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Severe weather and late spring, impact of war on London, i.e. troop movements, air raids, use of land for allotments, but little of fighting or the effect of war on business, also sons Tom and Charles in the army and navy and other family matters. Lady Addis's entries mainly concern her family and visitors. Written largely by Addis.
JANUARY Meets Mackintosh, a retired Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) employee. 'I shall stick to the Bank until it casts me out', 26; attempts to arrange a Consortium meeting hampered by the French.
FEBRUARY Very severe frost; reduction in pressure at work on closure of war loan; brother William killed in road accident, 20; problems with postal deliveries from China because of German submarines, 'No mail from China has reached us since 29 January. We are 2,000,000 in debt - awful! But in these sad times we get used to anything.' 22.
MARCH Attends meeting to discuss national service; anxiety over events in Russia.
MAY Hears H.G. Wells, author, speak at a United Workers meeting 'in his common high pitched cockney voice fluently and cleverly'. 1.
JUNE Attempting to arrange finance for newly recruited Chinese 'coolies' [term from original source, indentured/contract labourers]; death sister Etta, 14; to India Office for meeting on Indian currency.
JULY To Assington Hall, Sudbury, Suffolk for a family holiday.
AUGUST Son Tom in hospital in France.
OCTOBER Makes speech to mark the entry of China into the war.
NOVEMBER Daughter Betty a Volunteer Aid Detachment helping the blind; Addis elected Chairman of London County Council Education Committee.
DECEMBER Notes the proposed re-entry of American group into the Consortium.
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