These are the May entries for Sheilah Doherty’s diary, from 1918. You can learn more about how I came to have this diary here.
| 1st May, 1918 |
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| (Kenneth’s Birthday) I went to Braintree market this morning & sold a rabbit for 3/- & two fowls 7/- each. Cyril came with us. I got home this afternoon. After tea I rode Tag about. The boys have come back again. I bought a new summer hat. I have started making another pair of socks for Bill. |
| Note: Today, 3/- (3 shillings) would be about £7 , and 7/- (7 shillings) about £16.50. |
| 2nd May, 1918 |
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| This morning I worked a bit. After dinner I drove with Mummy to Grandcourts to see the Dyers. Aline came down but I didn’t see her. Mr McCombie has got a kitten for me but I cant have it because of the chicks. I rode Tag after tea. It was bellringing after supper. I saw Mr Evans to day. |
| Note: Felsted Manor of Grandcourts. General Reginald Edward Dyer may have either lived there or been visiting at this time. See entry 2 March |
| 3rd May, 1918 |
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| This morning I messed about & rode Tag. After dinner I went to Braintree on the carrier of Dads motor bike. I had a cast taken of my mouth. After tea I rode Tag again. It was choir practice this evening after supper. I blew the organ as Arthur Willis did not turn up. I saw Mr Evans again to day. |
| 4th May, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy. After dinner I muddled about in the garden. Aline came down too. After tea I rode on Tag to Little Dunmow & back with Kenneth Tench. He wants me to meet him in London & go to the theatre with him. I wish I could. When we were out we met Mr Evans. Kenneth is going into the Indian Army. |
| Note: 1911 census for Dunmow gives Kenneth Tench as an 11 year old boarder in Junior House, Felsted School, born Dunmow. He later joined the Essex Volunteer Regiment and on the electoral register in 1920 he was a military voter. |
| 5th May, 1918 |
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| I went to Sunday School & church this morning & this evening. Bill is captain at last & assistant commander of a Labour Corps. It has been very wet all day. We managed 8 bells this evening. Daddy is going to London tomorrow. I wish I was. |
| 6th May, 1918 |
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| This morning the girl Mott was married. I blew the organ. Afterwards Mummy & I went to the reception. Mr House took it. Daddy went to London this morning. This afternoon I went up to Rayne with Mummy. After tea I rode Tag nearly to Little Dunmow. I am going to Dunmow tomorrow. I have got 6 baby rabbits. |
| 7th May, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy in the house. After dinner I drove Tag to Dunmow. I just saw Kenneth & he saw me. I never thought it possible that I could love Kenneth but I do. I have got my watch & bracelet back from Bartram. Daddy came home by the 6 train. Win is coming in a weeks time. Saw Aline. |
| Note: Win is Sheilah’s half-sister Irene Winnie (1885-1968), see entry 12 March. |
| 8th May, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy. After dinner I read & knitted & looked out of the window. Mother went out with Tag. After tea I went for a ride. Daddy has nearly finished marking out the tennis court. I can’t remember what I did to day as I am writing (?) this entry Thursday night. |
| 9th May, 1918 |
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| This morning I went to 4 o’clock service. After breakfast I was busy. Mummy gave me an old wash stand to make a bunny hutch of. Terence is going to India. He sent me 10/- for my birthday. I made hutch this afternoon & went for a ride this evening. My birthday tomorrow. |
| Note: 1. 10/- = 10 shillings (worth about £23.50 today) 2. In June 1918, her brother Terence (by now a Lieutenant in the Essex Regiment) went to Egypt, not India. |
| 10th May, 1918 |
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| My birthday to day. I had a telegram from Kenneth. I wrote to him this evening. 2/- Aunt Hilda 2/6 Daddy & tennis racquet. Terence 10/-. Mummy’s has not come yet. I went to Dunmow this morning. Aline came to tea. I’ve finished my bunny hutch & am making another out of the scullery washstand. I had a bath to day. I rode Tag this evening. |
| Note: 2/- = 2 shillings (about £4.70 today), 2/6 = 2 shillings and sixpence (about £6 pounds today), 10/- (about £23.50 today). |
| 11th May, 1918 |
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| (Doe’s faily due) My bunnies finally arrived last night. I wrote to Kenneth again to day. I had hair ribbon from Mrs Thacker. I was busy this morning. I took Tag up to be shod. After dinner I went to Dunmow in the cart. After tea I rode up to Aline on Tag. First day of tennis in the garden. I hope I shall hear from Kenneth. |
| Note: Doe = female bunny. |
| 12th May, 1918 |
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| I went to early service this morning. Then Sunday School & Church. After dinner I wrote thanks for birthday presents & then knitted & read. I was going to the school chappel [sic] but Aline did not come. We managed 8 bells this evening. I heard from Terence |
| 13th May, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy. After dinner I went for a ride. After tea worked on my rabbit hutch. I’ve finished it all but the fastening. I bought a rabbit from Cloughten to day for 3/-. I’m hoping to hear from Kenneth tomorrow. |
| Note: Perhaps Cloughten is the same person as Cloughies? |
| 14th May, 1918 |
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| I had a wonderful letter from Ken. He loves me. Mother likes it & I may go to the theatre with him. I feel so happy because God has answered my prayer & given me a sweet heart. This morning I was busy after dinner. I went to Braintree to the dentist. I went out with Mum after tea. |
| 15th May, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy. After dinner I went up to Burroughs on Tag & then went & galloped in the Bury Meadow. After tea I went down to the station to meet Win. I picked up a blind man on the way. Win & Rene came by the 6.13. Aline borrowed my bike to go to Braintree this morning. |
| Note: Rene is Win’s daughter, born 18 May 1912. |
| 16th May, 1918 |
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| This morning I slacked. Sat in the garden. I brought my bunny family out on to the lawn. After dinner I wrote to Ken. After tea I drove Win & Rene into Dunmow. Tag went much better. After supper it was bell ringing. I was giddy & nearly let my bell down. |
| 17th May, 1918 |
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| This morning I was very busy. After dinner I stayed in the garden. After tea I went to Burroughs for butter. I got 1 lb. Mother went to Rayne. Uncle Willie came to day. The raid warning has just gone I think. Rene’s birth day. Mr Evans is going in a fortnight. Into Inns of Court & then Welsh Grenadiers. |
| Note: 1. 1 lb = 1 pound in weight, just under ½ kg 2. Rene’s birthday – she was 6. |
| 18th May, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy most of the time. After dinner I took Rene for a ride on Tag & then went down to Ridgewells on Tag. After tea I drove to Braintree & bought a pair of broges [sic brogues] for 19/6. We got to Braintree in an hour & out again under it. Hope I’ll hear from Ken tomorrow. |
| Note: 1. Brogues – low-heeled shoes with laces. 2. 19/6 – 19 shillings and 6 pence (roughly £90 today). |
| 19th May, 1918 |
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| Went to early Service. The boys came to Church this morning. After dinner I went to Rayne to fetch Mrs Roe & then took her back again. After tea I went to bell ringing & then I went to the school chappel [sic] with Win & Aline. I’m afraid curly boy had a headache, he looked tired |
| 20th May, 1918 |
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| Bad air raid last night. 4 Gothas brought down. Shock of the guns brought my p[eriod] on. Never slept one wink last night. This morning I slacked & this afternoon too. After tea I took Win & Rene for drive we went over Leez Priory. My kitten came to day. I do hope I’ll hear from Ken tomorrow morning. |
| Note: Leez Priory, a 16th century mansion in Little Leighs, not far from Felsted. Designated a Grade 1 listed building in 1952. (Wikipedia) |
| 21st May, 1918 |
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| 37 killed, 106 injured in Sunday’s raid. This morning I was busy after dinner. I read & knitted in my bedroom. I took Uncle down to the station this morning. He gave me 2/6. After tea I went out with Mummy & Tag. He [is] going very well now. I hope I shall hear from Ken tomorrow. |
| Note: 2/6 = 2 shillings and sixpence (half a crown) about £6 in today’s money. |
| 22nd May, 1918 |
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| Had lovely letter from Ken this morning. After supper Terence phone to say he was coming by aeroplane. He landed at Broomfield. I went to fetch him & 2 other officers in a car through a thunder storm. One is Paddy & the other a Frenchie Bonnar. I believe I’ll go up in the aeroplane. |
| Note: Broomfield – a village about 7 miles from Felsted. |
| 23rd May, 1918 |
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| I went to Broomfield with Terence, Paddy & Bonnar this morning & then back by Dunmow. After dinner I wrote to Kenneth. After tea I went to a lecture at the School on the Navy. Aline came to tea. Concert at the prep next Wednesday, 3 o’clock. Bob Fuller is dying. I’m going up in the Gotha when they come back. |
| Note: Bob Fuller might be Charles Robert Fuller, born 1900, son of Joseph Fuller, Headmaster of Felsted School, though GRO has no record of death of a Charles Robert Fuller in 1918. |
| 24th May, 1918 |
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| This morning I sent Ken’s letter off. I was fairly busy. After dinner I slacked. Beastly day. After tea I rode up to Burroughs on Tag. I bought a pound of chockolate [sic] to send to Bill when I have finished his socks. My new coat was finished to day. Mother is going down to Shere. |
| Note: Shere is a village nearly 100 miles away in the Guildford district of Surrey. |
| 25th May, 1918 |
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| Today I was very busy. This afternoon I ironed my frock & read my book. After tea I went out on Tag. Dodd smiled & took off his hat to me. I gave Rene rides up & down the road on my bicycle & pony. I’m going to sell my mother rabbit on Tuesday. Tomorrow morning I’ll stop with Rene. |
| 26th May, 1918 |
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| Stayed with Rene this morning. Then I went to Sunday School & Church. After dinner I sat up at my window & read & knitted. Winnie says its wrong to knit on Sunday. Mum says it is not. I went to Church this evening. Mr Farrow & Arthur Willis have been called up now. |
| Note: Arthur Willis may be a milkman born 1891. Mr Farrow may be either Sidney born 1892 or Edward born 1895, both of whom were cowmen. |
| 27th May, 1918 |
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| I went to Dunmow this morning. Not a drop of sweet stuff in the town. I hope I hear from Ken tomorrow. After dinner I cleaned out my rabbits & then read my book. After tea I took Win & Rene for a drive. Miss Webb came to tea. I took Tag round to Wrights to have his collar mended properly. |
| Note: Wrights – possibly George and his son Richard, who were saddlers. |
| 28th May, 1918 |
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| Terence is going to Egypt. Came home to day for last leave. Got till Saturday. Had a letter from Ken this morning. I had a ride on the German guard’s horse. It was lovely. This morning Mummy went to Rayne. I was busy. I slacked this afternoon. After tea I rode Tag to the station to meet Terence. He went well |
| Note: Her brother Terence left for Egypt in June 1918, serving there and in Palestine (Jaffa and Jerusalem) for the next two years. |
| 29th May, 1918 |
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| Terence went to Felixtowe [sic] to say good bye to his lady love. I drove him down to the station. After dinner I sorted rummage clothes. After tea I muddled. Went to prep concert this evening. Mr Evans goes tomorrow. He goes home. He is in A1 though he has something the matter with his lungs. |
| Note: Felixstowe – on the Suffolk coast about 50 miles away. |
| 30th May, 1918 |
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| I had a holiday to day. This morning I went to Dunmow. I got a two lb pot of marmalade. Mr Evans has gone. He has passed out of my life. I’ll try & not think of him anymore. I wrote to Ken to day. I motored to Braintree to meet Terence this evening. I rode Tag this morning & this evening. |
| Note: 2 lb = 2 pounds, roughly 1 kg. |
| 31st May, 1918 |
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| This morning I washed my hair. This afternoon I rode Tag round the school field & had a long talk with Mackintyre [sic]. He was the boy I thought was grey. He lives at Hunstanton. After tea I went for a ride on Tag. Terence is going tomorrow. Dad is going to take me to London for a couple of days soon. |
| Note: Macintyre must be one of the boarders, as Hunstanton in Norfolk is almost 100 miles away. |
Ready for some more? Read June’s Diary Entries or go back to April’s Diary Entries.
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