These are the July entries for Sheilah Doherty’s diary, from 1918. You can learn more about how I came to have this diary here.
| 1st July, 1918 |
 |
| My Belgian Hare is making a nest. Also we had a first dish of strawberries to day. I took the pony into a pond to drink. I was on his back. He lay down in the middle & of course I fell in. Such fun. I went to Dunmow this morning driving him. |
| 2nd July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I didn’t do much. After dinner I went up to Aline. We sat in a field and talked after tea. I went up to Burroughs on Tag for the butter. He was in a bad temper. Tomorrow I’m going to Braintree in Taylor’s cart. |
| 3rd July, 1918 |
 |
| I had a lovely long letter from Kenneth this morning. He has not got flu yet. This morning I was busy. Mother drove Tag into Braintree this afternoon. After that I went up to Aline & went into a field to pick cow mumble. Daddy mended my punctures for me to day. |
| Note: Cow Mumble is “common hogweed” |
| 4th July, 1918 |
 |
| P come. This morning I slacked. After dinner I sat in my bedroom & read my book. After tea I went down to the station. Saw lots of German prisoners. Then I went to see Aline. Tommy has had a cricket ball in his eye. |
| 5th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I had a holiday. I read by my window in my bedroom. This afternoon I drove to Rayne & fetched some of Daddy’s plants. After tea I drove to the station & then up to Alines. Tommy’s eye looks very bad, poor kiddie. I went to bell ringing & let the bell down absolutely. |
| 6th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning there was not much to do. After dinner I went to Rayne again. I took Aline & Bobby. Then Aline & Tommy came to tea. We played tennis after tea. I took Aline home in the trap. I stayed there a little while. After supper I fed the bunnies & read. |
| 7th July, 1918 |
 |
| I went to Sunday School & Church this morning. I had a lovely letter from Kenneth this morning. After dinner I sat in my room & wrote to Ken & then read. I went to bell ringing after tea. Then Church. I (sic) has been a gloriously fine day. |
| 8th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I was washed my hair & muddled about. After dinner I went to Grismal Green with Mummy. Then I read till tea. After tea I took Tag up to Mrs? XXX & then went to Aline. We went down to the station. After supper I cleaned out the bunnies. Reggie Grise? has been killed. |
| Note: 1. Unable to locate Reggie in the CWGC lists. 2. Grismal Green, now called Gransmore Green, a hamlet within Felsted. |
| 9th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I was very slack. I took Tag up to the forge to be shoed. After dinner I was going to Rayne, but a gale got up so I didn’t go. I took Tag for a drive. I had a letter from Ken this morning. I wrote to him. After tea I went up to Aline. We are going to market tomorrow. |
| 10th July, 1918 |
 |
| I went to market to day. I sold two fowls for 4/- each & Aline sold a rabbit for 3/-. It has been raining a good deal to day. I got home this afternoon. I bought Rocks of Valpre by E Dell. After tea I went up to Aline. Arthur Willis has had a bad accident. |
| Note: [The Rocks of Valpré](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rocks_of_Valpr%C3%A9(novel)) is a 1913 novel by the British writer Ethel M. Dell. First published in the United States in 1913. It is set in the mid-nineteenth century when an officer wrongly imprisoned on Devil’s Island escapes and heads to Europe to rescue the love of his life from the villain._ |
| 11th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I dusted my room & messed about. After dinner I read all the afternoon. It has been a very stormy day. I haven’t heard from Kenneth. I hope I shall tomorrow. After tea I rode Tag down to the Holloways & then to the forge. |
| 12th July, 1918 |
 |
| Doe’s family due. This morning it rained cats & dogs. I went up to the forge to have Tag shod by he couldn’t do it. So I went after dinner & then he could not do it. So I went at half past three & then fetched him after tea & went on to Aline. Had lovely letter from Ken. Wrote to him. |
| 13th July, 1918 |
 |
| My black doe had a family last night. This morning I was busy all the morning. After dinner I read my book. After tea I went for a ride on Tag. I met some German prisoners. I also drove Tag up to Bannister Green. Tag galloped up from Morgans racing Smith’s horse. |
| 14th July, 1918 |
 |
| No Sunday School to day. I went to Early Service & 11. In the afternoon I wrote to Ken. I think I’m going to town on Friday. I went to bell ringing & then church again. A Willis was well enough to come bell to ringing. |
| 15th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I was busy. After dinner I cycled into Dunmow. A boy died at the school yesterday from blood poisoning from a mosquito on his face. He went(?) mad. I hope I’ll hear from Ken in the morning. This evening I went for a ride on Tag. |
| Note: The boy that died was Charles James Beresford Dealtry. He’d been bitten on the lip by a mosquito, which caused some swelling. He is buried in the local village church. |
| 16th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning. After I had a lovely letter from Ken. I was very busy this morning & after dinner I wrote letters. After tea I fetched the butter & then went for a ride on Tag. I am going to market tomorrow to take a rabbit with me. |
| 17th July, 1918 |
 |
| [Something crossed out which is illegible and not repeated elsewhere] |
| Went to Market to day. Sold my Belgian Hare doe for 18/6. Scotty has got few so he wasn’t there. I bought a doe & 5 young for 12/ from Dickaldson?. After tea I muddled about & cleaned out my bunnies. I have got 7 in the nest - there were 8 but one I found dead. |
| 18th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I had two letters from Ken & one from Audrey. I’m going to London tomorrow. I went up to Cox’s this morning. After dinner I drove to Dunmow to get my shoes. I wrote to Ken & Audrey. After tea I drove down to the station & fetched books. |
| 19th July, 1918 |
 |
| I came up to Wimbledon this morning. I found my way all right. I also had a letter from Ken when I got here. I read this afternoon & went to the pictures after tea. I forgot to post the card so telegraphed. I shall see Kenneth tomorrow. |
| Note: Uncle Willie (William Pemble Doherty 1855-1938), her father’s younger brother, lives in Wimbledon. |
| 20th July, 1918 |
 |
| I went out with Kenneth to day. I met him at Surbiton at 12 o clock then we went to town & had lunch. Then we went to a cinema then we had tea & went to another. After that we walked through the park & then took a taxi to Waterloo. He kissed me 3 times |
| 21st July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I slept soundly till half past 8. Then I went to church with Uncle. Came home had dinner then read all the afternoon. Went for a walk with Kathleen after tea & then I went to church again with Uncle & Evelyn. It has actually been fine. |
| Note: Kathleen (1887-1980) and Evelyn (1891-1950) are her cousins, daughters of Uncle Willie. |
| 22nd July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I messed about. After dinner I went to the lost-dogs home & bough an Aberdeen Terrier for seven & sixpence. I call him Scotty. I went & helped at the hut(?) this morning & washed up. Took Scotty for a walk after dinner. |
| 23rd July, 1918 |
 |
| I was going to meet Audrey but it simply poured so I didn’t. After lunch I came home & brought Scotty with me. Mrs Stook (?) came down in the train with me. Aline came up to see me after supper. I am so glad to be home. |
| 24th July, 1918 |
 |
| I went to market this morning. Cycled in. Laudrum bought me 9 rabbits also he mended my bicycle for me. Scotty was here & is quite well again. I have got 23 rabbits. I wrote to Ken to day & told him only pals(?) |
| 25th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I went for a ride on Tag. Then went for a picnic with Cuckoo. It poured so we came home after tea. I mended a rabbit hutch & cleaned them out. Enoch has left his father is a horse dealer in Newmarket? |
| 26th July, 1918 |
 |
| Mother has sprained her foot so I was busy all the morning. It poured all the afternoon. After tea I drove into Dunmow to get stuff for a new rabbit run. Scotty has killed two chickens. He is going to his happy hunting ground tomorrow. |
| 27th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I had a letter from Ken. He had not got mine when he wrote. I was busy this morning. Scotty is dead poor boy. After tea I drove Aline to the Davies? & then we stayed to watch the train come in. I went up to see the rabbits. |
| 28th July, 1918 |
 |
| I went to Early Service then I went to Sunday School & Church. Sonny stayed to the sermon. After dinner I met Aline & we went for a walk. There was a little bell ringing 5 bells. Arthur Willis went today. |
| 29th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I slacked in the garden. In the afternoon I made a rabbit run for Bucko. After tea I drove up XXX Aline? She came to tea. She & Tommy & I went to a concert in the evening & didn’t get home till 10 o’clock. |
| 30th July, 1918 |
 |
| This morning I messed about. After dinner I went for a ride on Tag. He chucked me off for the first time & then rolled. After tea Mummy & I drove into Braintree to see the Vaizeys. |
| 31st July, 1918 |
 |
| P come. I sat by the window this morning & read & knitted. I love and adore my darling Mr Shillaker. I hope God will let me see again him some day. After dinner I knitted again & nearly went to sleep. After tea I went down to the station. I drove Tag. |
Ready for some more? Read August’s Diary Entries or go back to June’s Diary Entries.
Seen any mistakes? Have something to add about what you have read? We’d love to know, so please send an email.