Walter Draycott’s Great War Chronicle

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Tuesday 22 September 1914

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Working on Keith Road School all day.
The Germans sink three of our Battleships in the North Sea by Submarines
Names are ÷ HMS Aboukir , also Hogue and Cressy
Also the Pegasus in Zanzibar Harbor with 25 men & two officers killed.

* SMS Königsberg and the Battle of Zanzibar– SMS Königsberg was a German light cruiser named after the capital of East Prussia. On September 20th 1914 the SMS Königsberg surprised the British ship Pegasus as it was in Zanzibar Harbor for repairs. The resulting attack sank the Pegasus. After the battle, one of the SMS Königsberg’s main engines broke down and the ship went up the Rufiji River to wait for repairs. The ship was discovered by the British who created a blockade and eventually attacked the ship, damaging it beyond repair.

Monday 21 September 1914 – fair

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Fine all day & worked full time.
I loan my Balaclava cap to Mr. Whipps.
German Battleship Koenigsburg [sic] captures 6 British steamers and sinks 5 in the Bay of Bengal

*Probably not the Koenigsburg (see next note) – there may have been confusion in newspapers of the day about the exact location and activities of the Koenigsburg.

Friday 18 September 1914 – rain

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Heavy rain all day
No work
Our men are fighting in rainstorms & in trenches half full of water. The Germans are still holding our Allies at bay. I send $4.50 to Sir [Hiram’s] Laboratory.
To a meeting of the North Vancouver Home Guard at Larson’s] Pavilion. I spoke twice regarding Lynn Valley Company. I get my family tree from Ruth & bring it home to Lynn Valley.

*possibly Sir Hiram Maxim, inventor of the Maxim gun.

Wednesday 16 September 1914 – rain

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Raining all day
No work

Germans have retreated to the Vosges Mountains & their front extends 150 miles
They have over 1 ½ million men in the field. Their losses have been enormous. Our total losses are 15,000 killed, wounded & missing

Tuesday 15 September 1914 – cloudy

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Germans are committing terribly atrocities in Belgium & France.
To work at Keith Road School all day

Hugh Neill calls at night & plays cards with Charles & myself.

*The Rape of Belgium – During the occupation of Belgium German troops were accused of killing civilians en masse on multiple occasions as well as destroying large amounts of civilian property. The events were quickly used as anti-German propaganda in England and North America and referred to as the Rape of Belgium.

Monday 14 September 1914 – rain

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Raining all day. Stayed at home & painted house in morning. In afternoon to Neates’
Mrs & Miss Lilian at home
Stayed till 4:15 pm

Jack Neate calls in evening “sans peur et sans reproach”

* “without fear and beyond reproach” – Alluding to a French soldier from the 13th century named Pierre Terrail, Seigneur de Bayard. He was known as “the knight without fear and beyond reproach” (le chevalier sans peur et sans reproche).

Sunday 13 September 1914 – cloudy, rain at night

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I paint house in morning. Mr MacHugh a Dublin University man calls & we have an interesting chat.
In afternoon I go to Rev. N.J. Thompson to take few flowers then onto Mrs Esdaile’s. Jack & George Barker’s Residence on Doran Road at 5 pm. I stay for supper, then to Church at 7 pm. After Church, take a walk alone, then home at 9 pm. Mr. Hugh Neill is chatting with Charles. Hugh leaves at 10 pm. Jack Neate calls at 10:15 pm & wants to know reason of my displeasure relating to him. I tell him to stay away from house on account of his intimacy with Mrs. Haswell.

Funders
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