Whilst in a local second-hand book I purchased a strange little book published in 1917, ‘A second diary of the Great War’ by Sam Pepys, Junior, foretime of Magdalene College in Cambridge. Written in the style of the first Samuel Pepys it gives an interesting insight to life on the home front.
These entries are about a Chemists Assistant whom the writer takes a ‘shine’ to. Unfortunately for the writer she casts her affections towards an Australian Sergeant!
Jan 13th 1917
"Home and by the way going to Miller’s shop, the chemist, to buy sope (soap), where I have not been a great while, he hath to serve there a mighty pretty girl that wears a nurse’s white clothes and looks like a Nun almost. She comes, she says, in place of Mr. Miller’s shop man that is combed out and pretty it is to see maids thus habited to serve in Pothrcaries’ shops; so had 3 boxes off her (4s 6d)."
Feb 21th 1917
"So home, and by the way, having a new onset of the swim in my head, and going to Miller’s for a fresh draught against it, there is my little white nun; but what vexes me is she serves tooth-brushes to 3 Australian soldiers, and she laughing and playing with them, no more than nods to me, but to cry ‘shop’ and goes on with this philandering. So Miller comes and serves me. It is very observable of girls that do serve in shops how they be taken with soldiers, to the neglect of the citizens."
Mar 28th 1917
"Walking out, and calling at Miller’s for some corn plasters, I find my little white nun is gone; and enquiring of her, he tells me that she hath wedded a certain Sergeant of the Australians. Poor girl! I pity her."
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