I have much writing to do so stay indoors all Sunday. Harry busy on photos.
Archives for March 2018
Saturday 30 March 1918
Up at 8.30 am & after Prayers take a walk across the fields with Rev. Ed. Beresford. View his beautiful property of 300 acres. We call on the Curate of Ragdale Church. I look thru’ the Register there. We look thru’ the old hall at Ragdale which was built by Cromwell & later passed into the Ferrers family. We continue our walk to 6 Hills to have lunch there but on arrival find we can get nothing! So have a cup of Oxo & return home through a drizzly rain. I catch train for Liverpool via Leic. @ 2.50 pm. Arr. L’pool 7.30 pm.
Friday 29 March 1918
– good
Train for Leicester goes out @ 2.30 on a/c of it being Sunday. Arr. Leic. @ 5.30 am. Have breakfast and bath, then on to Brooksby to see Rev. Ed. Beresford at Hoby, who is Rector of Hoby & Rotherby & Ragdale. I attend afternoon services & evening service in Hoby church in Church Choir Stalls. After lunch I take a walk with Rev. Beresford to Rotherby Church. Stay the night at the Rectory.
Thursday 28 March 1918
Leave camp at 10 pm to catch 11 pm train for Waterloo.
Wednesday 27 March 1918
No entry.
Tuesday 26 March 1918
Bosche is now at Albert. Damn it!
Sir Doug. Haig “fires” a couple of generals – about time too!!
*In 1918 Haig oversaw the successful British advances on the Western Front which led to victory for the Allies in November. Haig has been criticised by many over the years for his tactics, which it is argued were deeply flawed. The wartime Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, was one such critic. He wrote that he sometimes wondered whether he should have resigned on more than one occasion rather than permit Haig to continue with his strategy. On the other hand, it is suggested that Haig’s hand was largely forced by the pressure placed by the French for constant relief on the Western Front, on the Somme in 1916 and at Passchendaele in 1917. ( http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/haig.htm)
Monday 25 March 1918
The colored gentlemen prove to be a most respectable & disciplined party. They show the white man how to behave.
*”During the war 500,000 colored men and boys were called up under the draft, not one of whom sought to evade it. They took their places wherever assigned in defense of the nation of which they are just as truly citizens as are any others.” Calvin Coolidge, Letter to Charles F. Gardner (9 August 1924).
Sunday 24 March 1918
I go for a walk with Miss Lee to Englefield Green & Runnymeade & have tea in Egham. We walk about 12 miles. Father Lee is somewhat tired but both enjoyed the walk.
Saturday 23 March 1918
To London to see Aunt Rhia & give her photos of Dad & family.
Friday 22 March 1918
Party of about 100 men go back to Canada.
