Journal Entry – Tuesday March 7th 1916

(Shrove Tuesday) Alice Wills & Nimrod Davy were married this morning, I played a hymn & a wedding march of sorts, 2 little girls Davy’s daughters children were bridesmaids. It is colder than ever the wind is biting. A card from Evelyn containing the following diary of Sunday night: “5.30 p.m. Police say no service to be held, warning of aircraft about. 6.15. Report from sidings that several zeppelins are coming over North Sea, sidings will not light up. Ammunition factory is now lighting up. Gas fairly moderate though not very good light. 6.45. News through that zeppelins have been...

Journal Entry – Saturday March 4th 1916

The Germans have reviewed the attack on Verdun. What is going to be the end of it, & what terrible things shall we be hearing soon? That’s seaplane was wrecked on the French coast. Captain Gordon had fresh tales to tell the other day. He said we were building super super dreadnoughts as fast as we can build them, a very unlikely tale, as it is not dreadnoughts we want but torpedo boats & submarines. It has been a lovely day, had my 1st practice of Mary’s play “St George” which we are really trying to do this year &...

Journal Entry – Wednesday March 1st 1916

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...

Journal Entry – Monday February 28th 1916

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...

Journal Entry – Thursday February 17th 1916

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.

Journal Entry – Sunday February 13th 1916

(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.

Journal Entry – Monday February 7th 1916

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....

Journal Entry – Wednesday February 2nd 1916

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.

Journal Entry – Monday January 31st 1916

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.