Priest Diary
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, September 11th 1914
On 11, Sep 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Still good news. We have driven the Germans back 40 miles and captured 1,500 men and guns and maxims.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, September 10th 1914
On 10, Sep 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
No more news from France. The Oceanic has been wrecked off the north of Scotland, but all were saved. She had been turned into an armoured cruiser to guard the North Sea. Magnificent offers of help of all sorts, men, money and personal service, have come from all over India.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, September 9th 1914
On 09, Sep 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
The rumours of Monday night that we were beginning to win were confirmed yesterday.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, September 8th 1914
On 08, Sep 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
240,000 Russians are in France. A Russian War Office official who sent them from Archangel in the Lusitania and other boats told Daddy and Uncle Will also. We have made the German right flank retreat from Paris, and everything seems brighter at present. We saw a train-load of recruits pass through Kings Norton.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, September 7th 1914
On 07, Sep 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Rumours of good new, but only rumours. A Wilson liner was blown up by a mine. All but 24 were saved.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, September 6th 1914
On 06, Sep 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
[HMS] Pathfinder sunk by a mine. Belgians have flooded the country round (Auvers?) by opening the dykes and have half-drowned the Germans.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, September 5th 1914
On 05, Sep 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
No news. They fill the papers somehow, but there is nothing worth reading in them.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, September 4th 1914
On 04, Sep 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Bordeaux is the temporary capital of France. The Russians have captured Lemberg.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, September 3rd 1914
On 03, Sep 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Germans 45 miles from Paris. Another “Light Brigade” charge to silence some guns concealed in hayricks. Pat brought home news confirming the report of 38,000 Russians passing through Birmingham.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, September 2nd 1914
On 02, Sep 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Nothing in the papers. We saw trains going past with the Red Cross on each coach; two going towards Birmingham and one the other way.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, September 1st 1914
On 01, Sep 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
No news in the papers. I went into town today by train. There was a tremendous crowd outside Suffolk Street recruiting office. It gave me a thrill to see them. There were more crowds outside the Town Hall.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 31st 1914
On 31, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
News from France not so black. We have chased the German advance and the “steam roller” is moving on to Berlin much faster than expected.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 30th 1914
On 30, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Special edition of the Mail, Birmingham Sunday Mail, tonight says Germany’s advance is faltering. Russia is winning all along the line and the French are beginning to win in Lorraine. The rumour in the Weekly Despatch that the Germans were in Boulogne is denied.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 29th 1914
On 29, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
We’ve started to sing ‘Kaiser Bill’s whiskers’. Some of our ships went through the mines into Heligoland Bight and finished off some of their ships without having a single one of ours blown up. The Russians are advancing.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 28th 1914
On 28, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
German ship sunk and another blown up. Fighting is going on and our wounded are being sent home, but there is no news of any decisive battle nor of the fleet. The Germans are advancing in France.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 27th 1914
On 27, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
They say our men fought splendidly and cut up the German Imperial Guard.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 26th 1914
On 26, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
I haven’t had time to read the papers but it seems that we must prepare for a long war and things are very serious.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 25th 1914
On 25, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Germans advancing in Belgium and we [are] retreating. The line is now almost the same as the Franco-Belgian frontier. The Russians are advancing though.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 24th 1914
On 24, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
News at last but very little. British cavalry were fighting yesterday or the day before and were not beaten but were holding their own. The report is not officially confirmed.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 23rd 1914
On 23, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Hardly any news and yet something must be happening.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 21st 1914
On 21, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Germans are in Brussels. Possibly it is because the Belgians have retreated to Antwerp and are acting in the best possible way in conjunction with the English and French and we ARE GOING TO BEAT THE Germans in another place. I hope so.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 20th 1914
On 20, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Rumours of ‘liveliness’ of the Germans in the North Sea. Germans nearing Brussels. Belgian scouts on the fields of Waterloo. The Pope is dead.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 19th 1914
On 19, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
I couldn’t read the papers properly today. They say the French have a firm footing in Alsace Lorraine, that our soldiers were very warmly welcomed in France and that there have been skirmishes in the North Sea.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 18th 1914
On 18, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Kitchener has kindly permitted the Press to publish the news that our Army landed in France about Saturday. The whole thing was magnificently arranged.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 17th 1914
On 17, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
No news yesterday. News came today that three French ships beat some Austrian ships in the Mediterranean. More fighting between outposts of the French and German armies.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 15th 1914
On 15, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Reports of more Belgian (English?) victories and German cavalry defeated.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 14th 1914
On 14, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Still no news. It’s Kitchener who’s stopping it.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 13th 1914
On 13, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
Little news in the papers. Liege’s forts still holding out.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 12th 1914
On 12, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
The Diary of Dorothy Priest
August 12th
This evening’s paper says there will soon be a great battle on land and our ships are guarding the North Sea.
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 11
On 11, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
The Diary of Dorothy Priest
August 11th
No news. The Birmingham Mail says it is the lull before the storm. It seems to me that the great battle that is going to be fought will be in Belgium. Read more…
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 10
On 10, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
The Diary of Dorothy Priest
August 10th
The news in the papers. Daddy says that some of the soldiers in Liege can only speak English. They have been going over since a week ago. Read more…
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 9
On 09, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
The Diary of Dorothy Priest
August 9th
Special edition Evening Dispatch with news of a French victory in south Alsace. Read more…
The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 8
On 08, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
The Diary of Dorothy Priest
August 8th
Very little news. Austria won’t help Germany, Portugal will help us. Nearly all the King’s Norton doctors are gone. How I long to help! But I must learn to stand by and watch others do. We have taken a German colony in Africa. The 8.35 arrived at King’s Norton at 10.20 instead of 8.55 tonight. This is our first local upset; it may be due to people returning from their holidays.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 7
On 07, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
The Diary of Dorothy Priest
August 7th
The first sad news. HMS Amphion sunk by a mine, 130 lives lost. There were rumours of a great naval battle but Winston contradicted them. Germany is beginning to see what a hornet’s nest it has raised. The Prince has issued an appeal for funds to relieve distress and is Treasurer for it. This is his first big public work and the first published document signed Edward P. He has joined the Grenadier Guards and is going on active service.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 6
On 06, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
The Diary of Dorothy Priest
August 6th
Nothing much has happened today. They say our fleet is XXXXX for the Germans and chasing them near Sheringham and that a battle is imminent. If only we can win a great victory the sooner we fight the better. We are in the right. “Thrice is he armed that has his quarrel just” [Henry VI part 2]. They say there is to be plenty of food if only people won’t get frightened. Liege was still holding out this morning. We and the French have captured 15 or 16 German ships. The Colonies are helping splendidly. We seem to almost forget this is only the 2nd day of war in England. Yesterday morning seems such a long time ago.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 5
On 05, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
The Diary of Dorothy Priest
August 5th
War is declared and by us. It’s no good my trying to keep an account of the great events; there are too many and I haven’t much time to write. This morning I saw the Cotteridge company of Territorials march to the field by Dr Jordan’s and drill and then go back. They went by the 2.16 [this must be a train] from Kings Norton (1.55 from town). We saw them from our windows. Everybody’s horses and wagons are being taken for the war. Some are at Portsmouth, Avonmouth etc; they were only taken early this morning. People seem very serious, no one seems to have “war fever”. Calling out the Reserves has made a great difference to the Country; postman, police, fireman and lots of others have left their work. At K.N. [King’s Norton] seven out of thirteen postmen have gone, those who are left have a hard time. The postman didn’t get here until about 8.30 this morning and he looked dead beat. I must get up very early in the morning to see Daddy off as he is going off early, and to get news. Pat [Dorothy’s sister, a VAD nurse] and I were awake last night until after 12 o’clock and we heard distant shouts about 11.45, evidently when the Declaration of War was made public. We also heard bugles about the same time and Pat heard people shouting along the road.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest, August 4
On 04, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
The Diary of Dorothy Priest
August 4th
Germany has declared war on Belgium. England has sent an ultimatum to Germany to respect Belgian neutrality which expires at mid-night tonight. Mr XXXXXX says they will fight for some time. Things will only be settled now by war. I quite expect to see in the morning “Mail”, “War declared between Great Britain and Germany”. We must be very careful with food for fear of the country running short. The children are disgusted with me for talking so much about being careful but Daddy says we must. The Territorials were all about Cotteridge this afternoon.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest August 3
On 03, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
The Diary of Dorothy Priest
August 3rd, Bank Holiday
Daddy went to town tonight to get the latest news. Things are happening at such a rate that I can’t keep up with and understand it all. Last night came news that Germany had invaded France, this was confirmed today. Sir Edward Grey made a fine speech and explained the situation. Mr Redmond said that the Nationalist and Ulster volunteers would defend Ireland. Keir Hardy and other Socialists and Labour men spoke against war and were not heard with approval. At present our situation seems to be: We have received no ultimatum and made no promise to fight but we shall if Belgian neutrality is threatened or if France is attacked by sea on the North coast. Navy Reserves have been mobilised and the Army is being mobilised. Bills are passed in parliament without any discussion in no time. Bank Holiday is to extend for two more days and Bank rate raised to 10 per cent. I can’t write any more details tonight as it must be nearly 12 O’clock p.m. We waited till ever so late for Daddy to come home, he waited to get a 10 O’clock Mail.
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The Diary of Dorothy Priest
On 02, Aug 2014 | In Priest Diary | By Nicola Gauld
For the next year we will be publishing the diary entries of Dorothy Priest. Dorothy was a young woman living with her family in Kings Norton at the outbreak of war. Aged 19, she had been a pupil at King Edward’s High School for Girls and would later study Metallurgy at the University of Birmingham. Dorothy’s diary provides a fascinating insight into what life was like in Birmingham during that first year of global conflict.
Read more…
