These are the February entries for Sheilah Doherty’s diary, from 1918. You can learn more about how I came to have this diary here.
| 1st February, 1918 |
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| Kitchen range finished to day. There was quite a hard frost last night. I can’t think what has happened to him. I haven’t seen him for two days. I do hope & trust he is not ill. Daddy is all right to day. Mummy’s throat is very sore. Terence is going to Hythe tomorrow. He hardly ever writes home. I may have to go to Braintree tomorrow. |
| Note: Braintree is a town roughly 7 miles from Felsted. |
| 2nd February, 1918 |
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| I went to Braintree this afternoon & when I came back I saw him at last, he had taken the boys down to footter [sic]. He dident [sic] look very well, poor boy. I got most fearfully muddy along the road. I am having the first bath from the new range to night, & it is cold. Just my luck. Stone says it is going to rain, another wet Sunday. |
| 3rd February, 1918 |
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| I only had one child in Sunday school this morning so Mrs Rolke (?) took him. I had a ring, Sergeant Swell rang too. This afternoon I went out for a walk across the fields with Pat. First day that there has not been any fog. I have not seen him at all today. I hope I shall to morrow. I love him. I love him. Rained a little. |
| Note: Mrs Rolke ran a sweet shop in the village (not sure if this would be the same Mrs Rolke - further research required to verify). The location of the shop was opposite Andrews House (part of the building now occupied by Anderson’s Estate Agent). |
| 4th February, 1918 |
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| I saw him going down to footter & coming up again. He looked straight into my eyes 3 times & I into his. Oh how I wish that someone would introduce us. I helped Mummy this morning. Terence has gone down to Hythe today. Letter came for him from Bill. It has been a very dull day. A lorry load of Signallers stopped in the village today. |
| 5th February, 1918 |
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| Helped Mummy this morning & also helped Stone cut the trees at the top of the lawn. I muddled about this afternoon & went up to Burroughs for the butter. Then I went to doctor’s with Daddy & when I came out I saw him** going up the road. I was just in time. I did’nt [sic] see him go down. He didn’t see me. Crossed out half entry to Jan 22nd |
| 6th February, 1918 |
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| Busy this morning. This afternoon I watched for him up at the attic window. I saw him coming up from footter. I do hope he doesn’t think I look at him too much, it would be awful if the prep boys noticed it. The Bible Class boys came to play about this evening. They didn’t go till ¼ past 9. Heavy gale to night (I love him. Pat 5 years old to day. |
| 7th February, 1918 |
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| My holiday to day. I had a long letter from Audrey. Mum had one from T. Bell. Says socks are still going strong. I muddled about to day. I saw him this afternoon in ordinary clothes with a cap on. I like him without best. I love to see his black hair blowing in the wind. I do so wonder what he thinks of me. |
| 8th February, 1918 |
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| I have got a lovely idea. I have made two big hutches & Mr Burns has promised me 3 rabbits. I’m going to start breeding them to sell. I havent seen him to day at all. P[eriod] due tomorrow worse luck. It has been a glorious day entirely. I’m going to put the O’ on to my name, so it will be O’Doherty now. |
| Note: 1. O’Doherty suggests Sheilah was going through an Irish phase. The family has never used the O’Doherty form. |
| 9th February, 1918 |
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| P not come. I haven’t seen him at all to day. I’ve got my rabbits at last. Dear little things 6 weeks old. Mummy has got a very bad cold & went to bed early. I went up to Burns’ to fetch the rabbits on Dads bike. I actually went in & played a game with them. I do want to see him so much. |
| 10th February, 1918 |
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| P not come. I haven’t seen him to day. One of my rabbits has got snuffles. I shall have to fatten him & eat him. I went to Sunday School to day & had all my children but 2. Mum not well to day. I’m going to get her a bottle of Wincarnis. Bell ringing this evening. I messed about in the garden this afternoon. Dad went to Black Chapel |
| Note: 1. Wincarnis is a tonic wine. 2. Black Chapel is a small historic chapel at North End, near Felsted (Also mentioned 2 June, 1918). |
| 11th February, 1918 |
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| P not come. I saw him to day. I went to Dunmow this morning on Dads bike. I got some medicine for Snuffles. I made another hutch for Snuffles. Adeliene came in to see them so did Tommy. I feel so sorry for Mr Hodge, he always limps so badly. It has been fine though very dull to day. Roads drying up. |
| Note: Mr Hodge may be Cyril Stanley Hodge who worked as an Assistant Schoolmaster for Felsted School in 1918-19. |
| 12th February, 1918 |
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| P not come. I started to go to Chelmsford this morning & the chain came off, as I came back & Surridge s[t]opped me. I’m not to ride it any more. |
| I saw him to day riding one of Scrivener’s horses. Mr Hodge spoke to me so did curly boy. I went to entertainment at the school this afternoon, & after to the Scouts concerts. Pat has been stealing eggs at Glanfields. |
| Note: 1. In 1901 Alfred Scrivener lived at Felsted Place, (farmer) (35) with his wife Lillian (35) and daughter Hilda (5). 2. Glanfield is Glanfield Farm, Felsted. |
| 13th February, 1918 |
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| P come. Been in bed all day till tea time very bad. Mrs Hodges has come. |
| I haven’t had the chance to see him to day. I’ll be all right tomorrow. |
| Daddy bought me a packet of chocolate to eat in bed! |
| I havent seen Pat at all to day. It has been very dull & rainy to day. No more tonight. |
| 14th February, 1918 |
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| I saw him to day, he had been out riding again, he had such lovely breeches & leggings on, & spurs. Mrs Hodges is queer looking. Adeliene wants me to go to communion with her. I never dreamd she ever went. It is very perplexing. I want to love Adeleine, but she is a German & I’m an Irishwoman & an Irishwoman ought not to love a German. / I do want to speak to him so badly. |
| Note: Sheilah’s grandfather John Doherty left Donegal in the 1830s and married and settled in Kent, where all his children, including Sheilah’s father, were born. None ever returned to Ireland and none had Irish nationality. She was certainly of Irish descent, but she wasn’t Irish. |
| 15th February, 1918 |
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| Nearly all right now. I saw him to day, twice, going down to the boys & coming up again with them. Daddy cut the lawn for the first time this year to day. I think I am going to Dunmow with Adeliene tomorrow. |
| I’ve asked her to come with me for a walk on Sunday afternoon. I just messed about all day. Adeleine says her parents are both English. |
| 16th February, 1918 |
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| 10 o’clock. The warning has just gone, expecting (?) guns directly. I saw him to day. I dreamt about him all last night. I went to Dunmow with Adeleine this afternoon & then she came to tea after. She can speak three languages. I went over for bell practice to night but Yarrow didn’t come (as per usual). Mr Moses came to see my rabbits. |
| Note: Mr Moses is possibly Moses Livermore who lived at Mole Hill Green and worked as an agricultural labourer. |
| 17th February, 1918 |
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| Raid last night. Another going on now awful. Bombs shake the windows. Went for a walk with Adeleine this afternoon, took Jack. |
| I saw him this afternoon taking the prep boys for a walk. Mrs Holmes is home. I wrote a card to Terence today. I hope he is not in these raids. I wish more & more that someone would introduce me & Mr Evans. |
| 18th February, 1918 |
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| Another raid to night. Heavy gunfire. I went for a walk with Adeleine & when I came back I saw him walking about in the village. He went into Shepherds while I was having tea. Jacob went to day. Very sharp frost last night & again to night. A bomb shook the house a short time ago. I do love him so. I love him. |
| 19th February, 1918 |
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| This morning I sat in the sun & read. This afternoon I went to Dunmow with Daddy. The Gothas did not get to London last night. They did not drop 1 bomb at all, but on Holland. We are having very sharp frosts at night. I bought a book at Dunmow this afternoon. 1/- books are 1/6 now. I haven’t seen him to day. |
| Note: 1. The Gothas - German WWI bombers; 2. 1/- is one shilling; 3. 1/6 is one shilling and six pence. |
| 20th February, 1918 |
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| My holiday to day. I read & knitted all the morning. This afternoon I saw him 3 times. He came down to Shepherds & then I saw him coming out of the Prep & then I saw him going up the road. I reallized [sic] to day how I love him more than ever. Shall I ever be able to speak to him? I do want to know him. |
| 21st February, 1918 |
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| I saw him to day, he looked at me. I’ve got beastly tooth ache, & I‘ve got to go to the dentist worse luck! I have almost had another holiday to day. It is Adeleine’s birthday to day[crossed out]morrow. I have a little collar for her. There is a high wind to night, so I expect no raid. I have moved all my things out of the attic down again. |
| 22nd February, 1918 |
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| Mum & I went to call on Mrs Hodges this afternoon, she is very nice & fond of dogs. I havent seen him to day. Such a lot of boys big & little take off their hats to me now. Still got toothache going to have it out on Tuesday. I’m going to paint the gates, it will be fun. O I do love him so badly. |
| 23rd February, 1918 |
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| I saw him twice to day, & each time he looked at me. There was a meet somewhere this morning a great many beautiful horses passed through the village. I gave Adeliene her present. Eastern Lodge was half burnt down on Thursday night. It is cloudy again to night altho very bright moon behind it. I do wish I could get to know him. |
| 24th February, 1918 |
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| Glorious night. Mr & Mrs Hodges came to 8 o’clock service this morning. I went for a walk this afternoon but got caught in the rain. I have not seen him to day. This evening in church all my old love for Mr Shilliker came back, but I think it has nearly gone again, though I shall always love him as a brother all my life. I sent off pair of socks to Miss [illegible]. |
| 25th February, 1918 |
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| I’m certain he always looks at me like he loves me. No one else does. I’ve seen him so many times to day. I don’t know where to begin. First I saw him taking the boys down to footter. Then I saw him carrying a boy on his shoulders because he was hurt. Then I saw him going down the village at tea time & back again. They when I came out of the lecture I saw him again going to the school. / I shook hands with Len Williams, he did not recognize me. |
| 26th February, 1918 |
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| I saw him riding on Scrivener’s horse to day. He does ride well. I went to the dentist & had one tooth out in front, there was an abcess [sic]. In a month’s time I am going to have my first false tooth. Len Williams got out of the train which Dad & I went to Braintree in. It is the Gordan Cook tomorrow. I hope I shall see my darling. |
| 27th February, 1918 |
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| I just caught sight of him running round the school corner. Then I saw him pass the gate twice. It was the Gorden Cook this afternoon. Braund (?) came in first. I went up to the Burnes this morning. Len Williams came in this evening & talked quite a long while. Margery has got her hair up. He looked in at the gate as he went past. |
| Note: 1. Braund = Brian Peile Braund, a Pupil at Preparatory and Felsted School from 1912-1920, Running (captain), House Prefect. 2. Margery could possibly be Margery Brewer who lived at the village and was aged 32 in 1918. |
| 28th February, 1918 |
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| I saw him going up the road & then I saw him going down the road with some other masters. He looked in at the gate again as he passed. It snowed to day. I made a new run for the rabbits this afternoon. He is very tall. I’m sure he would look fine in khaki. But I do not think he is fit enough for the army. |
Ready for some more? Read March’s Diary Entries or go back to January’s Diary Entries.
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