Nicholas is 8 years old today, it does not seem 8 years since that momentous telegram arrived. The German attack on Verdun has failed for the time but it is expected that they will renew it. A seaplane dropped bombs somewhere on the S.E.Coast.

More snow last night. On Monday night Plymouth had a real air raid alarm but whether there was a Zeppelin seen or not is not clear, it was reported that one was seen at Salcombe, but all lights were put out in 10 min. The news for in France is that the German attack has failed for the time & their losses have been terrible. It is still very cold & raw. Janet & I went down to Yalford to see Exlby [?]. Approached Mrs Hick & Mrs Lane on the subject of war work the latter expressed great willingness...

Still terrific fighting going on around Verdun but the French are holding there own & seem to have executed marvellous counter-attacks. It snowed again last night but to day it is thawing fast. The road by Pomfleet Hill was blocked the snow from edge to edge so I hear, hope to go & see it this afternoon. Janet is coming to day.

It went on snowing all Saturday till the evening & there was a little more in the night, but yesterday was a sunny day & a good deal of snow went & the grass is showing in places. This Wigan (one of them) is staying at the Rectory. No special preacher for S.P.G. could come for yesterday. Ellis & miss Wickett thought they saw the lights of an aeroplane go by here yesterday evening after church, great excitement, Ellis came up to show it to me but I couldn’t see anything, once I thought I saw a light through the...

Still snowing, we have not had such a fall of snow since we have been here.

I came home on Wednesday, it began to snow that night & snowed all next day & last night there were 17 deg. Of Frost. The enemy are continuing their attacks in France & gain a bit here & there.

Lovely day that cold. The French have brought down a Zeppelin which is good hearing.

While we were have our good old misty rain yesterday the East Coast & Kent were having bright sunshine and visits from German seaplanes, but not much damage was done. They came during morning service. It is horribly cold today rain from E on NE.

It has rained all day, misty stuff. Stayed to the choral celebration, they sang Merbecke. Margaret has been on night duty since she went back but she is sleeping better this time. I am making a surplice for Reginald’s ordination which is to be at Trinity.

Yesterday it rained all day. I went to tea at the Shaws. To day is cloudy but fine, Mary Shaw is coming to tea here, I am going to see Mary Pult.

Same sort of weather, heavy showers & bright sunshine in between, see very rough. The Russians had taken a strong Turkish fortress in Mesopotamia some way north of Bagdad. Mr Balfour tells us that the defences of the country a hopeless deficient because we haven’t enough guns or aeroplanes to defend us, but that we hope to soon. This is encouraging, but how can we expect to have enough to defend us as well as to take part in this vaste war.

Stormy & a gorgeous sea. Not very nice news from France, Germany have broken through our line about 500 yds.

The “Arethusa” *1 has struck a mine on the East Coast, but only a few lives lost. The saucy Arethusa as she was called, I forget why but she played a prominent part in the autumn of 1914 in various engagements in the N sea. Another lovely day but very unsettled.

(Salcombe) I came here on Friday. On Thursday we had a concert at the school, mostly children, a very good one but much too long. Yesterday & to day the weather has been glorious just perfect weather for Salcombe. Yesterday I had a lovely walk round Sharp Tor with Banksey. We passed by the convalescent home. There are no territorial’s quartered in Salcombe now the Boy Scouts guard the coast but we saw no sign of any during our walk.

The ground is white, snow showers. MCK went back to the hospital yesterday. There are reports of heavy firing in France. What is happening there I wonder?

I had a most interesting letter from Evelyn last Thursday describing the raid, he had a most thrilling time but he never saw any Zeppelins but heard the explosions & saw flashes of light in the sky & one passed right over Long Eaton but fortunately didn’t drop any bombs there. He tells a story how a parish room not far off was hit, & the clergyman’s wife who ought to have been having a Bible class in it, that’s night had it in the vicarage instead. There has been no war news of any importance the last few days....

Yesterday we heard reports of a raid because no London Mail came in but could get no news in Lanson, they said the mail came in at 12 o’clock. Today it is stated that the Midland counties were raided & a lot of people killed & injured. Had a card from Evelyn saying they went 6 miles from him. A letter from [Arminel[?]] Discribing how she waited for them. News in the paper of the missing liner [Appan[?]] Which had been captured by a German boat of sorts, although what sort & how it got there is not clear.

Letter from Stanley Clogg thanking for his parcel, he had a cheerful Xmas day & he remarks that they hear very little news of the war. The Germans have been breaking through the French line in rather a nasty manner, & have been Zepping Paris again. Margaret just came home having had flu. Father picked quite a bunch of white violets yesterday. Shottie is in at the vets having torn something in his leg.

The children have just gone, all quietness & desolation. Last Sunday there was another air raid on Kentish coast, not Zeps, but not much was done & in broad daylight some seaplanes approached Dover but were driven back, I fear they are preparing for more mischief. Montenegro now says there never were any peace terms. In Persia the relief column has not yet reached Kat, but the Russians are advancing on the Turks in the North.

It is still uncertain what Montenegro is doing, but it is reported that she has refused Austria’s terms of peace.