Walter Draycott’s Great War Chronicle

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You are here: Home / Archives for Winchester

Friday 15 January 1915 – fine

January 15, 2015 by Sarah McLennan

https://monova.ca/greatwarchronicles/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Friday_January_15_1915.mp3
We are quartered in the Examining Hall of the Oxford University. Certainly a fine building. Paintings and carvings etc; feeling very strange and would give anything to be out of it. The nurses are territorials and not as nice as those in France. Some bad cases here; Arms and legs off etc; Have notified Harry, Ernest, Mrs George Draycot and Mrs Joseph Draycot (of Seagrave). In afternoon at 3 pm a theatrical company entertain the patients. I converse with the actresses. The hours in hospital are – up at 6 am (but nurses commence to wash patients at 5 am). Breakfast at 8 am. Dinner at 12 noon. Tea at 4:30 pm. Cocoa at 7 pm. Lights out 9 pm.
Wrote a letter to Captain Adamson Officer Commanding Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Winchester regarding new serge puttees, a new cap and trousers for Private White and self


*Territorial Force Nursing Service – Formed in 1908 as part of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act. This group of nurses was intended to serve the Territorial Force (British volunteer reserve forces). During times of peace the nurses of the TFNS worked in civilian capacities but were quickly mobilized at the outbreak of WWI. The TFNS nurses were initially intended to only stay at military hospitals in the UK but some volunteers did travel overseas with the British Expeditionary Force.

Filed Under: 1915, Diary Entries Tagged With: Captain Adamson, mp3, Oxford University, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Winchester

Tuesday 5 January 1915 – Rain

January 5, 2015 by Sarah McLennan

https://monova.ca/greatwarchronicles/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Tuesday_January_5_1915.mp3
We move off from Blaringhem for somewhere. Troops very tired. Bad feet and bad boots.
Roads very bad for marching – cobble stones. Heavy marching order with skin fur coats. Oh what a load 55 to 60 pounds – many fall out. We camp at Meteren in a barn, no change of underwear until leaving Winchester. Getting bully beef and biscuits. Water bad. Again no sleep.


*Bully Beef – Corned Beef

Filed Under: 1915, Diary Entries Tagged With: Blaringhem, Meteren, mp3, Winchester

Sunday 20 December 1914

December 20, 2014 by Sarah McLennan

https://monova.ca/greatwarchronicles/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sunday_December_20_1914.mp3
Left Morn Hill Camp at 10 am in full marching order, carrying 130 rounds of ammunition in clips. Passing thro’ Winchester we got a rousing reception & also at Villages enroute to Southampton. At latter place the people turned out in thousands, shaking hands with the troops and giving hot tea & biscuits, cigarettes etc; arrived at the docks at 5 pm & embarked at 7 pm. No tea till 8 pm. The first meal since leaving camp. Our berths consist of cattle stalls with open hatchway thro’ which the rain & wind came uninvited. The meals were under true active service conditions & consisted of biscuits and corned beef. The Kings Royal Rifles are alongside us on another ship. They also came with us from Morn Hill Winchester & marched the 14 miles to Southampton.


*Morn Hill Camp – The Morn Hill Camp was a transit camp built close to the city of Winchester, England for British troops headed towards the Western front. In 1917 the Morn Hill camp was transferred to the US Army for its use. Over two million troops passed though during the duration of the war and a Hospital was even built at Morn Hill specifically for soldiers suffering from illness rather than Injury.

Filed Under: 1914, Diary Entries Tagged With: Kings Royal Rifles, Morn Hill Camp, mp3, Southampton, Winchester

Sunday 13 December 1914 – Rain

December 13, 2014 by Sarah McLennan

Raining heavily all day.
I rise at 9 am. Have a regular family chat about Draycots & etc: I remodel the family tree with Ernest.
Have a nice day all thro’ & loath to leave. Have tea at 4:15 pm say good bye and catch the 5 pm train for Winchester where I arrive at 7:30 pm. Nothing is said at Barracks re my absence.

Filed Under: 1914, Diary Entries Tagged With: barracks, Draycots, Winchester

Saturday 12 December 1914 – Rain

December 12, 2014 by Sarah McLennan

Doing nothing all morning.
Leave Winchester at 3:30 pm for Gosport.
Where I arrive at 5 pm
Well received by Ernest & the [Neates]. Told my tale of woe and amused them generally.
To Bed at 10:30 pm. Had a good night’s rest. Raining heavily.

Filed Under: 1914, Diary Entries Tagged With: Gosport, Winchester

Friday 11 December 1914 – rain

December 11, 2014 by Sarah McLennan

https://monova.ca/greatwarchronicles/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Friday_December_11_1914.mp3
Up at 7 am. Breakfast 8 such as it is.
The Sergeant Major tells me I am for the front, being a pensioner seems to not matter much. I am still in civilian clothes & feel very uncomfortable. For tea we have water cress and bread & butter. To Winchester at 6 pm & write letters in Y.M.C.A

Filed Under: 1914, Diary Entries Tagged With: civilian clothes, Winchester, Y.M.C.A

Wednesday 9 December 1914 – Dull

December 9, 2014 by Sarah McLennan

Again no sleep.
Up at 9 am. Wrote letter to “Seagrave”, “Harry” & “J.G. Upton”, “Bessie”, “Theobald”, “War Office”. Stayed indoors till 3:45 pm. Mrs Draycot & Ernest & I have a chat. Said good bye & went to Railway] Station with Ernest. Took 4:30 train for Winchester & arrived at 6 pm. Reported at barracks at 6:30 pm. Allowed out at 7:30 pm & went to picture show. Returned at 9 pm. Wrote postcards to friends & to bed at 11:45 pm (a privilege)

Filed Under: 1914, Diary Entries Tagged With: barracks, Seagrave, Winchester

Tuesday 8 December 1914 – fine

December 8, 2014 by Sarah McLennan

No rest all night. Maud calls me at 8 am & gives me 10 shillings, also kisses.
Father lends me £1.00.
Left Seagrave at 8:50 am & walked into Sileby.
Called on Maud & May, Draycot & Miss Davenport. Maud comes to the station & sees me off
at 9:38 am.
Arrive at London 12:45. Took train to Winchester at 12:50 pm. Stayed on train at Winchester & went through to Gosport.
Arrive in Gosport at 4:30. Had bad cold. Met Mrs Draycot & Ernest. Made very welcome. Sent telegrams to Seagrave & Rifle Depot.

Filed Under: 1914, Diary Entries Tagged With: Gosport, London, Rifle Depot, Seagrave, shillings, Sileby, Winchester

Thursday 3 December 1914 – Rain & wind

December 3, 2014 by Sarah McLennan

Up at 9 am & to town at 11 pm.
Went to Picton Reading Room & stayed till 4 pm. Went to Recruiting Office. Reply to “Wire” & accepted. Passed medical officer & get my papers.
Also transportation to Winchester.
I leave the office at 6 pm having taken two hours. I was medically examined for the 3rd time

Filed Under: 1914, Diary Entries Tagged With: reading room, Recruiting Office, Winchester

Wednesday 2 December 1914 – rain & wind

December 2, 2014 by Sarah McLennan

Up at 9:30 am & went to Liverpool at 11:30 am.
Went to Picton Reading Room for research purposes.
Stayed there till 3:30 pm.
To Old Haymarket to see about my telegram to Winchester – no reply.
Back to Picton Reading Room. Left again at 6 pm. Home at 7 pm
To bed at 12 midnight

Filed Under: 1914, Diary Entries Tagged With: Liverpool, Old Haymarket, reading room, Winchester

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