Whit Sunday. The Church looked very beautiful decorated with scarlet poppies & flame coloured Azaleas. Feel rather desolate with no children & no Hector who has already gone for his yearly change of air at Rams Down. Mr Moore & Jack Boucher made their debut in the tower this morning & rang rounds before the early service. Mrs Yole played the Dead March after Evensong.
Heard that the little baby is dead, poor Ursula, feel very anxious for her. The baby dies on Tuesday & was baptised Antony.
The news is only too true. He & his staff were on board the Hampshire on their way to Russia. The ship was struck either by a mine or torpedo & so far no survivors have been picked up. It happened off the Orkney Isles & there was such a heavy sea that the boats capsized. A rather wonderful death for a wonderful & mysterious man. Much upset this evening by the news that Ursula’s little son is very ill.
Boucher brought back from Tavistock the awful news that Lord Kitchener & all his staff have been drowned. Simply cannot believe it yet.
Fuller news of battle, it seems that after all the Germans got the worst of it, but our own losses are bad. I see Com. Pennell of the Antarctic is amongst those lost on the Queen Mary. Other ships lost were the Invincible, Indefatigable, Defence, Black Prince & Warrior. I see that I have made no mention in this diary of an important piece of family news, namely the birth of Agnes son, who was born on April 30th, we got the wire on May 1st.
Heard the news of a great naval battle & the loss of several ships, felt very gloomy when as a ray of light came the news of the birth of Ursula’s son. We got the wire just after lunch. Jack Elliott came for a week end. Mr Moore’s brother also home on leave, & an uncle arrived, also Cousin Maud for the day, we all had tea at the Rectory.
Ascension Day was wet as usual, misty stuff, not much rain but had a very good audience for the Play “St George & the Dragon” which was written by Mary & acted in the barn. The tableaux of the fight were very effective & the background of the old barn very picturesque. It went very well & the singing was very good. Nicholas & Elizabeth took part in the dance. Philippa was dressed up but did not take part. We took over £3 at the play. We had tea in the garage. Father had to go to Lezant in the...
The Irish Rebellion has come to an end but it is terribly sad to read of. Many of the rebels have been shot but Sir R Casement has not been tried yet, his seems to be a most extraordinary story. Last Sunday the Daylight Bill came in to force & on Saturday evening the clocks were put on an hour. The stable clock was altered at 5 & the house clocks at 7. After all the talk there did not seem to be much difference, the general opinion seems to be that Parliament has no business to interfere with Kelly...
Many things have happened this last week. The East Coast was bombarded but fortunately the ships were soon driven off. More Zepp raids too & also there has been a rising in Ireland. The leader Sir R Casement was caught in a ship full of ammunition which was being taken to Ireland. The news today is that the rebels are surrendering but last Monday they at first got the upper hand & surrounded the Post Office in Dublin. To day alas we hear that Kut has fallen. I fear they must have had a terrible time.
Many things have happened this last week. The East Coast was bombarded but fortunately the ships were soon driven off. More Zepp raids too & also there has been a rising in Ireland. The leader Sir R Casement*1 was caught in a ship full of ammunition which was being taken to Ireland. The news today is that the rebels are surrendering but last Monday they at first got the upper hand & surrounded the Post Office in Dublin. To day alas we hear that Kut*2 has fallen. I fear they must have had a terrible time.
Rather a cold Easter Day with some showers. M. C. K. came home on Thursday & brought Charlotte Worthington with her. Mary T also cae. A political crisis is going on & the country is hovering on the brink of a possible general election, but it is hoped that this will not happen. John went on Wednesday & Willie Guest has also gone. On Good Friday there was the last of the lantern services. The church was packed, it was immensely long.
Cousin Addy is coming today. Mrs Baring Gould’s funeral Sydney went off on Monday.
There have been Air Raids three nights running on the E. Coast. Friday, Saturday & Sunday & one Zeppelin was brought down & wrecked in the sea & the crew taken prisoner all except one poor young officer who was left behind to blow up the Zepp so that is couldn’t fall into our hands. John has had a notice this morning calling him to join up also W Guest both of whom did not pass the medical last Autumn owing to their chest measurements not being big enough. Albert Balsdon also had a notice but he has to say...
Horribly cold again & the Cornish Tors are quite white. The story in yesterday’s paper of how a German armed merchantman tried to break through our blockade is very thrilling to read. She was disguised as a Norwegian vessel but when one of our ships stopped her & put off a boat to board her & examine her papers she saw the game was up & made a fight for it but though she was a big ship & ours a much smaller one she did very little with her guns while ours soon did for her, but she managed...
I have not written for many days. Since I last wrote the army of the Philistine have once again invaded this house. Mary F has gone in to a nursing home for a complete rest of three weeks. Michael is truly adorable & is growing in to a first class rogue. A report reached us yesterday brought back from Launceston market that the German Fleet had come out but like all report which come from that source proves false. Had a letter from Bob who has been roughing it a bit in the snow and cold during the scare of...
Juliana 2 years old today, we are picturising her undoing her parcel. Wind N.E. with cold rain.
Seaplanes have again attacked the Kentish coast, on Sunday morning. Went in to Lanson to get Juliana’s birthday present, having tried to go in on Friday in Arthur’s car but broke down at Lifton & had to walk up. Had tea with Mrs F Morshead found Barbara & children there, Felicity very friendly.
Another lovely day. Had a good practice of hymns for St George. Still the sickening agitation over the calling up of the married men. When will Englishmen stop talking and act, & why is the government so timid?
Glorious day, warm and balmy, we went down to Dunterton to get daffs and took Miss & Mrs Moore. There was a meet of the hounds at Kelly Cross but not a large one, the Godfreys & Cicely B. G. & Fred Yole & one other farmer were the only riders, they did not find. No war news in the paper today which is chiefly agitated over the calling up of the married men.
There seems to be a fear that the French will after all leave Verdun, the German attacks are continuing & the papers are also prophesying a naval battle soon. The talk in London is of invasion & Mary says that ammunition has been handed out to the troops guarding the coast. General Smuts has won a victory in East Africa. Working party today. Janet left yesterday.
