Diary for Frederick Harold Tubb, 1915 - Part 2

the river where we have walked 

down with Lady Clementine who 
is talking with the keeper and we 
are waiting. Across the river is 
Marmions Chapel; the place where 
he slept before Hodder Field battle 
We have had a grand walk 
through the Lennel farms. inspecting 
the stock, the horses, cattle & sheep 
are the very best, and well kept 
There are two small islands (which 
part the river) where I shot the 
pheasants the other day. Went to 
the C. of England Col Adams & I.

Monday 18/10/15 A great day 
We had a big shoot at pheasant's 
partidges hares etc. I enjoyed 
myself immensely—one of the 

best days Ive spent since I landed 
at Devonport. The keeper (Taylor 
ran conducted proceedings. There 
were 8 beaters three splendid dogs 
& 5 of us with guns fiz. Arnold 
Robertson (who  returned this morning) 
Major Mears, Major Gandy, Capt 
Saxton, Lt Thomas & myself 
the day was dull and wet. The 
birds were numerous & flew 
splendidly We got 40 birds 
in the morning of which I got 
thirteen 5 brace partidges & a brace 
and a half of pheasants. We 
arrived home saturated but happy 

After a whisky and soda, hot bath 
and change I felt pretty good. 
Received many more telegrams 
from friends including one from 
Sir Geo Reid. Tuesday 19/10/15 
Photographed this morning again 
had telegrams from Dr Rasien & Weddel 
Read invitations from Capt Forbes 
Royal Seats to come to dinner tonight 
As Col Adams is in bed off colour 
Mac & I are going. We walked 
to Coldstream St. & took train 
for Beswick passing Twizell 
where we stopped for a minute 
then into Norham where is a [[?]]
^also of a fine old castle.  Then to Velvet-Hall 
then to Tweedmouth where we [[?]] 
back to Berwick Capt Forbes met

us. We went into the Rly Refreshment 
Dorm then out to The Royal Scots Mess 
where we dined royally. Mac & I 
met in a really good time which 
was kept up till —. "Slept like 
tops in the HQs of The Royal Scots" & 
breakfasted see also. I will always 
remember Capt Forbes &The Royal Scots 
for their kindess etc. We said 
Good bye again to Berwick at 5.40 
pm having spent a grand tie 
on arriving home (Lennel) I found 
another heap of telegrams & letters 
including a cable from dear 
old Llngwort from Longwood's 
friends sent by Brodie. I was 
exceedingly pleased to receive it 
I wish I could be home for a 
day or two! There are two 

more officers here now. 
Baker's [[?]] lately from France on 
five days leave, he is off back 
tonight Lady Clementine wants 
me to go to a concert up in the 
hills tomorrow evening. A 
recruiting rally is part of the show 
I think I'll go as it promises to 
be very interesting Amongst the 
wires received was one from 
Newton Moore on behalf of 
the Australian & New Zealand 
officers at Weymouth. Mr 
Robertson is leaving for 
Washington where he's going 
to be the Govt Consul Thursday 
old & wet: More telegrams 
& letters, including one from

Bert Wiso Agent General for N.S.Wales 
In the evening after high tea at 7 
Lady Clementine, Baker, McDonald & I 
went to Mindrums (a tiny place in 
the hills of Northumberland) to a 
local concept. We enjoyed ourselves 
immensely—The concert was really 
good & the little school house packed 
It put me in mind of a bush place 
in Victoria. the singing of the Scots 
songs, & the joining in of the audience 
was delightful. The Northumberland 

dialect puzzled me as much if not 
more so show the real Scotch. During 
the interval the crowd were harangued 
by McDonald who made a fighting 
speech calling on the young fellows 
to enlist. From the dean of the Hall  

where I had been guided by 
Lady Clementine I cried on the 
good work. It was like talking to 
automations, but after, we succeeded 
in getting three or four likely young 
fellows to promise to serve their King 
& Country, Lady Clementine's a wonder 
and a thorough sportswoman. I 
will never forget our recruiting 
rally in Mindrum. nor I think 
will the Mindrum folk [[?]] 
the visitation of the Australians

Friday Oct 22 Had breakfast 
late, in consequence of our doings 
last night. ^Capt (English (D.L.I) & Baker 
have gone to the P.O. for the mail 
The two new arrivals Napper and 
Gaynor are sitting by the fire 

writing for them to return so 
Lady Clementine is placing the 
car at our disposal to go and herd 
up the recruits when we bagged 
last night with the object of getting 
them to attend a recruiting 
rally in Coldstream tomorrow 
Went to Mendrum re recruits, & 
left instructions for them to assemble 
at the School for a ride into Coldstream 
in the car tomorrow. Saturday 
raining and cold Attended the 
recruiting rally in the Park 
in the afternoon, (It rained all 
the time ) the Pipers were in attendance 
& the meeting lasted for only a little 
time being adjourned till the 
evening. We all went again  

to the Hall. Capt Balfour Scots 
Guards, & other officers The Provost 
and a Mr Brown spoke patriotically 
& fluency. About 180 recruits for 
the week have been enlisted and 
8 came forward tonight. Much 
of the evenings programme was 
highly amusing. Col Adams 
made a good speech in characteristic 
manner. Sunday 24.10.15. 
The pain has stopped. Scotland 
is rather dreary when it rains? 
Raining again. Got wet going to 
Church also when returning. 
Monday 25/10/15 Went out 
shooting in the morning shot

2 pheasants 1 hare 1 partridge & grouse
Spent a quiet afternoon 

Tuesday 26/10/15 Rose early left Lennel 
(Major Gandy, Lt McDonald Thomas & self) by car 
for Lord Tweeddales place for days grouse shooting 
Reach Lester the estate agents at 9.5am 
after passing thro the most magnificent 
hedges & grand & beautiful country then 
into Tweeddale. Oh it is the most 
lovely place imaginable other 
beautiful trees the autumn tints 
the lovely stream the purple soil 
the carpets of gorgeous coloured leaves 
then on to the Lammermuir Moors 
where we joined the shooting party 
Mr Macdonald was in charge 
10 am we are on the butts 
in our positions Here comes the 
birds hurrah. 10.50. Only bagged 
2 brace in the drive ^11.15 we are 
now in other butts waiting for 
the birds while I am writing this

Later 
Got two trace birds at the stands 
The birds take a lot of killing 
they fly splendidly & are difficult 
O! what a lunch we had 
a real hot one on the Moors 
whisky. port, beer, hot & cold meats 
etc. My word we did enjoy it 
and it was 1.30 when we sat down 
to it. Greatly bucked we 
kept going at the same excellent 
sport. Mac kept with me all 
the time. The bag was 43 brace 
grouse and 4 hares b y lunch 
time. I don't know how many 
were killed afterwards. We 
finished up at 5 o'clock my 
bag being 10 grouse I 
did not shoot too well. The 
birds and the gun being strange

I put it down too, the other 
members of the party were Capt 
Donnithorne, Mr Macdonald 
(estate agent Lord Tweed^dale of 
Lester) Major Gandy, Lt Thomas, 
Capt Armitage

We had tea at Mr Macdonalds 
& then left foursome at 6 reaching 
there at 7.40 after spending 
a truly splendid day. I see 
my photo in the papers am sending 
them home to St Helene. The (Burns) 
poet who wrote Cold Cold it 
blows across the moor must 
certainly have been where we 
were shooting today fact is 
the coldest place Ive ever been on. 
This beautiful country round 

here is described and spoken of fully 
by Sir Walter Scott in Marmion, 
Lennel, Ford, Norham, Fester, 
Lady Clare, Gifford, Chester, Stanley 
Leil, Till rivers Tweed. Ethamelo 
Gifford & Tweedale titles amalgamated 
Lord Gifford succeeded to the title of 
Lord Tweedale (brother of Lady Clementine) 
(See the third canto of Marmion) 
The beautiful home of Yester beggars 
description, the glorious autumn 
hints defy description, the moors 
beautiful & the air bracing but very 
very cold, the gillies of the hard old 
Scottish type & the grouse hard to shoot. 
after lunch shoot continued under 
improved conditions as regards 
cold & the history of the place 
immortalised by Scott in Marmion 

almost makes one stand in 
awe, should have liked to visit the 
Wizards Castle, Hugo Clifford one of 
the forebears of one genial hostess 
altogether day very enjoyable & instructive. 
[[?]] McDonald Lt A.I.F. 
Wednesday 27/10/15 Went fishing 
with Major Gandy down near the 
Marmion Chapel. I took the gun 
& shot three duck. One got 
no fish but had an enjoyable 
morning In the afternoon the 
Royal Scots officers came to Coldstream 
& were the guests of ^Col Adams Mac & me 
at the Newcastle Arms hotel. We 
had a good time & gave them a 
good time sending them home very 
happy. Lt Gaynor was with us when 
Capt Forbes, Henley, Stewart, White 
& two others were of The Royal Scots 
present — We did have a good time 

Thursday 28/10/15 Rained 
all the morning - I stayed 
in bed till after lunch. It was 
too wet to play golf so I put the 
time in writing, & preparing for 
my journey to Edinburg tomorrow 
for my Medical Board. Friday 
1 pm Here I am writing in the 
North British hotel Edinburg. I 
had a good trip up from Coldstream 
Am going to attend Medical Board 
after lunch. I wonder what they 
will say to me? R Edward St Babe 
Baker R.E. has amused himself 
by depicting scenes of me ^on opposite pages since I
arrived in England & Scotland. Was 
examined by the Doctors at the Castle 
at 3 pm. After thoroughly overhauling me 
they wanted to give me an extension 
of leave. After some discussion 

(Handrawn image - see original)

Bonnie 

Scotland 

Oct - 1915

They stated that they would recommend 
to the War Office that I be placed on 
Light duties at Weymouth. Came 
home by the late train which broke 
down about 20 miles from nowhere 
& I did not reach Berwick till 2 am 
Saturday. Capt Forbes & Lt Henley 
were waiting for me & took me out 
to Westcoast (their "quarters") where 
I stayed the night. It was awfully 
good of Forbes, the kindness of the 
Royal Scots here will I never forget 
Saturday 30/10/15 It was bitterly 
cold this morning & a black frost 
by jove it can get cold & wet 
in these parts I stayed in 
bed till late having my breakfast 
in bed. The Royal Scots are very

comfortable in Westcoast. This 
Medical Board would not let 
me see what they wrote down 
concerning my health. I am 
somewhat disappointed but 
as soon as I get to Weymouth 
I expect to be able to get away 
without any bother. After lunch 
Capt Johnson's car took us 4 of the 
Royal Scots Capt English & me to 
Coldstream. I had some shots 
out of Johnsons gun along the 
road, bagging a pigeon. We 
went to the Newcastle Arms, had 
tea & dinner spending an uproarious 
& happy time. There 
were present Col Adams, Max & I 
^Capt Johnson, Capt Forbes, Lt Henley Lt 
Wolf, Lt Thom.

Sunday 31. Went to Church 
two times. Raining & bleak.

Monday Nov 1 Lady Clementine 
returned from London this morning 
Things are not too good judging 
by the reports from the front 
Many of ours at Wandsworth Lady 
Clementine saw who sent many 
message to us. Tuesday 2.11.15 
Col Adams & McDonald went away 
this morning. Col for Edinburg & 
Mac for Dundee. I saw them 
off & felt very much thirsty going 
away. Good luck to them, We 
have spent many happy times 
together. Capt English Lt Russell 
& I went out with the guns I 
sot a brace & ½ of partidges 

Lady Clementine brought me home 
from London a lovely cigarette case 
with coat of arms engraved : she is much 
kinder to me than I deserve. A story 
going the rumours in London is 
that Perry Scott of Ante Zeppelin fame with 
several whiskies inside  one in his hand 
was saying that the Zeppelins would 
come no more as his precautions were 
efficient when bang went a bomb 
(The Zepps were commencing their raid) 
Wednesday 3.11.15 Had a real 
good days shooting though it 
rained much & was bitterly cold 
The cheviot hills were 
mantled with snow. bagged 
3 brace partridges 2 ^traces pheasants 1 
plover for my gun. Asquiths speech 
in the house made interesting 
reading to day. His remarks over