Diary Nov 1914 - Feb 1915

2 Nov. Report of a German doctor who had vaccinated troops against typhoid and had "purposely put poison with the lymph". As a result there had been 4 deaths. The doctor had been tried by court martial and shot

19 Nov. The landlord Mr. Day held forth on the iniquity of Mr. Lloyd George imposing a tax of 1d. on every pint of beer

7 Dec. Visited the doctor. Informed that his heart is weak and instructed to be careful "and go softly"

17 Dec. Reports the German shelling of Scarborough etc. and enters the number of dead and wounded

Had to leave Evensong at the conclusion of the psalm owing to feeling unwell

31 Dec. Overcome by "sudden seizure or swoon" while on his way to church (Evensong). Fell into mud and lay for 10 minutes "thoroughly unconscious". He returned home, and in spite of what happened he went out to the front gate at 11.55pm to hear the bells etc.

1915

1 Jan. Calculates that since the installation in September the gas used has cost on average 1d. per day

6 Jan "Oppression on chest.....not so bad this morning - not well enough to go to church however"

14 Jan. States that it is intended to send all those in the Forces who are connected with the parish presents from the Ladies Sale of Work proceeds

21 Jan. Churchdown Home Defence Corps reported to number 80. They meet for drill 2 evenings a week, for 2 hours each time

Refers to Zeppelin raids which took place the previous day at places on the East Coast - Yarmouth etc.

23 Jan. Feeling unwell - no appetite, chest aches, no breath

26 Jan. En route for Lower Stone Mr. Croome told him of his "drastic" measure of taking turpentine on lump sugar for a bad cold and sore throat - which threw him into a prespiration [sic] and was very efficacious

29 Jan. Expresses awareness that his life may be nearing its end ("as I feel far from being right")

30 Jan. When travelling home by train notes that blinds in all the carriages were drawn down at Gloucester as a precaution against air raids

5 Feb. [Writing of this, the last entry of the diary, is very spidery and ends in mid-sentence]