I went out to Cathcart. Lily here at night. Got new slippers today and Tommy a new pair of canvas shoes. Big German attack. British forced back.
Tuesday, 19 June
Beautiful day. After breakfast I walked across to Ruglen, took car up to Burnside then up East Kilbride Road on to Cathkin. Came back by Mill Wynd. After dinner we all took car to Paisley, had our tea there and went into the pictures. We got home 8 p.m. Agnes did a washing and I cleaned the jam pan. Serious disturbances in Spain. German losses 4,500,000, of which 1,000,000 are dead.
Wednesday, 20 June
Very nice sunny forenoon. After breakfast, rusticated in Rouken Glen.54 Not out in afternoon. Turned very dull then, and developed into a pouring wet night. So I went to the Palace.55 British regain lost positions. British transport Cameronian sunk by U-boat. About 50 lives lost.
Thursday, 21 June
Pouring wet day, all the day long. I went into town in the afternoon and paid the gas and bought myself a pair of boots at 16/5. We spent the evening in the midst of the Cormack family. Home 11.15 p.m.
Friday, 22 June
Nice sunny day, but a trifle windy. After breakfast I went through Queen’s Park, took car from Shawlands to Thornliebank. Walked down by Nitshill and home by Cowglen Road. After dinner we all went to Rouken Glen, and had tea in Bungalow, then walked to Clarkston and from there to Netherlee.56 Got car home. We all went to the Alhambra at night. Home 11.30 p.m. Portuguese army in France doing some good work.
Sunday, 24 June
Bright sunny day, but wind blowing a hurricane all day. Took a walk out to Sam’s in afternoon and walked back. After dinner I met Sam and Nellie at Jamaica Street and we went to Cadder Church by car to Bishopbriggs.57 After church, Sam and Nel
lie and William Kirk came home with me for tea. They left about 10.30 p.m. Big munition explosion in Austria. 300 killed.
Monday, 25 June
Bright sunny day, but windy and not warm enough. Took car to Netherlee and walked to East Kilbride, via Busby and Clarkston. Called in and saw Miss Balfour and Miss Hillcoat and had a cup of tea there. Came back by Mains Castle and Burnside. Got home about 3.30 p.m. Went into town after dinner and bought a waterproof coat. After tea I went to Queen’s Park. Some very heavy rain. Saw a most beautiful rainbow.
Tuesday, 26 June
Very nice day. Walked out to Rutherglen. Took car to Burnside and from thence walked to Carmunnock and back by Cathcart. Not out after dinner, but after tea we all went down to Ibrox. Got home about 11 p.m. I’m getting sunburnt.
Wednesday, 27 June
Very hot sun up till about 2 p.m., then it got very dull ever afterwards. Took car to Netherlee and then started to walk. First Clarkston then Eaglesham, Balligioch, and on to Kingswell, turned there and came back by Newton Mearns and Giffnock. Took car home from there. Home 6.30 p.m. Walked about 20 miles. Not bad for a CIII man.58 P&O liner Mongolia mined near India. 30 lives lost.
Tommy's War: A First World War Diary 1913-1918 Page 20