These are the March entries for Sheilah Doherty’s diary, from 1918. You can learn more about how I came to have this diary here.
| 1st March, 1918 |
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| Mrs Steward is at home to day because her legs are bad. I put my hair up to day for the first time. I saw him twice to day. At dinner time I saw him pass the gate twice, & then I saw him going down the road with Mr Cooper. There has been a very icy cold high wind to day. I saw Adeliene this afternoon. I went out with Mummy to day. |
| 2nd March, 1918 |
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| I saw him going up the road after breakfast. I went to a lecture by Mr Owen with Mr & Mrs Hodges. I sat between them. It is simply awfully cold, with a high wind. Mr Hodges was in the 3rd The Connaught Rangers before his accident. He is an Irishman. Father & I went to call upon General Dyer this afternoon. |
| Note: 1. The Connaught Rangers were an Irish line infantry regiment of the British Army. The 3rd (Reserve) Batallion had moved to England from its base in Galway, Ireland in 1917. (Wikipedia) 2. General Dyer – may be Reginald Edward Harry Dyer 1864-1927, who was to become notorious as the Butcher of Amritsar in 1919. 3. Mr Owen was possible John Hugh Owen. |
| 3rd March, 1918 |
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| I’ve not seen him to day. It has been a miserable rainy day. Very few people at Church morning & evening. Reason came to bell ringing this morning. I sat by the fire & read all the afternoon. A. Willis was away today, so I had to get the papers myself, & Tyrell blew the organ for Mummy. I do so hope I shall see him soon. |
| 4th March, 1918 |
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| I’ve not seen him to day. I went to watch the Steeplechase boys come in this afternoon. This Morning I just did nothing very particular. Father & I went to call on Mr Welch (?) & Miss Vaizy this afternoon. |
| I am really beginning to think Mr Evans has gone away, or else he is ill. I haven’t seen him for two days, & he was’nt [sic] watching the steeplechase either. |
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| 5th March, 1918 |
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| I just caught sight of him right in the distance this afternoon. I do want to look into his eyes again. I was very busy this morning. This afternoon I walked up to Burroughs with Father to fetch the butter. Mother says every time I say a slang word, I forfeit a kiss. I haven’t said one today, at least I don’t think so. Bunnies are flourishing. Mr John Redmond died. |
| Note: John Redmond (1 Sept 1856 - 6 Mar 1918) Irish nationalist politician sat in House of Commons 1891-1918. Devoted his life to achieving Home Rule for Ireland (Britannica). |
| 6th March, 1918 |
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| Shall I ever see him quite close again? I think it was him I saw yesterday in the distance. The boys went to Takeley to day for a field day. I went up to the Burns this morning, & Cyril showed me his rabbits. General & Mrs Dyer came in this evening & stayed quite a long while. I went bellringing this evening. |
| 7th March, 1918 |
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| Another day has passed & I’ve not seen him again. It was Church at 10 this morning. This afternoon I told people about the rummage sale & stopped to tea at the Vaizy’s [sic]. Mr Vaizy mentioned Mr Evans. I wrote to Stanley for his birthday to day also I wrote to Constance. Uncle Willie is coming on the 15th. (My heart does ache for him). |
| Note: 1. Stanley – Stanley Gartside Doherty 1886-1928, Sheilah’s half brother living in Vancouver, the son of her father by his first marriage to Eliza Gartside 1851-1895. 2. Constance - Constance née Bishop 1862-1936 wife of her Uncle Willie. 3. Uncle Willie – William Pemble Doherty 1855-1938, one of her father’s younger brothers. |
| 8th March, 1918 |
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| I’ve seen him at last going down the road & then up again. He looked whiter than ever. I haven’t done anything very special to day. Last night a raid, 11 killed 46 injured. It is called the Auror [sic] Borealis raid. Terence has gone to Gravesend to day. I am going to knit Bill another pair of socks. Charterhouse was burnt to day. |
| Note: Charterhouse – founded in 1611, one of England’s leading boys’ public schools. Nowadays co-educational. |
| 9th March, 1918 |
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| I met him face to face to day. It is very fickle of me but I dont love him as much as I did. My feelings lean towards Bill because he is so unloved. The truth is I don’t know my own mind. Something was walking about in the house last night. It has been a glorious day. Mr McCombie has given me a lot of hay. |
| 10th March, 1918 |
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| I went to early Service this morning then to Sunday School & then Church. This afternoon I stayed in the garden & printed photographs to send to Uncle Charlie. |
| If Bill does’nt [sic] get leave soon he won’t till after the great offensive as all leave is stopped after this month. I’ve put his letter back in my Diary. |
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| Note: Uncle Charlie – Sheilah’s mother’s brother Charles Bousfield 1867-1951, an architect. He did not marry. |
| 11th March, 1918 |
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| I have put my hair up for good to day! I was busy this morning in the house. This afternoon I finished weeding my garden, cleaned out my rabbit hutches & printed a few hutches photoes [sic]. Aliene came to tea with Bobby. After tea I went home with her to see the bunnies. Terence is at Gravesend. Mother is going to town tomorrow. |
| 12th March, 1918 |
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| Mummy went to town to day & met Winnie. I left behind a whole skein of wool from Bill’s socks. I’m going to get round Mummy to let me knit him another pair. Mr Chancellor came to day. He said that on the last raid night we shot down 3 of our own aeroplanes. P due tomorrow unfortunately. |
| Note: Winnie – Irene Winifred Sands née Doherty 1885-1968 Sheilah’s half sister, daughter of her father’s first wife Eliza Gartside. Winnie married Percy Sands 1885-1961, a teacher and footballer who played for Arsenal for 17 years. |
| 13th March, 1918 |
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| P not come. I have bein [sic] rather seedy to day. I machined some towels for Mum this morning. Aliene came this afternoon. I lent her Raven VC. There was a Zepp raid last night over Yorkshire. |
| I made Daddy promise to let Mum sleep in the dressing room. My butter (?) came to grief to day. |
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| Note: 1. Letter P refers to her period 2. Raven V.C. - book by Coralie Stanton and Heath Hosken published in 1913. |
| 14th March, 1918 |
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| P not come. I went to tea at the Scriveners this afternoon, & had plenty of butter. I can’t quite make up my mind if I love Mr Evans or not. Yesterday I saw him taking the boys to hockey, & to day I saw him twice. There was an air raid by Zepps again last night on Hartlepool. 5 killed 9 injur[ed}. It was my holiday to day. |
| Note: Zepp – Zeppelin, a rigid airship invented in Germany by Ferdinand von Zeppelin used for bombing raids in England in World War I. |
| 15th March, 1918 |
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| P not come. I went to Dunmow this afternoon & then came out with Uncle Willie who came down by the 4 train. I am getting desperately nervous at night now. Last night there was something in the attic. I forfeitted [sic] my second kiss today by saying, beastly. I spent the morning getting Uncle’s room ready. |
| 16th March, 1918 |
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| P not come. It was a stupid mistake saying I did not love him anymore. I do love him. I saw him to day without hat or coat. Uncle Willie is still here. I do so hope I shall be all right till Monday. Pat went away this morning & has not come back. Poor darling. It has been a glorious day. |
| Note: Pat is a dog. |
| 17th March, 1918 |
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| P not come. My darling dog is still away. I simply can’t think what has happened to him. It is St Patrick’s Day to day. I walked round the three mile with Uncle this afternoon. |
| I’ve wept buckets for Pat. |
| Nothing to write down to day. We rang the big bells this evening for the first time. Nunn (?) is very officious. |
| Note: Locals still refer to the three mile walk. Village centre to Causeway End, Cock Green, Bannister Green, Watch House Green and back. |
| 18th March, 1918 |
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| P come. Been very bad. Pat has not come home. He has been shot I’m afraid. I bore the pain as long as I could this morning & then lay down. It has been a glorious day to day. Uncle Willie went this morning. He gave me half a crown. I’ve not seen him for quite a long time. I do love him. |
| Note: Half a crown is 2 shillings and sixpence, worth roughly £6 today. |
| 19th March, 1918 |
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| Pat still lost. Tomorrow I’m going to get Arthur to organize a party of scouts to find him. I went to a Temperance lecture this evening at the Congregational Schoolroom. Kathleen is coming tomorrow. I saw him to day running down the road in the rain. He went into Nones (?) & bought things & then went backagain [sic]. I love him just the same. |
| Note: Kathleen – one of her mother’s four unmarried sisters, Kathleen Bousfield 1855-1943. |
| 20th March, 1918 |
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| Pat still lost. I’m afraid I must give him up now. Vera Hull offered to give me Jacob, but I have set my heart on an Irish terrier pup. Kathleen came this afternoon. I’m nearly all right now. I had a row with Mr Tufnel (?) this morning. This afternoon I went all round looking for Pat. This evening I rode round the 3 with Kathleen |
| Note: There was a Vera Hill living near the Boote House, Chelmsford Road in the village. She was about 18 in 1918, and her father James Hill was a Baker’s foreman. She had a sister and 3 brothers. |
| 21st March, 1918 |
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| I’ve given Pat up now, I’m afraid he will never come back. It was service this morning. This afternoon I cleaned out the rabbits & after tea Kathleen & I went for a long walk. I can’t think why there is not a raid, as absolutely perfect night. It has been a lovely day. It is the school sports to morrow. I want him. |
| 22nd March, 1918 |
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| It was not the sports to day after all, it is Tuesday & Wednesday of the last week. I muddled this afternoon & this morning. Mummy went to Rayne. After tea Kathleen & I went for a ride. The boys had a half holiday this afternoon. Dodd is very much like his brother. |
| Note: 1. Rayne is a village about 5 miles from Felsted. 2. Dodd, 2 brothers Lionel Clarence and Thomas Courtenay, attended Felsted School though not at the same time. Also Dodd, 2 brothers Peter (40) and Arthur (29) lived in the village at Willows Green. |
| 23rd March, 1918 |
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| This afternoon I cycled to Dunmow with Kathleen. It was very hot indeed. I saw Aleine down the village after tea, & went home with her. I hope she will have Jacob. I am going up to town to stay with Uncle Willie in the holidays. I shall choose a dog then. My poor darling will never come back now. |
| Note: Jacob is a dog. |
| 24th March, 1918 |
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| I’m going to have a pony to ride. It will be Mummy’s really for her to drive in, a little trap, but I’m going to have charge of it. Aliene came to tea this afternoon & then I went home with her to see the rabbits. I went up to see the pony this afternoon. This is Mondays entry. I shall put Sundays on Monday. |
| 25th March, 1918 |
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| I went round the three miles on Sunday afternoon it was very hot. I saw him going for a walk on Sunday afternoon. Awful battle going on in France. Last night they tried an air raid but were turned back. I’m so excited at the thought of the pony. His name is Joe but is going to be Tag (?) |
| 26th March, 1918 |
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| An aeroplane has come down in the school field. Thomson was pilot. It is going tomorrow morning. I’m going on the land. Mother says I must go to work. I saw Mr Evans going up & down the road & then by the aeroplane & then crossing the school field. I do like Dodd. He is just like his brother. |
| 27th March, 1918 |
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| I spoke to Thomson this morning & afternoon & then saw his aeroplane go up on the school ground. Mr McCombie is going to give me a job on the farm. Mummy went to Stebbing this afternoon. The pony is coming next week. I went home with the Burns this afternoon to see the bunnies. APO 3 is Amiens |
| Note: 1. Stebbing is a village about 4 miles from Felsted. 2. Burns is possibly this person. |
| 28th March, 1918 |
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| APO is Boulogne not Amiens. I enamelled my bicycle to day. One of my rabbits wants a family. I’m going to take it up to Cyril Burne tomorrow. We are going to get primroses for decorations. It has been pouring all day but cleared up this evening. Aileen came down this evening & saw the rabbits. Prep boy got scarlet fever. |
| Note: 1. APO 3 = Army Post Office 3 2. Prep boy = Preparatory school boy. |
| 29th March, 1918 |
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| I went to Church this morning & this afternoon. Aleen came to tea & after tea Kathleen & I & Aleen went primrosing for the decorations tomorrow. I am going to tea at the Burns tomorrow. I believe I’m the first person to go to tea there. Stanley been rejected for third time with a strained heart. Been like Sunday today. |
| Note: Stanley is her half brother, son of her father and his first wife Eliza née Gartside. Perhaps rejected for army? He had emigrated to Canada with his sister Nora in 1908. He died in Vancouver in 1928. Nora married Douglas Jolly and died in California in 1968. |
| 30th March, 1918 |
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| Pouring wet to day. Nell is mine at last. Daddy says I can have her. I went to tea with the Burnes this afternoon. Mrs Burne is very nice but very subdued. Aleen’s uncle is very nice indeed he is also young. Been decorating the Church to day. Miss Vaizey gave me antidiluvian brooch. Got to get up at ¼ to 7 tomorrow to ring the bells. |
| Note: Rang the bells of Holy Cross, Felsted, where her father Rev. Edward John Doherty, was vicar. |
| 31st March, 1918 |
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| I got up at ¼ to 7 to ring the bells for early service, & then rang again for midday. This afternoon I went up to the Burnes for my bunnie. I walked home with Aleen & her uncle. We got caught in the rain & both of them came in to us till it stopped. I was going to the school chappel [sic] with them, but they did not go nor did I either. |
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