Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915 - Part 13

24                     

I think in about a month

I will have lost all my shyness.

This afternoon the Anglican

minister from this district came

along to hold a short service.

He often visits us, and is a 

good old sport, so the boys

lined up to his service. We

had a good sing-song, and

he preached a short, manly

sermon. I enjoyed it

very much.
Monday, May 24^th

The doctor said I could

dispense with splints, when

he made the rounds this

morning. My arm is very

weak, and I feel lost without

the support, but I expect

I will get the use of the 

arm quicker if it is left
25                 
free. I think I should be out

within a week.

Today is Whit Monday, and

is observed as a big holiday

in Manchester. The "Besses 

of the Barn" Band has been

paying in the Park close

by, and a large crowd

was there to hear it, I was told.

I wish we could have heard

it. Do you remember it came

to Australia a few years ago, and

got a great reception. That

was in the pre-Phyllis days,

unfortunately, so I was not able

to take you. But I took

somebody else and it cost

me 15/- for our seats. And

here it can be heard in the

parks for nothing. It belongs

to the Manchester district.

26                     

We have had a lot of people

to talk to us today. One lady

has promised to take my

photo one day this week to

send to you. I hope it

turns out well.
Tuesday May 25^th

Same as usual.
Wednesday May 26^th

Have written to you and

Mother today. Also had our

photos taken.
Thursday May 27^th

Transferred today to a 

Red Cross Hospital at Stretford,

about 3 ¾ miles from Manchester.

This Hospital was also a school

until very recently. It is about

twice as large as the Mosely St

hospital. Also I think we are

in for a much better time here.
27     

We are allowed out between certain 

hours and that atmosphere of

rigid discipline which exists in

Military Hospitals is entirely absent.

This afternoon a few of us took

a tramride towards the city, and

walked across to the Ship Canal.

which enables big cargo and

passenger steamers to come right

up to Manchester. After tea

we walked through the park

and watched some happy couples

playing tennis. I did envy

them - beautiful grass courts 

too.
Friday, May 28^th

Went out to Heaton Park this afternoon

and heard the "Besses" play. There

was an enormous crowd, and the

music was excellent. Had tea in 

town, and reached the hospital

by 6.30pm - well within bounds.

28             

Saturday May 29^th

Had an enjoyable afternoon. Some

of the people here took a large

party of us to the Manchester

Hippodrome. There was a special

matinee in aid of the Manchester

Soldiers Comforts fund, and all 

the leading artists now performing at

the various theatres gave their

services free. It was a splendid

programme, and the place was

crowded. Some people in the

audience sent us up cigarettes and

numerous boxes of chocolates.

It makes us wonder what we

have done to get all these good

things showered on us. Personally

I feel that I am a terrible fraud.
Sunday May 30^th

Went to church this morning-

Methodist. very good service,
29

lovely old pipe organ, and good

singing. Felt like old times.

The minister prayed for absent 

loved one and I said a big

Amen to that. In the afternoon

three of us went out to Fallowfield

to see the boys still left at the

Hospital. They envied us. We 

all had invitations to various 

places to tea, so we parted 

company and went to our friends.

I was let in for a picnic. The 

daughter of the house (a bright

Kiddie at the flapper age) had

asked two of her little flapper friends

to help her do the honors. So I had

 to take the three of them out for a

walk through the park. What was

my consternation when they

suggested calling round for another

friend. Still I had to say that

30       

I wasn't at all bashful, but

all the same I fervently hoped

that I wouldn't run into any

of the chaps, especially the

two I had come out with.

I ran into about three that I

knew, and was just congratulating

myself that I was going to dodge

a particular two, when, as we

turned a corner I ran bang

into them. What was my joy

though, to discover them in an

even more embarrassing situation

than I. They had eleven

children of various ages from

five to nine hanging on to their

hands and getting tangled up 

in their legs as they walked.

They had received an even

warmer welcome than I had.
On the way back to the Hospital
31        
the train was held up for nearly

an hour while a big procession

of Catholic Sunday school children

passed along the streets. Many of

the children were dressed in fancy

costumes and carried big baskets

and wreaths of flowers, but I

looked at all their little faces as

they passed along and I do

not think I have ever seen such

un-lovely children before. It

was not merely that their faces

were plain - they were

expressionless, dull, vacant, almost

repellent. I suppose most of the 

poor little mites were from the

slum districts, for there are some

very beautiful children here.
Monday May 31^st

Had my arm massaged this morning. 
The lady who performed the massaging

32                      

was of an old church in the

Cheshire country which she said was

well worth a visit, so this afternoon

Hempel and I found our way to

it, We took the car to Altringham

and from there walked up the

hill to what we thought was the

church. On closer inspection we

found it was not the church

we wanted, but as it was a 

fine building we decided to

and look over it. It was
a Wesleyan Chapel, but we
found afterwards that it is considered
to be one of the finest Wesleyan
Chapels in England. (The Bowden
Wesleyan Chapel). It has some
beautiful lead-Windows, and a
fine organ. The caretaker was
in the church at the time, and
his wife sent across to ask would
33
we like a cup of tea. we didn't
need much pressing, and spent
a pleasant hour chatting with her
and eating up all her good
home made cake. We next
found our way to the Bowden (Anglican)
Church. I dont know the age
of the Church, but some of the
tomb stones in the Churchyard
bear dates as far back as 1620.
This church also has some very fine
lead windows, and a grand
organ which we were privileged
to hear. On one transefit is a
tomb, with the marble figures of
Brereton de Brereton and his wife
recumbent on the top. Near by
is an old English chest, with the
wood fitted and grooved and the
big iron hinges rusted with age.
I do not know the story. The