Sergeant Jacques goes to England on leave.
Thursday and Friday, snow falls.
Monday 25 January 1915
Our Atlantic fleet sinks a German Battleship the “Blucher” 15,500 tons which cost 1 ½ million pounds to build. They were on way to raid England. The Hospital Authorities expect raids by Zeppelins and are preparing for them.
*The Battle of Dogger Bank – After the German Navy’s initial success raiding the British coastline in December of 1914, German forces attempted to initiate another raid in late January 1915. British warships however intercepted the Germans on January 24th 1914 at Dogger Bank, a large sandbank in the North Sea. Outnumbered, the German cruisers attempted to flee but the British ships caught up and sunk the SMS Blucher. The rest of the German boats however were able to escape.
Wednesday 13 January 1915 – rain
Left Rouen Stationary Hospital at 8:30 am for train to Havre where we arrive at 2:30 pm and sailed on the Carisbrooke Castle (Hospital Ship) for England at 7 pm. One man died during the voyage. No sleep during the night.
Monday 21 December 1914
Very few of the boys slept last night on account of the cold, caused by the hatches being wide open. We are now waiting outside Le Havre to disembark. Arrived at the wharf after considerable rolling about in the bay. Heavy seas. Landed about 4 pm
Very few people about: marched up town to barracks. People begging souvenirs try to tear them from us, such as buttons, cap & collar badges. Many a hundred women draped in black & lots of shops are closed. Heavy marching up the hill for 4 miles. Arrived camp 6 pm. Lot of waiting around in the bitter cold. In tents at last. 2 blankets per man. No tea nor supper. Raining. Camp muddy. No sleep. Wet blankets. Sent postcards and letter to England.
Sunday 6 December 1914 – dull
Up at 8:30 am. To Church of England, Seagrave at 11 am. Dined at 12:30 pm then to “Chapel” with the family at 2 pm till 3:30. Tea with Mrs Weston & the Draycot family. Sing-song till 6 pm then I go to see Mrs Draycot and the boys. Had supper with Edward, George, William, Joseph, Mr Draycot & Mrs Draycot. Visited Mr & Mrs Lines & said good-bye
Back home at 9:30 pm, stayed up till 12:45 am with Maud.
Tuesday 27 October 1914 – fine
Charles Graham arrives from Victoria
Working on addition to the house
Germans lose 5,000 men dead: at the crossing of the Yser in Belgium
Canadian troops are not at the front yet – still at Salisbury plain, England.
To Haswell’s in evening & had walk with my cousin
* Battle of the Yser- As the Germans pushed though Belgium, Belgian and allied troops were able to hold German troops back around the Yser river, retaining a small tract of Belgian land. They halted the German advance on October 16th and in a desperate attempt to hold the Germans back Belgian troops opened the Canal locks at Nieuwpoort on October 25th. This slowly flooded the low country where German troops were fighting and forced their retreat on October 29th. The Germans then began to focus their attack on Ypres.
Monday 10 August 1914 – very hot
Start work on Keith Rd. School
Imperial Reserves in Canada are called to England. Canada is preparing to send 21,000 troops (volunteers) to Europe. Lord Kitchener wants 100,000 more men for the war.
To supper at Hugh Neill’s
*Horatio Herbert Kitchener – A famed British Army officer who fought in the Boer War as well as WWI. He was Secretary of State for War at the start of WWI, organizing the British volunteer army sent to fight Germany. He was killed in 1916 while on a warship, HMS Hampshire, that hit a German mine.
Tuesday 4 August 1914 – very hot
Great Britain declares war against Germany 11 o’clock pm Aug: 4th
All Europe is now in arms
England, France, Russia, against Germany, Austria-Hungary
Charles pays $10 to Mills for furniture etc.
Monday 27 July 1914 – fine & warm
Mr. Little leaves for England.
To work on Keith Road School all day.
Feel the effects of mushroom poisoning yet. Mrs & Miss Wagstaffe of Burnaby pay a surprise visit. I entertain best possible way. Give them bouquet of flowers from the garden. They came at 6 pm & left at 7:30 pm. Miss Mabel sustains a severe injury to her left hand. I go to town with them & have supper. They leave for Burnaby at 9 pm. I arrive home at 11 pm
Tuesday 7 July 1914 – very hot
Putting on Verandah to my house. To church in evening & assist Mrs. Arnott. Freddie Welsh beat Richie in Light Weight Championship of World (20 rounds)
* Frederick Hall Thomas fought Willie Ritchie to be named the Lightweight Boxing Champion of the World. The fight originally was supposed to take place in Vancouver in September of 1914 but was moved to London, England.
