J. O. M. Ashley diary entry February 15th – 18th 1919

Saturday 15th February 1919

Lydd – Earls Court

Catch 9.17am from Lydd which gets me home to Teddington just after lunch.  Pick up my Blues, proceed to Redcliffe Square and enjoy another very good evening at the Empress Rooms.

Sunday 16th February 1919

Earls Court

A pleasant placid day, including going to a concert at the Albert Hall.

Monday 17th February 1919

Earls Court – Lydd

Return home to get rid of my blues and go again to the Empress Rooms at 4pm for another couple of hours dancing before leaving with a great rush for Lydd by the 7.15pm.

Wet of course.

Tuesday 18th February 1919

Lydd

Wet.

Am delighted to be asked to exercise Col. Phillips new charger – which turns out a jolly good mount.  Take him down to the sea to-day; but he seems to have exercised me more than I him!

J. O. M. Ashley 1919 diary entry 14th February

Lydd

With one or two other officers and lady officers of the WRAF and WAAC drive over in a ? to a RAF dance at a large aerodrome about half a dozen miles away.

Very nice room and band: but glad to get away about 2.30am considering I have to catch the 9.17am for town.

J. O. M. Ashley 1919 diary February 9th-13th

Sunday 9th

Lydd.

Fine and cold.

Have an extremely busy afternoon over demobilisation difficulties.

Monday 10th

Lydd.

Tuesday 11th

Lydd

Wednesday 12th

Lydd.

Hockey.

Thursday 13th

Lydd

Very jolly dancing party at Col. Blanford’s in the evening.

 

J. O. M. Ashley 4th February – 8th February 1919

Finally found where I had safely stored this treasure so I can share some entries and perhaps in a little while get close enough to the right date to try and post a daily entry (no promises  as I have been unable to find enough time for everything I’d like to do before!)

Tuesday 4th February 1919

Lydd

The following letter received from the W.O.

Since this is a direct copy of an official communication I am not typing it all up here but Captain Ashley is informed he has been noted for duty at Gibraltar or Malta when opportunity arises.

Wednesday 5th February 1919

Lydd

Once again at Bevan’s invitation go round to quest night at the RAF mess.

This afternoon in the middle of a violent snowstorm, a sea-plane landed off the coast beyond the ranges.  The occupants escaped but the machine badly damaged was not salved till next day.

Thursday 6th February 1919

Lydd

A return visit – Bevan RAF dines with me at the RA&RE Mess – a bridge evening for a change.

Friday 7th February 1919

Lydd

Saturday 8th February 1919

Lydd

Fine and cold.

Out for a ride on a push-bike after lunch. Visiting Old Romney and Ivychurch.

Ivychurch, a funny little place consisting of half a dozen cottages, possesses a very fine old church.

 

 

J O M Ashley February 1st – 3rd 1919

Saturday February 1st 1919

Lydd

Snow starts, and continues off and on during the day.

On Mrs Eady’s introduction pay call and have tea with the Mayor of Lydd and Miss Finn, at Westbrook House.

Sunday February 2nd 1919

Lydd

Weather continues beastly and cold.

To 11am service at Lydd Church.  Simple and just what might be expected at such a village church.

Monday February 3rd 1919

Lydd

Snow continues, so a mixed hockey match arranged for to-day has to be cancelled.

Shift my abode back to No.5 Tin-Town and share the quarter with Capt. Steele of 541 – hence – (?)forto(?) very comfortable.

J.O.M Ashley January 30th-31st 1919

1919 Thursday 30th January

Lydd

Cold and windy with occasional showers.

Hard and fast hockey match in the afternoon on the “Ripe”.

Further paragraph with notes on bank balance not included here.

1919 Friday 31st January

Lydd.

Very cold and frosty.

Mixed shorts between all ranks of 536 and 541 SB’s had been arranged for this afternoon; but are cancelled owing to the weather.  Instead work off tug-of-war and six-a-side football competitions.

January 28th-29th 1919 John O. M. Ashley

1919 Tuesday 28th January

Lydd

Shift my quarters over to Bricktown – which turns out most unpleasantly uncomfortable and cold!

Report to Co. T. R. Phillips ?CMG? R.A. my Brigade Commander and am instructed to take over charge of 536 Siege Battery.

1919 Wednesday 29th January

Lydd.

Major and Mrs. Stevens give a most enjoyable dance in the Tin Town Sergeants Mess – 8.30pm to 1.30am.

 

J. O. M. Ashley 1919 Diary January 24th-27th

Friday 24th January 1919

Salisbury – London

Last day of the BC’s course and a very fine one too.  All the ?Busses? etc rush home and all succeed in catching the 2.40pm train from Salisbury.

Spend the night with the E. go to the Empress Rooms after dinner.

Saturday 25th January 1919

London – Teddington

Return home in the afternoon.

Sunday 26th January 1919

Teddington

Go up to dinner with the E. and forget what time the last Richmond train leaves Earl’s Court consequently.

Monday 27th January 1919

Teddington – Lydd

Catch 1am train from Waterloo – the one train of the day that does not stop at Hampton Wick!

Pack etc and go up to Waterloo on the return journey to Lydd at 2.40.  This time succeed in catching the 4.30 from Charing X with 3/4 hr. to spare.

Arrive at my destination on a very unpleasant evening, blowing and raining hard: but am cheered by being told to go to the RA and RE Mess.  The best in the camp and established since the eighteen eighties.

J. Ashley’s diary 1919 January 18th-23rd

Saturday 18th January 1919

Teddington

In evening go with Frank, DL and PB to the Empress Rooms.

Sunday 19th January 1919

Teddington – Salisbury

Return to duty by the 7.15 pm from Waterloo

Monday 20th January 1919

Salisbury

Tuesday 21st January 1919

Salisbury

Go out to a dance in Salisbury, dining first with the Malets at the Crown Hotel.

After some difficulty succeed in getting back into the Red Lion about 2.30 am!

Wednesday 22nd January 1919

Salisbury

Thursday 23rd January 1919

Salisbury

J. Ashley’s Diary 1919 January 13th-17th

January 13th 1919, Monday

Salisbury

Our daily duties for the next fortnight consist of a trip out to Chapperton Down in very comfortable exhaust-heated motor ambulances, door to door hours 8.45 to 5pm.  Then a lecture every evening at 5.30pm.

January 14th 1919, Tuesday

Salisbury

January 15th 1919, Wednesday

Salisbury

January 16th 1919, Thursday

Salisbury

January 17th 1919,

Salisbury – Teddington

Catch 4.20 pm from Salisbury arriving home just late for dinner!