Diary of Gerard Henderson Cowan, November 1917 - January 1918 - Part 1

3669 (10)
Sat 3^rd Nov 1917 
which I ommitted to
put the day (Sunday)
I was coming. Consequently
my aunt sat up till midnight
on Saturday expecting
me.
Sunday 4^th Nov 1917
I left Tunbridge Wells
by the 7..5 am train this
morning and travelled
via Lewes and Brighton
to Portsmouth. Had to
wait at Brighton for my
train but only had time
to get a shave and
have some refreshments,
did not have any time
to see the town.
I arrived at Portsmouth
 

at 20 to 12. Had great
difficulty in persuading
the man in the ticket
office to give me a
ticket and only managed
to get it in time to calch
the 12 train to Broadstone
with the R.T.O's help.

Eventually arrived at
Broadstone at about 3p.m.
Monday 5^th Nov 1917
Aunt and I went to
Bournmouth this
morning and came
back about 6 this evening.
Bournmouth is one
of the cleanest towns
I have seen in England.
It has very fine shops
and a well laid out,
public garden, The sea
front with pier and
cliff walks is e excellent
I indulged in £2.. a pair of
dress trousers and Aunt
presented me with a
30/- pair of shoes.
Tuesday 6^th Nov 1917
This morning we motored
round the country, through
Wimbourne, Blanford and
back down to Pool and
the Docks. In the afternoon
we motored to Christchurch
and visited the old abbey
parts of which date back
to the time of the Old England
Wednesday 7^th Nov 1917
I left Broadstone about
8.12 this morning for
 

Donhead going Via
Salisbury. Was met at
Semley by old Tanner
and driven to Donhead
Went out shooting and bagged
four rabbits before dinner
Had no luck in the afternoon
although we saw plenty
of game
Thursday 8^th Nov 1917
Had about an hour out
shooting this morning before
I left and bagged four
pheasants. Left in time
to catch the 12.29 to
Salisbury, but as it
was hung up in the
tunnel I had to go
back via Templecombe.
Arrived Broadstone about
4 p.m. Leave here for
Ryde tomorrow.
Friday 9^th Nov 1917
Left Boadstone 8.37 this morning
arrived at Southampton in
time to catch the 11.10 boat
Southampton is very interesting
but had no time to explore
it. Arrived at Cowes about
12.20. Had dinner and
caught the 1.30. train to
Ryde. Tha Aquitania is
still off Cowes.
Got out at St John's Road
and walked up to Belknap
Saturday. 10^th Nov 1917
Went to Cowes this morning
and visited Whites shipbuilding

yds. Could
only see over the
 

ship yard as the
men went on strike
at 12 noon, owing to
the price of coal, (63/-
a ton) therefore I was
unable to visit the
engine works where
all the engines are
built. Rhoda and I went
to tea at the Cochran's.
The two Miss Cochran's are
both doing war work
one driving a motor
ambulance in France
the other working in
the aeroplane works at
Whites shipyards.
Sunday 11^th Nov 1917

This morning I was
going to Ventnor by

train but on arrival
at St John's station found
the train was not
running; so decided to
walk. Two schoolboys
decided to do the same
so we set off together.
We passed through Brading
which at one time was
a seaport but now
owing to the land having
been reclaimed is about
two miles from any water.
Bembridge now being the
port. in Brading are some
very old stocks. Brading
is not very preposing
the only things of interest
I saw were some old stocks
Sandown was the
 

next place we reached.
This is a seaside town
of some importance
and appears to be
rather a decent place.
Our road here followed
the cliff top and the
views here are very
fine. We next passed
through the town of
Shanklin, which is
also a decent little place;
and through Shanklin
Chine (waterfall or stream) where
there is the most beautiful
natural scenery. The
path then lead back
to the cliffs round
      head and then
on through the landslip

The Landslip is
where a huge cliff had
evidently given way
and evidently everything
for half a a quarter of
a mile back has slid
towards the sea, the
scenery is most beautiful
and grotesque.
From the Landslip we
come to the Village of
Bonchurch a very quaint
little with the quaintest
of little churches which
is also supposed to be
the oldest and smallest
church in England.
It is not used nowadays
In the present churchyard
the Poet Swinbourne is
 

buried.
Ventnor is only a few
minutes walk from
Bonchurch but it
was too late to explore
it when I reached there
I just had time to
have dinner and
walk to the to catch
the 12.15. train to Ryde
Ventnor railway station
is very curious it
is built in a quarry
in the hillside and
instead of having sheds
for coal etc they
have dug out places
in the quarry side
and put doors and.
windows in them.

The lines enters a
tunnel as soon as
it leaves the platform.
Arrived back at Belknap
a little after 3 p.m.
and as I was wal and
spent the remainder
of the afternoon there
Monday 12^th Nov 1917
Left Belknap this morning
in time to catch the
boat from Ryde to Portsmouth
which leaves about 11 a.m.
Miss Ch Cochran was going
over by the same boat.
I noticed the huge piece
of rock which had
been found imbeded
in the hull of the
Pique and was now
 

among the things
of interest placed on
a promenade on
the shore. I pointed
it out to her and
she informed me it
was a relative of hers
who had been in charge
of the Pique at the time.
Having about and
an hour to wait
for my train at
Portsmouth I left my
luggage at the parcel
office and taking
the ferry to Gasport
got an old boatman
to row me to the
Victory.  I was shown
all our the Victory
which is a very wonderful
old ship, though most
of the upper decks have
been rebuilt. I tipped
the old fellow who
showed me round
although it was requested
teal visitors should not
do this, but the old fellow
discreetly led me to
a quiet place to finish
up with, (the stern where
he showed me the
huge iron bar which
had been used to steer
the Victory when her
steering gear had been
blown away. The
old boatman got
me to the ferry
 

just in time to get
back and catch my
train. Had to change
at Brighton and
eventually arrived
in Bexhill at 5 p.m.
pitch dark and foggy.
Not having heard from
Miss Wilson whether
it would be convenient
if I went there I had
to find a lodging for
the night. Luckily I
asked one of the guards
and he told me he
could put me up for
the night. He gave
me the address and
I went round. On ringing
the bell I received

no answer but presently
a voice behind me
said, did you ring that,
bell. I said yes. Oh I'm
sorry I thought it was
one of those boys from
the street they are always
pulling the bell. I told
her Mr Wright had sent
me along. I had a very
decent room there and
very nice meals, it
cost me 6/- shillings
but as things are in
England now it was cheap.
Tuesday 13^th Nov 1917
Left my luggage at
the Station and walked
to Miss Wilsons. It was
frightfully foggy and
 

I found it rather difficult
to find my way, but
eventually arrived there
Had to leave again at
in time to catch the
4.29. p.m. to Tunbridge Wells
Arrived Tunbridge Wells
about 7 p.m. On arrival
at Gracies found a bundle
of 28 Australian letters
waiting for me the
first I have had for
nearly three months
Wednesday 14^th Nov 1917
Spent most of today in
reading and answering
letters and getting my
kit together

Thursdy 15^th Nov 1917

Today I hired a bike and
J   and I was biked round
the country for about
18 miles. Wen went through
the villages of Langford
Pendhurst Leigh and
back through Tonbridge
and Southborough.
It was a most interesting
ride. At one village there
was a very curious
old oak inn and
at Pendhurst is
Pendhurst Place the
home of Sir Philip
Sidney. We had dinner
at the inn there
and they charged
uf us 7/- most