Tuesday, 5 November
Nellie Hamilton and her baby here at tea time. Agnes went down to Clydebank at night. This is the month gas rationing starts: 9,000 cubic feet per annum. Italy’s victory now complete. Austro-Hungarian army destroyed. 500,000 prisoners and 5,000 guns. The great advance in France continues.
Wednesday, 6 November
We all went to Greenlodge at night as Duncan is home on leave. While we were sitting in the room enjoying ourselves, a telegram came from the military recalling him back to England on the mortal spot. Consternation. British five miles from Mons. French capture Guise.
Thursday, 7 November
Dirty wet day. Fell this morning and nearly broke every bone in my blinking body. I survived. German rout continues. Ghent evacuated. Americans into Sedan. We are getting near the end now. Mutiny in warships at Kiel. Revolt in Hamburg.
Friday, 8 November
German army cut in two. Sedan completely conquered by Americans and French. German peace delegates on the road. They get 72 hours to make up their minds to accept armistice terms. Fighting to continue till then. Mutiny spreads all over German fleet. Revolution in Cologne and Bremen.
Saturday, 9 November
We played Ludo at night. France nearly cleared now of the Germans. Revolution in Germany. Kaiser abdicates.
Sunday, 10 November
This is Agnes’ birthday. ‘Many of them,’ say I. Took a walk into town in afternoon to see if any war news.
Monday, 11 November
Fine sunny day, but cold. Got a telephone message this morning from Mr Roxburgh that poor Jenny died at an early hour this morning. We have lost a very dear friend. She will visit us no more. We will miss her sadly. At last, the Great War is over. Germany vanquished, the Kaiser a fugitive in Holland. Armistice signed at 5 a.m., all hostilities ceased at 11 a.m. This is the greatest day in history of the world. I got away at 1 p.m. Great scenes in Glasgow. Took Agnes and Tommy into town in afternoon to see the sights. City packed.
Tuesday, 12 November
Agnes went down to Clydebank in afternoon. In her absence, Tommy fell and knocked bits off himself, including one of his front teeth. Andrew’s sister up about 10 p.m. letting us know Andrew was home on leave. World at peace. Allies’ great task done. Germany staggered by our terms: 30 warships and 50 destroyers to be given up. Hoch hoch! Kaiser interned in Holland. Recruiting for army stopped. Shading of lights done away with.
Wednesday, 13 November
Agnes in wash-house today. Left my work early and went down to Clydebank to attend poor Jenny’s funeral. We laid her to rest in the Western Necropolis. It was a wrench when I turned away, but surely we will meet again. Went straight back to my work, and worked late.
Sleep on my beloved, sleep, and take thy rest;
Lay down thy head upon thy saviour’s breast;
We love thee well, but Jesus loves thee best – Goodnight.78
Thursday, 14 November
Nice sunny day. Working late at night, then I went out to see Andrew, who is home on leave from hospital.
Saturday, 16 November
Agnes in town in the afternoon. I sat in, too comfortable to go out.
Sunday, 17 November
Foggy sort of day. We did not go out at all, not even to the Kirk. Allies’ march into Germany starts today. The German force in East Africa surrenders. Von Tirpitz a fugitive in Switzerland.
Monday, 18 November
Working late tonight. Agnes and Tommy over at Hickman Street tonight. Brussels now free of Germans. Revolution in Berlin. Two German warships sunk with all on board by the rebels.
Thursday, 21 November
Nice sunny day. I have got a sore neck, a sore nose, and something has been in my eye all day. ‘Sorrow, sorrow, without relief.’79 Agnes’ throat is giving her bother. I worked late tonight. German High Seas Fleet surrenders to Admiral Beatty today. Sic transit etc.80
Friday, 22 November
Navy’s great day. Historic scene in the Forth. German flag hauled down at 2.57 p.m. and not to be hoisted again. Nine battleships, seven light cruisers, five battle cruisers and 50 destroyers of German High Seas Battle Fleet and more to follow. All surrendered without a blow. U-boats continue to surrender at Harwich.
The German battleship Hindenburg surrenders at Scapa Flow, in Orkney, as seen from a British ship.
Saturday, 23 November
Having an uneasy conscience, I went out to Ruglen in the afternoon and paid my tailor all the money I owed him. Agnes got a very bad cold indeed. The surrendered German fleet off to Scapa Flow. 50 U-boats have so far surrendered.
Sunday, 24 November
Agnes in bed all day until evening. I went out in the morning for eggs, but eggs were evidently extinct in Glasgow this morning. So I made breakfast without them. Andrew’s wife heaved in towards afternoon, and Hetty Cook came in about 5 p.m. She stays in Pollokshields now.
Monday, 25 November
Agnes keeping a little better. Tommy is now in the ‘first standard’.81 Agnes broke the kitchen window today, and it a newly put in pane of glass. Terrible. French army enters Strasburg. British troops reach German frontier.
Tuesday, 26 November
Got a shock today. Saw a shop saying: ‘Thick black for sale.’ I got two ounces. British fleet sails for Kiel.
Wednesday, 27 November
Working late at night. When I got home the lady from the Kirk was in getting cash for the Kirk. The darkening shade is now off our stair gas, seeing that Germany is no more. I filled in our fuel rationing paper. According to it, I’m to get 24,000 cubic feet of gas in a year. The other notice said 9,000. Something wrong, somewhere, so I interviewed the gas expert. He says the larger amount is correct. It’s ‘quare’.82 We are getting white bread now.83
Thursday, 28 November
Agnes not keeping well at all just now. The King visits France. Vive le Roi! Other 27 U-boats surrendered yesterday at Harwich. 114 now surrendered. Belgium now clear of the Germans.
Friday, 29 November
Agnes not keeping any better. I cleaned all the windows. The paint is now off our one and only lamppost in Morgan Street. ‘Let it shine.’84 Ex-Kaiser to be demanded from Holland. Austrian casualties in the war: four million (800,000 killed). 1,100 Jews massacred at Lemberg.
Saturday, 30 November
I took a walk over to Sam’s shop and had a crack with him. Agnes not keeping much better. This is St Andrew’s Day, so I ought to don the kilt, but I didn’t. Anarchy all over Germany. The Kaiser renounces the throne.
Monday, 2 December
Agnes went and consulted the man of medicine at night. He gave her a bottle. She is Grade 3, very much so.85 He says he may have to come up for an examination. Tommy seems to have the cold. British and American troops now in German territory.
Tuesday, 3 December
Saw a most unholy mob of Bolsheviks in town today. It was a procession of some of our enlightened citizens welcoming home [Maclean] from jail.86 He is standing for Parliament for the Gorbals.87 Heaven help us all! Seeing that the war is over, we went to the Cinerama at night. After about a fortnight’s search I managed to get a gill bottle of ‘emergency medicine’.88 It cost 2/-and is poor, weak and emasculated stuff. But it will do.
Thursday, 5 December
We engaged a lady to do our washing today. I went at night to a political meeting in Dixon Halls with Mr Cormack. A Labour meeting, it was, which does not necessarily mean that I’ll vote for him. Agnes not looking well at all tonight.
Friday, 6 December
Dirty wet day. I have got a bad cold. Covered my boots with pieces of iron to make them last longer. Bolshevikism reigns supreme in Germany. The entire Turkish fleet now surrendered.
Sunday, 8 December
Nice dry day. Agnes very ill during the night. I went for the doctor this morning. He duly arrived and examined her, but evidently went away as wise as he came. Agnes’ cousin, Hetty Cook, here about 5.30. James is in the army and home on l
eave. He has two gold wound stripes.89 Agnes got up about 6 p.m. to help entertain. They departed about 10.30.
Tuesday, 10 December
Dirty wet day. My watch ceases work as from today. ‘No tick.’90 Josephine up at night seeing Agnes. I saw her away as far as Govan Street about 10.30. She tells me that Pa is very ill. The doctor says it is cancer. I did not tell Agnes, knowing the sad state of her nerves.
Wednesday, 11 December
Cold, foggy day. Hoar frost lying on everything. Tommy seems to have a bad cold. The doctor up seeing Agnes. His diagnosis not so favourable as I hoped for. The bloodthirsty man thinks he may have to operate. So cheery.
Thursday, 12 December
Wet sort of day. Being a man of wealth I bought a new watch today (15/6). Tommy’s cold worse. Agnes not so well. James Cook and his sister Hetty here for tea. We had a nice time. Five captured German guns in George Square.
Friday, 13 December
Dirty wet day, but very mild. I went round to the doctor at night for his special bottle of brew for Agnes. Tommy in bed all day. He has ear-ache. No appetite, bad cough, no interest in anything. I’m beginning to get melancholy.
Saturday, 14 December
Very cold, raw day. This is the day we vote in the Parliamentary Election. Agnes voted for the first time. Females have now ‘the vote’. Agnes feeling not so bad today, but very tired at night. The world has lost 15 million tons of shipping by U-boats.
Tuesday, 17 December
Bright frosty day. Lily phoned me today to say that Father had seen the professor and the trouble was not so bad as feared. He has to undergo a slight operation. Mrs Cormack dropped in at night and talked drivel for two solid hours. Tommy spotted a beetle. I swotted the beetle then plastered up some bits of the press to discourage any more.
* * *
Most women in Britain were accorded the vote by the Representation of the People Act that was passed in February 1918. This allowed practically all men to vote, regardless of their property qualifications, and gave the vote to women over 30 who met minimum property qualifications. At the time, the Act was seen as a political necessity. The war would soon be over, the politicians felt, and they were concerned that the men returning from defending democracy abroad would demand the same for themselves. Women, too, were more likely to be militant after their experiences working in factories and farms, if not in theatres of war. The principle of ‘one person, one vote’ had to wait until 1928, but the 1918 Act made Britain much more democratic than it had been.
* * *
Opposite page ‘Alarum’ is an older spelling of ‘alarm’.
Thursday, 19 December
Very cold day, hard frost. Agnes went to the wash-house today!!!!!!! Which filled me with gloomy forebodings. Got the wee clock to go tonight (maybe). Ten years ago today, I gave Agnes her engagement ring. Great rejoicings.
Friday, 20 December
Agnes went to the doctor tonight and got another bottle. She not so well tonight. She does too much and I do too little, which is a most unsatisfactory arrangement. I had a bad headache today and not very well generally. Poles invade Prussia.
Saturday, 21 December
Sam in to see me at the business today. He left Father at the Royal Infirmary and I have to go for him in the afternoon. After dinner I went to that place and took Pa to Greenlodge in a cab as he was very shaky. Got home myself about 7 p.m. Entire Austrian navy now in the hands of the Allies.
Sunday, 22 December
Snow fell most all day. Took a turn over to Greenlodge to see my father. He is in a most nervous condition. I got home 8 p.m
Tuesday, 24 December
Tommy got his holidays today, I went away at 4.30. Andrew’s wife here in the afternoon letting us know that her man was home on leave. Tommy hung up his stockings, so I did the necessary Father Noel trick. We got a few cards.
Opposite page ‘Semmit’ is a Scots word for vest or undershirt.
Wednesday, 25 December
Peace on Earth. Thank God. The first Christmas since 1913 in which we could say it. I left my work about 11 a.m. We all went to the Cinerama in the afternoon. At night I took a turn over to Greenlodge to see how Pa was keeping.
Thursday, 26 December
Agnes baked a New Year cake today. We all went over to Andrew’s house at night. We talked to the wee chap and managed to pass the rest of the time playing cards.
Friday, 27 December
Cold wet day. Hetty Cook rung me up today telling me she was married. Wish I was the man (pro tem).91 The Food Controller is allowing me an extra ¼lb sugar per head for this week, seeing it is the festive season.
Saturday, 28 December
Very nice day. Left my work at 9.30 a.m. and went out to Greenlodge for my father. We got to the infirmary at 10.30 a.m. We got out from the doleful place at 1 p.m. Pa came out more cheerful than when he went in. I saw him back to Greenlodge, took a cup of tea and then home. At night I took a turn over to Dalmarnock and saw Sam. On my way home I met Josephine at Bridgeton Cross. She not feeling well, so I took her on the tram to the foot of James Street. Home myself 10 p.m.
Sunday, 29 December
Very wet day. None of us out at all. Agnes made a dumpling today. Oh my! I addressed tonight a few tokens of love and esteem to our various friends in the shape of New Year cards. This is the last Sunday of a very sad year.
Monday, 30 December
Dirty wet cold day. Agnes went over to doctor at night. Went to the baths tonight and took the 1918 dirt off. I’ll start the new year with a clean skin, if nothing else. Got the alarum clock going not so bad now. Clocks is clocks these times. Used to get them for 2/6. Cheapest now is about 21/-.
Tuesday, 31 December
Nice day, with a touch of frost. Got away at 1 p.m. Took a turn over in the afternoon to see my father, but got no one in, so I had a look in at the People’s Palace. We did not go out at night, but sat and waited for the New Year coming. So ends the year 1918. The year of peace, but a year I will always look back on with deep regret.
I see the fairest flowers fade,
The rosy cheek grow pale;
The awful wreck disease has made,
The strongest mortals fail.
They also speak to me of death
In language strong and clear.
Thy life is going with each breath
- Eternity is near.92
* * *
1 The Arbutus was sunk on 16 December 1917, and the Grive on 24 December 1917. The censor may have been holding back news until the Christmas season was over.
2 It is likely that the weather, rather than an excess of entertainment, made the night a wild one.
3 Singer railway station was named for the adjacent premises of the Singer Manufacturing Company, the world’s largest sewing machine factory.
4 A ‘peeny’ is a pinny or pinafore and ‘gallowses’ or galluses are braces for holding up trousers.
5 Tommy’s measurements are in Fahrenheit. The equivalent temperature in Celsius is -4.5°.
6 The Rewa, heading from Malta to Bristol with wounded from Greece, was torpedoed by the U55 in the Bristol Channel on 4 January 1918. Two crewmen died.
7 Lascar was a term used to describe a sailor from India or other countries east of the Cape of Good Hope working on a European vessel.
8 During 1918, HM Tank Number 113, also known as ‘Julian’, was taken on a tour of the country and people were encouraged to throw spare change into the ‘tank bank’ or buy National War Bonds and War Savings Certificates from the tank staff to raise funds to prosecute the war against Germany.
9 The equivalent temperature in Celsius is -8°.
10 The square was George Square, the main civic square in central Glasgow, in front of the City Chambers, the seat of the local authority.
11 The Green was Glasgow Green, a large park at the south of the city centre.
12 SOS Week, which was held across Britain, exhorted the population to save or starve. This was the la
st gasp of a voluntary food conservation policy, which was soon replaced by rationing.
13 Eugen Sandow (1867-1925) was a pioneering bodybuilder of the Victorian era.
14 Seven people lost their lives.
15 The Clyde Workers Committee, which was campaigning for a 40-hour working week, extended its demands to calling for peace. This was partly a reaction to the government’s Military Service Bill, introduced in January 1918, which proposed moving men from the munitions factories to the trenches.
16 The varnish, as well as making his boots watertight, was, like the studs he has already applied, intended to stop the leather soles from wearing down, so lengthening the life of his boots.
17 The boats painted in camouflage designs.
18 The address is a side entrance to the City Chambers.
Tommy's War: A First World War Diary 1913-1918 Page 29