R Story Lt. Col. Retired

Diary for 1916

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 DIARY FOR 1916 2

2.1. FRONT COVER 2

2.2. EXPLANATION OF CALENDAR 2

2.3. DIARY ENTRIES 3

2.4 CASH ACCOUNTS 43

2.4.1 CASH ACCOUNTS LOOSE WORKING PAPERS 52

2.5 STOCK ON BINGFIELD 1 JAN 1916 56

2.6 LOOSE PAPERS FILED IN DIARY 57

2.6.1 DARDENELLES AND POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH RATES 57

2.6.2 A REMARKABLE TREE ETC 58

2.6.3 NOTICE UNITS OF THE REPUBLIC 60

2.6.4 SMITH V HOONAN 61

2.6.5 OLD MASTERS 63

2.6.6 REBATE FOR PETROL 64

2.6.7 INCOME TAX 66

2.6.8 LETTER TO MRS STORY – ROBERT’S MOTHER 67

2.6.9 LICENCE TO KILL GAME 69

2 DIARY FOR 1916

2.1. FRONT COVER

[Scan front cover]

2.2. EXPLANATION OF CALENDAR

Moon’s Phases:- ˜ New Moon; ‚First Quarter;  Full Moon; ƒ Last Quarter.

TIMES.- The time given is Greenwich mean time.

2.3. DIARY ENTRIES

The New Year finds me living in retirement at Bingfield with May & our little Lila. Ralph & Vera are with us for the holidays. We are in the fairly good health, only I find that any great exertion – even playing the cornet – now tires me woefully.

I have means enough, with care, to carry on for this year, but am most anxious for the future owing to the scanty income left to me by the Land Commission.

1^st Month JANUARY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 1 SATURDAY [1-365] Circumcision. Bank Holiday, Scotland. Holiday, Stock

Morn. service & H. C. At Kilmore – Ralph went to the early service.

Quiet day at home.

Bingfield 2 SUNDAY – 2 aft Christmas [2-364]

May, Ralph, & Vera went to Church – I stayed to look after Lila & used her with my typewriter.

Bingfield 3 MONDAY [3-363] Quarter Sessions Week

Hired a motor car & drove with May & 3 children to lunch at Coravahn – Mr. Mc Garvey the rector was there -- & to see Chop’s trophies from Africa. Did some shopping in Cavan on the way.

Ralph shot 3 Pigeons

Bingfield 4 TUESDAY [4-362]

Put a new head onto a mallet etc. wrote to Teddy.

Ralph shot one pigeon.

Bingfield 5 WEDNESDAY [5-361] ˜ 4h 45m A.M. (Greenwich). Dividends due at Bank

Sent Ralph out snipe shooting, while I went to Petty Sessions – no cases were taken, but only a Vote of Condolence to O’Reilly on the loss of his sister in law drowned on the Persia torpedoed in the Mediterranean. Later I joined Ralph at Danesfort bog & we worked home together round by Tully. In the evening Smith went for the nurse for M. Jane Masterson who was in labour.

I shot 4 Snipe (one lost) & Ralph knocked over one which got away after falling 3 times. It was the first he had hit.

Bingfield 6 THURSDAY [6-360] Epiphany. Twelfth Day

Ferreted with Ralph. Went to see Mary Jane’s little son born about 10 P. M. last night. I have seen five generations of that family.

I shot 6 Rabbits, & Ralph none.

1^st Month JANUARY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 7 FRIDAY [7-359]

Ralph & I went out on the lake. Very stormy with showers of rain & hail.

We saw a lot of duck etc, but got nothing – I apparently hit one teal.

Bingfield 8 SATURDAY [8-358] Cambridge Lent Term begins. Five Insurances expire

Signed Ret. Pay Voucher before Dr. Smith. Settled farm accounts for last year etc.

Bingfield 9 SUNDAY – 1 after Epiphany [9-357]

Morn. service. Quiet day at home. Put the electric bell into order.

Wrote to Mother etc.

Bingfield 10 MONDAY [10-356]

Joined Ralph at Drumcarbin bog, whither he had preceded me.

We shot round Drumcrow etc, & home by Lough Mentis.

Ralph went to bed tired out when we came home.

I shot 4 snipe

Ralph shot 3 snipe & a hare.

Bingfield 11 TUESDAY [11-355] Hillary Law Sittings begin

Made a key for Ralph’s box & other jobs. Smith went to Cavan fair.

Bingfield 12 WEDNESDAY [12-354] ‚ 3h 38m A.M. (Greenwich)

Wrote to Morin. The Paymaster Gen. For reduction of Income Tax

Cox & Co., Teddy, King etc & did a good many odd jobs.

Bingfield 13 THURSDAY [13-353]

Ralph shot 2 wild ducks right & left; 3 snipe & a waterhen

I shot 1 Snipe.

Bingfield 14 FRIDAY [14-352] Oxford Lent Term begins

Mended the wire of the top W. C. & other odd jobs. The Atkinsons to tea.

Bingfield 15 SATURDAY [15-351]

Ralph & I went in the boat to Deryheen & other places.

I shot a Tufted duck & 3 widgeon, two of which dived & were not recovered.

Bingfield 16 SUNDAY – 2 after Epiphany [16 – 350]

Stayed at home to look after Lila while the rest went to church

Took out the bottom shelf of the lift.

Bingfield 17 MONDAY [17-349]

Ralph & Vera went back to school.

1^st Month JANUARY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 18 TUESDAY [18-348]

Ferreted

Shot 5 rabbits.

Bingfield 19 WEDNESDAY [19-347]

Wet. Put the Evinrude engine onto the rainwater tank, found out the defect in it, & put it right. Cleaned out & re-fitted the tank.

Bingfield 20 THURSDAY [20-346]  8h 29m A.M. (Greenwich)

Went out with Dr. Smith on the lake in a heavy gale of very cold wind. The engine ran splendidly. We went to Deryheen & saw quantities of duck etc all very wild. Dr Smith shot 2 plover. I only had one long shot at some carliew.

Bingfield 21 FRIDAY [21-345]

Drove May & Lila to a children’s party at the Atkinsons.

Bingfield 22 SATURDAY [22-344]

Wrote to Blackley about timber etc. May, Lila, & I went to see a new form of magic lantern that will shew ordinary pictures at Dr. Smith’s.

Bingfield 23 SUNDAY – 3 after Epiphany [23-343]

Morn. service. Quiet day at home.

Bingfield 24 MONDAY [24-342]

Made a new hook for the hinge of the gate on the drive. Chained up the men’s hay in the Horse Park etc

Bingfield 25 TUESDAY [25-341] Conversion of St. Paul

Heard from & wrote to Charlie about the pronunciation of Kût el Amara. Sharpened a large saw & other odd jobs.

Bingfield 26 WEDNESDAY [26-340]

Wet all day. Worked at farm accounts etc.

Bingfield 27 THURSDAY [27-359]

Ferreted & did some odd jobs

Shot 7 rabbits.

Bingfield 28 FRIDAY [28-338] ƒ 0h 35m A.M. (Greenwich)

Odd jobs about the place.

Bingfield 29 SATURDAY [29-337]

Odd jobs. Took Lila to see Mary Jane’s baby.

Bingfield 30 SUNDAY –4 after Epiphany [30-336]

Stayed at home to look after Lila.

1^st Month JANUARY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 31 MONDAY [31-335]

Sent away my ferrets & Basil’s hockey stick. Shot round Dromcarbin where I met Dr. Smith who was out before me. I went to Armagh where I saw a large no. of snipe all in one bunch. I appeared to shoot 2 at one shot, but only found one, as the scraw was hard to walk on. Joe P. drove me.

Shot 6 snipe (one, a Jack lost)

2^nd Month FEBRUARY 1916 29 Days

Bingfield 1 FEB TUESDAY [32-334] Partridge and Pheasant Shooting ends

On jobs – soldering etc. Mc. Neill & Simons came to see about some disputed timber. Wrote to Pat.

Bingfield 2 WEDNESDAY [33-333] Purification of V. Mary. Candlemas. Scottish Quarter Day

Petty sessions morn. Dr. Smith drove me there & O’Reilly home. May went to Cavan on business. Made some wood brake blocks for the trap.

Bingfield 3 THURSDAY [34-332] ˜ 4h 6m P.M. (Greenwich)

Fitted a new silencer to the Evinrude, & tested it on the rainwater tank. Wrote to manager Provincial Bank about the boys money etc.

Bingfield 4 FRIDAY [35-331]

Heard from Marcel Bizardel. Wrote to the Surveyor of Taxes on my position here. Went to see Dr. Smith aft.

Bingfield 5 SATURDAY [36-330]

Dr. Smith & I went out on the lake & ran round to Deryheen, Urney, Innishumck, Carratraw etc. The new silencer worked very well

Heavy sea for the lake & strong gale against us returning.

I shot 1 widgeon & one wild duck

Dr. two plover.

Bingfield 6 SUNDAY – 5 after Epiphany [37-329]

Morn. service. Wrote to Ralph etc.

Bingfield 7 MONDAY [38-328]

Repaired the back of the library stove with fire clay & the water pipe of the Evinrude. Called on the Moores at Kilmore (in)

O’Reilly to dinner.

Bingfield 8 TUESDAY [39-327] Half Quarter Day

Fixed the lower garden door etc Wrote to Nasir Ali. Snow

2^nd Month FEBRUARY 1916 29 Days

Bingfield 9 WEDNESDAY [40-326]

Snow lying, but a thaw. Odd jobs.

Bingfield 10 THURSDAY [41-325] ‚ 10h 20m P.M. (Greenwich)

May & I were married 20 years ago today. Wet. Worked at accounts etc.

Bingfield 11 FRIDAY [42-324]

Odd jobs. Firewood being cut & sent to Capt. Scott. May & I got up a lot of vegetables from the potting shed & washed them by means of the standpipe in the yard.

Bingfield 12 SATURDAY [43-323]

Simons came, & we spent most of the day making out a statement for the Surveyor of Taxes.

Bingfield 13 SUNDAY – 6 after Epiphany [44-322]

Stayed at home to look after Lila.

Bingfield 14 MONDAY [45-321]

Snow & very cold. Simons came & completed the documents for the surveyor of taxes which I sent with a letter. Sent my silencer (old one) to the Evinrude Co. with a letter. Wrote to Birmingham, Liverpool etc about my Gas Cylinder which has not turned up.

Bingfield 15 TUESDAY [46-320]

Wet. Went around the place with Smith to settle about oats ground etc. Men employed cleaning the ditch at the top of the Cow Pasture.

The Bishop, his wife, sow, & daughter called.

Bingfield 16 WEDNESDAY [47-319]

Showers of snow & sleet. Saw to hedge cutting, cleaning drains etc.

Bingfield 17 THURSDAY [48-318]

Shot round Drumcarbin bog, Armagh etc – no snipe in Drumcarbin & birds very hard to get at elsewhere, as the country was all underwater. I only got one in Leggiland bog & one in Leddys marsh quite late.

Shot 2 Snipe

18 FRIDAY [49-317]

Wet nearly all day. Metal turning for practice etc. Wrote to Vida.

Bingfield 19 SATURDAY [50-316]  2h 29m a.m. (Greenwich)

Finsday. Put up some pegs for coats in the kitchen etc.

Bingfield 20 Septuagesima SUNDAY [51-315]

Morn service. Wrote to Teddy who has had influenza.

2^nd Month FEBRUARY 1916 29 Days

Bingfield 21 MONDAY [52-314]

Made an iron hook to hang a gate on the Round Bank. Called with May’s card to enquire for Mrs. Smith of Kevitt & her baby.

Bingfield 22 TUESDAY [53-313]

Drove into Cavan for a little shopping & called on the Officers of the R. T. F.

News came that John Smith (of Kevis old farm formerly Mc. Sharrys) has been killed in France.

Bingfield 23 WEDNESDAY [54-312]

Very bad cold & headache. Found that the back of the green house is in a very bad state, made a short rafter for it & went to see if I could get Lougheed to come & work, but only saw his wife.

Bingfield 24 THURSDAY [55-311] St. Matthias, Ap.

Cold still bad. Heard from my mother enclosing a list of papers formerly in the Deed Box. Wrote to her.

Bingfield 25 FRIDAY [56-310]

Cold still bad. At home most of the day. Wrote to Ralph, Basil, & Marcel Bizardel

Bingfield 26 SATURDAY [57-309] ƒ 98 24m A.M. (Greenwich)

Cold a little better. Heard from & wrote to the surveyor of income tax at Enniskillen.

Bingfield 27 Sexagesima SUNDAY [58-308]

Cold rather better. May & I both stayed at home.

Bingfield 28 MONDAY [59-307]

Cold still bad. Burrowes called & brought me some books. Mended a butter spoon & the kitchen hat pegs.

Bingfield 29 TUESDAY [60-306]

Cold a little better. Heard from, & wrote again to Surveyor of Taxes.

Very cold. Had a fire in the hall.

3^rd Month MARCH 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 1 MARCH WEDNESDAY [61-305] St. David

Cold a little better. Hallowes came to see Lila about her ears. O’Reilly came down the avenue on the way to Petty Sessions; but as there were only two cases, I did not go. Askins called about the pedigree of Sir Alfred Tuoin’s wife.

Bingfield 2 THURSDAY [62-304]

Cold better. Painted the boat’s ballast & other odd jobs.

Bingfield 3 FRIDAY [63-303]

Painted the boat’s buoy & a lot of other jobs. Ploughing begun in the Barrack Field.

3^rd Month MARCH 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 4 SATURDAY [64-302] ˜ 3h 58m A.M. (Greenwich)

Borrowes drove me to the Assizes. Judge Ross.

Bingfield 5 Quinquagesima SUNDAY [65-301]

Stayed at home – May to church. Took Lila to see M. J’s baby. Wrote to White King & Vida.

Bingfield 6 MONDAY [66-300]

Mended my dining room chair. Tried some experiments with sparking plugs on the pumping engine etc etc. Ploughing going on.

Bingfield 7 Shrove TUESDAY [67-299]

Went by train to Cavan & took in the drawingroom clock, the glass of which had fallen out & was broken – did some shopping etc. Ploughing going on.

Bingfield 8 Ash WEDNESDAY [68-298]

Very cold. Hewed two pitch forks etc. Two policemen came to see if I had really ordered a gun from Keegan. Lougheed came to see me about repairs to the green house & potting shed.

Bingfield 9 THURSDAY [69-297]

Very cold. Smith spent most of the day looking for a cart horse he had bought for me, yesterday which broke away from him near Drom keen. He got it about 1 .P. M. Ploughing going on. Odd jobs.

Bingfield 10 FRIDAY [70-296]

Still very cold. Ploughing the Barrack Field nearly done. Wagon of coal came. The Taylors R. T. C. called.

Bingfield 11 SATURDAY [71-295] ‚ 6h 33m P.M. (Greenwich)

Ploughing begun in the cow pasture. Still very cold. Coal being got in.

Odd jobs – Painting the boat bouy etc.

Bingfield 12 SUNDAY – 1 in Lent [72-294] Ember Week

Still very cold. Stayed at home & wrote to Ralph & Sir Alfred Tuoin

And and and and and when

Bingfield 13 MONDAY [73-293]

Worked at pulling down the fence round of the tennis court, for the new one round the mistress’ garden etc.

Bingfield 14 TUESDAY [74 292]

Worked at the garden fence & getting out the Orcubas.Made a pair of new handles for the garden engine.

Bingfield 15 WEDNESDAY [75-291] Ember Day

Sharpened a saw. Worked at the fence in front of the house, bored holes in a standard etc etc. Cleared some shrubs for May.

3^rd Month MARCH 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 16 THURSDAY [76-290]

Heard of the death Aunt Louisa Luard aged 90. Worked at the fence in front of the house. Repaired our hand light for plants etc.

Bingfield 17 FRIDAY [77-289] St. Patrick. Bank Holiday, Ireland. Ember Day

Mended a hand light. Helped May at her rockery etc. Tried my new duck gun at a mark. Wrote to Lou Field

Bingfield 18 SATURDAY [78-288] Ember Day

Borrowed a harrow from Beattie of Monery. Glazed two hand lights & put them in the garden etc.

Bingfield 19 SUNDAY – 2 in Lent [79-287]  5h 27m P.M. (Greenwich)

Morn. service at Kilmore. Wrote to Ralph etc.

Bingfield 20 MONDAY [80-286]

Ploughing well advanced in the Cow pasture. Bored out the hole in the engine silence etc. A little rain aft. Too wet for sowing the Barrack field.

Bingfield 21 TUESDAY [81-285]

Sent Mary Fitzpatrick back to her house, & engaged her for 2/6 week to come over and look after our poultry. Hedge cutting going on in the Unfortunate field & ploughing in the Cow Pasture. Leaded in a bar of the old laundry window etc etc.

Bingfield 22 WEDNESDAY [82-284]

Hedge cutting going on in Unfortunate field. No ploughing. Took to pieces the old iron sheep rack etc. Wrote to Teddy & to Strahan for compensation for the loss of a picture.

Bingfield 23 THURSDAY [83-283]

Did some repairs to the small boat, and to the inner yard door, made a screwdriver handle etc etc. A little snow lying.

Bingfield 24 FRIDAY [84-282]

Put glass into May’s Wardian case, worked at the pedal of Lila’s tricycle.

Went to see Pointz & brought him a jelly from May.

Bingfield 25 SATURDAY [85-281] Annunciation. Lady Day.

Quarter Day

Finished Lila’s tricycle & various other jobs. Very cold & some snow.

Bingfield 26 SUNDAY – 3 in Lent [86-280] ƒ 4h 22m P.M. (Greenwich)

Snow lying. May & I both stayed at home. Saw the death of Kate Fryer in the Times. Wrote to Charlie Fryer.

Bingfield 27 MONDAY [87-279]

Fine & sunny day, but very cold at night. Turned some tops etc for Lila & a box in beach etc etc.

Bingfield 26 TUESDAY[88-278]

May & Lila went to Deryheen rectory. Set the large beech stump on the drive on fire

Bingfield 29 WEDNESDAY [89-277]

Went by trying to Cavan to renew my stock of nuts & bolts. Smith went to Belfast to try to get me a bull.

Bingfield 30 THURSDAY [90-276]

Lougheed came to work at the green house. Wagg began painting the boat. Got down the coach house door & found both hinges in a very bad way. May to Lismore. Dr. & Mrs. Smith called.

Wrote to Evie.

Bingfield 31 FRIDAY [91-275]

Grazing auction. Lougheed at the Green house. Made a very fine boomerang, but broke it against a tree.

4^th Month APRIL 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 1 APRIL SATURDAY [92-274]

Made two more boomerangs, but broke them. Mrs. Burrowes came to see May.

Lougheed at the Green house. The larger half of the Barrack field sown & harrowed.

Bingfield 2 SUNDAY – 4 in Lent [93-273] ˜ 4h 21m P.M. (Greenwich)

May went to Church. Took Lila to see Mary Jane’s baby.

Bingfield 3 MONDAY [94-272] Cambridge Sent Term ends. Quarter Sessions Week

Some rain. Sowing going on in Barrack field. Hung the new small iron gate in The Rocks. (Made of the old sheep rack) Went to see Smith of Drumcor about ploughing, etc etc.

Bingfield 4 TUESDAY [95-271]

Hail showers. Sowing going on in the Barrack Field. Made another boomerang. Signed Ret. Pay Voucher before Borrowes.

Bingfield 5 WEDNESDAY [96-270] Dividends due at Bank

Ploughing in the Cow Pasture & Rolling in the Barrack Field. Saw Dr. Smith morn. on my way to the Station to see if Ralph had arrived – found a dead frog in his semi rotary pump Made another boomerang. Ralph came home by the evening train.

4^th Month APRIL 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 6 THURSDAY [97-269]

Ploughing in the Cow Pasture. Manure carting. Lougheed at the Green house. Did a little repairs to the Lower Garden Gate.

Took Lila to the Smith’s aft.

Ralph shot a pigeon.

Bingfield 7 FRIDAY [98-268]

Ploughing finished. Barley sowing. Gilson cut the young horses foot with the harrow. Lougheed at the Green House.

Teddy came home by the mid day train. Made another boomerang.

Bingfield 8 SATURDAY [99-267] Fire Insurances expire

Smith went to Kells to see about some cattle for May. Lougheed at the Green House. Mended Wagg’s candlestick which Mary Fitzpatrick had put into a fire, & put a handle to a knife. Robbie Hoonan came to me & asked for a rise in wages.

Bingfield 9 SUNDAY – 5 in Lent [100-266]

Morn. service with Ralph & Teddy. Accounts etc. Agreed to raise Smith’s & Rob. Hoonan’s wages.

Bingfield 10 MONDAY [101-265] ‚ 2h 36m P.M. (Greenwich)

Lougheed at the Greenhouse. Teddy rode into Cavan while Ralph bicycled. Ralph took a note to the Bishops. Made a stand for a basin for the sink out of the top of an old wash hand stand.

Bingfield 11 TUESDAY [102-264]

Smith went to Cavan fair & sold some cattle. Lougheed at the Greenhouse.

The boys varnished the boats etc. Pulled down the netting off the back wall of the green house & cleared away two old tubs out of it.

Bingfield 12 WEDNESDAY [103-263]

Lougheed at the greenhouse. One of my sheep died in lambing

Various odd jobs. Shewed Dr. Hallowes my eczema, & got him to prescribe for me. Basil came home by the evening train

Bingfield 13 THURSDAY [104-262]

Mended the saddle of Lila’s tricycle which the boys had damaged and put a copper plate onto the music stool. Heavy showers.

Smith went to Oldcastle to get some cattle, but a telegram came to say they were to be sent on Saturday.

Bingfield 14 FRIDAY [105-261]

Slight snow, hail, & rain. The boys varnished the boats. Lougheed at the greenhouse. Potatoe setting in the lower garden

Bingfield 15 SATURDAY [106-260] Oxford Lent Term ends

Smith went to Oldcastle to get some cattle from Kells. Lougheed at the greenhouse. Mrs. Moore & her daughter Lily came to tea

4^th Month APRIL 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 16 Palm SUNDAY [107-259]

The boys to church. Wrote to a wounded Zouave who had advertised for correspondence.

Bingfield 17 MONDAY [108-258]

Heavy rain & a gale. Lougheed at the greenhouse. Smith & Mc.Donald clearing up the Unfortunate field from branches

Bought a Guernsey calf brought from Kells on Saturday.

Put a new blade into my knife etc.

Bingfield 18 TUESDAY [109-257]  5h 8m A.M. (Greenwich)

Gale & some rain. Lougheed mended the harness room window & the boys burned bushes & branches on the lower pleasure ground.

Bingfield 19 WEDNESDAY [110-256] Hillary Law Sittings end

Heavy rain at intervals. Lougheed at the greenhouse. Potatoe cutting for seed. Got the boats down to the lake.

Paid Lougheed £ 2 – on account.

Bingfield 20 THURSDAY [111-255] Maundy Thursday

A little finer. Clearing up the Cow Pasture hill of branches.

Drove with Basil to Ballinanagh to see Dillon about swingle, tree fittings etc.

Bingfield 21 GOOD FRIDAY [112-254]

Morn. service at Kilmore. Did a few jobs about the place.

Bingfield 22 SATURDAY [113-253] Easter Even

Potatoe ground being got ready. The boys went to Kilmore & shot a pigeon & a rabbit. Altered the spouting of the potting shed.

Bingfield 23 EASTER DAY [114-252] St. George

Early communion. Quiet day at home. Wrote to Mr. Armitage & Vera.

Bingfield 24 Easter MONDAY [115 – 251] ƒ 10h 38m P.M. (Greenwich). Bank Holiday

Heavy showers & rain at night. Potato ground being got ready.

Dr. Smith called & bought my field pump for 30/-. Tried to shoot crows but got one pigeon. Lila in bed with a cough.

Shot 1 Pigeon.

4^th Month APRIL 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 25 Easter TUESDAY [116-250] St. Mark, Evan. Cambridge Easter Term begins

Burrows & Scott came morn. & said that Sin fein rebellion had broken out in Dublin, & that the Post office had been seized. No communication was open with the city & trains only ran as far as Mullingar. Saw Dr. Smith Borrowes & Moore later in the day – They said the city was barricaded & the G. N. R. bridge at Douabate blown up. Troops sent for to Cavern.

Got the guns, ammunition, & silver upstairs & saw to shutters etc.

No letters or papers arrived. Lila still in bed. Sharpened a saw etc.

Heavy rain at intervals.

Bingfield 26 WEDNESDAY [117-249] Oxford Easter Term begins

Got a Belfast paper from Dr. Smith. No news allowed to be published in it about Dublin. Heard later from Moore that much damage has been done in Dublin, the Govt. have re-taken the Post Office. The Shelbourne has been looted & the rebels are camped in Stephens Green. Various other rumours, but no certainty in any of them. The boys broke the large steelyard in the archway in the yard. Repaired it strongly with their help. Lila up again.

Potatoe setting in the Cow pasture.

Bingfield 27 THURSDAY [118 -248]

The boys scuffled the drive. Basil rode into Cavan & got some door plates which I fixed in the library and dining room. Went to Kivett for news. Heard that the rebels had re-taken the Post Office, but Liberty Hall (Sin fein headquarters) had been shelled by a gunboat & taken. Sackville & Grafton Sts. sacked & much damage done. A large no. of motor vans passed containing police, supposed to be en route for Athenry, where there was a rising. All news however is very uncertain. Potatoes being set.

Bingfield 28 FRIDAY [119-247]

Fixed the fly wheel of the pumping engine, which had worked loose morn. Went over to Lisnamandra for news, but there was not much. After dinner Mrs. Wagg came to say there was a report that Lord Farnham was drowned, but where or when was not known. The position still seemed serious.

Bingfield 29 SATURDAY [120 –246]

Saw Borrowes morn. – the report of Lord F’s death seems to be unfounded. Lord Dunraven reported shot near Kingstown. Wire to Gouna (Scrabby) cut. Rebels said to have Broadstone station. Moore called to say the D.T. wd. permit me two tins of petrol. Sent in Teddy & Smith & they got it & also the new horse I had sent to the vet. Miss Rorke told me some of Johnny’s adventures in Dublin. Countess Markievitch ovid[1] to be arrested. Position is still very serious. Ralph & I cleaned the well.

Bingfield 30 Low SUNDAY – 1 after Easter [121-245]

Went to Xdoney morn. Lama gave me the annexed copy of the notice by the rebels

Report that Kut el Amara has surrendered, & of a big naval battle of Scarbrough

Spent the rest of the day quietly at home.

5^th Month MAY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 1 MONDAY [122-244] SS. Philip and James. Bank Holiday, Scotland. Holiday, Stock Exchange. Royal Academy opens

Got some newspapers at last, & found that many of the rumours were false. Nothing known of a Naval Battle, Countess Markievitch not arrested, but with the Rebels etc. etc. Went to the station to see if there is any chance of trains for Dublin. Oats being sowed in the cow pasture.

Bingfield 2 TUESDAY [123-243] Easter Law Sittings begin. ˜ 5h 29m A.M. (Greenwich)

Only Belfast papers to be had giving an account of the rebellion in Dublin. No trains as yet. Made a catch for the gate in the front fence. Worked morn. & aft at digging out dandelions in the garden.

Oats being sown in the Cow Pasture.

Bingfield 3 WEDNESDAY [124-242]

The boys went out on the lake with the Moore girls, & caught 2 ½ doz perch.

Harrowing for flax sowing in the Cow pasture. A milch cow very sick with red water. Fitted hooks & a bar to the coach house door & took off one hinge to get it mended. Dug dandelions etc. Went on with my Bible History for Wagg. Rebels surrendering all round.

Low sent to say trains would begin running to Dublin tomorrow.

He wrote a note to his wife in my presence requesting her to pay the money still owing.

Bingfield 4 THURSDAY [125-241]

Went to Cavan by train & got passes from the C. T. of police for the boys, to enable them to go through Dublin on the way to school.

Did some shopping, changed money etc. Taylour D. T. of police drove me home. Picked up some tomatoe plants at Drumconnic

Fitted a couple of bridles etc. Settled about the boy’s journey even.

Bingfield 5 FRIDAY [126-240]

Teddy & Ralph left by 10.30 a.m. train for school. Put the hinge on to the coach house door (after repairs) and hung it. Worked at & hung the lower garden large door. Flax being sowed & potatoe setting.

Heavy rain came on aft, & a gale at night.

Bingfield 6 SATURDAY [127-239] King’s Accession, 1910.

Wet day. Did a number of odd jobs about the house.

Bingfield 7 SUNDAY – 2 after Easter [128-238]

Rainy & cold. We all stayed at home.

Bingfield 8 MONDAY [129-237]

Mended the workshop window which Teddy had broken & put hooks & a bar onto the large doors of the lower garden. Fine day

Meadows being bush harrowed & rolled.

5^th Month MAY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 9 TUESDAY [130-236] Proclamation, King George V. Half Quarter Day

Smith & Mrs. Wagg went to Cavan for shopping. Mc. Donald picking stones from meadows. Ran the pumping engine on petrol and paraffin 2 to 1. Cut pea sticks with Basil in the raspberry brake, & elders in Bell Grove. Put up wire to keep the lambs off the drive etc.

Bingfield 10 WEDNESDAY [131-235] ‚ 8h 47m A.M. (Greenwich)

Basil went back to school. Settled farm accounts etc. Put up knitting in the Mistress’ garden etc. Snow on the Bally connell hills & cold at night.

Bingfield 11 THURSDAY [132-234]

Mended the yard gate. Had a talk with Smith about a plan for better working of the place. Heavy rain.

Bingfield 12 FRIDAY [133-233]

Fine day. Saw Mrs. Gillson about her husband working for me. After consulting with Smith, decided not to employ him, & told him so when he came to see me at 9 .P.M. Ram lambs castrated & men setting their own potatoes. Caught Mrs. Smith of the Sand Holes & five children carrying off sticks after having been warned not to break my fences – warned them off. May & I put up pea sticks.

Bingfield 13 SATURDAY [134-232]

Odd jobs about the place. Men setting their own potatoes. Miss Moore called.

Bingfield 14 SUNDAY – 3 after Easter [135-231]

Wet & cold. Morn. service. Prayers for fine weather. Wrote to my Mother & Ralph. Sent income tax appeal to Pay mr. General & answered some advrts. for a yard man.

Bingfield 15 MONDAY [136-230] Scottish Quarter Day (Whitsunday)

Worked morn & even at the big drain in the Round Bank with James Leddy. Smith went to Cavan fair to sell cattle; & there, about 4 P.M. violently assaulted Rob. Hoonan. Drove to Ballinanagh with Wagg. Saw the Sergt. of Police & sent 2 men after Smith. Engaged John Rorke to buy cattle tomorrow at Ballyconnel – gave him £100 –

Later Smith turned up fairly sober, & handed over his money correctly. Told them he was dismissed from my service.

Bingfield 16 TUESDAY [137-229]

Two police & 4 soldiers came early looking for Smith; they searched his house for arms, but found none. Later White D. T. came & arrested him, taking him to Ballinanagh where the military were searching for arms. Drove into Cavan with Wagg & saw Halpin & the Head Constable. Lodged money in the bank etc. Wrote to Simons about Mangolds for sale, & to the G. O. C. at Belfast to get petrol for pumping. John Rorke came & told me he had bought me four beasts & handed me my change. Wire came from Mrs. Fitzsimons to say Smith was in custody in Cavan, & begging me to come in. Saw Mrs. Smith & explained the situation to her. Began a letter to Ralph.

5^th Month MAY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 17 WEDNESDAY [138-228]  2h 11m P.M. (Greenwich)

Went into Cavan by train & walked out. Saw Halpin’s manager about Smith’s defalcations, & Saw Smith in custody at the barracks He admitted these defalcations & offered no excuse for them – got him to make out the account between him & R. Hoonan. Wired & wrote to Mr. Armitage as to sending Basil to him, & also to Ralph.

Mc. Donald harrowing. Vet came about 9.30 P. M. to see my cow.

Smith had kept back Robbie’s wages for 6 months, & £8 of mine from the sale of straw for 5 months.

Wrote to my mother after port hours.

Bingfield 18 THURSDAY [139-227]

James Smith came to plough in the Cow Pasture. Arranged about sowing lucerne, setting more potatoes, sowing turnips & mangolds etc & ordered seeds & lime. Sheep dagging. Mc. Donald collecting bushes left by Gillson in the Horse park. Sent a note to Smith by his wife about settling accounts etc. Wrote to Basil.

Very hot. Put up the sun blind.

Bingfield 19 FRIDAY [140-226]

Mr. Rootham wrote refusing to let Basil go “without proper notice” Wrote two letters to him in reply. Wrote also to Ralph & Mr. Armitage. Saw to various things about the place. James Smith finished his ploughing

Finished my short narrative of the Bible for Wagg. As I was writing at midnight, two policemen came & told me Smith was released.

Bingfield 20 SATURDAY [141-225]

Saw Smith & settled all accounts with him. Mc. Donald harrowing in the cow pasture. Mended the potatoe sprayer. John Rorke called, & we went round the part of the place. Paid wages etc.

Bingfield 21 SUNDAY –4 after Easter [142-224]

May to church. I stayed at home with Lila. Rain even. Wrote to Bessie.

Bingfield 22 MONDAY [143-223]

Worked about the place, cutting pea sticks. Mc. Donald carting mangolds. A rather unpleasant altercation with Smith even. about his leaving, but he calmed down afterwards.

Bingfield 23 TUESDAY [144-222]

A nice letter from Mr. Rootham about Basil’s going to St. Pauls next term. Wrote to him & also to Mr. Armitage. Gave Mrs. Smith a character I had written out for Smith. Made a chicken run. Put new tube to the potatoe sprayer. Mended the dolls house. In the evening Gillson came & asked for his wages for last month. Referred him to Smith to whom I had given them when settling with him for April.

5^th Month MAY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 24 WEDNESDAY [145] 221] ƒ 5h 16m A.M. (Greenwich). (Empire Day)

Robt. Brady came to see me about coming in Smith’s place – agreed to take him at 16/- a week and privileges if he can get away from his present place. Mc. Donald sowing grass seed in the wheat & rolling it.

Odd jobs about the place. The Police sergt from Ballinanagh came even to ask me to express my sense of the way Police had acted during the late critical times.

Bingfield 25 THURSDAY [146-220]

Wet day & much colder. Wagg & I shifted the beds in the School room to the wing room & vice versa. Put up a new blind in the lobby in the shape of the old dressing room one from Mount Salus. Made a box for feeding oats to horses. J. Rorke came to see me, & we went round some of the cattle & sheep – settled to sell 6 sheep & a bullock. Gave him £50 in notes for Saturday’s fair.

Bingfield 26 FRIDAY [147-219] Queen Mary Bourne, 1867

Went over the harvester with Smith. Heavy showers. Tried to shoot a hawk that attacked our chickens, but failed. Cleaned and adjusted my large lathe.

Shot one small rabbit.

Bingfield 27 SATURDAY [148-218]

Sent 6 sheep & a bullock to Cross-doney fair. Sold the sheep only. Mc. Donald at work in the garden & also Wagg. Tried to put right the carburettor of my engine, but broke the jet. Went to the station & found a box of groceries there.

Showers, & rather cold towards even. Gillson came again for his money.

Bingfield 28 Rogation SUNDAY [149-217]

Morn. service. Heavy rain & hail aft. Wrote to Pat, & to the Head of Cheltenham College about the Indian Army for Teddy.

Bingfield 29 MONDAY [150-216] Rogation Day

James Smith came & made plough drills for potatoes. Wrote to Dr. Smith asking him to lend me a man to help at getting out manure.

Bingfield 30 TUESDAY [151-215] Rogation Day

Went out morn. to try to get a man to work – saw Usher, & Long but did not succeed. Galligan came even. & I engaged him at 12/-a week & the grass of his cow with winter feed. Smith & Gillson came also, & I settled with the latter for what was owing –viz. 8/-. Worked a little in the garden with Wagg. Put a sash cord into the servants hall window.

5^th Month MAY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 31 WEDNESDAY [152-214] Rogation Day. ˜ 7h 37m P.M.

(Greenwich)

Wet nearly all day. Galligan came to work & cleaned the trap & harness, trimmed the mare’s fetlocks etc. He & Mc. Donald carted manure aft. Went to the station to see about getting a refund on carriage of Basil’s bicycle which had been recovered on Saturday

Heard from & wrote to Mr. Rootham.

6^th Month JUNE 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 1 THURSDAY [153-213] Ascension Day

Wet & a holiday – no work done on the place. Heard from & wrote to Oswald.

Bingfield 2 FRIDAY [154-212]

The carburettor of my engine came back with a new jet fitted, but worse than ever, the jet being much too short. By fitting a tube over it, I got the engine to run in a sort of way. Wrote about it. Heavy showers & cold.

Galligan & Mc. Donald carting manure in the Cow Pasture. Account in the papers of a severe naval battle of Jutland in which we were heavily punished.

Bingfield 4 SUNDAY after Ascension [156-210]

Cold & showery. May & I both stayed at home.

Bingfield 5 MONDAY [157-209]

Cold and showery. Heard from Marcel Bizardel to say he wd. come here on a visit. Wrote to him, & also to Belfast about my carburettor. Took Lila to Cross-doney. Settled accounts etc.

James Smith came aft. & ploughed in the potatoes. Sheep being washed. Smith moving out of Lodge. Saw Lougheed about doing it up.

Bingfield 6 TUESDAY [158-208]

Finer day, but still cold, with showers of rain & hail. Sent Mc. Donald to Cavan for some lime. Wrote to the Stores about the quantity sent.

Worked at my carburettor, & got the engine to go better. Galligan scuffled the drive & got a shoe put onto the young horse.

Letter from Pat with photos of the station where he is etc.

Bingfield 7 WEDNESDAY [159-207]

Lougheed came to see me about doing up the Lodge, but we could not get in.

Made a chicken run. Worked at my carburettor. James Smith came & I settled with him for ploughing. John Rorke vaccinated the cattle against black leg.

Bingfield 8 THURSDAY [160-206] ‚ 11h 59m P.M. (Greenwich).

Smith handed me the Key of the Lodge & left finally. Lougheed began work on it plastering etc. Worked at the engine a little. The carburettor still in fault. Mc. Donald & Galligan at work in the Garden, R Hoonan shearing sheep.

6^th Month JUNE 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 9 FRIDAY [161-205] Easter Law Sittings end. Oxford Easter Term ends

A little sun, but cold & showery. Lougheed at the Lodge. Mc. Donald & Gillson getting out lime to the Cow Pasture. Mr. Askins called to warn me about Gillson’s sister, whose character I already knew.

Worked at a return for the Surveyor of Taxes.

Bingfield 10 SATURDAY [162-204] Oxford Trinity Term begins

Lougheed at the Lodge. Mc. Donald & Gillson Shovelling potatoes & sowing lucerne.

Fine day at last, but we had to have a fire as usual in the evening.

Wrote to Blackley about trees on Farnadaly.

Bingfield 11 WHIT SUNDAY [163-203] Ember Week. St. Barnabas, Ap.

May to church. I stayed at home. Fine but chilly.

Bingfield 12 Whitson MONDAY [164-202] Bank Holiday

Lougheed at the Lodge. The other two men shovelling potatoes.

Drove to Cavan for shopping with May & Lila aft. Put the handle to a shovel when I came home.

Black cow to bull.

Bingfield 13 Whitsun TUESDAY [165-201]

Put a hoop onto a wooden bucket, made some iron cramps for the Lodge window & mended the fastener. The O’Reillys to tea.

Bingfield 14 WEDNESDAY [166-200] Ember Day

Lougheed finished the Lodge & began fittings for the fowls house.

Drove May to the station on the way to Cavan to see the dentist

Fine – sunny.

Bingfield 15 THURSDAY [167-199]  9h 42m P.M. (Greenwich)

Lougheed at the yard gates, hack stable windows etc. Cut glass for him. Swan called & brought me his carburettor. Wrote to the makers for a new jet. The O’Reillys dined. Brady arrived at the Lodge in the evening.

Bingfield 16 FRIDAY [168-198] Ember Day

Lougheed mended the leaf of the dining room table, & other jobs in the yard. Went round the place with Brady.

Bingfield 17 SATURDAY [169-197] Ember Day

Brady began work. Getting out manure for turnips etc. Lougheed at the Green house. Police called for statistics of cattle etc.

Wrote to Marcel & Bessie.

Bingfield 18 TRINITY SUNDAY [170-196]

Morn. Service at Kilmore. Quiet day at home.

6^th Month JUNE 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 19 MONDAY [171-195]

Turnips and Mangolds so at last. Lougheed at the Green house. Opened up the motor engine & cleaned it. Also tightened the fly wheel.

Bingfield 20 TUESDAY [172-194] Trinity Law Sittings begin

Lougheed at the greenhouse, & the other men in the garden. Brady put down tarred paper to keep rabbits off the oats. Clean & fixed up the Brewhouse boiler. Hoonan’s cow got into a drain – it took all hands to get it out.

Shot 1 Rabbit.

Bingfield 21 WEDNESDAY [173-193]

Brady drove me to the lake, & I went for a run with the Evinrude round Carr’s Lough, Clogh Oughter etc. In the evening, we had to pull Galligan’s cowl out of the same drain as Hoonans cow yesterday

Lent Brady £25 to buy a cow} Paid in full

Repaid £6 – 22.6 .16 } July 4^th.

Bingfield 22 THURSDAY [174-192] Corpus Christi. ƒ 1h 16m P.M. (Greenwich). Coronation King George V., 1911

Worked at the engine & re-fitted my old carburettor. It ran well.

Lougheed at the donkey cart. Galligan & Mc. Donald cleaning the drain in the back lawn. Brady went to Killeshandra to buy a cow. Wrote to Tissington for the acreage of this place.

Bingfield 23 FRIDAY [175-191] Prince of Wales born, 1894

Worked with Lougheed at the carts etc. The men mowed the lawn

Heavy showers. Dining room spring clean. Mrs. Penrose & Mrs. Jones called.

Bingfield 24 SATURDAY [176-190] St John Baptist. Midsummer Day. Quarter Day. Cambridge Easter Term ends

Worked with Lougheed at the carts. Men mowing the lower pleasure ground & cleaning the garden.

Bingfield 25 SUNDAY – 1 after Trinity [177-189]

Stayed at home. Heard from Madame Bizardel that Marcel has been spitting blood & is too ill to come – Wrote to her.

Bingfield 26 MONDAY [178-188] Quarter Sessions Week

Heavy showers. May not very well. Lougheed at the carts.

The men at the Garden and lawn in front of the house.

Bingfield 27 TUESDAY [179-187]

Slight showers. Lougheed at the carts. Mended the barn door.

The men at the lawn and garden. Lila went to a party at O’Reillys.

6^th Month JUNE 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 28 WEDNESDAY [180-186]

Showers at intervals. Lougheed at the carts. The men at the lawn & garden. Cleaned the sparking plugs of the engine etc etc.

Bingfield 29 THURSDAY [181-185] St. Peter, Ap.

Went with Brady to Tom Rorkes, but found that his son Michael had taken my boat to Killikeen. Followed him & made him give it up.

Tried for perch near Scotch Island without success. Trolled for a while & caught one small pike. Went to Killikeen – no bites – then on to Duck Island, where we caught 46 – left the boat at Brady’s in Killikeen – got home at 9 . P. M.

Mc. Donald went for lime to Mount Nugent with the mare & a cart borrowed from Borrowes. When there, the mare ran away & broke the shaft of the cart. They got back about 11 .P. M. Wrote to Borrowes about it.

Bingfield 30 FRIDAY [182-184] ˜ 10h 43m A.M. (Greenwich)

Accounts & wrote to Tatlow sen. about our position. Also to the Secretary of the Land Commission about the possible transfer of my capital to New Zealand. Mr. Askins called & signed my Retired Pay Voucher. The men at the drive & lower Pleasure Ground.

Shot one very small rabbit.

7^th Month JULY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 1 JULY SATURDAY [183-183] Dominion Day, Canada

Heavy showers. Wrote to the Surveyor of Taxes Enniskillen about May’s income tax, & to Ward about Farnadaly etc. Saw to spouting in the yard, & to the boiler in the Brew house.

Bingfield 2 SUNDAY – 2 after Trinity [184-182] Ramadân (Turkish Lent) begins

Morn. service. Wrote to my mother on our position etc.

Bingfield 3 MONDAY [185-181]

Worked with Lougheed at Burrowe’s cart – principally at getting out and re-screwing bolts. Showery. The men at the garden.

Bingfield 4 TUESDAY [186-180] Declaration of American Independence

Fine, with one shower in the evening. Brady went out to Cavan & took in the broken harness etc. Got the hay on the lawn into handshakings.

Lougheed at Burrowe’s cart.

Bingfield 5 WEDNESDAY [187-179] Dividends due at Bank

Gloomy & showery. Men at the garden & mowing round the cow pasture.

Had a talk with Brady & Hoonan about the men’s hay.

Went to Petty Sessions – Nothing doing. Drove May to Danes fort & Lila to a party at O’Reillys

7^th Month JULY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 6 THURSDAY [188-178]

Works at clearing the Bell Grove Laurels etc.

Mowing going on in Cow Pasture.

Bingfield 7 FRIDAY [189-177]

Fine day. Worked at Laurels in the Bell Grove. Hay off the lawn carted to the haggard etc.

Bingfield 8 SATURDAY [190-176] ‚ 11h 55m A.M. (Greenwich). Oxford Trinity Term ends. Fire Insurances expire

Drove into Cavan with Brady & bought a mowing machine, saw the Manager Provincial Bank about security for a possible loan etc.

The mowing machine came, & we put it together.

Bingfield 9 SUNDAY – 3 after Trinity [191-175]

Stayed at home with Lila. Some showers.

Bingfield 10 MONDAY [192-174]

Swept the Brewhouse chimney & got a large stone out of it

Brady got the horses into the mowing machine. The mare gave a lot of trouble at first, but after a long trial in the front lawn, he managed to cut part of the Horse Park. Wet morn, but fine aft.

Shot one rabbit in the flower garden.

Bingfield 11 TUESDAY [193-173]

My 62^nd birthday. Wrote to my mother. The men at work in the garden. Mrs. Moore & the Miss Lees to tea.

Bingfield 12 WEDNESDAY [194-172]

Wet nearly all day. Worked at a fitting for the harness to make it serve for the mowing machine. Hallowes called to see Johnny Wagg

Shewed him my leg.

Shot one rabbit.

Bingfield 13 THURSDAY [195-171]

Went to the assizes morn. only 3 cases. Hay auction – all the lots not sold. Men at the Garden & turning hay in the Horse Park

Shot one rabbit.

Bingfield 14 FRIDAY [196-170]

Worked at making a straddle for keeping the weight of the mowing machine off the mare’s back. Fine day. Hay lapped in the Cow pasture & Horse Park & put into hand shaking is in the lower pleasure ground. Wrote again to the Sec. Land Commission about my capital in case I have had to emigrate.

7^th Month JULY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 15 SATURDAY [197-169]  4h 40m A.M. (Greenwich)

Went on with the straddle. May made the cushions. Mended the Back Lane gate.

Made a candlestick for Lila. The rest of the Horse Park mowed.

Slight rain even.

Bingfield 16 SUNDAY – 4 after Trinity [198-168]

Morn. service. Quiet day at home.

Bingfield 17 MONDAY [199-167]

Find day. Potatoe spraying, & a good deal of hay cocked in the Horse Park & Cow Pasture.

Bingfield 18 TUESDAY [200-166]

Fine. A meadow on the hill in Farnadaly cut. Finished the straddle

Shot one Rabbit.

Bingfield 19 WEDNESDAY [201-165]

Fine day. More mowing in Farnadaly.

Shot one rabbit.

Bingfield 20 THURSDAY [202-164]

Very hot. Some mowing in Farnadaly & hay being cocked in the Horse Park. Made a bolt for the hay rake (horse) and part of the head of a hand rake & a lot of teeth for another.

Shot one rabbit.

Bingfield 21 FRIDAY [203-163] ƒ 11h 33m P.M. (Greenwich)

Very hot. Hay being cocked in Farnadaly. Burnett the dentist called and took an impression of my mouth to replace a broken false tooth. Finished a hay rake.

Shot one Rabbit.

Bingfield 22 SATURDAY [204-162]

Hot day. Hay cocked in Farnadaly. Maybe went by train to the dentist in Cavan. Lila and I drove to meet her at Cross-doney, but she came by another train.

Bingfield 23 SUNDAY –5 after Trinity

May 2 church while I stayed with Lila. Very hot.

Bingfield 24 MONDAY [206-160]

Hay cocked in Farmadaly. A heavy thunderstorm & rain came on at about 4 .P.M. & lasted till nearly 7.

7^th Month JULY 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 25 TUESDAY [207-159] St. James, Ap.

Potatoe spraying & some hay work in Farnadaly. Had the chicken house cleaned & moved.

Shot one rabbit.

Bingfield 26 WEDNESDAY (208-158]

Hay work & mowing in Clerkins field. The Askins & children to tea

Rain after dinner. Basil came home.

Bingfield 27 THURSDAY [209-157]

Mowing in Clerkins field. Basil did a good deal. We used to Long’s mare which went well. Clean raking in other fields.

May went to an ambulance meeting at Lismore.

Bingfield 28 FRIDAY [210-156]

Hay cocked in the lower meadow in Farnadaly. Borrowed Mr. Askin’s machine & Pat Clerkins’s field tedded. Put another bolt into the mowing machine & made a head for a rake.

Heard from & wrote to the Land Commission about their refusal to let me transfer my capital to New Zealand if necessary.

Bingfield 29 SATURDAY [211-155]

Spent the day on the lake (Basil & I) with the Reids who are at Jackson’s cottage on Eonish. A young friend Jack Simmonds and & a parson also were there. Basil caught 3 pike & a perch. He also shot a rabbit in the evening.

Bingfield 30 SUNDAY – 6 after Trinity [212-154] ˜ 2h 15m A.M. (Greenwich)

Morn service at Kilmore. Basil went fishing with Brady & caught 114 perch.

Bingfield 31 MONDAY [213-153] Trinity Law Sittings end

Brady went to Cavan to see a doctor about his children who have whooping cough. Hay work going on in Clerkins’s field

Made 3 floats for fishing & cut a lot of pea sticks.

8^th Month AUGUST 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 1 AUG TUESDAY [214-152] Lammas Day. Scottish Quarter Day

Nearly all the hay put up in to Clerkins’s field. Washed out the boys’ boat & cleaned the fowls & chicken house, as Mary did not turn up. Mrs. Kenny & two girls called from Portaliff.

Lila has whooping cough

Basil shot two rabbits.

8^th Month AUGUST 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 2 WEDNESDAY [215-151]

Dr. Hallowes to see Lila. Vera & Teddy came by midday train

Got Mrs. Borrowes to take them in. May & Lila moved into the Wing room. Hay work going on in Clerkin’s field & Monery Bottom mowed.

Bingfield 3 THURSDAY [216-150]

Hay work & mowing going on in the Unfortunate field.

Basil & Teddy went shooting in Lismoore & each got two rabbits.

Put a handle on to a pitch fork.

Bingfield 4 FRIDAY [217-149] War declared between Great Britain and Germany, 1914

Men cleaning out the drain in the back lawn for a flax hole.

Brady thinning turnips. Went to Kivett & borrowed Dr. Smiths Hay Shifter. Vera, Teddy, & Basil went to the lake & caught pike and 3 perch.

Bingfield 5 SATURDAY [218-148]

Some hay carted to the Haggard & some cocked in the Monery bottoms

Made a head & a lot of teeth for hay rakes. Ralph came home even. & went to the Borrowes. Lowe the Station Master came after dinner & asked me to write to the Gen. Manager to stop his being transferred. A rumour to that effect being current.

Bingfield 6 SUNDAY – 7 after Trinity [219-147] ‚ 9h 6m P.M. (Greenwich)

Very hot. The boys & Vera only went to Church. I went to see Moore & wrote to the Gen. Manager M. G. W. R. about Lowe. Wrote also to Charlie.

Bingfield 7 MONDAY [220-146] Bank Holiday. Royal Academy closes

Mowing & cocking going on in the Unfortunate field. Made a head for a hay rake. The boys & Vera went to the Lake & caught 15 perch.

Bingfield 8 TUESDAY [221-145]

The last of the mowing done except finishing up with scythes

Teddy & I put wire onto the Haggard gate, & mended his rod.

Vera and Teddy came back from the Burrowes.

Bingfield 9 WEDNESDAY [222-144]

Hay being cocked in the Unfortunate field. Mended Basil’s rod & made a hangar for a gate to the Round bank

Bingfield 10 THURSDAY [223-143]

Took the boys & Vera out on the lake with the Evinrude.

Trolled in Carr’s Lough & the Cross Derrys, but only caught 2 perch

Caught 46 more at Killykeen & the point of Eonish. A very fine day & a good many people on the water – The Bishop & party, The O’Reillys, Dr. Smith (with a simplex engine) and a large party, & others.

8^th Month AUGUST 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 11 FRIDAY [224-142] Half Quarter Day

Put the reaping attachment onto the mowing machine, and put a couple of bolts onto it.

Bingfield 12 SATURDAY [225-141] Grouse Shooting begins

Hay being carted to the hay barn. Heavy showers. Teddy went fishing & got six good perch. Basil shot two rabbits.

Bingfield 13 SUNDAY – 8 after Trinity [226-140]  0h 0m P.M. (Greenwich)

Morn. service with the boys. Very heavy rain came on after, but it cleared up towards evening.

Bingfield 14 MONDAY [227-139]

Very heavy rain at intervals. Worked at Ralph’s bicycle. Men at the Garden & cutting ivy on the stables.

Bingfield 15 TUESDAY [228-138]

Cold & showery. R. C. Holiday – only Brady here. Pat Magee came to see me about work. Made two new oak posts for holding back the front gate.

Advanced Pat McGee £ 2

Teddy shot a rabbit in Kilmore.

Bingfield 16 WEDNESDAY [229-137]

Showery. The boys went to Cavan for tennis. Men at work in the garden.

Bingfield 17 THURSDAY [230-136]

The boys & Vera went to the lake. They came back after 9 .P. M. with 9 dozen fish. Brady & Mc. Donald pulled flax for Long. Galligan in the garden & cutting weeds in the Rocks.

Shot one rabbit.

Bingfield 18 FRIDAY [231-135]

We all pulled flax in the Cow Pasture, & got through a good bit

Wagg very anxious about the disappearance of Joe Mordy who rents his farm at Drumroe. Slight rain.

Bingfield 19 SATURDAY [232-134]

Teddy & I cleaned out the water tanks on the roof & mended the wire of a valve. Men putting flax into the water. They did not finish till 10 .P. M.

Bingfield 20 SUNDAY – 9 after Trinity [233-133] ƒ 0h 53m P.M. (Greenwich)

May to church. Basil & I stayed at home.

8^th Month AUGUST 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 21 MONDAY [234-132] Black Game Shooting begins

The boys went to the Lake & court 3 doz. fish. A set screw of my engine broke, & I had to bore it out – a very hard job.

Cleared out the back of the green house & mended the ground gratings etc. The other set screw in my engine pulley wrung off as I was putting it on.

Bingfield 22 TUESDAY [235-131]

The rest of the flax pulled with 7 extra men helping. I cut the thistles in the field. A slight rain at night.

Bingfield 23 WEDNESDAY [236-130]

Wet morn. Teddie & I drilled out the second broken set screw.

Flax being steeped aft in the back lawn.

Bingfield 24 THURSDAY [237-129] St. Bartholomew, Ap.

Fixed the fly wheel & pulley of the pumping engine which were loose. Did some small repairs to my old cabin trunk for Ralph

The last of the flax put into the back lawn drain.

Wrote about a licence for petrol.

Bingfield 25 FRIDAY [238-128]

The first dot of flax taken out of the water & spread on the Round Bank. Made a key for May’s desk. Wrote to Charlie.

Burnett the dentist called & said he could not fit my tooth; he brought a plate & two teeth for May.

Bingfield 26 SATURDAY [239-127]

The greater part of the first half of the flax spread. Clean out the Hack Stable & mended a window in the old Library book case now in the drawing room. Basil shot 3 rabbits in Lismore.

Bingfield 27 SUNDAY – 10 after Trinity [240-126]

Stayed at home & rested The boys & Vera to church.

Bingfield 28 MONDAY [241-125] ˜ 5h 25m P.M. (Greenwich)

The rest of the first half of the flax spread. Some showers.

May & the boys went to Cavan for tennis and the dentist.

Basil shot one rabbit in Kilmore.

Bingfield 29 TUESDAY [242-124]

Wrote to Pat to consent to his enlisting in the New Zealand army

More flax spread. The boys went to the lake & caught 10 dozen of perch.

8^th Month AUGUST 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 30 WEDNESDAY [243-123]

Went with May & the boys by train to Cavan & watched them playing tennis. Met Jack Vernon, Mrs. Vernon, The Primate etc etc. Saw Vincent Kennedy in his office about my not getting a petrol licence.

May & I came home by 4.25 P. M. train, & Ralph & Teddy by the last one. Basil cycled & went to shoot in Kilmore. He got 3 rabbits.

Bingfield 31 THURSDAY [244-122]

More flax being spread. Mended the Haggard gate, put a handle into a spade, took the wire netting off the drive etc.

Ralph & Teddy went to Cavan to go to tennis at the Primates, but were stopped there by heavy rain. We only had a shower.

9^th Month SEPTEMBER 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 1 SEPT FRIDAY [245-121] Partridge Shooting begins

The flax being gathered into sheaves & stooks. Brady opening the oats in the Barrack

field. Mended the garden door, put a wooden bottom into a bucket. Basil & I put two new panes into the window in the passage by the apple room.

Bingfield 2 SATURDAY [246-120]

Reaping begun in the Barrack field. The machine broke a casting – I mended it as well as I could. Brady & Basil drove to Cavan to try to get a new one. Fix the fly wheel of the pumping engine.

Ralph & Teddy shot 4 rabbits between them in Kilmore & Lismore.

Bingfield 3 SUNDAY – 11 after Trinity [247-119]

Morn. service with Ralph & Teddy. Basil went with Brady to see Sloan’s mill & Brady’s farm.

Bingfield 4 MONDAY [248-118]

Rain morn. Hay being carted in. Put a handle to a slasher which I’ve found in the workshop, & another to an old tool for getting out roots of bushes etc. May distil part for the mowing machine to replace a broken casting. Magee came to work & began foundations for the boiler in the brew house.

Ralph shot one pigeon

Bingfield 4 TUESDAY [249-117] ‚ 4h 27m A.M. (Greenwich)

Bad toothache all day after a bad night. Ralph went even to Ballinanagh & got me a local anaesthetic from Dr. Burke.

Finished & fitted the steel part for the mowing machine.

Made a handle for the garden engine. Reaping going on in the Barrack field.

9^th Month SEPTEMBER 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 6 WEDNESDAY [250-116]

Toothache still very bad. Went by train to Cavan & saw two unqualified dentists & Hallowes. Got some drugs & treatment that gave a little relief. Meant Tommy Borrowes at Halpins. Went to the horse show for a short time. Many friends there.

The Primate introduced me to Col. Macartney late 11^th. Bengal Lancers. Drove home with May & Teddy.

Bingfield 7 THURSDAY [251-115]

Had a better night last night; but am very dull & sleepy all day. The Wheat reaped. Magee nearly finished the boiler in the brew house. The boys went fishing & court about 6 doz perch.

Bingfield 8 FRIDAY [252-114]

Still far from well. Mended the Lower garden large door.

Flax being stacked & work at oats going on. The boys went to Cavan for tennis.

Bingfield 9 SATURDAY [253-113]

A good deal better. Ralph & Teddy went to Cavan with May to play in a tennis tournament. Work at Oats in Barrack Field & Flax in Round Bank. Scuffled the drive with some help from Wagg & Ralph.

Bingfield 10 SUNDAY – 12 after Trinity [254-112]

May, Vera, Ralph, & Teddy to Church. I stayed at home & wrote to Madame Bizardel.

Bingfield 11 MONDAY [255-111]  8h 31m P.M. (Greenwich)

Put a spring on to the passage door in the basement, but removed it, as it wd. not work. Made a sheet iron door for the chimney of the new boiler & tried the latter. Mended the floor in the Brew House.

Bingfield 12 TUESDAY [256-110]

Worked at cleaning candle smuts & grease off the old school room windows etc. Reaping going on in the Barrack field.

The boys cycled to Summer Hill for a tennis tournament, & got back at about 10.45 P. M.

Wrote again to the Secretary Petrol Control Committee.

Bingfield 13 WEDNESDAY [257-109]

Mended the back avenue gate & straight and part of the iron gates on the lane. Oats cut in the Cow Pasture. May, Vera, Ralph & Teddy went to Cavan for the end of the Tennis Tournament. Teddy & Mrs. Hallowes won second prize.

Bingfield 14 THURSDAY [258-108]

Made a catch for the back avenue gate. The flax put upon the byre & hack stable lofts & some oats carried in.

9^th Month SEPTEMBER 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 15 FRIDAY [259-107]

Had the barn cleaned out & found a fine stack of straw in it which I can sell, also a lot of rick stones – in all I got 24 together. Took apart the of the horse thrashing gear for repairs. Sent the 9 lambs I had sold to Cavan. Ralph & Teddy went to Armagh for a dance. Wire from Mr. Armitage for the boys to leave tomorrow – replied it was impossible. One small stack of oats built in the haggard

And basil shot four rabbits.

Bingfield 16 SATURDAY [260-106]

Oats being carried in, & rick stones collected. I got 24 together.

Ralph & Teddy came back from Armagh about noon. Ralph & Battle left for St. Pauls by the even. train. Teddy went to tennis at Rockviser.

Bingfield 17 SUNDAY – 13 after Trinity [261-105] Ember Week

Wet day. T & I to mourn. service. Saw Moore on my way home & on his advice wrote to the Under Sec. Dublin Castle about my petrol licence. Wrote also to Vincent Kennedy.

Bingfield 18 MONDAY [262-104]

Wwet men in the garden, cleaning up the Haggar’s. cleaning up the haggard. Made a tin handle for a jug.

Bingfield 19 TUESDAY [263-103] ƒ 5h 35m A.M. (Greenwich)

Men cleaning up in front of the house and in the lower pleasure ground and bringing in oats. Made some pins for the Sheaving rake etc.

Vera and Teddy went to Cheltenham by the early train from Cavan.

Bingfield 19 WEDNESDAY [264-102] Ember Day

Oats being carried to haggard. Attended old Blakely’s funeral. He was 77.

Bingfield 21 THURSDAY [265-101] St. Matthew, Ap.

Got up early to try to shoot pigeons on the wheat, but got none.

Drove to Ballinanagh to get the mare shod, and waited while Dillon bent a piece of iron & drooled the casting of the capstan of the thrashing gear. Walked home through Belville & saw Meickle & his horse gear – then on to Castle Cosby & saw my old thrashing machine. Home about 5 P. M. Sent for the Vet for a sick heifer. Wheat carried in to the barn.

Brady’s little nephew died at the Lodge of bronchitis & whooping cough.

Bingfield 22 FRIDAY [266-100] Ember Day

Heard from Florie that Emmie Collett had been found drowned in a tank in her garden, & that Josephine (Evies girl), had been very ill from appendicitis. Wrote to Charlie. Put up the capstan of the thrashing gear loosely. Oats being carried in, Mrs. Hutton & Mrs. Halpin & Mrs. Moore called.

9^th Month SEPTEMBER 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 23 SATURDAY [267-99] Ember Day

Hay being carted to the haggard. Wrote to Ralph.

Bingfield 24 SATURDAY – 14 after Trinity [268-98]

May to church. Wrote to White King & my mother – also to the rector of Bradford on Avon to enquire about Emmie’s death.

Bingfield 25 MONDAY [269-97]

Hay being drawn to the haggard. Drove into Cavan with May & Lila & called on Col. & Mrs. MacCartney, did some shopping etc & went on to Rock view where we found the Primate & Mrs. Crozier in. Home about 7.30 P. M.

Bingfield 26 TUESDAY [270-96]

Hay carting. Mended the spouting of the hay barn. Went to xdoney & sent a registered letter to the Sec. Petrol Control Committee – my eighth application to him. Saw Dr. Smith about the loan of my old thrashing machine.

Bingfield 27 WEDNESDAY [271-95] ˜ 7h 34m A.M. (Greenwich)

Damp & Misty. Hay carting. The barley reaped –a bad crop.

Clean & repaired the Casserole. Blackley came & saw the trees I want cut in Farnadaly.

Bingfield 28 THURSDAY [272-94] Jewish Year 5677 begins

Hay cutting. Fixed the horse gear for the thrashing machine. A very long and hard job, as the nuts & bolts were very rusty.

Bingfield 29 FRIDAY [273-93] St. Michael and All Angels. Michaelmas Day Quarter Day

Hay carting going on. Began some repairs to the old fowls house. Wrote to Mr. Armitage, enclosing Basil’s birth certificate; & also to Mr. Rootham for a character for him.

Bingfield 30 SATURDAY [274-92]

Hay carting going on. Got my old thrashing machine from Dr. Smith & put it up. Found it went too slow & did not thrash properly as the mouth wanted repairing.

10^th Month OCTOBER 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 1 OCT SUNDAY – 15 after Trinity [275-91] Cambridge Michaelmas Term begins

Morn. Service. Called on O’Reilly on my way home, & on Dr. Smith from whom I got the old pulley of my thrashing machine.

Bingfield 2 MONDAY [276-90] Pheasant Shooting begins

Wet. Worked all day at the thrashing machine. Made a new mouth for it faced with iron. Fitted the old pulley & altered the belt etc.

Tried it, and found it thrash fairly well.

10^th Month OCTOBER 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 3 TUESDAY [277-89]

Turned a thick iron washer for the thrashing machine out of a nut. A good quantity of a wheat thrashed. May went to Killiney with Lila by the aft. train from Cavan. Heard from Nasir Ali enclosing several copies of Sala—i—àm. Sent on his letter to Vincent Smith at Oxford. Called at Lisnamandra by invitation to meet Eva Roe.

Bingfield 4 WEDNESDAY [278-88] ‚ 11h 1m A.M. (Greenwich)

O’Reilly took me to petty sessions & came back to lunch. I made him a screw for his motor car. The wheat all thrashed.

Worked at accounts etc.

Bingfield 5 THURSDAY [279-87] Dividends due at Bank

Wet a good part of the day. Some hay carted.

Bingfield 6 FRIDAY [280-86]

Heavy rain morn. flooded the passage to my dressing room.

Wheat being winnowed. Wrote to Ralph & White King – also sent an application to the Sun office to insure my hay, corn, etc.

Bingfield 7 SATURDAY [281-85]

Wet nearly all day. Haggar being cleaned up. Some toothache

Mended the hames of a set of cart harness.

Bingfield 8 SUNDAY – 16 after Trinity [282-84]

Morn. service. Vague report of a fresh rising in Dublin.

Bingfield 9 MONDAY [283-83]

Brady sold 2 pigs for May at £11.18 .0 nett.

Took the inside of the coffee pot to pieces & put in a new strainer, & soldered a sugar jar.

Bingfield 10 TUESDAY [284-82] Oxford Michaelmas Term begins

Brady sold my five sheep. Began a handle for my Doulton Jug given to me by Greville. Wrote to Ralph, Teddy, May & Nasir Ali – partly in Hindustani & English.

Bingfield 11 WEDNESDAY [285-81]  7h 1m A.M. (Greenwich)

A waggon of coal brought in. Brady’s Uncle died. Wrote a long letter to May. Made to handle for the Doulton ware jug begun yesterday.

Bingfield 12 THURSDAY [286-80] Michaelmas Law Sittings begin

Brady away at arrangements for his Uncle’s funeral etc. Potatoes being dug. Heavy showers.

Bingfield 13 FRIDAY [287-79]

Wet nearly all day. Brady at his uncle’s funeral. Hay carting & re-building a straw rick. Wagg & I tried to clean the spouting with a weight & string, but failed.

10^th Month OCTOBER 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 14 SATURDAY [288-78] Fire Insurances expire

Wet nearly all day. Very little work could be done. Wrote to Swan about thrashing.

Bingfield 15 SUNDAY – 17 after Trinity [289-77]

Heavy rain morn. Stayed at home.

Bingfield 16 MONDAY [290-76] Quarter Sessions Week

Slight rain. Men re-heading a pike of hay etc. Worked at the fowls run in the yard & nearly finished it & put an iron bar on to the big yard gates.

Bingfield 17 TUESDAY [291-75]

Finer day. Worked at the yard gates. Cleaned—Kukries, my sword etc. Mended a stable door broken by the horse.

Had a fire in the back hall & in the library

May & Lila came home by the evening train.

Shot 4 pigeons out of the front door.

Bingfield 18 WEDNESDAY [292-74] St. Luke, Evan.

Damp & showery. Worked at Wagg’s fowl run & put in nearly a new front.

Bingfield 19 THURSDAY [293-73] ƒ 1h 9m A.M. (Greenwich)

Almost a fine day. Brady & Galligan getting in their own hay

Finished the fowls run.

Shot 2 pigeon’s house of the front door.

Bingfield 20 FRIDAY [294-72]

Went round the trees in Farnadaly with Ward, Lord Farnham’s forester. Cleaned the lamps of the trap ready for repairing them.

Bingfield 21 SATURDAY [295-71] Trafalgar Day (1805)

Cleaned, repaired, & painted the lamps of the trap. Put on the lock of the small cellar which I found on the floor. Fitted a Key to the old fowls house door etc. Fine day.

Men getting in their own hay. Brady went to Cavan on business connected with his uncle’s will.

Bingfield 22 SUNDAY – 18 after Trinity [296-70]

Wet morn. We both stayed at home

Shot one pigeon out of the front door.

Bingfield 23 MONDAY [297-69]

Potatoes being dug. Took to pieces the small fowls house & put it away etc.

Bingfield 24 TUESDAY [298-68]

Some oats thrashed & cleaned. Gathered some pears.

10^th Month OCTOBER 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 25 WEDNESDAY [299-67]

Potatoes being dug. Mended May’s umbrella. She and Laila left by 2 .P. M. train for Summer Hill.

Bingfield 26 THURSDAY [300-66] ˜ 8h 37m P.M. (Greenwich)

Pumped for the first time for four weeks, cleaning out the spouting which was choked with leaves.

Potatoes being dug.

Shot one snipe in Hoonan’s bog.

Bingfield 27 FRIDAY [301-65]

Very heavy rain most of the day & floods in the house from stopped pipes. Mended a gallon can for Brady men clearing the shrubbery under the house.

Bingfield 28 SATURDAY [302-64] SS. Simon and Jude. Mohammedan Year 1335 begins

Heavy rain at intervals. Potatoes nearly finished digging

Shot 2 pigeons out of the front door, & 4 rabbits ferreting

Bingfield 29 SUNDAY – 19 after Trinity [303-63]

Wet nearly all day. Stayed at home & wrote to Tatlow Sen from whom I heard. Sent letters of last night to Evie & Tissington

Bingfield 30 MONDAY [304-62]

Wet nearly all day. Men cleaning the yard etc. W. Loughhead’s sister came to me for a character for him, as he wanted to get into some ammunition works.

Bingfield 31 TUESDAY [305-61]

Slight showers. Thrashing going on. Called on Miss O’Reilly (in).

11^th Month NOVEMBER 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 1 NOV WEDNESDAY [306-60] All Saints’ Day. Holiday, Stock Exchange

Petty sessions Morn. O’Reilly drove me there. May & Lila came home by the mid day train.

Bingfield 2 THURSDAY [307-59] ‚ 5h 51m P.M. (Greenwich)

Shot round Swans bog to Lough Abrain & saw my boat on the way. Took off my breaches & waded into Lough Abrain for one snipe.

Shot 4 Snipe.

11^th Month NOVEMBER 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 3 FRIDAY [308-58]

A heavy gale & rain prevented my going on the lake with O’Reilly as arranged. Put a ring onto the slasher handle, mended an oar & began cutting out bottom boards for my small boat.

Bingfield 4 SATURDAY [309-57]

Tried to ferret rats with Brady. We each shot one. Then tried for rabbits, but only got 2, as we shot badly Swan came & thrashed two stacks of oats.

Shot two rabbits.

Bingfield 5 SUNDAY – 20 after Trinity [310-56] Gunpowder Plot

Morn. service. Wrote toDr. Waterfield about Teddy’s scrape & two Ralph, To Bessie, & Sec. Bank of Ireland about income tax.

Bingfield 6 MONDAY [311-55]

The thrashing all finished by about 4 P. M.. Did a small job for Swan to his thrashing machine, & mended a pitchfork. Wrote to Tissington Tatlow.

Bingfield 7 TUESDAY [312-54]

Rain again prevented my going on the lake with Brady

Did some odd jobs, & paid bills in Cross-doney.

Bingfield 8 WEDNESDAY [313-53]

Shot a little way down the river & across to Swan’s bog & home, then began an iron stay for a ladder. Potatoes being dug. Hoonan clearing the “Raspberry brake” & Magee at the gate pier of the Cow pasture.

Shot 1 Plover 4 Snipe & a Teal – the latter died in the river & was not recovered. Shot 4 out of 5 snipe fired at.

Bingfield 9 THURSDAY [314-52]  8h 18m P.M. (Greenwich). King Edward VII.

Put an iron stay into a ladder. May & Lila went to church.

Potatoe digging. Wrote to Sec. Bank of Ireland.

Advanced Pat Magee £ 2 – making £ 4 in all.

Bingfield 10 FRIDAY [315-51]

Sent a circular round the family to say I intend to sell the family plate to pay for my children’s education. Ferrited and shot 5 rabbits

Shot 5 Rabbits.

11^th Month NOVEMBER 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 11 SATURDAY [316-50] Martinmas. Scottish Quarter Day. Half Quarter Day

Went out on the Lake with O’Reilly – first nearly to Ballyhillan & then on to Derryheen. Saw very few duck all day. O’Reilly shot nothing

I used my 10 bore gun & got two plover with very long shots.

Shot 2 Plover & 2 Snipe.

Bingfield 12 SUNDAY – 21 after Trinity [317-49]

May to Church. Cut some glass for a lantern.

Bingfield 13 MONDAY [318-48]

Pump water. This being the first time it was necessary for nearly two months. Had some trouble with the engine, & did not finish till nearly 5: P. M. J. Rorke sold 6 of my heifers.

Brady took the mare to Cavan, but was only offered £15 for her.

Bingfield 14 TUESDAY [319-47]

Went with Brady to ferret at Camp’s farm in Kilmore – bolted no rabbits but dug out 3. Wrote to Charlie

Ferrets caught 3 rabbits, shot 1 pheasant.

Bingfield 15 WEDNESDAY [320-46]

The pumping engine refused to work. Drove with May to Cavan & called on the Crows (out)

Bingfield 16 THURSDAY [321-45]

Worked a long time at the engine, & then wired to Gordon for a mechanic. He found the valve pusher was broken & we had to take nearly all the engine to pieces.

Bingfield 17 FRIDAY [322-44] ƒ 10h 1m P.M. (Greenwich)

Heavy gale & rain. Cross-doney fair. Brady bought 6 beasts for me.

Gordon’s mechanic did not turn up as he promised, so I finished the bottom boards of my small boat, hewed two pitch forks, & with Brady cut a hole through a walled up doorway from the old laundry to the archway loft, to enable us to put the oats through.

Bingfield 18 SATURDAY [323-43]

Ready to go out on the lake, but O’Reilly never turned up. Shot round Farnadaly to Clonegonnel. Shot badly.

Ploughing & wheat being sown.

Shot 4 Snipe.

Bingfield 19 SUNDAY – 22 after Trinity [324-42]

Morn. service. Quiet day at home.

11^th Month NOVEMBER 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 20 MONDAY [325-41]

Wet day. Brady digging potatoes he had bought, weighing oats & transferring them through the wall into the archway loft.

Worked all day with Gordon’s man at the pumping engine. Put that together, but found it start badly. After stripping & cleaning the magneto, it went all right. We finished about 7 .P. M.

Bingfield 21 TUESDAY [326-40]

Mended some harness with rivetts. Ran the engine, & found it work well. Brady went to Cavan on business. Galligan in the garden, Hoonan at drains in back lawn. Mc. Donald absent probably sick. Heard from & wrote to Fran.

Bingfield 22 WEDNESDAY [327-39]

Ferretted rats in the Haggard & killed 4 – a shot glanced off a stone & caught Brady on the nose – no harm done.

Drove May & Lila to call on Dr. & Mrs. Kenny (in)

Bingfield 23 THURSDAY [328-38]

Wet nearly all day. Men in the garden & bagging & weighing wheat & oats

Ferreted rats in the haggard & killed two while one escaped – making 6 killed out of one stack of straw besides those killed in traps & poisoned

Fixed one of the Caps. Wrote to Flood of Oak hill Mills about Flax scutching, & to Clerk of the Union for certificates of Ralph’s birth etc.

Bingfield 24 FRIDAY [329-37]

Men in the garden. Sent away 120 stone oats to Louis Smith.

The Atkinsons to tea, Mr. Askins called for a signature to a document & Burrowes to see me about his returns for Income tax concerning his farm operations.

Bingfield 25 SATURDAY [330-36] ˜ 8h 50m A.M. (Greenwich)

Wet nearly all day, men white washing & cutting firewood. Began a teak box for my oil stone.

Bingfield 26 SUNDAY – 23 after Trinity [331-35]

May to church. I at home. Wrote to the military Secretary India office about Teddy.

Bingfield 27 MONDAY [332-34]

Brady took my flax to Laken Mill to be scutched, & brought back a splendid sample of it. Worked with Magee at the front gates – Turned out & fitted a half ring for one & got the iron spud better fixed.

11^th Month NOVEMBER 1916 30 Days

Bingfield 28 TUESDAY [333-33]

Made a small door frame & door for the corn shoot to the archway loft, Magee built it in & did some small repairs to the inner yard wall. I also fixed a gate post at the Lodge.

Brady went to Cavan to see about my corn at the mill & my plough etc. The other men taking flax to Lacken. Paid off Magee

Note – Johnstons mills Belfast are White House & Jenny Mount:

Lent Levinson a tin of petrol

Bingfield 29 WEDNESDAY [334-32]

Finished and hung the door for the corn shoot in the old laundry

Sent samples of flax to Belfast & Lisburn. Put the mended handle onto the garden engine. Sent Teddy his birth certificate.

Cock of straw put into the barn as the fowls were spoiling it.

Men the cleaning the mud off the yard, & white wash off paint.

Bingfield 30 THURSDAY [335-31] St. Andrew, Ap.

Did some work on the oil feed of the pumping engine etc & planed some bails for cow stalls. Brady ploughed part of the Lower Garden & dug in the Upper Garden to clean the very dirty ground – Galligan there also. Mc. Donald worked for Dan Bereagh

12^th Month DECEMBER 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 1 DEC FRIDAY [336-30] Queen Alexandra born, 1844

The last of the flax sent to the mill, & 12 stone brought back & stored in the drawing room. Men at work in the garden. Planed some wood for cattle bails. Wrote to my mother & Mrs. White King.

Bingfield 1 SATURDAY [337-29] ‚ 1h 56m A.M. (Greenwich)

Brady went to Cavan on business. The other men in the garden & re-heading a rick of straw. Planed some more cow bails, painted the new wood on the fowls run, watered a path in the yard to loosen the mud while Mc. Donald cut it away etc.

Bingfield 3 SUNDAY – 1 in Advent [338-28]

Morn. service. Wrote to Campbell of Jenny Mount Mills, from whom I had heard, about my flax

Bingfield 4 MONDAY [339-27]

Brady went to Arva to see a horse, but did not buy it. Men washing paint in the yard & working in the garden. Finished fitting up two stalls for cows in the byre.

12^th Month DECEMBER 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 5 TUESDAY [340-26]

Brady sowed some more wheat. Went out on the lake with O’Reilly & shot up the river & to Clogh Oughter Castle. Heavy fog

I shot 1 Wild duck, 1 Teal, 1 Plover & 1 Snipe. O’Reilly 3 Snipe.

Bingfield 6 WEDNESDAY [341-25]

Petty sessions morn. Took Lila to Kevitt aft.

Flax stored (50 stone) & corn meal stored & weighed.

Bingfield 7 THURSDAY [342-24]

Wet morn. Men cleaning a ditch in Farnadaly.Got a box ready for flour in the kitchen. Mrs. & Miss Moore to tea.

Bingfield 8 FRIDAY [343-23]

Men cleaning ditches. Sent off oats to Dr. Smith (100 Stone)

Ferreted with Brady. I shot 3 rabbits & he 1. Caught 2.

Bingfield 9 SATURDAY [344-22]  0h 44m P.M. (Greenwich). Black Game and Grouse Shooting ends

Wet day. Brady away on his own business. Men cleaning small oats etc Put up a lot more bails in the lower bullock house.

Bingfield 10 SUNDAY – 2 in Advent [345-21]

May to church. Wrote to Evie. Frost.

Bingfield 11 MONDAY [346-20]

Ferreted rats & shot 6 or 7. Made some pins for cattle bails.

Men cleaning the yard, putting hay onto lofts, & bringing home 25 stone of flax.

Wrote to Mr. Hunt, who sent me the Gospels of St. Matthew & Luke in the language of one of the islands of the Marshall group.

Bingfield 12 TUESDAY [347-19]

J. Rorke took 10 head of my cattle to Cavan fair. Men cleaning the yard. Worked at Cattle bails. Wrote to Sallie.

Brady paid back £ 5 out of £10 borrowed last week. He owes £ 5 now

Bingfield 13 WEDNESDAY [348-18]

J. Rorke came morn. & gave an account of the cattle sold. Men in the garden & ploughing in Barrack field – Slight frost. Finished the cow bails all but some of the pegs.

12^th Month DECEMBER 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 14 THURSDAY [349-17]

Finish the pegs for the cow bails. Men in the garden, & Galligan ploughing in Barrack Field – The mare very troublesome.

Ferreted for rats & bolted a whole family but got no shot

Shot 2 Rabbits out of the lower garden fence.

Bingfield 15 FRIDAY [350-16]

Brady went to Cootehill & sold my flax to Francis Riley of Ballybay for 23/6 per stone. Men cleaning ditches etc.

Made a box for my oil stone.

Bingfield 16 SATURDAY [351-15]

Frost & fog. Made a clip for Brady’s saw & screwed a rod for a gate. Men cleaning ditches & carting manure to Cow pasture

The Askins & Scott children to tea.

Bingfield 17 SUNDAY – 3 in Advent [352-14] ƒ 6h 6m P.M. (Greenwich). Ember Week

Very cold & raw with fog & frost. Stayed at home & wrote to Pat.

Bingfield 18 MONDAY [353-13] Oxford Michaelmas Term ends

Frost and fog. Men carting manure to Cow pasture.

Began to mend the leg of one of the handsome writing tables.

Bingfield 19 TUESDAY [354-12] Cambridge Michaelmas Term begins

Frost & fog. Men carting manure to the Cow Pasture.

Finished repairs to the writing table, & mended the small round table out of my room.

Bingfield 20 WEDNESDAY [355-11] Ember Day

Thaw and showers. Men cutting firewood & a little carting of manure. Heard from Pat that he had joined the 23^rd. or 24^th. Reserve of the N.Z. Army.

Ferreted & shot 5 Rabbits.

Bingfield 21 THURSDAY [356-10] Michaelmas Law Sittings end. St. Thomas, Ap.

Frost & clear. Ploughing and manure spreading in Cow pasture

Ferreted rats & shot one in the pig stye fitted a bolt to the plough & altered the pin is of the regulator of the travelling clock to get it to keep time.

Bingfield 22 FRIDAY [357-9] Ember Day

Manure carting. Brady bought 5 head of young cattle at Arva fair. Tried for rats with ferrets, but got none.

12^th Month DECEMBER 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 23 SATURDAY [358-8] Ember Day

Ploughing in the cow pasture. Wrote to Lou Field.

Shot one plover in the cow pasture.

Bingfield 24 SUNDAY – new rule for in the Advent [359-7] ˜ 8h 31m P. M. (Greenwich)

May to church. Wrote to my mother. Roads very slippery

Bingfield 25 MONDAY [360-6] CHRISTMAS DAY. Quarter Day

Morn service. Roads very slippery in places in the spite of a partial thaw. Quiet day at home. Worked at the carriage clock.

Bingfield 26 TUESDAY [361-5] St. Stephen, M. Boxing Day. Bank Holiday

Holiday for the men. Brady went to shoot at his father’s with my old gun, & brought us a hare & a wood cock.

I shot down the river, Swan’s bog to Tully – Shot badly

Shot 3 snipe – I may have shot another but could not find it

It may have been a jack snipe that wd. not rise again – if not it was shot.

Bingfield 27 WEDNESDAY [362-4] St. John, Evan.

Manure carting to the Cow Pasture. Slight thaw by day.

May took Lila in a hired motor car to a party at the Atkinsons.

Bingfield 28 THURSDAY [363-3] Innocents’ Day

Thaw and some rain. Manure carting & wood cutting.

Brady went to Clones fair & bought me four beasts. Sharpened my old crosscut saw. Got ready the flax to send to Cootehill tomorrow.

Bingfield 29 FRIDAY [364-2]

Brady & Mc. Donald went to Cootehill with my flax and came back with the money in cash. Brady senr’s horse that I have on hire got sick – sent for him & he took it away. Galligan cleaned out the ashpit. May planted strawberries. Wagg & I took up the oil cloth in the back hall & brought out all that was in the housekeeper’s room, putting it on the grass.

Went to Cross-doney for change.

Bingfield 30 SATURDAY [365-1]

Heard from & wrote to Vida. Brady mowed part of the lawn

Men at work in the garden.

Took up the threshold of the library door, reversed & refixed it.

12^th Month DECEMBER 1916 31 Days

Bingfield 31 SUNDAY – 1 after Christmas [366-0] ‚ 0h 7m P.M. (Greenwich)

May started for church, but the rain stopped her.

Quiet day at home.

2.4 CASH ACCOUNTS

2.4.1 CASH ACCOUNTS LOOSE WORKING PAPERS

Refer to Diary, January Cash Account, page 105 plus 1.

2.5 STOCK ON BINGFIELD 1 JAN 1916

2.6 LOOSE PAPERS FILED IN DIARY

2.6.1 DARDENELLES AND POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH RATES

Refer to General Information pages 4 – 5.

2.6.2 A REMARKABLE TREE ETC

Refer t o Diary page 30.

2.6.3 NOTICE UNITS OF THE REPUBLIC

Refer to Dairy 27 April, page 35.

2.6.4 SMITH V HOONAN

Refer to Dairy 15 May, page 31

2.6.5 OLD MASTERS

Refer to Dairy, page 59

2.6.6 REBATE FOR PETROL

2.6.7 INCOME TAX

Refer to Diary, page 67

2.6.8 LETTER TO MRS STORY – ROBERT’S MOTHER

Refer to Diary, page 73.

2.6.9 LICENCE TO KILL GAME

Refer to Diary, page 88

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[1] Spelling not clear. Refer to diary.