Old Blockade
Old Blockade - by a boy at Dartmouth
Observe how doth the British Navy
Baulk the Bavarian of his gravy
While the fat Boche from Köln to Munick
Cannot expand to fill his tunic.
Foch’s sayings
Lady Mary’s diary: Monday 2nd Dec 1918
Everyday, news so interesting and good we hardly know ourselves. From Clemenceau’s speech at the Fr Embassy. At a critical stage Foch said: “I can’t hold can I, then I’ll attack.”
Another famous saying: [by Foch] “I shall fight in front of Amiens, I shall fight in Amiens, I shall fight behind Amiens.”
Hospital in village school
James Sansom: 17th December 1918
We move to Gammerages in Belgium about 30 kilos from Brussels. I go again in a motor for a joy ride. I and others are billeted in a water mill while we have our hospital in the village school.
Music at Beaucroft
Olive Harcourt’s diary 22.12.18
Florence and I went to have a little music at Beaucroft. Only a few men left, 30 gone for Christmas. Very dull time. Bradley wold not stop roaring like a bull and no other would sing.
picture: Olive Harcourt's piano at the home of her ward Joan Cocozza in Bristol in 2018
An easy time
James Sansom: James Sansom 28 Dec 1918
We are having an easy time now - no parades, get up what time we please and the people are very good to us. We get plenty of sport here. We have several concerts and have a good time generally .
At Xmas plenty to eat and drink for those who like it and we spend a lot of time with the villagers.
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Explore by day, month or person here on the blog or on our five Twitter feeds: @Voicesfrom1918 @LadyMonkswell @MarieStopes1918 @JamesSansom230 and @OliveHarcourt.
Voices from 1918 has been developed by artists Sharon Hayden and Alastair Nisbet in partnership with Wimborne Community Theatre, Dorset History Centre and the Priest’s House Museum, Wimborne with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Thanks to all who have helped us with this project: Maria Gayton and staff at Dorset History Centre where we found Lady Mary Monkswell’s diaries; Joan Cocozza, ward of nursing auxiliary Olive Harcourt; Portland Museum where we found James Sansom’s diaries; the British Library and Wellcome Libraries; Priest’s House Museum in Wimborne and Gill Horitz from Wimborne Community Theatre.
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