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Wakefield Museums and Castles
First World War diary - February 1918
An actor playing George Kellett reading his diary entries from February 1918
2 February 1918
Paid 10/- again today
3 February 1918
Working until dinnertime today after dinner I went and had a good hot steam bath. In the evening Serg. Knife, Paddy and RMD Went to the service in the YMCA hut.
4 February 1918
I received a parcel from home today with this book enclosed also a Christmas cake and parkin and a few apples
George's diary as it looks today
7 February 1918
Received a letter from Pam saying she has got up for a little I also received the Express with the news of Ceo Huggetts escape from Germany into Holland. [CEO Huggett was another soldier from Sandal, Wakefield]
Serg. Knife read the lesson at the evening service at YMCA.
Inside pages of the diary with George's handwriting
8 February 1918
Went to the YMCA playing draughts with Serg. Knife had a short evening service and prayers. Rained very all hard morning. Started making a skittleboard in [?]
9 February 1918
Played draughts with Serg. Knife all the evening until supper came when we went to the YMCA for a few biscuits and a cup of coffee. Drew 10/- For pay today
10 February 1918
Went to church service in the Red Cross Hut this morning. I wrote and told Pam about it this afternoon. The Chaplain had for his text the one word “mother”
11 February 1918
Serg. And I played draughts in the salvation army hut all the Evening then we went to the YMCA hut for supper. I was warned for the inspection for the draft on Wednesday
12 February 1918
RSM Phillips had us taken off the draft this morning to carry on with the work at the Officers mess and sleeping quarters. Paddy Morrison and Peter the Painter have both passed fit. So there is just the Sergeant and myself left.
13 February 1918
Paddy and Hancock went away to the base this morning
14 February 1918
Serg. Knife and I went to hear the Con Camp Band and at the YMCA. Then we went on with the old game. I wrote letters to Emma and to father
Emma Horner, George's sweetheart, as a young woman. They married when he returned from war in 1919.
15 February 1918
There is another inspection this morning but I am not picked for this one nor is the Sergeant. There was a good concert at the YMCA tonight. Had a good supper with Sergt. who had a parcel from the girls
16 February 1918
Another draft left here this morning. After tea Sergt. and I went to the Salvation Army Hut where we had a few games at draughts.
17 February 1918
Was working until 12 noon today after dinner I took in my trousers a little and wrote a letter to Pam I had a letter and The Leeds Mercury this morning from father. Sergt. and I went to the YMCA service.
18 February 1918
Went to the Salvation Army Hut tonight with Sergt. we had a few good games and then there was a short service. I wrote to our Ada and to Bob
19 February 1918
Went to the YMCA where the Sergt read a few verses out of the Bible
21 February 1918
David and I went to the Salvation Army Hut
22 February 1918
A good concert at the Salvation Army Hut tonight
23 February 1918
Had my name taken this dinner time with the man on the same table for making a noise when the [?] came in. Paid 10/- Today
24 February 1918
Sergt and I went to YMCA service after which we had a good talk on religious matters and in particular the great need for conversion. I resolved then to take Christ as my saviour from sin. Wrote to father
25 February 1918
Received a letter from Pam today. My pall Harry got married today at Ilkley
26 February 1918
A good comedy was given in the YMCA picture Hall entitled “What Happened to Jones?”
27 February 1918
Posted letters to Bob and to Pam. Received a letter from father
28 February 1918
Wrote a letter to father in answer to one I received [today is crossed out] yesterday. Received a letter from Ada and Dorothy. After tea Sergt. and I with our CSM were playing drafts in the SA I won every game I played.