These are the November entries for Sheilah Doherty’s diary, from 1918. You can learn more about how I came to have this diary here.
| 1st November, 1918 |
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| This morning I lay in bed & read. I[t] has simply poured all day. Mother read to me this afternoon & this evening. Mrs Thacker sat downstairs while Mother went to Church this evening. It’s been so dull today. |
| 2nd November, 1918 |
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| P came this morning. I am much better of the flu. Mackinder has gone away. I expect to an exam. Aline came to night & brought me some biscuits. Half term to day. I do so want my darling Perce to come back for me. Oh, how I want him. |
| 3rd November, 1918 |
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| This morning I lay in bed & read. I[t] has simply poured all day. Mother read to me this afternoon & this evening. Mrs Thacker sat downstairs while Mother went to Church this evening. Its been so dull today. |
| 4th November, 1918 |
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| Rolke is dead. Suddenly from pneumonia. I got up this morning & came downstairs. I spent all day in the sideroom. I do hope Mrs Marsden hasent [sic] gone. I must go back to Perce at Folkestone somehow. I’m going out again tomorrow. I hope if its [sic] fine day. |
| 5th November, 1918 |
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| Mrs Marsden is not going to Folkestone. So good bye to my ever seeing Perce again. I went out this morning. The boys all marched down the village this morning. I went out again after dinner. Aline came down this morning to see me. |
| 6th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I had a photo of Seales on his horse. I helped Mother in the kitchen. After dinner I walked up to Cogmans with Father. Arthur Willis came to see us to day. I am just as usual again now. I went down to see Dr this morning. Got some tonic. |
| 7th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy. After dinner Aline came down with Bobby. She is going away. I went to see Miss Dalby. Mr Hodges has got flu & Mrs Hodges is going to have a baby. Mr McCombie was out to day for the first time since he got flu. |
| 8th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy. I wrote round to collect some ringers to ring a peal for Rölcke. After dinner I went up to Aline on Tag & then went for a ride. Tag behaved badly passing the school fire engine. Aline came to tea. I did not go to the lecture up at the school after all. |
| 9th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was very busy. After dinner Rölcke was buried. I blew the organ. We’ve got 5 land girls billeted on us. One of them is very pretty. We had partridges for dinner to day. Aline came down this afternoon. Tom Gibbons was down here to day from Dunmow. |
| Note: Land girls worked full time in the Women’s Land Army replacing male farm workers away at the war. |
| 10th November, 1918 |
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| This morning there was no Sunday School. I went to Church & sat with the Forage girls. After dinner a band of ringers came over & rang a half muffled peal for Rölcke. Kaiser Bill has abdicated. & the Crown Prince has run away. I went to Church this evening as usual. |
| Note: 1. Forage girls, the Forage Corps of the Women’s Land Army, saw, among other things, to transport and feeding of horses 2. Kaiser Bill was the nickname of Wilhelm II, German Emperor from 1888 to 1918. 3. Crown Prince, son of Emperor, also called Wilhelm, left Germany in 1918, not returning till 1923. |
| 11th November, 1918 |
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| The War is over armistice (‘peace’ crossed out) was signed this morning. Such glorifications going on. The bells all ringing. The boys came down the Village & screamed & hooted like mad things. We rang bells & put out flags. Entertainment at the school. |
| 12th November, 1918 |
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| This morning the boys had a holiday. I went to a Thanksgiving Service at the School Chappel & then we saw the Corps salute the flag. An aeroplane came down in a field this afternoon. It was Deane an old boy. He looped the loope (e crossed out). We had a service to night. Father came home. |
| Note: No Deane on Felsted Roll of Honour (unlike her brother Terence). |
| 13th November, 1918 |
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| I’ve not heard from Bill yet about the socks. This morning we had a letter from Terence. He has been moved to Shechem. I was busy this morning. Mackinder has come back again. Dupré has cut his knee badly. He was limping about the village this afternoon. I spoke to him too. How I long for my Perce. |
| Note: Shechem, an ancient city in what was then Palestine, now in the West Bank. |
| 14th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy & also went up the Church tower. Thomson is here again, though not by aeroplane. I spoke to him & Dupré in Norris’s. This afternoon I did errands. Bucko is getting so fierce now. Oh how I do wish Perce & I could meet again. I adore him. |
| Note: Norris’s was a family shop in the village. |
| 15th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy & I went up to the girls’ camp with Kitty. After dinner I drove Tag into Dunmow. I didn’t see anyone special. I did some errands for Miss Vaizy & Mrs Thacker. I saw some German prisoners they looked very glum as they’ve lost the war. |
| 16th November, 1918 |
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| Petrol restrictions being taken off again. Hurray! This morning I was busy. After dinner read my book. I saw Dodd in Norris’s. Two (?) of our land girls have been moved, they are at Fittons now. I mended all the evening. I’ve not heard from Bill or Elaine yet. |
| Note: Fittons, probably the home of the Congregationalist minister, Rev. A. J. Fitton. |
| 17th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I went to Sunday School & took Mrs Rölcke’s class. Then Church. After dinner, I drove up & fetched Mrs Howland with her baby to be christened. Then I took them back again. There was a United Service in the church to night. Such a crowd to[o] thank God. |
| 18th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was very busy. After dinner I started the motor bike up the road. I was a naughty girl & smoked a cigarette this afternoon, one of Daddy’s. After tea I went down to see Miss Vaizey. I havent heard from Bill yet. Oh how I want Perce (underlined). |
| 19th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I let down my coat as I’ve really got my hair up for good now. After dinner I cycled into Dunmow. I went into the market there. The girls’ Club had their first meeting tonight. I went over to the Old Schoolhouse. My darling Perce. Oh I wish he was my husband. |
| 20th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy. After dinner I went for a ride on Tag. I rode up to the girls’ camp & machine (?) & down to Sewards Hall. There has been a thick fog to day. I wrote to Gwen, Constance & Kathleen to ask them to pray that I may meet Perce again soon. |
| Note: Gwen may be Gwyneth Croudace (1893-1983), her first cousin, daughter of her father’s sister Fanny and sister of cousins Elaine, Audrey and Harold (also mentioned in diary); Constance may be her aunt Constance (1862-1936), wife of her father’s brother William Pemble Doherty (1855-1938), and Kathleen may be her mother’s unmarried sister Kathleen Bousfield (1855-1943). But would she really have written to two middle aged aunts to ask for their prayers in her love life?? |
| 21st November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was very busy. There was a Confirmation at the school this morning. After dinner I went for a drive with Tag. I went up to the Burns. Florrie, their servant & her two sisters have died of flu. I lengthened my blue dress to day. |
| 22nd November, 1918 |
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| This morning I went into Dunmow by train. I bought a new pair of shoes brougues [sic] they cost 27/6. After dinner I messed about & went for a walk with Dad. After tea I went to see Miss Dalby & Miss Stone. I do want Perce so. |
| Note: 27/6, one pound seven shillings and sixpence, roughly over £100 in modern money! |
| 23rd November, 1918 |
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| This morning first I did a lot of errands & then I was busy. After dinner I drove Tag up to Bannister Green & then I went up & watched the match. They were playing the RNAS from Felix[s]towe. School won. |
| Note: 1. RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) Seaplane Experimental Station set up after outbreak of WWI. 2. School, that is, Felsted School won. |
| 24th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I went to early Service & the Sunday School. I had to ring the bell for Chu[r]ch. After dinner I wrote letters till tea time. I went to Church this evening & sat between the Corporal & Jerry. I’ve not heard from Bill. Oh I do hope I’ll see Perce soon. |
| 25th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy. After dinner I rode round the 3 on Tag with Hilda Scrivener on her horse. Tag galloped & nearly bumped me to death. I went to tea at Miss Vaizey’s. I’ve pulled my muff to pieces & made a lovely fur collar for my coat. |
| 26th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was very busy. After dinner I walked up to Dyers with Daddy. I look quite swank with my hair up & my velvet hat & fur collar. I saw Mackinder & Dodd in Linsills today. I went over to the girls club this evening. Oh how I simply long for Perce. |
| Note: : Linsills should probably be Linsells, the village shop. |
| 27th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy, & I washed my hair. After dinner a [sic: I] cycled into Braintree. It was packed. I wrote to the Petrol Control[l]er to day to get a permit to ride Dad’s motor bike again. Not heard from Bill yet. Still want Perce allways [sic] shall. |
| Note: Petrol Controller is probably the Petrol Control Department of the Board of Trade which assessed people’s need for petrol during rationing. |
| 28th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was very busy ironing. After dinner I took round some notes for Dad. It has been raining all day. Last night I had a lovely dream about Perce coming here in an aeroplane. How I wish he would. I was quite close to him in my dream. |
| 29th November, 1918 |
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| This morning I was very busy. I made pancakes for dinner. After dinner I drove Tag about & then I went up to the Burns & stayed a while with Bobby & Mrs Burne. Beastly fog to day. I want Perce. |
| 30th November, 1918 |
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| Went to Church this morning. Was busy all the rest of the morning. After dinner I delivered notes for Father. Then we all went to tea with Mrs Hainsworth. I’m going to London after the school concert. Oh how I hope I’ll meet Perce. |
Ready for some more? Read December’s Diary Entries or go back to October’s Diary Entries.
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