Edith Leckie Diary [Manuscript], 1914-1915

Oct. 21st -

Wed. 21st. We had a little practice by ourselves in Lester Court - then I went in town & got one or two things. Met M. at the corner & went with her to tea at the Gzowskies (about 7 or 8 other women there) I left early & went to Mary [unclear] who had quite a little tea in honour of Miss [Lorondes?]. The others were out in the eve. Washed & ironed some things.

Thurs. 22nd. Did a little more washing among [unclear] things. Went to a dress rehersal at 4 & stayed till about 6. [unclear] was out so washed the dishes. Went down to the Langley's in the eve. A Mr [O'Kelly?] was there who came home with me & stayed for a while (I wore my kilt)

Frid. 23rd. Beautiful weather. Sat out on the verandah & mended a quilt most of the A.M. Went down to the Hairdresser's at five & had my hair done in a lot of little ringlets. Miss Drysdale was also there & drove me home in their car. Miss Barclay was here to dress me & I went down to Lester Court with Mrs Ritchie & Sadie. The "Cabaret" was a great success - hundreds there Thursday could not get in. Our foursome & eightsome went off very well - the former especially so. Had [unclear] of compliments. There was a dance after but only stayed for one or two & came home with Sadie & Mrs Ritchie.

Sat. 24th. Too much excitement caused a sleepless night. Went over to Mrs R's with her plaid & [tartan?] ribbons & got the money for her tickets. We had tea & cake. Beautiful weather again. Mr Mark asked me to go for a walk with him in the Park. I was to meet him at 2nd Beach. When I got there (first) I found Mrs [unclear] & Miss Dorothy Gordon there so sat down with them till Mr Mark (accompanied by Mr Bernard [unclear] turned up & then we (also the Misses Gordon & [Mr?] [unclear] walked back to Siwash Rock. Mr Mark showed us his guns & the new magazines in his shack. We left the others at 2nd beach on our way back & he came as far as Davie St. with me. He came in here in the eve. but I had taken Sadie & Miss [unclear] to the Dominion. Heavy fighting around Arras.

Oct. 25th - 29th 1914

going on. The guns from British ships have been doing splendid service along the coast shelling the Germans.

Sun. 25th. M. & I took the [unclear] to St. John's in the A.M. Where there was a beautiful service when the regimental colours where hung up. A number of the regiment were present but they looked quite pathetic when one thought of the others far away. Feel quite weepy at times. Major Tobin has been given command of the new contingent from here. Beautiful morning but clouded over in the aft. The Langleys took me for a motor drive.

Mon. 26th. Beautiful weather. Cleaned my room & moved into the back one for a night or two and gave up mine to Mr & Mrs [unclear] who arrived from [unclear]. Mr Mark came in to say "good bye" as he was off to Victoria & then England. Almost every man one knows is going now. Felt quite weepy all day. Toby is going in command of the men from here [in?] the 2nd Contingent. Turned in quite early. (in margin) Went to see Aileen & her baby.

Tues. 27th. Another lovely day. Felt very cheerful. Sat out on the verandah & sewed a good bit. Went to Vera Allan's (Vera Kerr's) to tea. She has such a pretty little house. Several other people there. Walked home with Margaret [Brian?] as I went to [unclear] "Big Jim's" for some mags. Did some more mending in the eve. Cut my thumb while helping [Rose?] with the dishes. (in margin) Mr & Mrs [unclear] called.

Wed. 28th. Washed [unclear]. ironed some things & sat out on the verandah & got through quite a lot of mending. Weather beautiful fine & warm. [unclear] foggy v. damp at sunset tonight. Mr [Roaf?] left after dinner. Gave the kiddies a bath. Helped with the dishes. Mended & read in the eve.

Thurs. 29th. Mixed weather, rain dullness & a little sunshine. Moved back to my room. Cleaned out the cupboard thoroughly. Started off with the baby in his carriage to see Aileen at the West End Hospital. However the wheel came off his carriage so I had to bring him home. Went by myself aft. & then went to Rolley's to tea. Adele Reeve came in

Oct. 30th - Nov. 4th

Went in to the Hutcheson's after where I stayed to dinner but not long after. Mr H. brought me home on his way to drill.

Frid. 30th. Note from Bertie on board the "Audania" at Plymouth. He did not then know whether they were to land or not. They had had a wonderful trip over & it must have been a marvellous sight to see the 32 transports and their escorts coming into Plymouth Harbour. Felt rather sad all day. Washed some things, did some mending etc. Mrs [unclear] came in in the eve.

Sat. 31st. Hallow'een. Busy morning. Took Miss [unclear] to the Dominion but only stayed a few minutes with her there & went to Mrs Rae Green's to tea. Went to see Miss Manuel before coming home as she was ill. Mr Rollston & I went to the Dominion in the eve. They put on Dickens' "Chimes". Wet night.

1st November

Sun. 1st. All Saints' Day. Went to Church & stayed to Communion. Afterwards took some mags. down to Miss Manuel. Took Margie to the Rollston's to tea. The Hendersons & [unclear] [unclear] were there & one or two other "grown-ups". Felt rather hors de combat all day. War news fairly satisfactory. The Allies have blocked Germany's mad rush for Calais. Turkey has come in on Germany's side. The Hermes - a small British Cruiser has been sunk by an enemy's submarine in Dover Straits. Turned in very early.

Mon. 2nd. Took Margie to school & then walked down to Pender & Granville to see the troops go off to Hastings Park (the men for the 2nd Contingent.) just saw them in the distance, however. Very wet morning. Ursula Johnson & Miss Hogg called in the aft. & then I went to [unclear] [unclear] to tea. The Seymours, Mrs Rae Green, Mrs Symes & Viola Fergeson were there. Sat by the library fire & read in the eve. Cleared [unclear] [unclear].

Tues. 3rd. Wet morning. Felt very gloomy all day. Mrs & Miss Cook & Mrs & Mr Taylor were here to "High Tea". Afterwards Miss Cook, Mr Taylor & I went down to the Dominion. In the "Gazette" there was a picture of the [unclear] leaving here for the Front. Some of them were very plain. Max Reed for one & Kirk who was with them. Bertie was not very near.

Wed. 4th. Washed some things & put in a busy morning [though?] I had a rest as I felt tired. Mrs Russell drove M. & myself up to Shaugnessy in her car in the aft. & we left [unclear] on Mrs Hamber. She left me in town at Mrs Langley's where I had tea. Washed the dinner dishes. Turned in quite early.

Nov. 5th - 13th.

Thurs. 5th. Just a year since Father died. Did some sewing in the A.M. & began cleaning a downstairs cupboard filled with the children's toys. Wet morning but beautiful aft. Met Mrs Wright at the Dominion about 3.15 as I wanted to see the Highlander film again. She came back here to tea with me. Did some darning in the eve. & wrote. The Germans seem to be retreating in Belgium & the Russians advancing quite rapidly on their Eastern frontier. Their navy is becoming more active. No British confirmation yet of the loss of the "Monmouth" & "Good Hope" off the coast of Chile. I see Mikey McCuaig's name among the officers from Montreal - good [unclear] Mikey! He is Signalling Officer. I think Pete [unclear] has gone too - there are a lot of old St. A names among the officers.

Frid. 6th. Walked into town & back in the aft. Went in to the office to see some cuttings Bertie had sent Miss Burroughs. Stopped in at [unclear] [unclear] (where Margaret was) & at Mrs Ritchie's on the way home, but she was out so I went in to the Dominion to see the "Gazette" on the way in to town.

Sat. 7th. Busy day. Sadie came with me to see the Gazette at the Dominion in the aft.

Sun. 8th. Went to morning service. M. was in bed all day with a bad headache. Had tea Vera Kerr (Allen) & Aileen who was staying with her. Went to eve. service. Rainy afternoon.

Mon. 9th. Busy day. Went down with the Ritchies to see Gerald Boileau off with 200 men who are to join a foreign service battalion in Montreal. They had no uniforms and there was no band but they sang & tried to be gay. It was rather pathetic. Afterwards Mrs [R?] & I stopped in at the Dominion. Kirk came in here late.

Tues. 10th. Rainy day. Went to a D.O.E. meeting at the Tupper's but was too late. Stayed to a children's party they were having in honour of [unclear] [unclear] 6th birthday. It was quite fun. Mrs Ritchie & [Isabel?] Wilson were there too. Mrs Langley called on Sophie & Mr L. drove Mrs R. & myself home.

Wed. 11th. Busy day. Sewed as much as possible as I am trying to do over an old [rose?] silk dress.

Thurs. 12th. Another busy day. Continued sewing when possible. Took Miss Manuel to the Dominion in the eve. It was a very wet night.

Frid. 13th. Went to a tea party at the Tuppers in the aft. - just a small one. Spent most of the eve. 'phoning about our Highland Dances. Miss [unclear] came in with Margaret [later?] on. Mrs R. went to hospital

Nov. 14th - - 20th

Sat. 14th. Very busy day. Stayed in. Made a petticoat from an red satin slip. Kirk came in with Digby late. Mrs [Roafe?] has a son - born about 6 A.M.

Sun. 15th. All the children have colds. [unclear] in bed with [his?] to as late getting up. Went for a walk with Sadie in the Park after being busy at home. It was a glorious day & we had a very enjoyable walk. Stopped in at [unclear] on the way home & found she had just 'phoned me to come to dinner so I stayed. [unclear] had finished. There was a [unclear] [Hill?] there a surveyor who had come in to join the troops but had been turned down on account of his [teeth?]. Mrs Rolston & I went out to Hastings Park where we saw the quarters of the new "Vancouver Regt." [Col Tobin's?] who are getting ready to go with the 2nd Contingent. We went to the band concert for a little while & there had tea in the mess with Capt. Rolston, Mr [McKnight?] & Mr Monroe. Turned in quite early in the eve. as I was tired.

Mon. 16th. Wet day. Was very late getting up so was busy to make up. Took [Roly?] & Mr Hill to the Dominion late in the aft. Wrote Bertie in the eve.

Tues. 17th. [unclear] & the baby in bed with colds. Helped M. with baby's washing & was generally busy all day. Washed my hair in the eve.

Wed. 18th. Took my slippers down to the shoemaker's in the A.M. to have the heels knocked off for dancing (Have worn my other pair out). Rehersal at the Avenue Theatre in the aft. Miss Drysdale drove Margaret [Bryan?] & myself out. Did a lot of mending in the eve. & then took a hot bath.

Thurs. 19th. Went down for my slippers in the A.M. Also called at Mrs Ritchie's & borrowed her tartan ribbons again for my stockings. Dress rehersal in the aft. Was there till six, about.

Frid. 20th. Had another rehersal (not dress) in the aft. Came back in the tram with Mary Rogers. [Blythe?] left in the A.M. for Quebec en route to the Front with some Engineers. Went to Hoffman's to have my hair dressed as Westall was busy. Janet Drysdale drove me up in their car & also drove me out in the eve. to the Avenue. The performance went off with great success apparently. Everyone one knew just about was there and applauded vociferously. We watched [unclear] outside a [side?] [unclear] part of the time & it certainly was a good show. Our turn went off O.K. Came home with Margaret.