Left Wylde Green at 9:15 am, at Nuneaton 11 am and arrive at Mr. Wagstaffe’s at 11.30. Went for walk with Mr. Wagstaffe visited Old Church and other places. Returned home and had dinner with the family. Left at 3:40 for Leicester on Midland Road. Arrive at Leicester at 4:45. Called on Mrs Draycot (Aunt) stayed 15 minutes and off to Sileby by the 5:40 train. Met the girls at [Yatin and Son] and then on to Loom’s and had refreshments. Girls called at 7 pm and we walk into Seagrave. Great reception at home. Long talks till past midnight then to bed. Mrs Draycot of Humberstone died on 30th Jan 1915.
Monday 7 December 1914 – Dull
Up at 8 am. Cyril & Edith go to Sileby & take my bag to station.
I commence saying good bye’s. I go to Gert’s, Mrs Davenport & Harry Knight’s. The time has slipt by & I have to post-pone it till tomorrow.
I go to Leicester & visit Mrs Melvin & Draycot of Grady Street. Make some purchases & return home. I lose £2.10 on the way. Meet May & Maud & walk home with them. Arrive at 7:20 pm.
Had a talk with Maud till 1:20 am midnight.
Saturday 5 December 1914 – dull & showers, high winds
Up at 9 am. Visited Grandma Draycot & Mrs Davenport. To Leicester with Cyril Green & visited my Aunt & Cousins.
Had a tea with Fred & at 12:30 to dinner with Mr., Mrs., & Cyril Green. Back to Draycot store & had chat with Mrs Draycot at 1:30 pm. Took 2:10 pm train with Cyril for Sileby.
To bed at 2:15 am (stayed up with Maud).
Friday 4 December 1914 – rain & fine
Capture of De Wet.
Up at 8:30 am to town at 10:10 am.
Visited the Picton Reading Room at 11 am & stayed till 4:30 pm. Then on to Gray’s & Hollinghurst’s at Tuebrook.
Had tea with Polly & Maggie (Mrs Campbell till 8 pm then on to S.S. Upton’s & said more good bye’s. Left at 9:30 pm
Very windy weather & cold.
Arrived Leicester 2 pm. Raining hard. Took 2:10 pm train to Sileby & visited the girls Maud & May. Great welcome. Arrive Seagrave 4:50 pm & had tea. To bed at 12:30 pm
* Christiaan de Wet and the Maritz Rebellion – De Wet was a Boer leader during the Boer Wars and a political leader after they ended. In 1914 he became a leader in the Maritz Rebellion, as pro-Boer rebels rose up against the Union of South Africa. The rebellion was quickly crushed by government forces and De Wet was taken prisoner on December 1st 1914. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison but only served one after making a written promise to take no further part in politics. As a Boer War veteran, Draycott continued to take an interest in events in South Africa.
