Pocket Diary of Sir Clifford F. Gothard The following diary entries are taken from the Scribbling books and Pocket Diary of Sir Clifford F. Gothard, Bearwood House, Winshill, Burton-on-Trent [DocRef D4090/1-6, Stafford Records Office], covering his Military Service during the Great War, 1915 to 1920. The diaries and the miniature texts they contain have been painstakingly transcribed by Staffordshire Records Office volunteer, Ray Wilson, reflecting ones man s wartime experience. May 1915 Thursday 6 th Poisonous gas cause us to lose some trenches on Hill 60 s Russians held and forced back) Friday 7 th We have recaptured some of the trenches on Hill 60 Mother says the Lusitania has been torpedoed - it is confirmed by Special Trail just out. Thursday 13 th HMS Goliath has been sunk by torpedo -500 men drowned in the attack off the Dardanelles. The French have gained ground Careney fighting round Ypres lulling a little. Russian retreat checked Austrians now over reaching themselves, Monday 24 th Bank Holiday Italy declared war on Austria at 2.00pm yesterday. Saturday 22 nd Had supper talked about the transportation smash /300 injured 40 killed near Carlisle Monday 24 th Bank Holiday Italy declared war on Austria at 2.00pm yesterday 1
Tuesday 25 th Saw Adam in Birmingham. Thursday 27 th Italian advanced into Austria yesterday the Turks torpedoed the Triumph [HMS Triumph] in the Dardanelles and she sank in 8 minutes. English are being gassed repeatedly this infernal wind favours the Germans. We have regained probably all the lost ground and repulsed them and taken a few trenches over about 3 miles front.french have also gained ground. Friday 28 th H.M.S. Majestic sank by torpedo in Dardanelles yesterday. Italians gaining ground. English submarine sank transport and ammunition boat belonging to Turkey. English done little at West Front =gaining ground in Dardanelles. Saturday 29 th Cycled home discussed conscription and went to bed after having a good look round for the tramp who came twice during the evening but he was nowhere to be seen. The French have gained and taken 400 prisoners and some guns. We have repulsed some attacks. Italy is now 10 miles in Austrian Territory no severe fighting in the region yet. Monday 31 st FINAL Exams tomorrow. JUNE 1915 Thursday 3 rd Course X1V In the Morning I took 8.45 up B ham I had an exam in Course X1V in which I Think I have passed. Friday 4 th Course V1 (paper 2) In the morning I had the second paper in Course V1 I found it easier than I really expected, so I hope I have passed. Had lunch and took the 2:25 from B ham. It was so full that I had to stand in the corridor with a lot of soldiers. 2
Saturday 5 th Accounting In the morning I took the 8.48 to B ham and there I had a paper in accounting I left out the last question by mistake but enough to have 100% on all I have done. Had lunch, took the 2.25 to Burton and came with Capsey in the corridor. He is in B ham City Battalion but thinks of taking a Commission. Monday 7 th (A Naval Aeroplane (----) and Zeppelin with bombs in Belgium) Russian moving slightly -another raid on East Coast 50 people are said to be killed and 40 injured. Tuesday 8 th Civil Lab Paper In the morning I took the 8.48 up to B ham (----) I had an exam in Civil Lab paper. Had lunch and then went to Tec and also did some shopping in B ham. Attended a meeting on war work. It appears most firms are willing to have us for long periods but not 2or 3 months only, as we are skilled for a month or more. Arts men are not looked at anywhere they recommended to try and get the harvest in. Had tea at club before meeting with Duncan and Burman. Arranged with latter to meet in B ham and drive me to the camp. Returned on the 6.o clock L&N.W. Had a game of tennis with Syd and feel rather done out. Had supper and went to bed. Wednesday 9 th The Secretary of State Mr [Bergan] has resigned his post in the U.S.A. President Wilson did not agree with his method of dealing with Germany over the sub attacks by the Germans on commercial and the sinking of ships such as the Lusitania in particular. Thursday 10 th VIVA VOICE in Elec. Eng X1V In the morning had a viva voce in course X1V Electrical Eng. 2 and the only question I was asked was one on testing of transformers and I was not in above 5 minutes Dr Wall and Prof Walker (the external) were the examiners. Friday 11 th Holiday 3
Spent 1.1/2 hours packing my OTC box to get it ready for the surveying camp and then to be bed. 14 TH June to the 2 nd July Marked Camp no entries are recorded when he attended the annual OCT Summer Camp. His friends make requests for photographs in their letters during the time they attended the OTC Summer but on copies can be traced within the collection. JULY 1915 Saturday 3 rd Cycled to Brethy and talked for some time with Auntie about investing in the War Loan. Discussed what we ought to do in view of the National Registration Day. The end to University Life ------ CFG - Bachelor of Science. CFG wrote in his Diary about the Fearful deluge during the night 4.7 from 9pm on Friday to 9am and the rain did enormous damage, and CFG pasted the following cutting in the page. Newspaper cutting that is pasted into this page - Burton Gazette Sat July 3 rd 1915 At Birmingham University examination C.F. Gothard was successful in taking the degree of Bachelor of Science in engineering and R. J. Staley, the degrees of M.B. and Ch.B. Both students are old boys of the Burton Grammar School. J. Shercliff, at present at the school, was successful in passing the intermediate examination of B.Sc. in the 1 st Division. 6 th Tuesday PITCHED TENTS AND SIGNED DEGREE REGISTER 17 th Saturday Newspaper cutting taken from Burton Gazette July 17 th 1915pasted onto the page. Headlines--- FLOOD SCENES IN AND AROUND BURTON PHENOMENAL RAINFALL 4.7 IN THIRTEEN HOURS --- STORES AND DEWELLINGS INVADED --- VILLAGES ISOLATED. Other War stories from the cutting Woolf Woolfson, forty six, commission agent who at Guildhall on Thursday was sentenced to four months imprisonment with hard labour for inciting a man to rob his employers, pleaded that it was his first offence and that owing to the war racing was so quite he had to do something. Lord Brassy s yacht Sunbeam left Cowes on Thursday for Red Cross service in the Mediterranean. Lady Brassy will join her husband on board at French port. 4
Headlines PRIST WOUNDED AUSTRIANS FIRE ON BURIAL PARTY -Rome Friday The following semi-official note is published here--- While a priest in his ecclesiastical vestments accompanied by two medical officers and stretcher bearers,under the protection of a white flag, were engaged in burying some thirty enemy corpses outside our trenches, they were fired upon by the enemy. The Italians had to abandon their pious work as the priest and two bearers were wounded.in this manner was their humane charity rewarded. Need to transcribe as an annex three more articles. 22 nd Thursday Russians have checked Germany on the R. [Naelle?] line. French have local successes. Syd s mac was taken by a Coventry man who telephoned to the station at New St and Syd had to catch the 7.10. B ham may be crowed because King George is paying them a surprise visit. 23 rd Friday (Russians holding Germans disparate fighting) 27 th Tuesday German claim to be gaining ground in the struggle for Warsaw. 30 th Friday Rumours spreading that Russians are going to abandon Warsaw. This will enable the Germans to strengthen out a big bulge in the Russian line and then they intent to hold them with barbed wire, entrenchments and machine guns etc. make attack for Calais with the men they have saved by strengthening out the bulge. 31 st Saturday Discussed Registration Bill whilst cleaning guns and then went home accompanying Jack to Brig Lane (Russians evacuating Warsaw.) [Newspaper Cutting inserted into diary page 15-17 th July 1915] Burton Evening Gazette July 17 th 1915 THE BURTON OF OFFICE MINISTERS WHO WORK WITHOUT REST TRIBUTES BY MR WALTER LONG. 5
The annual meeting and conference of Urban District Councils of England and Wales was held at Westminster on Friday and was largely attended by delegates from all parts of the country. Mr Walter Long President of the Local Government Board, said it was for its very existence of the principles of liberty for nations and freedom for individuals that we were fighting upon various soils of the world to-day. We were determined that those immortal principles should be preserved. After paying tribute to our gallant. Mr Long referred to the landing on Gallipoli Peninsula. He said he did not believe a more wonderful feat of arms had ever been performed in history of the world. It was a story that could never be told in vain. Our dead had sown a seed which would blossom into a splendid harvest. They had given their lives for their friends, they had died in order that the Empire they loved might live more than one man could do. The President of the Local Government Board next dealt with critics. Throughout this long anxious and trying period he said the Prime Minster had taken no holiday and no rest. No one except those immediately around him could have the smallest ides of immense burden which Mr Asquith had carries through anxious and weary days and nights-(loud cheers).he deserves their gratitude. He was entailed to command their unqualified support (renewal applause.) The same might be said of Earl Kitchener whose whole strength and time has been devoted to the task, and who also has neither rest nor holiday (cheers) The same might be said of most Minsters in the Cabinet but there was one to whom refer one who returned to the House of Commons, (Loud Cheers) No unanimous roar of sympathetic applause welcome the return of one who was admired by our Empire and our Allies and feared by the our enemies. We all prayed the Sir Edward Grey might have a complete recovery form the temporarily suffered (cheers). He Mr Long was going to Urban Districts Councils and Municipal Corporations to follow in some degree the example set by the Prime Minster and his colleagues in connection of the National Register Bill which has just been passed through Parliament. He wanted local authorities to form themselves into continuous bodies, so that there should be no interruption of business until the register is completed, The greatest possession a country could have at this time like this was a healthy people. Never was there a moment in our history when it was more incumbent upon them to see that everything possible was done to preserve the health of the people. It was a sacred duty and a task to which they are specially called. All could do something to help win the great fight. It was sacred committed to their charge God give them strength faithfully to preform it. 6
August 1915 6 th Friday Had tea by ourselves as Uncle and Auntie had to go a meeting about National Registration Day at Burton Union. Auntie has endless forms, books papers etc. to fill in. It seems certain that the Germans have taken Warsaw. 7 th Saturday I spent the afternoon preparing a notebook for Auntie Sallies use in connection with the National Registration Day and in tidying out the cupboard cartridges in order.(auntie Sallie was an enumerator for the district and CFG assisted his Aunt in this task ) Germans have taken Ivangorod some fighting also on the West front English have upheld some attacks. 9 th Monday Had lunch at Brethy and drove to Tom Wain s the Fishpond Cottage,Noah s Ark,Baldwin s Lodge, Brethy Mill,Upton s Cottage and Greysith and called at two cottages in wood near mill on return Auntie went with me and delivered National Registration forms at all the places then we had tea and Uncle drove us to Cairus, Baldwin s Davies of Thornton Farm and Bringlincote, Uncle Jim and Miss Louse James had a heated argument on conscription. 11 th Wednesday Zeppelins were over East Coast last night and this morning about 14 people killed and 14 injured. I have heard that they were over Hull and 10 miles from Hull. Newspaper cutting from the Daily Chronicle August 11 1915 has been left in the diary with the headline-- HOW TO FILL IN THE REGISTER FORM -- OFFICAL GUIDE TO DOUBTFUL POINTS -- KINDS OF SKILLED WORK OF SPECIAL USE IN WAR (NATIONAL REGISTRATION ACT, 1915. Form Males ( I have transcribed other newspaper reports from this cutting which reflects war time reporting ) 12 th Thursday Zeppelins still active on the East Coast. 13 h Friday 7
(There was a rumour that Nottingham had been raided by Zeppelins. We telephone Nottingham and found out that it was untrue.) Another Zeppelin Raid has taken place on the East Coast Rumour says Yarmouth. 14 th Saturday Mr Linsley arrived we went thro a lot of business and then had tea, after which Arthur came with car. We had a look at our old car and then Mr Linsley and Arthur left for Nottingham. Mr Linsley thinks I might try and get in some munitions work. 15 TH Sunday- --------- 11th Sunday after Trinity (227-138) Had tea and then Auntie Sallie arrived I (CFG) went back with her after supper then ready to help her collect the National Registration forms, Arrived at farm at about 10 o clock. Went to bed. 17 th Tuesday Weather Fine and warm all day In the morning we had breakfast and I shot a rabbit, I then filled in the book for Auntie (a list of forms etc.) as far as had collected. I walk to the field with Uncle to see the Marsey Harris binder work. They have not found out how to adjust the lanes don vats the size of the sheaves. Walk back and had lunch. Filled in more of the enumerator s book and then cycled up to corn field there were no rabbits in that piece. Had tea,i drove Uncle Jim, Auntie Sallie to the field and picked up Mother on route Uncle Jim got out and we drove on collecting forms to the Golf House and down Bretly Lane. I left Auntie at Smith s and drove Mother down to Meargn Road and then picked up Auntie up and ran her to Wain s Then found no one so I went towards the cornfield to meet uncle Jim and picked him up and drive him home. I then cleaned some guns, cartridges belt them in the gunroom and after that I went to bed after talking to Will about the binder and ploughing the hay field up. (This an example of a day in life of CFG and how the family help to collect the National Registration Forms and CFG doing all the driving to collect the Forms from the farming community. 18 th Wednesday We then entered up the final batch of forms in the Enumerator s book, and tided in the Gunroom and cleaned the oil lamp. Had a surprise when an aeroplane suddenly appeared an Army Biplane as far I could see through the field glasses. 23 rd Monday 8
British submarine has sunk in Baltic Sea. Russians have bagged 2 cruisers and 8 destroys and gunboats etc. off Riga during the attack. 28 Saturday Had supper with Frank Falder and Nellie Falder. He told that her saw me cycling over this morning when he was going down town with Miss Nellie Chappell who was on the wrong side of the road I gave way to her and went on the tramlines myself. Had a long discussion with him (Frank) about the War and various phases of Army life in England. Cycled home and went to bed. 9