Tommy’s War: A First World War Diary 1913–1918. Andrew Marr
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on 28 July, which put into action a web of treaties that brought Germany and the Ottoman Empire into the war on the side of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and France, Belgium, Britain, Russia and Japan behind Serbia.
In 1913, when Thomas’ diaries begin, there were clear signs that the great European powers were preparing for war. In April he saw ‘the Great Territorial March Out’ and on 5 May he noted that Earl Roberts of Kandahar, a distinguished former military commander, was on a recruiting visit to Glasgow. The Territorial Force was formed on 1 April 1908, with a strength of around 269,000 men organised into 14 infantry divisions and 14 mounted yeomanry brigades. The force was set up by Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane, under the terms of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907.
Wednesday, 1 January
Got 11.29 train from Glasgow Cross to Langloan1 and spent the day in the bosom of the Crozier family. Very nice day. We went out for a walk in the afternoon. Jean, Hetty, Meg, Agnes, Baby and I.2 Hetty and Meg saw us off by 10.9 train (Caledonian). Were home at 11 p.m. Some little showers fell but on the whole good weather.
Sunday, 5 January
Fine day though dull. After dinner I took car to Cathcart and walked from there to Clarkston and on to Giffnock, through by the quarries to Cathcart again and car home.3 Wee man sneezing all day. Agnes not well at all. Wee man very cross in morning. Did not go to church.
Monday, 6 January
Cleaned the range tonight, including the flues. Dirty job. Agnes washed the floor after. Wee man still sneezing. Wee man got a new frock.4
Tuesday, 7 January
Lit the kitchen fire this morning, but it was a failure. Called at the factor and cussed him, so the men put a new ‘whirly’ on today.5 13 public houses in Ward 21 (Govanhill).6 19 licensed grocers.7 Population 35,082. Municipal electors 7,813.8
Wednesday, 8 January
Knocked the kitchen blind down, so had to knock it back up again. We are going to flit.9
Thursday, 9 January
Agnes out in forenoon looking for a new house. Out again after tea time to see one in 14 Morgan Street. I was not out. Agnes doing a washing tonight. I minded wee Magintey.10
Friday, 10 January
Cold east wind today. Factor here in afternoon to see about a house we wanted. Agnes ironed tonight, I cleaned the brass rail and jelly pan.
Saturday, 11 JANUARY
Cold disman day of sleet and rain. We went househunting in afternoon but didn’t find a good enough house.
Sunday, 12 January
Rain and snow all day long. Went and saw Dr Gardiner at 5 p.m. and made him my doctor, to fulfil the requirements of the law.11 Agnes not very well today.
Monday, 13 January
Went and saw the factor at 5.30 and booked a new house at 14 Morgan Street, 2 up left.12 Got my boots mended today for a bob. Nobody came tonight to cheer our loneliness.
Tuesday, 14 January
Horrid cold frosty day. Not out at night. Youth up today putting a board up at our window.13
Anderston Library reading room.
Wednesday, 15 January
Went to library tonight for my usual volume of sermons.14
Friday, 17 January
Lifted the room carpet tonight and the waxcloth around thereof.15 Agnes did a big ironing.
Tuesday, 21 January
Agnes met me at 170 Ingram Street16 and we went to Brig’ton.17 Sam and Nellie and the weans18 there. Got home at 11.40. Got the keys to our new house in the letter box.
Thomas and his family – and indeed everyone in the United Kingdom until 14 February 1971 – used a monetary system based on pounds, shillings and pence. A pound was worth 20 shillings, and a shilling or ‘bob’ was worth 12 pence. The sum of one pound, three shillings and sixpence was written as £1 3s 6d, with the letters ‘s’ and ‘d’ derived from Latin. Sums of money were also given in shillings, with a ‘solidus’ (forward slash) after the number of shillings, such as 3/6 (three shillings and sixpence) or 30/- (thirty shillings, with the hyphen used to indicate that there were no pennies).
Thomas’ wallet and Agnes’ purse would have held farthings (there were four farthings to a penny), half-pennies, pennies, three-penny bits, sixpences or ‘tanners’, shillings, florins (two-shilling pieces) and half-crowns (worth 2/6). They would also have notes valued at 10/- and £1 and, on rare occasions, £5 and £10. In broad terms, we can multiply any prices mentioned by Thomas by 83 to arrive at a modern equivalent.
Wednesday, 22 January
Took a turn up to our new house in the morning. Mr Gordon up at night and fitted up kitchen and room gas in our new mansion.19 All the Ibrox crowd up. Mr McCort did the whitewashing for 30 pennies.20 Bought three new mantles for 9 pence. Heavy snow at night.
Thursday, 23 January
Got