– very hot
To Wm. Salt Library. To Blackshaws in Rowley Park with Dr. & Mrs. M. House full of African curios. Mr. B. is 82 years of age.
I send letter to [….] at camp.
Saturday 26 June 1915 – rain at night
To William Salt Library in morning till 2 pm. Receive letter from Head Quarter Station to come back at once.
Left Stafford at 6:30 pm for Leicester after saying goodbye to Doctor Millar and Nurse Beatrice Smith.
Arrive at Leicester at 8:30 pm.
Stayed overnight at Aunt Louise’s. All the girls are home. Daisy, Elsie, Mandy.
Thursday 1 April 1915
To William Salt Library.
A Military Order from Paymaster Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Infantry arrives
value £17
Send Harry £5 for present.
Wednesday 31 March 1915 – rain
To William Salt Library.
To Mr and Mrs Banks in evening and tell stories of trenches etc.
Monday 29 March 1915 – fine
To Doctor Miller and got a certificate for extension of Leave, then on to Lloyd’s garage and went to Salt’s Library till 12.
At 2 pm went for a motor ride to Draycot – on Moors with Edith, Mr and Mrs Lloyd. The motor had two tyres burst when arrived. Had tea at “Draycot Arms” arrive home at 5:30 pm.
At 6:30 pm went to Ruz Barn Eccleshall (in motor) to Mr Peacocke J.P. Told story of trenches and showed family tree. Arrive home at 11:30 pm
Saturday 27 March 1915 – fine and frosty
In the Salt Library at 9:30 am till 2:30 pm.
In afternoon Mr Cyril and Ede, Mr Banks and self went for a week to Stafford Castle. A snowstorm passed over whilst we were in the Castle. Mr Banks stayed with us until 11:30 pm. I tell Western tales relating my adventures.
Friday 26 March 1915
Staying in with Cyril and Ede in their new home.
I go to the Carnegie Library and get very useful information in the morning. At 2:30 pm go into the town of Stafford with Ede. We are shown through the William Salt Library. I stay and study. Ede goes home. Ede sees the printed Pedigree of the Draycots.
*William Salt was a British banker who collected books, pamphlets, manuscripts, drawings and other materials suited for libraries and archives. Upon his death in 1863 the materials were donated to the city of Stafford. The William Salt Library was opened in 1872 to house the material he collected. The Library still operates today and is an important repository of local history in Stafford.
