The Soldiers Own Diary is pale-brown and linen-covered measuring 3" by 4" (7.5 by 10 mm), published by Charles Letts. It has survived in fair condition, apart from the bottom edge which is bullet-ripped but fortunately very little of the written content has been lost.² The endpapers are multi-coloured maps of Europe, but part of the front one is missing, on the reverse of which would have been the title page.

A sad tale unfolds in its pages bringing to life those black and white shadows so often seen on film. It was the family's most enigmatic surviving document and deserves to be read not only most carefully, but with much understanding. The persons and events it records are now part of history so there has not been much of an element of prying after so much time has elapsed.

Although common, it was illegal for soldiers to keep a diary in World War One, so it is remarkable that it was returned to the family after Will's death.

The majority of the entries were made in pencil, are feint and sometimes difficult to read. Much of the information Will wrote about himself and Betty is in Pitman's shorthand. The first completed page is headed:

Regimental No. [840057 - deleted, and inserted over] 653775.³ Rank. Cpl. Name. Merryweather W J E. Home Address. 105 Edith Grove, Kings Road, Chelsea, SW. Corps. 21st (Res) London Regiment. Company. C. Platoon and Section. –

Next follow 60 pages about military matters - tactics, badges, semaphore, etc. The following names are written on page 56.

Miss Ashby,¹⁴ Milburn, Sutton Lane, Hounslow, London.

There are no further entries until:

FEBRUARY.
12 Mon.	9.30 train to Brentwood and general Course of Instruction. N.C.O's.15
13 Tue.	GMC.16 2 letters from my Betty. Wrote 2 in reply. [all deleted]
14 Wed.	GMC. 2 letters from Betty … wrote two in reply. Letter from Ma. [all deleted]
15 Thu.	GMC. 2 letters from my love to which I replied. 1 letter from Vi. [all deleted]
24 Sat.	Pass to Colchester. Met my Betty on the station. Slept at Em's. Pictures in Evening.
25 Sun.	[Partly deleted]. Breakfast 11.
26 Mon.	Brentwood in time for parade. Oh! the pain of leaving
MARCH.
3 Sat.	My Betty wrote17 to say Bert18 is home on leave. [Pictures in evening deleted]
4 Sun.	Breakfast late. Hoppy talked[?] with Betty. Wrote Hazell.19 [Entries for this and the previous day have been erased and are partly obliterated by smudging from the entry on the facing page]
5 Mon.	Ret'd Brentwood 7.30 train in time for Parade. Oh! the pain of leaving.
8 Thu.	Ret'd Returned forom leave.
10 Sat.	Went up to London for a few hours.
11 Sun.	Returned to Brentwood in time for church.
15 Thu.	Betty wrote to say Bert returned from leave. [Entry erased]
16 Fri.	Ret'd from Course at Brentwood. The joy of ... [?. Much erased].
24 Sat.	Mtd Gd. Thorpe.20 Vigilance began.21 Cooke found asleep on post (D.C.M.).22
25 Sun.	Dismt'd Gd. Stand to 11pm.
27 Tue.	Special Vigilance over 4 pm.
31 Sat.	Mtd Guard Kiosk.23
APRIL.
1 Sun.	Dismt'd Gd. Kiosk.
2 Mon.	Moved to Fort Fitzgerald "A" Company. Promoted to "Full" Corporal.
3 Tue.	Cooke's D.C.M. postponed.
4 Wed.	D.C.M. 2pm. Mtd Chevaux24 Guard 7pm.
5 Thu.	Dismt'd Guard 5pm.
7 Sat.	Late pass to Frinton [subsequent shorthand erased]. Mrs. Millar and Addie came for week-end.
8 Sun.	Returned in time for church parade.
9 Mon.	Went to BOR25 to sign foreign service form. Late pass to Frinton. Slept with Betty.
10 Tue.	GOC's26 inspection. Went to Sandy Point.27
14 Sat.	Bert home on leave.
19 Thu.	Moved under canvas, Walton Ashes.28
20 Fri.	Bert returned to barracks.
21 Sat.	Mtd guard 4pm.
22 Sun.	Dismt'd Gd. 6pm.
23 Mon.	On Recruits Training Staff.
MAY.
3 Thu.	Johnny came to stay at Ashleigh.29
17 Thu.	Johnny ret'd home.
18 Fri.	M.O.'s inspection 9.30. Dinner at Ashleigh. Caught 5.9 train to Colchester where met Betty. On to Em's. "Merely Mary Anne" at Theatre.30 Frank ret'd with us to Em's.
19 Sat.	Breakfast 11. Dinner 1.30. [shorthand erased] ... Betty. Pictures in evening with Betty.
20 Sun.	Breakfast 10. Walk with Betty before dinner. Rest in afternoon. Walk to Wivenhoe after tea. Wrote Ma, Young and Florrie.
21 Mon.	Breakfast 10. Shopping with Betty before dinner. Went to bed with Betty in afternoon. Theatre in evening. [Some entries for this and other days erased].
23 Wed.	Reported to camp 1pm. Parade with recruits 2-4.30. Tea at Betty's. Wrote Cot. Slept with Betty.
24 Thu.	Parade 7-9 and 2. Route march 9am. Letter from Johnny. Slept with Betty.
25 Fri.	Ret'd to Coy from Recruits. Parade 7. Saw C.O. re commission; would not recommend. Saw my Betty at 1pm to 3pm. Mtd Gd. 4pm at Walton Pier.
26 Sat.	Hoppy and wife introduced during afternoon. Dismounted Guard 5pm. Tea at Betty's. Told me that Vi knew all. Slept with Betty.
27 Sun.	Church Parade 9.30. With Betty all day. Inlying Piquet 9. Slept with Betty.
28 Mon.	Betty and I went out at 11.30 with Em. Went up to Camp with Betty[?] a surprise[?]. Mtd Gd. 6pm. Betty & Em came to Pier to see me.
29 Tue.	Florrie and Vi came to see Smye and I on Gd. Dismt'd Gd. 6pm. Tea at Betty's. Slept with my beloved.
30 Wed.	Up at 5. returned to Camp. Parade 7-8 and 9-12.13. With Betty at 3pm. Inlying piquet 9. Slept in Camp. Letter from Ma and Dad.
31 Thu.	Woke up at 5am saw my Betty and returned to Camp at 6am. Parade 7-8 P&BF31 Parade 9. Saw Betty and had dinner at Ashleigh. Betty had a letter from Cot - home on leave. Left Betty at 3.15. Mtd Gd 4pm Pier. Betty came down to Walton to see me. Said would see her tomorrow. Betty came to see me in the evening.
JUNE.
1 Fri.	Carried on with Gd. for another 24 hours. My Betty came to see me afternoon and evening. Wrote Johnny.
2 Sat.	Pte. Kempton found asleep on post at 2am. Wrote Ma. Dismt'd Gd. 5pm. At Ashleigh until 8.30. Inlying Piquet 9pm. Ret'd Ashleigh 9.30. Whitie's down from Colchester. Slept with Betty.
3 Sun.	Returned Camp. Church Parade 9. At Ashleigh all day. Walk with Whitie and Betty in the evening. Slept with Betty.
4 Mon.	Parade 7-8 Coy Drill 9. Def W.32 With Betty from 3pm. Slept with Betty. Letter from Frank T. answered.
5 Tue.	B.O.S.33 for day. Aircraft action 7pm and 7.30. Ret'd Ashleigh after Staff Parade. Slept with Betty.
6 Wed.	Up at 9am. Summary of Evidence (re Kempton 11). Ret'd Ashleigh had dinner. Mtd Kirby Guard 4pm.
7 Thu.	Dismt'd Guard 5pm. [...? went to ...?].
8 Fri.	Parade 7-8 9-12.30. With Betty until 7pm. Night Operations over 11pm. Slept with Betty.
9 Sat.	Interior economy 9 [12?]. With Betty until 2.30. Mtd Gd. 5pm Pier. Letter from Johnny.
10 Sun.	Dismt'd Guard 5pm [...] to tea. Slept with Betty [shorthand erased]. Wrote Ma.
11 Mon.	B.O.S. With Betty 1 to 2 and 10.30pm. Slept with my Betty. Letter from Ma.
12 Tue.	Up at 10am. Returned to camp at 2.30. Mtd Gd. 5p Kirby Quay.
13 Wed.	Dismtd Gd. 5pm. With Betty at 5.30.
14 Thu.	Parade 7-9. Kempton's DCM at 10am-12.53. With Betty until 8.30. Inlying Piquet 9pm. Returned to Betty's. Slept with Betty.
15 Fri.	Parade 7-8 9-12.30. Went to see Betty 4.30. Inoculated (48 hours excused duty). Met Betty at Walton. Returned with her to Ashleigh.
16 Sat.	Up at 12am. Returned to Camp at 3pm. Back to Ashleigh.
17 Sun.	Up at 11am. To Camp. Inlying Piquet 9. Went to sleep with my Betty.
18 Mon.	Parade 7-8 9-2. Fatigue. Saw my Betty at 2pm-3.30. Meet her at 6.30 tomorrow. Mtd Pier Guard 5pm. Letters from Cot and Ma.
19 Tue.	Dismt'd Guard 6pm. Saw my beloved at 6.15. With her until 8.30.
20 Wed.	Parade 7-8 9-2. Mtd Kirby Guard 6pm.
21 Thu.	Wrote my darling Betty. Dismt'd Kirby Guard 6pm. Called at Mrs. Fenn's; learnt of Mr. Fenn's death on 15th.34 Went to Kirby to see my darling. Letter from Betty in the evening. Letter from Frank Thomas.
22 Fri.	Parade 7-8 9-2. Mtd Pier Guard 5pm. Wrote my Betty. Letter from Johnny and my darling Betty.
23 Sat.	Dismt'd Gd. 6pm. Went over to Kirby, saw my Betty. I [...? her very much?].
24 Sun.	Church Parade 9.30. Over to Kirby. Stayed to dinner. Mtd Gd 5pm.
25 Mon.	Dismt'd Gd. 6pm ... Saw my Betty at 6.15. Stayed with her until 9. Promised to see her tomorrow. Letter from Betty.
26 Tue.	Parade 7-8 9-2. Mtd Kirby Guard at 5pm. Wrote my beloved.
27 Wed.	Dismt'd Kirby Guard 6pm. Saw my Betty. Promised to see her tomorrow.
28 Thu.	Butt Party Parade 7. Ret'd Camp 2.30. With Betty in the afternoon & evening. Said she would come ... to see me on guard tomorrow.
29 Fri.	No Parades. Mtd Gd. for Sgt. Nelson - relieved at 5.30. Inoculated 6pm. 7.30 train to Kirby. My love had gone to see me at Walton. Betty came home at 8.15. See her tomorrow 2.30. Letter from Cot.
30 Sat.	Bath at 10. Saw Betty at 3pm. Tea in town. Saw Betty again at house in lane[?]. Retd camp 9pm. Invited to Kirby all day tomorrow.
JULY.
1 Sun.	Out at 9am to Kirby. Dinner, tea and supper at Kirby. With Betty all day at Kirby.
2 Mon.	Wrote Johnnie, Flo and Em. Mtd Gd. Kirby 5. Betty came to see me at 7.30.
3 Tue.	Dismt'd Gd. 5. Saw Betty at 6pm. With her until 9pm promised to see her Thurs. Going to Colchester tomorrow. Letter from Ma.
4 Wed.	Mtd Pier Guard. Wrote Cot., Ma. Letter from Bert.
5 Thu.	Dismt'd Gd. 6pm. Saw Betty at 6.30 to 7.30. Night Cpl. 8pm.
6 Fri.	Parade 9-2 and 5-6. Saw my darling Betty at 6.15 out until 9.30 with her and stayed at Mrs. F's. Name on Orders for Winchester.
7 Sat.	Parade 7-8 9-12.30. Saw my darling at 2.15pm went to pictures in the evening with her and Violet. Letter from Dad.
8 Sun.	Church Parade 9.30. With Betty at 12.45. Stayed to dinner and tea and supper.
9 Mon.	Parade 7-8 9-2. With Betty at 5.30. Told her I was going away Wed.; terrible shock to my darling. Letter from Johnny, Flo.
10 Tue.	Parade 7-8. Go for MO. Went to see my beloved at 11am. She was in a terrible state. Oh if only I were not going away. Smye spoilt evening.
11 Wed.	9.26 train to Winchester. My darling came to see me on the station at Frinton. Wrote my darling.
12 Thu.	Parade 6 MO. 8-12.30 2-4.30. Put in charge of No 32 Squad. Wrote my beloved.
13 Fri.	Parade 6.15 10.15 and 2. GOC's inspection. 2 letters from my love. Wrote my Betty.
14 Sat.	Parade 6.15 7-8.30 12. Wrote my Betty. Letter from my Betty. Mtd Gd. 7.30.
15 Sun.	Mtd Gd 6am. Church Parade 9am. Wrote my darling. Went into Town with Boyd [or Bert?] ... and Em.
16 Mon.	Parade 6.15 8.15 and 2. 2 letters from my beloved. Wrote 2 letters in reply.
17 Tue.	Parade 6 8 and 2. Letter from my darling. Replied. She is upset. Wrote Ma and Bert.
18 Wed.	Parade 6 8 and 2. 2 letters from my love to which I replied. She is all apologies over upsetting me. Wrote Johnny and Flo and Vi who wrote me.
19 Thu.	Parade 6 8 and 2. 2 letters from my Betty. Replied to both.
20 Fri.	Parade 6 8 and 2. 2 letters from my love. Wrote 2 letters to my Betty.
21 Sat.	Parade 6 and 8. Bath. Letter from Betty. Went down Town and to the Pictures with Cpl. Purnell.
22 Sun.	Wrote my Betty in answer to her letter.
23 Mon.	Parade as usual. 2 letters from my love. Answered them. Letter from Vi.
24 Tue.	Parades. Letter from my darling. Answered them. Letter from Bert J. and Johnnie and Dad.
25 Wed.	Parades. 2 letters from Betty. Replied.
26 Thu.	Parades. 2 letters from my darling. Answered.
27 Fri.	2 letters from Betty to which I replied. Wrote Vi. Longwood Trenches for the day.
28 Sat.	Wrote my Betty. Went to Town and pictures in evening. Letter from my love.
29 Sun.	Church Parade 9.30. Letter from my darling Betty. Replied to letter. Wrote Ma.
30 Mon.	Bombing. 2 letters from my love (Saty and Sun). Wrote 2 letters in reply.
31 Tue.	Parades as usual. 1 letter from Betty. Wrote 2 letters to my love. Wrote Dad, My Betty.
AUGUST.
1 Wed.	Parades as usual. 2 letters from my love. Wrote to my Betty. Letter from Cot. On duty Cpls Mess.
2 Thu.	Parades as usual. Letter from my love to which I replied.
3 Fri.	Trenches all day. 2 letters from my Betty. Wrote 2 letters to my love.
4 Sat.	Parades as usual. Sports in aftn. 2 letters from my darling. Reply in post.
5 Sun.	Church Parade 9.30. 2 letters from Betty. Wrote Johnny and my darling. Town Piquet.
6 Mon.	GMC. Had letter from my love to which I replied. Went into Winchester and to Pictures.
7 Tue.	GMC. Letter from my darling Betty. Wrote 2 letters to her. Mme. Strathcarn sung in YMCA.
8 Wed.	GMC. 2 letters from my Betty. Wrote two letters in reply. Jn. A Stelling in YMCA (reciting). Letter from Ma.
9 Thu.	GMC. Wrote Betty in morning. 2 letters from Betty. Wrote her in reply. Letter from Vi. Wrote Bert J.
10 Fri.	GMC. Letter from my love to which I replied.
11 Sat.	Firing Pt. Instn. 2 letters from my love. Wrote my Betty afternoon and evening and Vi. Sid Eccles came down to Winchester.
12 Sun.	i/c Presbyterians. Letter from my love. Replied. Wrote Ma and Vi. Wrote Frank T.
13 Mon.	NCO's Class. 2 letters from Betty. Replied. Town Piquet.
14 Tue.	NCO's Class. Letter from my love.
15 Wed.	4 Squad. 2 letters from my love. Replied.
16 Thu.	4 Squad. 2 letters from my Betty. Wrote in reply. Bert is coming home again.
17 Fri.	48 Squad. Wrote 2 letters to my Betty.
18 Sat.	48 Squad. Parcel from Betty letter enclosed. Also letter written Friday. One letter from Vi. Wrote my Betty. Mtd Gd. 7.15.
19 Sun.	Wrote my love in the afternoon, and the evening in reply to her letter.
20 Mon.	Squad 4. 3 letters from my darling. Wrote her two in reply, and Vi.
21 Tue.	Squad 4. Letter from my love to which I replied. Wrote again later. Wrote Ma.
22 Wed.	One letter from my Betty. Wrote Betty. Night March.
23 Thu.	Two letters from my darling. Wrote two in reply.
24 Fri.	Two letters from my love. Wrote two in reply.
25 Sat.	Letter from my love. Replied.
27 Mon.	Two letters from my love. Don't write until I hear from her.
28 Tue.	Letter from Betty.
29 Wed.	Letter from Betty. Letter from Smye and Hoppy.
30 Thu.	Letter from my love. Letter from Dad and Bell.
31 Fri.	Letter from my darling. Wrote Smye, Bell and Dad. Aunt Martha died.35 Letter card from Frank T.
SEPTEMBER.
1 Sat.	Letter from Betty. Went into Winchester in the aftn and Pictures in the evening.
2 Sun.	Handed over C.O.S. Wrote my love morning and evening. Wrote Dad.
3 Mon.	Trenches for Bombing. Letter from my Betty. Replied. Wrote Dad.
4 Tue.	Letter from Betty. Replied. Mtd Supply Gd. 7 pm.
5 Wed.	Dismtd Supply Gd. 8am. Letter from my love. Replied. Wrote again in the evening.
6 Thu.	3 letters from my darling Betty. Replied in the evening with 2 letters.
7 Fri.	Letters from Dad and Cot. [?Also] two letters from my love. Replied in evening.
8 Sat.	Letter and parcel from my Betty. Replied. Went to Winchester to meet party joining Station.
9 Sun.	Letter from my Betty and Vi. Wrote Betty and Vi Frank T.
10 Mon.	Wrote Johnnie, Dad and Aunt Florrie.36 Letter from my love to which I replied.
11 Tue.	Letter from my darling Betty. Replied.
12 Wed.	2 letters from Betty. Replied. Battn Orders. Absorbed in Establishment.
13 Thu.	Letter from Betty. Replied. Letter from John and Ma.
14 Fri.	Three letters from my love. Replied. Town Piquet.
15 Sat.	Transferred to "C" Company. Escort to ... man and to Hospital. Letter from my beloved Betty. Replied.
16 Sun.	No letter from my Betty. Wrote Betty, Ma & Cot.
17 Mon.	2 letters from my darling Betty. Replied in evening. Concert at YMCA.
18 Tue.	Letter from Betty. Replied. Road Piquet.
19 Wed.	Letter from Betty. Replied.
20 Thu.	Went to Bedford on duty. Called home for 4 hours. Caught 9.50 train back to Winchester. Wrote my love from Waterloo.
21 Fri.	"C" Stage. 3 letters from my love. Replied. PC from Vi. Composite Guard. Letter from Uncle George.37
22 Sat.	Escort Duty. Began writing to my Betty in the fields. 2 letters from my Betty.
23 Sun.	Letter from my love. Replied.
24 Mon.	Letter from my love. Replied.
25 Tue.	Letter from Betty. Replied.
26 Wed.	Letter from Smye, Reg38 and Geo39 Letter from Betty. Replied.
27 Thu.	3 letters from my darling. Replied. Letter from Vi.
28 Fri.	Letter from my love. Replied. M.O's Inspn. Wrote Ma, Vi and Johnnie.
29 Sat.	Qms [Quartermaster’s] Inspn. 2 letters from my love. Replied.
30 Sun.	Wrote my Betty.
OCTOBER.
1 Mon.	3 letters from my love. Replied. Promoted L/Sgt.40 Wrote Cot, Hoppy, Uncle George and Frank T.
2 Tue.	5.56 train to W'loo and 8.45 to Colchester [illegible] station. Oh! what a meeting!!!
3 Wed.	[illegible] Stayed at home in evening.
4 Thu.	My Betty ... Theatre in evening.41 Photos taken morning. ... evening.
5 Fri.	Frank home. Went to theatre again in evening.
6 Sat.	[illegible] Betty. Wired for extension - not granted. Stayed in for the evening.
7 Sun.	In all day with my Betty.
8 Mon.	Shopping morning. Went to catch 6.35 train back, but returned.
9 Tue.	Caught 7.30 train in morning. Oh how terrible to leave my beloved Betty. Under close arrest. Letters from Johnny and Ma.
10 Wed.	Reduced to Private.42 My beloved wrote to me and I replied.
11 Thu.	Letter from my darling Betty. Replied. Wrote Ma, Johnnie and Em.
12 Fri.	Letter from Betty. Replied with 2 letters.
13 Sat.	2 letters from my Betty. Replied. Went to Winchester. Concert in YMCA aftn and evening.
14 Sun.	Letter from Cot. Wrote my beloved. Wrote Ma.
15 Mon.	3 letters from my Betty. Replied.
16 Tue.	2 letters from my love. Replied.
17 Wed.	Left Winchester 11am. to Southampton Rest Camp. Wrote 2 letters to my love and 1 card, letter from my love.
18 Thu.	Picture cards to Ma and Betty. Embarked 6pm for Le Havre.
19 Fri.	Arr. Le Havre 1.30am. Disembarked 8am. Arrived camp 11 o'clock. Wrote Betty. Asked her to send my photos on.
20 Sat.	Reveille 6. Parade 8 for Gas Tests. Ret'd 4.15. M.O's Inspection 5.30. Concert in YMCA. Cards to Ma Frank T. Johnnie and Cot.
21 Sun.	2 letters from Betty answered, written Mon and Tues. Moving tonight. Moved 7.30.
22 Mon.	Arr. Rouen 7am to Rest Camp. Moved off at 2.30. Wrote Betty, recd. 26th [inserted, as are subsequent similar entries], and Ma.
23 Tue.	Stayed at St.Pol from 12-3.30 Rest Camp. Entrained and detrained at St.Eloi; in Rest Camp for night.
24 Wed.	Reveille 6.30. Breakfast 7. Roll Call 9. Fatigues. Dinner 12. Tea 4. In village till 8 with Stubbs and Jacobi. Moved off 8.30. Began letter to Betty.
25 Thu.	Arrived Pernes Rest Camp 4am. Off to Reinforcement Camp 11am. Arrived 3pm. Finished letter to Betty. Cauchy-la-Tour stables for billet[?]. Betty recd. my letter 2nd.
26 Fri.	Lecture 1-3pm. Met Riches, Elsdon and others from the line. Wrote to Betty (recd. 2nd).
27 Sar.	Parade 8am-12. Wrote Ma and Betty (received 2nd).
28 Sun.	Kit Inspn 10.15.
29 Mon.	Parade 8-4. Still no letter from my love.
30 Tue.	Parade 8-4. Wrote Betty. Recd. 6th.
31 Wed.	Parade 8-4. Reported sick. Wrote Betty. Recd. by Betty 7th.
NOVEMBER.
1 Thu.	Parade 8-4.
2 Fri.	Parade 8-3. A letter at last from my Betty written 26th October in reply to mine written at Rouen. Wrote in reply. Recd. by Betty 7th.
3 Sat.	Route March 9-11. Wrote Ma.
4 Sun.	Wrote Johnnie, Cot and Betty. recd. 11th by Betty.
5 Mon.	Mtd Gd 10am. Letters from Ma, Frank & Betty (written 27th and 28th Oct.). Wrote Betty (unfinished), recd. 14th. Reggie joined up.
6 Tue.	Dismtd Gd. 10.00am. Finished letter to Betty (recd. on 14th).
7 Wed.	4 letters from Betty (written 30th Oct., Nov. 2 and 3). replied. Recd. 14th.
8 Thu.	4 letters from Betty (written 30th Oct., Nov. 2 and 3). replied. Recd. 14th.
9 Fri.	Letter from Dad, Mrs. Fitz, Peggy Turner & Betty (written Sun night). Wrote Ma & Betty Recd. 16th.
10 Sat.	Letters from Betty (5th) and Cot.
11 Sun.	Wrote Betty, Mrs Fitz, Reg. 4 letters from Betty (6, 7 and 8th). Wrote Betty again.
12 Mon.	Letters from Johnnie and Ma. Wrote Betty.
13 Tue.	Letter from Miss Ashby and card from Betty. Wrote Betty and Frank T.
14 Wed.	Mtd Gd. 11am. No letter from Betty.
15 Thu.	Dismt'd Gd. 11am. Wrote Betty in aftn. 2 letters from Betty written 9 and 10th - replied.
16 Fri.	Letter from Betty written Monday 12th - replied.
17 Sat.	Letter from Betty written Tuesday 13th - replied.
18 Sun.	Wrote Johnnie and Cot. 3 letters from Betty written 11 and 14th. Letter from Maud43 and Ma. Wrote Betty and Ma.
19 Mon.	No letter from Betty. Wrote Betty and Maud.
20 Tue.	3 letters from Betty written 15th and 16th. Replied - moving tomorrow.
21 Wed.	Left Cauchy 1.30pm. Entrained Parnes44 3pm. Detrained Mont St. Eloi 10pm. Joined Batt."C" Coy.
22 Thu.	Marched from Mont St. Eloi 9am. Arrived Bernville 1pm.
23 Fri.	Parade 9, 11.30 and 2 (10 Plat "C" Company). Betty's parcel arrived - everything O.K. - sent off letter begun Tu. in aft. Recd. 29th. Wrote Betty (unfd).
24 Sat.	Parade 7.30. Marched to Camp arrived 2. Wrote a little more to Betty. Sent F.P.C.45 to Betty.
25 Sun.	Moved off 12pm. Arrived huts 8pm. 2 pkts letters from Betty 19th.
26 Mon.	Parade 10.30. Contd letter and posted F.P.C. to Miss Ashby. Moved off 2pm.
27 Tue.	Parade 9am. Moved off 2pm. 2 letters from Betty written 20th. Arrd camp 7pm.
28 Wed.	My Birthday. Parade 9am. 2 letters from Betty written 20th. Up to Reserve Parade 9pm.
29 Thu.	2 letters from Betty written 17th and 18th and Vi.
30 Fri.	Up to Front Line.
DECEMBER.
1 Sat.	Arrd 2am.
4 Tue.	Letter from my darling written 28th (at 5am).
5 Wed.	Evac. at 5am. Letters from <b>Frank T., Maud and Betty (written 27th).
6 Thu.	Letters from Reg, Florrie, Johnnie, Dad and 11 from Betty (22 to 9).
9 Sun.	My beloved's Birthday.
10 Mon.	[The date of his death - no entry.]
11 Tue.	[Brother Reg wrote in pencil] My Dear Brother was killed in action instantly by this. [with an arrow pointing to the bullet hole.]

653775 Merryweather, 653906 Jacobs, 653913 Phillips,⁴⁹ Hunt, Bottger, Westcott,⁵⁰ Morrison,⁵¹ Nelson [deleted], Killick [deleted], 653918 Whitfield, 653686 Gomme, 655916 Overton, 655898 Fenwick,⁵² Watts and Porter [deleted], Pirton, Vinten, Elliott, Ford, Selves, [and three names, one is almost certainly Langley⁵³].

¹ From O Valiant Hearts written by Sir John Stanhope Arkwright and published in The Supreme Sacrifice, and other Poems in Time of War (1919). Set to music by the Rev. Charles Harris it was sung around Armistice day 11th November and became very familiar. However it declined in popularity after WWII due to the nature of some of the words which had become unfashionable.
² This is because most pages include diagrams and useful information and it is this which has been damaged. Ironically the note for 5 September deals with penetration of bullets.
³ Chapter 13 explains why he previously had a different number.
⁴ 655942 Rifleman Harry Walters Aplin, Born Lambeth, Enlisted Camberwell, Died of Wounds France and Flanders, 24 March 1918. He was mentioned in Dispatches.
⁵ Appears as Frank T. and Frank Thomas in the diary. Army Ordnance Corps. Mentioned in Dispatches.
⁶ The Flo mentioned in the diary - not to be confused with Aunt Florrie. Betty's mother was née Popperwell.
⁷ Probably the Johnnie or Johnny, a writer and recipient of many letters.
⁸ Referred to as Cot. See Record of War Service. London County Council 1922. He was on the teaching staff of the LCC and his entry reads: Cotterell, William Eric (1914-19). Capt. London Regt. and Labour Corps; France 2 years 11 months. How did he come to know Betty? (see entry for 31 May).
⁹ It is not known who he was and he is not referred to again.
¹⁰ Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 9th London Regt 25 June 1918. With one exception, all the letters addressed to Frank are to Frank T.
¹¹ Betty's husband, appears in the Diary as Bert J.
¹² A Private, number believed to be 2950 21st London Regiment, later 24198 Army Pay Corps.
¹³ Training Reserve Battalion.
¹⁴ Perhaps Hilda Alberta Ashby born 1888. A letter from Margaret Lilley 3 April 1990: Hilda Alberta did have a boyfriend in France who was killed and his name was Billy unfortunately his surname is not known. Hilda never married and the only known locations for her days in service are in Slough, Richmond and Guernsey.
¹⁵ Evidently not his first year in the army as the Course was for potential N.C.Os.
¹⁶ General Mail Call?
¹⁷ Will Merryweather almost invariably put W or w for wrote or written.
¹⁸ Bert was Betty's husband and her real name was Alice Jarvis née Oxley (see Chapter 13).
¹⁹ This name appears only once.
²⁰ Thorpe le Soken.
²¹ A special watch on spending or diet?
²² District Court Martial.
²³ This site has not been identified.
²⁴ Point Cheveaux de Frise (spikes set in timber etc., to repel cavalry), 3 km south of Frinton.
²⁵ Battalion Orderly Room.
²⁶ General Officer Commanding.
²⁷ 2 km south of Frinton.
²⁸ 2 km west of Walton.
²⁹ This house is still at Pole Barn Lane, Frinton.
³⁰ The Theatre Royal, Colchester which was burnt down in 1918. The play was a comedy by I Zangwill first produced in London at the Duke of York's in 1904, but it may have been premièred in the United States.
³¹ Platoon and Battery ...?
³² This has defied understanding.
³³ Battalion Orderly Sergeant.
³⁴ Commonwealth War Graves Commission, letter 11 December 1989: Pte. A R Fenn, Royal Welch Fusiliers, died 15 June 1917 aged 33 near to Ypres, Belgium. He was the son of A and B Fenn and he was married to E Bright (formerly Fenn [sic]) of Frinton on Sea, Essex.
³⁵ Martha Merryweather 1845-1917.
³⁶ Unidentified. Perhaps a courtesy Aunt or she may have been from a branch of his Mother's Cullimore family.
³⁷ George Morgan Cullimore of Abergavenny, Mon. 1864-1921.
³⁸ Brother Reginald Alfred Merryweather 1899-1972.
³⁹ Brother George Alexander Merryweather 1903-1991.
⁴⁰ Lance Sergeant.
⁴¹ Playing that week at the theatre was In Cupid's Garden by Ethel van Praagh and J Edward Whitty. It had no significant London run, if any at all and is not mentioned in the usual reference books.
⁴² He was lucky as going Absent Without Leave (AWOL) was a very serious offence. The punishment does not seem to have included any other penalty since he was in town the following Saturday.
⁴³ Sister Maud Amelia Barrett née Merryweather 1890-1963.
⁴⁴ Pernes.
⁴⁵ Field postcard. These had pre-printed replies, such as, I have been admitted into hospital and am going on well.
⁴⁶ A brand of boot polish.
⁴⁷ A well-known brass cleaning fluid, still on sale in recent years.
⁴⁸ 652517 Rifleman Frederick James Herbert Killed in Action France and Flanders 8 Oct 1916.
⁴⁹ 653913 Rifleman Mark Aubrey Phillips, Enlisted Clapham Junction (Balham), Killed in Action France and Flanders 10 December 1917. Formerly 2194 23rd London Regt.
⁵⁰ 653155 Rifleman Edgar Charles Westcott, Born Fulham, Enlisted Clapham Junction (Battersea), Died of Wounds France and Flanders 4 July 1917.
⁵¹ 653277 Rifleman Frederick John Morrison who Died of Wounds 4 July 1917.
⁵² 655898 Rifleman John Robert Fenwick, Born Bermondsey, Enlisted Camberwell (Bermondsey). Killed in Action France and Flanders 4 December 1917.
⁵³ 655894 Rifleman Edward Langley Killed in Action France and Flanders 23 March 1918.