These are the October entries for Sheilah Doherty’s diary, from 1918. You can learn more about how I came to have this diary here.
| 1st October, 1918 |
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| I went on the rink this morning. Perce was not there. After lunch I went again & he was there. He took me round & held me close to him. I’ve made friends with his chum. After tea I went down the town & met Vineau. Dad & I went to Peg-o-my heart after dinner |
| 2nd October, 1918 |
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| This morning I went on the rink. After lunch it rained a bit so Dad & I went to the pictures. I saw Perce going to the theatre. After tea I went down to the rink. Perce was there. I shook hands with him. After dinner I went to the pictures again with George & a flying Corps cadet. See Perce tomorrow. |
| 3rd October, 1918 |
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| This morning I went on the rink & Percy’s pal Scotty took me round such a lot. After lunch I went on again. Perce took me round once, [crossed out] his indifference has killed my love for him [crossed out]. Scotty took me round. After tea I went on again. Vineau was there but did not go on as his head was bad. A wounded Tommy fell over me & hurt himself. Scotty took me home & held my arm & hand in his. |
| 4th October, 1918 |
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| Come home. I went on the rink for an hour this morning. Vineau was down there. He doesn’t believe in me any more because I let Scotty take me home last night. I said good bye to Perce. I missed Scotty this morning Oh how I miss the dear lads. I wonder if Vineau will write to me. I’ve felt pretty wretched all day. |
| 5th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I got up at the usual time. Helped Mummy in the kitchen. After dinner I helped Dad with his motorbike. Aline came down after tea to see me. Miss Goddes ( ?) came to tea. Mrs Thacker is staying with us. I went up to see Miss Dalby this evening. I want Perce. |
| 6th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I went to Sunday School & Church. After dinner I sat in my room & read. After tea I fed Bucko & then went to Church again. It has been fine to day after all. Oh! How I miss Perce & Scotty & Vineau. I wish I could hear from them. |
| 7th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I sat & darned my stockings. After dinner I drove round the 3 with Mummy. After tea I sent a card to Vineau to tell him I’m not going to write to him. I also wrote to Scotty through Perce. I haven’t posted it yet. Miss Heslop came over this evening. She is going to paint me. |
| 8th October, 1918 |
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| This morning drove up to see Aline, she is not going to do munitions. After dinner I drove Tag into Dunmow. I had to pick up old Cog on the road. I went to tea with Mrs Thacker. Mum & Dad went to tea with Miss Cailters ??? I can’t make up my mind weather [sic ] to write to Scotty or not. I wish I could. |
| 9th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I took my courage in both hands & posted my letter to Scotty. I hope he will understand. I was very busy this morning. After dinne I sat by the fire & read & knitted. After tea I stayed in, it has been pouring all day. This time last week I was enjoying myself so with Perce. |
| 10th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy. After dinner I sat in my room & wrote a story. I’ve finished it. After tea I went up & saw Miss Dalby. I am going to Dunmow with her tomorrow. It has been very warm to day. Mummy finished my first warm nightie. |
| 11th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I drove Miss Dalby into Dunmow. I took Jacob with me & left him there by mistake & he hasn’t come home. I wrote a story & sent it to Home Notes for publication. After dinner I sat in my bedroom. After tea I went up to Surridges, then Vaizeys & then to Mrs Thacker. |
| Note: Home Notes was a monthly magazine that ran from 1894 to 1958, when it was taken over by Woman’s Own. |
| 12th October, 1918 |
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| Scotty has not written. I’m so hoping to hear tomorrow. This morning I was busy in the kitchen. After dinner I drove Tag about. Then I went to fetch Aline. She came to tea. Cyril is giving me 8 rabbits in exchange for using Dad’s bicycle. I do want my darling Perce so badly. |
| 13th October, 1918 |
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| Not heard from Scotty yet. I hope I shall soon. I wrote to Elaine to day. I hope Peg will soon write & ask me there. I took Mrs Rolke’s class in Sunday School to day. Went to Church & for a walk this after noon. Tommy came to supper after Church tonight. He was waiting for Aline. |
| 14th October, 1918 |
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| Not heard from Scotty yet. This morning I cleaned Bucko out. After dinner I picked apples with Dad in the garden then I went up to Mrs Cole with him. I saw Capt McAllister in the village to day. He didn’t call in to see us. I wrote to Winnie this evening. Oh! how I want Perce. |
| Note: Winnie is her half-sister, daughter of her father’s first wife. |
| 15th October, 1918 |
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| Not heard from Scotty yet. This morning I cleaned Terence’s salvers. After dinner I went for a ride on Tag. After tea I went up to see Aline. There was a lecture at the school this evening by Major A. Corbett Smith. He is so nice & it was lovely. Aline came with me. |
| Note: 1. The salvers would perhaps have been presented to her brother Terence, possibly in recognition of his promotion to Lieutenant in 1918. (Just a guess.) In October 1918 he was attached to the Assistant Provost Marshal in Jaffa. 2. Major Arthur Corbett-Smith, died 1945, author of books on WWI e.g. The Retreat from Mons |
| 16th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy. After dinner I went round collecting money for a poor woman. After tea I wrote letters to Uncle Charlie, Stanley & Gladys. Colonel Hornsby Wright is home on leave. He came in this evening & stayed quite a while. I did not go to Market today. |
| Note: 1. Uncle Charlie is Charles Bousfield, her mother’s youngest (unmarried) brother, Stanley and Gladys are her half-siblings, both married and living in Canada. 2. Colonel Hornsby Wright, Essex Regiment like Terence, later a house master at Felsted School, presumably a family friend. 2. Colonel Hornsby Wright was a housemaster at Elwyns House, Felsted School, and later parish Council chairman. |
| 17th October, 1918 |
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| This morning the boys went for a field day to Takeley. I watched them go off after dinner. I drove up to the Burns & fetched 2 rabbits which Cyril has given me. This evening I went to a Bible meeting. Mr Cosser spoke. I haven’t heard from Scotty yet. I had a card from Win this morning |
| 18th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy & made pancakes for dinner. After dinner Dad & I finished packing the apples. Then Aline came down while I was having tea & after I went back with her. I had a letter from Terence today. He is in Jaffa. Also from Elaine She is ill. Not heard from Scotty yet. |
| Note: Elaine Croudace (1901-1987) is her first cousin, youngest daughter of Henry Croudace and her father’s sister Fanny. Sister of Harold and Audrey. |
| 19th October, 1918 |
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| Not heard from Scotty yet. My story was returned from Home Notes. This morning I was busy. After dinner I went up to see Aline. We watched the boys playing a football match. After tea I saw Molly Runacles. I saw Mackender & Dodd & Mant & Chapman & Edwards. I spoke to them too. |
| Note: All except Molly Runacles were pupils at Felsted School. |
| 20th October, 1918 |
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| Not heard from Scotty yet. I’ve got rather a cold, so as it has been a very damp day Mother said I’d better stop in. I was going to the School chappel [sic] but it rained so Hard I did’nt [sic]. Mummy is going to Brighton tomorrow & Dad going to Braintree. So I’ll be alone. |
| Note: Even though her father is a vicar, it’s odd that she always spells chapel wrong! |
| 21st October, 1918 |
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| Not heard from Scotty yet. Mother went to Brighton to day. I went down to the station & saw her off. I saw the notice in the paper of the death of Col. Henchy. I wonder if he is any relation to My Henchy. After tea I took Tag out for a ride. He was very wild & kicked like a 2 year old thing. |
| Note: No Col. Henchy at CWGC, so presumably not killed in the war. |
| 22nd October, 1918 |
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| Not heard from Scotty yet. I was very busy this morning.After dinner I rode down to Sewards Hall. Dad & I called upon the new people there. When I came back I saw Mant & Mackinder & I asked them to tea tomorrow. I wrote to Mummy & then did some errands. |
| Note: Sewards Hall, early 19th century, nowadays a grade II listed building. |
| 23rd October, 1918 |
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| This morning I was busy. After dinner I rode to Sewards Hall & got ½ lb of butter. Then I rode up to the Burns. Mant & Mackender came to tea. They are dear boys. Mackender helped me to clear away the tea. He told me poor old Seales is severely wounded. |
| 24th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I was frantically busy. After dinner I drove round the three (mile). The boys had a ½ day today. There was a lantern thing this evening. I was carrying the generator up when a boy rushed up to carry it & then Mackender also rushed up to carry it for me. They eventually shared the honours. |
| 25th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I was very busy. After dinner I went for a ride on Tag. The boys were marching in the village. Aline came to tea. The we went to see Mrs Jacob(i?). We are going to Eastbourne after Christmas if there’s room for us. I’ve not seen the boys today. |
| 26th October, 1918 |
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| Seales is killed. Poor darling boy I’m bitterly sorry. This morning Mr ???? came & told Daddy. This morning I was very busy. After dinner I went up to Aline & drove about in the trap. I rode the motor bike up to the Cheques [sic] & back. Frank Steward has got influenza. |
| Note: 1. Seales may be Corporal William Henry Seales of the 2nd Garrison Battalion, Essex Regiment, who died on 25 Oct 1918 and is buried at Nasirabad Government Cemetery in India.2. Cheques should be Chequers, a village pub. 3. Influenza: Spanish flu pandemic that in 1918-1919 infected some 500 million people worldwide. |
| 27th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I went to early service. Ethel Young took my class. I then went to Church. After dinner I went out with Aline. I got Mrs Seales address from Dr Trow & then I wrote to her. I went to the School Chappel this evening with Aline. I saw my boys. The new ration books came this morning. |
| 28th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I was frantically busy. Wrestling with the signing of the ration books. I do believe there is a chance of going to Folkestone back to Perce. I do hope I shall. I went for a ride on Tag after dinner. There was a concert this evening. Mr Rands came & sang. He was tres bon. |
| Note: Mr Rands could possibly be Leslie Rands (1900-1972), a well known baritone opera singer and actor except that he’d only have been 18 at the time of the diary. |
| 29th October, 1918 |
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| This morning I had to manage by myself. Frank is so ill. Mrs Steward could not come. After dinner I drove up to Burroughs to get some butter. Only got ¼ lb. Flu very bad at Dunmow people dying. After tea I wrote to Mummy. Then I went up to Stephensons with Daddy. Played Bezique in the evening. |
| Note: Bezique – a two-player card game that came to Britain from France. |
| 30th October, 1918 |
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| I’ve got flu. Daddy wired Mummy to day. She will come tomorrow. I went to bed this morning. Doctor Smallpeice came to see me. Temp 101. I saw Edward look up at my window. It’ll be all round the School tomorrow. |
| Note: Temperature 101 F roughly 38.4 C. |
| 31st October, 1918 |
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| This morning my temp was 102 to night nearly 104. Mother came home & brought me some grapes from London. I’ve just been doing nothing to day. Doctor Smallpeice came to see me this evening. Nothing to put to day. I had a letter from Audrey. |
| Note: Audrey Croudace (1896-1987) is her first cousin, sister of Elaine and Harold. |
Ready for some more? Read November’s Diary Entries or go back to September’s Diary Entries.
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