Private Papers of Lady Matthews: War Journal, Vol. III : Diary/Journal; Personal Collection; Manuscript 1916.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Matthews, Lady, author.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

1916

Summary:

Description: Extremely interesting illustrated four volume ms diary (111pp, 140pp, 172pp, and 132pp) written between August 1914 and November 1918 as a record of the First World War for her young children, with a particular focus on Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where she was living at the time, and including descriptions of: rising food prices; rumours over the progress of the war; the good levels of morale of the British and the atmosphere in Britain; the changes to Tunbridge Wells with the influx of soldiers to the town; the blackout and Zeppelin raids; soldiers billeted in Tunbridge Wells; the introduction and administration of rationing; women at work in restaurants and as tram conductors (January 1916); wounded men arriving in Kent; seeing the film 'Battle of the Somme', and her reaction to it (4 September 1916); and the difficulties in finding servants. Lady Matthews was the wife of Sir John Bromhead Matthews KC, who in 1914 was Chairman of the County Bench, and they were both involved with social work in the area. Lady Matthews was also an early feminist and was a member of the Womens Suffrage Society. In circa 1924 Lady Matthews added brief notes to the text, correcting rumours she had reported and comparing the food prices to those of the 1920s.

Notes:

Description based on online resource (viewed on November 21, 2018).

AMDigital Reference: Documents.17087.