Reference
X928/1/3/1/1
Title
Henrietta Argenti diary
Date free text
1912-1921
Production date
From: 1912 To: 1921
Scope and Content
Arranged as one page per date with items for that date for each year written in order down the page. The entries are very short.
Many of the entries record visits to the theatre and cinema, visits to family and friends and travel, family and friends births, marriages and deaths, hunting. There are some mentions of visits to Chantry House, Turvey. The following extracts are of the more unusual entries.
14 Apr 1912 'Nigger (fox terrier) died of strychnine poisoning'
19 Apr 1912 In Manor Room Turvey: - 1st lesson on nursing from Mrs Poyser, 22 Bromham Rd, Bedford.
4th May 1912 Scout Concert in Turvey. Marigo & V playing trio with Miss Lindsell & V playing solo (1st time in public) piano. v played very well. [names other performers].
19th May 1912 B & I M & V played tennis 1st time this summer. Lawn very bad.
31st May 1912 Mrs Poyser ave us the 6th & last lesson on Nursing in Manor Room, Turvey for the Red X.
12th June 1912 Dance at Prince's Gdens SW stayed until 5am with M V & Boosey. Prince Christopher of Greece came...We all stood up when he entered & left at 5am.
2nd Aug 1912 Inspection by Col Poynder of our Detachment No 22 in Manor Room Turvey, only 16 present.
26th Sept 1912 Display of Red X nurses at Elstow School & inspection by Lord Ampthill. My nurses (11 of them) Miss Lindsell & I had Base Hospital No 2 under Mrs Stevens.
27th Sept 1912 Harvest Home at Reformatory Carlton. Went with M & V...Drill & gymnastic display (very good) in new room.
22nd Dec 1912 B & I went to Banquet to the Greek Peace Delegates at Savoy Hotel with Venizelos (Prime Minister). Speeches.
11th Jan 1913 Went to formal opening of Territorial Head Quarters Ashburnham road, Bedford by Field Marshal The Lord Methuan.
24th Jan 1913 I went to a First Aid class in Bedford.
1st May 1913 Cricket match at Reformatory.
5th June 1913 Display at Ampthill. Had a tent there for my detachment alone.
12 June 1913 Primrose League Fete in Tyringham Park tea at 4.30 M & V went with Miss Dymoch.
24 Jul 1913 Primrose League Fete at Biddenham...Grahame White (aviator) alighted about 7pm (very windy afternoon).
27th Jul 1913 Mass Meeting at Skating Rink, Bedford of national Service League at 8pm. I attended in my red X uniform. Lord Ampthill in the chair, Field marshal Lord Roberts gave an address. Mr Norman Craig, Mr B S Townroe also spoke.
28th July 1913 Mrs Rowland Prothers (Oakley House) at home do Bedfordshire Women's Suffrage Societies 4 o'cl. Did not go.
6th Sept 1913 Cricket match at Olney. Bob Booth made 33 runs Nick made 6 runs.
25th Sept 1913 Harvest Home at Reformatory tea 4 o'cl.
29th Oct 1913 Rena Lambard died 3am in scarlet fever Hospital Clapham.
12th Feb 1914 I went to have a Red X lesson Mrs Paine.
21st Feb 1914 Went to 1st cookery class (Miss Rotherham) at Bedford. Went with Kathleen Higgins.
15 Apr 1914 Rag time (Gina's hunter) broke its fetlock. Obliged to shoot it.
17th Jul 1914 Sunday School Treat at Picts Hill.
23rd Jul 1914 Salvation Army School treat at Picts Hill.
4th Aug 1914 War declared between Germany & England.
5th Aug 1914 Marigo's hunter taken for the soldiers.
31st Aug 1914 Heard Charlie Higgins arrived in London 7pm wounded in head from the war. I had Red X Nursing class in Bedford 5 pm Mrs Higgins & Kathleen arrived back. Charlie not seriously wounded.
23rd Jan 1915 Nich came for the day to London in Uniform.
15th Feb 1915 My silver wedding.
16th Feb 1915 Went to County Hospital dg duty 7.30 to 4.30.
23rd Feb 1915 Went on day duty County Hospital Bedford 1st time. [This continues until 28th Feb then intermitant until 29th March 'Last day at hospital'.]
27th Feb 1915 On day duty Bedford County Hospital. Scotch Territorial brought in drunk. Knocked down by motor. I washed him.
19th Apr 1915 B & Mitchell (from Farm) went to National Hospital about Harry Mitchell.
20th Apr 1915 B & Barcock & Mitchell took Harry Mitchell to 3 Counties.
12th May 1915 Joey Farrar killed Hill 60, 1915.
15th Jun 1915 Had wire from Nick saying Gazetted to Northamptonshire Rgt stationed at Gillingham in Kent.
16th Jun 1915 Heard Bob Spartati killed Dardanelles.
7th July 1915 Sunday School Treat at Picts Hill
2nd Jan 1916 B went 1st time munition working at Vickers. Came home very tired.
8th Jan 1916 Neill died of wounds.
11th Feb 1916 Poor Backhouse killed in France.
24th Jan 1916 Gave Children's rocking horse to Isolation Hospital.
31st Jan 1916 Zeppelin scare did not come London after all, specials called out.
20th Nov 1916 Nick has gone today to Recruiting Office in Spring Road, Kempston. I am thankful to say he returns every night.
24th Nov 1916 Marigo & Gina have gone today to Abbotts Ripton Hospital near Huntingdon. It is a very sad epoch in my life. I miss them terribly Marigo as Nurse & Gina as Assistant Quartermaster.
11th Dec 1916 Boosey & I & 4 servants leave Picts Hill for 21 Lancaster Gate Terrace, London, which we have taken furnished for 3 months. In the afternoon Gina arrived from Abbot's Ripton Hospital as she had cut off the tip of her thumb in bread machine in Hospital.
23rd Jan 1917 Nich put his shoulder out in the recruiting office at Colchester by pushing against a swing door on the wrong side!
4th Feb 1917 We were put on our honour on the 3rd for the following rations per head per week....
5 May 1917 Brother George left for Salonica...
17th Sept 1917 Marigo & Gina returned as Red X Nurses to Abbots Ripton Hospital near Huntingdon.
11th Dec 1917 Nich dislocated his shoulder at Chelmsford. He slipped in the street & tried to save himself & it went out He put it in by putting his arm round a lamp post. It took him quite 5 minutes to put it in.
7 Apr 1918 Meat rations began also butter & margerine cards. 4oz per head.
1st Aug 1918 Gina left recruiting office Colchester for good...
2nd Sept 1918 M returns to abbots Ripton Hospital. Gina also goes Abbots Ripton Hospital both sign on for three months.
3rd Nov M & V ret for good from Abbots Ripton Hospital.
20th June 1919 Nick at War Office from today.
25th July 1919 Tussie my Maltese Terrier died suddenly.
26th Sept 1919 Small dance at Picts Hill 30 people. 1st night railway strike.
19th Jan 1920 Nich told B & me that he was engaged to Elf. Terrible shock to me.
3rd Feb 1920 Nick's engagement announced to Elf Ionides.
19th Feb 1920 Red X tea party at Picts Hill on my resigning.
12th June 1920 Nick's marriage to Elf Ionides at Greek Church, Moscow Road & reception at Lady Stoke's 7 Park Lane.
27th June 1920 Charles Higgins & his wife lunched here to see Picts Hill as they intend coming to live here in Sept.
5th Sept 1920 Walter Casenove approached Boosey about Picts Hill.
6th Sept 1920 Man came from Longhurst & I told him perhaps we would buy Picts Hill.
8th Sept 1920 2 van loads furniture went to store at Longhurst & Skinners.
10th Sept 1920 Piano turner came. Also wire from C Higgins concerning purchase of Picts Hill.
27th Sept 1920 Went to furnished house we took in London thinking we were leaving Picts Hill for good, Address 1b Lancaster gate Terrace near tube.
22nd July 1921 Sunday School treat at Picts Hill.
Level of description
item