30 August 1917 – James receives a smelly parcel sent to him on 2nd July

30 August 1917 Portsmouth Dear Father Delighted to receive a few lines from you although your letter contained news of the death of Uncle Robert. Of course we shall all miss him but I think it is a happy release.  I will write a few lines to Auntie Ellen tomorrow if I have time.  Hope…

29 August 1917 – Uncle Robert’s funeral

DIARY: Uncle Robert interred Mills Hill Cemetery 3 pm

26 August 1917 – Bad news from home

DIARY: Uncle Robert died at 4.30 am  

8 August 1917 – Moored in Portsmouth harbour

DIARY:  Out of dock and into stream. We have no more diary or letters from James until 26 August. We assume that there must be some letters somewhere as he is in Portsmouth all this time, but they have not come to light so far. So there will be no more posts until 26 August.…

7 August 1917 – Still in Portsmouth dock

DIARY: Still in dock

6 August 1917 – The other half of the crew go on leave

DIARY: Remainder of watch proceeded on leave James must have envied those just starting their leave, but at least he would have known that the ship could not be sent anywhere until the men returned from their leave.  So he knew he must have at least 10-14 days in Harbour. What is strange is that…

5 August 1917 – End of Leave. James reports back to HMS Lady Cory-Wright, in Portsmouth Harbour.

DIARY: On leave; arrived back on board 9.30PM After just 11 days of leave, James had to report back for duty.  We think the other half of the crew would then have been allowed to have their leave. We think that there were about 43 crew members on board HMS Lady Cory-Wright, so just over 20 would…