The Diary of Oscar Kirk, PLA Messenger Boy, extracts for April 1919.

This document contains the transcribed diary entries from April 1919 of Oscar Kirk
who was 14 when he started to work in the West and East India Docks in 1918
ferrying messages and mail between different docks and Port of London Authority
offices.

Oscar's diary for the first half of 1919 has survived and is currently part of the
museum's collection. The diary is currently on display in the Sainsbury's Study
Centre at the museum.

Who was Oscar Kirk?

Oscar was born in May 1904 in Poplar, London close to the West India Docks. At the
age of 14, on the 23 October 1918, just a few days before the end of World War I,
Oscar started to work for the Port of London Authority and began to keep a diary full
of delightful and illuminating detail about the life of a young working man in East
London at this time.

Oscar went on to become a Clerical Assistant in the West India Dock, took part in the
General Strike in 1926 and by the time he retired in 1968 was a Senior Foreman at
the North Quay Warehouse (where the Museum of London Docklands is now
housed).

Oscar died in 1980.

Diary extracts and personal biographical details reproduced with the kind permission
of Oscar's family.

Tuesday 1 April 1919

As I was coming back from my 3 o’clock journey across the fields I met with Mr
Thurgood and he made me go round north and have a late night too.
I went to Phillip’s to get my boots and I waited a little while and he gave them to me.
Greenway went to throw my signal book at me at Central Granary but I dodged and it
went in the Dock.
I went on the Clan Menzies* with Greenway at 11.30.
Weather:- Unsettled. Cloudy. Sleet at times. Cold.

* The SS Clan Menzies, built in 1896. One of the famous Clan Line cargo ships,
owned by Cayzer, Irvine & Company, Limited which became one of the largest
shipping companies in the world by the 1930s.

Wednesday 2 April 1919

This week is the 23rd week in the Port of London Authority.
I went on board the Clan Menzies and the black cooks gave me a pancake. (I went
on board with Greenway).
Nana came and gave me 2d and I bought chocolate biscuit and a doughnut.
Nana brought a pie and the Family Herald.
I tried to get Marjorie’s Playtime but I could not as he had sold out.
Weather:- A proper Spring day. Warm, sunshine all day.

Thursday 3 April 1919

I put two rubber heels in Mum’s shoes this evening.
I went out to get Marjorie’s Playtime again tonight but he hadn’t got any; and I met
Antram and I went to Hatfields and bought some confection of senna*. I also bought
a nut ring for Mum. Antram came with me.
I went to bed at 9.30.
I saw Abraham when I was going to Chilvers to see if I could get the Playtime but I
didn’t get it.
I had an egg for my tea this evening.
Weather:- Warm today. Sunny. Muggy. No rain or snow.

* Confection of senna was a black tarry substance purchased in a little china pot,
which was used for the treatment of constipation.
Friday 4 April 1919
I bought the Magnet and Gem & the Penny Popular. Also two doughnuts, two bars of
chocolate and I tried to get the Playtime but T White* hadn’t got it.
I soaked my feet tonight for a couple of hours.
I am going to take Antram into the Dock with me and show him round. I am going
home first and bring him to the Dock again because he doesn’t know the way.
I bought the Mirror the morning.
Weather:- Mild. Cloudy. No wind. No rain.

*Possibly Timothy Whites – a very well known chemist and hardware store chain that
was at one time nearly as big as Boots. Though we are not sure whether they did
sell comics.

Saturday 5 April 1919

I came home by bus, as it was my half-day I called for Antram and took him into the
Docks to look round and we went home through the West India Docks.
I went out in the evening and played release with W. Boots, A & T Antram, J West
and a few others.
I went round to Whites to buy the Playtime but they only had the Children’s
Newsapaper so I had that.
Nana came this evening and gave me 2d.
Weather:- Warm. No wind. No rain or snow. Sunshine.

Sunday 6 April 1919

I made out a list of metal type I have got this evening at 6.20.
I had my ‘office’ out this afternoon*.
I didn’t think that the Daily Mail beauty prizewinner has got a nice face at all: I think
that the second prizewinner ought to have been first.
I went down the cellar and sifted some coal and brought it up.** I also brought some
twigs of wood up.
I had some dates this evening.
We had beef for dinner today.
The stove proved a bit better today.
Weather:- Cloudy. Moderate tempt. No rain or snow. Slightly misty.

* Possibly his pens, inks and stationery kept in a special container or even a sloped
writing desk.
** Coal was often delivered with a lot of coal dust which had to be separated from
the lumps of coal otherwise it would not burn easily.

Monday 7 April 1919

I ‘dossed’ a lot today and I went down to Transporter Yard on my 8.15 and 1.30
[journeys].
I didn’t call in at Central Granary on my 3.15 journey but got back to South Side in
time to go round with Hughes, the Charges boy.
As I had an odd halfpenny in my pocket Mother gave another one and I bought 1d of
small biscuits. I went to Hatfields for Mum to get 2d of confection of senna.
Play at the Hippodrome this week Jolly Times (About this War).
Weather:- No rain or snow. Very warm. Sunshine all day.
Tuesday 8 April 1919
Yesterday I saw a man fall in the Dock on my 11.45 journey and I helped to pull him
out.
When I came home from work I went to Hatfields and bought 2d box of confection of
senna for Mum.
When I came back I went out and played football with Robert Fulcher and a few
others. Afterwards I went round into Gough St. and had a box with Jones.
I came back across the fields on my 3.15 journey. I had a pie & tart when I came
home from work.
Weather:- Mild. Showery. Sunshine sometimes. No rain.

Wednesday 9 April 1919

This is the 24th week in the Port of London.
I went out and bought a 5d of baked monkey nuts and a bar of chocolate also a bottle
of American Cream Soda: it wasn’t a bit like the pre-war sodas for it tasted like soda-
water and lemonade mixed.
I went to Watts and bought 1d of Ginger biscuits with Rugg.
Before this I had a game of football with Robert and some more boys. We had some
thunder at tea time.
Weather:- Thunder. No rain. Cold. Moderate wind. Showery.

Thursday 10 April 1919

When I went to work this morning I bought the Daily Mirror.
The Belle boat* that was in the dry dock has gone out and the Faraday has gone in.
When I was going on my 3.15 Journey I didn’t go round South.
Pennycook came back today to be Head Messenger.
Mum put a sausage roll in with my lunch today.
I went out at 6pm and bought some monkey nuts at Pitchers fro Mum. I cleaned my
boots and leggings this evening.
Weather:-Cold. Rainy. Moderate wind. No snow.

* The ‘Belle’ paddle steamers ran from London to ports like Clacton, Southend and
other harbours around the south coast. They were originally owned by the London,
Woolwich & Clacton-on-Sea Steamship Co.’ established in 1888. Although, the
company itself went into liquidation in 1915, the ‘Belle’ steamers continued to operate
for many years after.

Friday 11 April 1919

It is pay day today.
I bought the Magnet, Gem, & Popular, The Children’s Newspaper, a doughnut, some
Cherry Cider, a bar of chocolate & 1 pack of peanuts.
I bought a bar of soap, a box of Robin Starch, 3 Hudson’s*, and a tablet of ‘Zebra’
black lead**.
As I was going to work this morning I bought the Mirror.
I went out in the evening and played football with Antram.
I saw Mr Weller tonight and I told him how I was getting on.
I found a knife today.
Weather:- No rain to speak of. Showery. Cold. No snow.

* bars of Hudson’s soap – a very well known brand, because it’s inventor Robert
Spear Hudson made great use of advertising.
** A lead based paste which was used for blacking fireplaces.
Saturday 12 April 1919
I took the Magnet and Gem to work today; and when I was finished with them I put
them in my overcoat pocket but when I went to look for them when I was going home
I couldn’t find them! I shall ask the boys if they saw [who] took them.
Nana came this evening and gave me two pence and I bought 2d of monkey nuts. I
also went to Picher’s and asked them of they had any Newtown apples: but they
didn’t have any.
I went out and got the collars* at 6.0.
Weather: - Mild. Heavy rainstorm early this morning. Sunny intervals.

* Collars for his shirts. Stiff collars were separate from the actual shirt and were
fastened with a stud. They could be laundered separately.

Sunday 13 April 1919

I went to bed at 8.45.
Just before I went to bed Mum gave me a bit of coconut and a lot of Brazils.
We had mutton today for dinner.
I got up at 10.30 this morning.
I went to the Stainsby to get some beer for Mum but they hadn’t got any.
I scrubbed my mouse-cage out today.
Mum gave me some figs today.
Filled the copper today.
Father went to bed early viz. 7 O’clock.
Weather: Sunshine most of the day, Rainy. Warm in sun.

Monday 14 April 1919

I went out and bought myself a new cap also a new tie & collar.
While I was out I bought a bar of chocolate from Rees for Marjorie and 2d bag of
peanuts.
I wrote a letter for Mum today to the Commercial Gas Co. about a new stove being
put in the kitchen and the old one taken away.
Nana came at 4 o’clock and stayed till 8.45.
I went to bed at 9.
Play at Hippodrome: Variety.
Weather: Rainy. Sunny intervals. Moderate temperature.

Tuesday 15 April 1919

The doctor came twice today for Mum: Twice Mrs Crow has been.
I helped nana shift the bedding off the couch and upstairs on the bed up there.
Nana came at 11 o’clock because Daddy went down for her.
I only went as far as north side on my 2 o’clock journey.
When I came back I went up dockmaster’s and went down the Cabin: there was a fire
down there (in the stove). P. Hughes, S. Ord, A. Greenway and I were down there
with the owner.
Weather:- Showery all day, dull & overcast. Few minutes of sunshine.

Wednesday 16 April 1919

Marjorie slept with me last night upstairs.
When I came down this morning I went to work early and I found the fire lit by Dad
who had been up all night with Mum, Mrs Crow, Mrs Cox and the doctor.
Hughes hit me on the jaw today for practically nothing so as I was not well and was
sick (blood as well) Mr Tate let me go home at 2 o’clock. When I came home I saw a
little baby sister in Mum’s bed!
Weather:- Dull and overcast. Showery all day. No sunshine. Moderate wind.
Thursday 17 April 1919
Mum was in bed all day with the baby.
I stayed away from work today because of my bad face.
I went out and got a few errands for Mum and I bought some ice-cream and sweets,
chocolates & doughnuts.
The doctor’s assistant came today as well as Mrs Crow.
I went and bought some confection of senna, some borasic powder* some paraffin.
Weather:- Mild. Showery. A bit cloudy.

* Borasic powder was often used as an antiseptic or as a treatment for boils.

Friday 18 April 1919

I went down to Nan’s house today and she gave me a piece of tart and 3d and a
bottle of lemonade.
Appa gave me a penny as well.
Marjorie came with me to Nana’s house and as we were going home I bought her a
fairy tale book.
I went round to Baldwins to get some buns at 9.20 this morning and I had to line up
for them but just as I got to the door the policeman turned us away because they
hadn’t got any more buns left.
Weather:- Warm and a fine day. Blue sky.

Saturday 10 April 1919

I went to the library and got another nature book.
Marjories came with me and I bought a lot of cornets and wafers.
I went to work this morning as usual but when I got there Greenway told me that it
was my day off so I came back home again.
I gave Marjorie a swing in the park as we were coming home from the library.
I had a game at cricket with some boys in Gough St. this evening.
Weather:-Temperature. Hot. No rain. Blue sky. Stuffy. Breezy.

Sunday 20 April 1919

I read a little in a magazine in bed today.
Just before I went to bed I went upstairs and filled my oilcan.
I read two comics which Dad bought this morning.
When Mrs Crow came this evening she brought some jelly & custard for Mum who
gave me some.
Mum said I could have an apple today.
I read my library (all of it) today.
I went to bed at 10.30.
We didn’t have any tea today and we only had a steak for dinner.
Weather: - Mild turning cold toward night. Windy.

Monday 21 April 1919

I went to Nana’s house this morning and stayed there til 5 o’clock.
She gave me a macaroni pudding. Then she gave Marjorie sixpence to get a bottle
of lemonade but we got some Ginger Beer instead.
When we got there there was a gentleman named Pete or Peake who was looking at
Appa’s curios*.
I went up and looked at Mr Clarke working a steam engine.
Play at the Hippodrome this week:- Certs ( 6 Bros. Luck).**
Weather:- Very cold in shade. Mod temp in sunshine.
* Oscar’s Grandfather obviously collected curious and interesting objects.
** The Six Brothers Luck was a Music Hall act which featured six brothers among it’s
number.

Tuesday 22 April 1919

My journeys today were 8.15, 3.15 South. There was only Lyons on South Journeys
with me. Russell came with me on my 10 O’clock journey.
I went out in the evening and bought some sausage (Luncheon) for my lunch, a tin
of black enamel, an egg & the Rainbow*.
I had an egg for my tea.
The decorators are doing up South Side so the South Side Clerks have got to go in
the American Goods Office, and also the letters.
Mr Tate asked me about my swimming.
Weather:- Cold in morning but warm in afternoon & in sun. Windy.

* The Rainbow comic was first published in 1914and lasted until 1956. It featured the
comic character Tiger Tim, who with his friends the ‘Bruin Boys’ soon had his own
comic. Tiger Tim was the longest lasting comic character, last appearing in the Jack
and Jill comic in 1985.

Wednesday 23 April 1919

I went to PLA wharf this afternoon at 3.35 to take a letter there and I went straight
home on a Great Eastern Railway van, and I got home at 4.35.
Nana and Appa came today and nana bought a pie, a scone and the Family Herald*.
My town journey did not go today.
I went to West India Dock at 1 o’clock.
At 10.05 I went in the office and dossed my 10.30 journey.
I borrowed a penny off of Chandler.
Hughes got a report today about hitting me**.
When I went to feed my mouse I found him dead.
Weather:- Moderate temperature. Cloudy. Sunny intervals. Windy.

* The Family Herald or The Family Herald: A Domestic Magazine of Useful

Information & Amusement was a weekly entertainment magazine that was published
until between 1843 and 1940.

** i.e. Hughes was reported for hitting Oscar.

Thursday 24 April 1919

I buried my mouse last night.
This morning when I came back from my 8.45 Journey I had to go in to Mr Hoy about
Hughes hitting me. He [Hughes] told some lies about me and then asked me to bear
him out in them to my own detriment! Cheek. Mr Hoy found him out in his lies and he
let us off with a caution.
I went to West India Dock with a special [delivery] at 10.30 and saw Dad and told him
about it.
I walked home tonight.
Marjorie went to buy me a bar of chocolate.
Weather:- Windy. Mod temperature in afternoon, but cold in evening. Rain all day.

Friday 25 April 1919

It is Dad’s Birthday today.
When he came home tonight he accused me of telling lies to Mr Hoy yesterday which
was not true.
Mum got out of bed today for the fist time at 12 o’clock today.
I went and bought my usual four papers this evening.
When I came home from work I bought a 3d bar of Cadbury’s chocolate at Raes’.
Tonight I went to bed at 10 o’clock.
I painted my numerals* and sewed my epaulette up.
I saw six aeroplanes today.
Weather:- Moderate temperature in sun. Cold in evening. No rain.

* On his uniform or satchel.

Saturday 26 April 1919

Greenway, Ord & Jarvis went in for the examination yesterday.
I came home at 12.35 today and I think I will come home as early every Saturday. I
went out in the evening. I went out and had a game of cricket. Antram wanted me to
go into the playground and have a game at cricket but it was too wet.
Nana came this evening and gave me 4d and an orange.
I went to Leyton’s and bought some fine oatmeal for Mum.
Weather: Showery all day. Cold. Windy.

Sunday 27 April 1919

I got up this morning at 11.0 and I brought Chatterbox* down with me. I started to
make an engine in the evening from drawings in the Chatterbox. I cut my lunch this
evening** which consisted of bread & butter and luncheon sausage.
We had chops for dinner today. Mum got up and was about in the house soon after.
I went to bed at 10pm.
It was 7pm when I washed myself.
I was surprised to see it snowing this evening.
Weather: - Raining all day. V cold. Heavy snow in evening. Gale.

* Chatterbox was the name of an Annual published between the 1880s and 1920’s.
Aimed at the younger market It contained activities and short illustrated stories.
** His sandwiches for Monday!

Monday 28 April 1919

Nana came this evening & brought some cake. I went out, and got Marjorie’s
Rainbow and the collars and afterwards went out and had a game of cricket. (With
Gough Street boys).
I went to bed at 10.10.
Dad asked me to sleep in his bed tonight to keep him and me warm.*
I cut my lunch which was made of bread, butter & dripping.**
Play at the Hippodrome this week ‘The Rib-Nosed baboon’. Lew Lake***.
Weather:- Cold. Snow on ground. No snow, but rain at night. Gale.

* This seems strange to us nowadays. But up until the Second World War it was
common practice for beds to be shared in this way.
** Dripping a mixture of cold congealed fat and meat juice, left over after roasting. It
was very savoury, and was spread on bread.
*** The actor Lew Lake was born in 1874, and went on to feature in a small number
of comedy films in the 1920s-1930s. he died in 1939.

Tuesday 29 April 1919

I went to the library when I came home from work and I got The Romance of the
Seasons for nana and Pearsons Magazine* for myself.
When I came back I went to get some oil and some luncheon sausage.
Nana came this evening.
I had some soup for my tea. Went to bed at 10.10pm.
I am going to sleep in dad’s bed tonight again.
I only went as far as the D(ock) on my 1.0 o’clock journey and then I came back and
went up the Dockmaster’s.
Weather:- Cold. No snow. Showery. Gale blowing.

* An interesting choice! Published between 1896 – 1939, Pearsons Magazine

fostered interest in political discussion and the arts – with a distinct leaning towards
Socialism. It’s regular contributors included George Bernard Shaw and H G wells,
and it serialised the latter’s novel The War of the Worlds. It was also the first British
magazine or newspaper to publish a crossword puzzle.

Wednesday 30 April 1919

Today is the last day of April.
Nana came tonight and brought her library book back because it was about Nature.
She also brought a tart.
Jarvis gave me some plain cards today.
Greenway came round with me on my 10 o’clock journey.
I stayed in tonight and read most of my library.
Nana cut my lunch this evening.
Today is St George’s day.
I had a piece of steak for my tea tonight.
Weather:- Very cold. No rain. Windy. Cloudy. Unsettled.

Find out more about Oscar’s thoughts and duties daily on our website and
follow Oscar on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OscarKirk1919