Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1919 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 volume, paper
Context area
Name of creator
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
On the first two pages is a list, marked Jan-June, of the books that he had read.
21 April onwards - from this date the entries are in German script and there is a transcript of most of the entries on each page in another hand [Muriel Brittain's].
Pages for Friday 30 May/Saturday 31 May, Thursday 5 June/Friday 6 June and Friday 13 June/Saturday 14 June have been cut or torn out of the diary.
A number of cast lists have been stuck into the diary. They have been cut from programmes of operas attended by FB.
The back cover contains addresses and a list of letters written and received.
1 January 1919 - 1st April 1919 - Diary entries covering Brittain's time serving on board HMAT 'Egypt', including work he did writing and editing the onboard ship's magazine 'Egyptionia' and an entry for 27 January stating that he had written to the Senior Tutor of Jesus College "I wonder what it may bring forth".
8 April - FB was demobilised at Crystal Palace and returned home.
16 April - FB was interviewed by the Master of Jesus College [Arthur Gray] who advised him not to begin that term as the definitive grant did not start until October and the interim grant did not cover much.
1 May - Went to Hyde Park for the May Day demonstration and heard George Lansbury, Margaret Bondfield and Sylvia Pankhurst.
24 July - Notification from the Board of Education that he had been awarded a grant of £205 per annum to go to Cambridge to commence at Jesus College on 1 October.
11 September - Met Mr Abbott [Senior Tutor, Jesus College] to arrange lodgings.
25 September - Left his job with the Civil Service.
6 October - Arrived in Cambridge.
7 October - Met his Tutor Mr Elliott who was "kind".
9 October - Found Adams Road and called on Mr Braunholz, his Director of Studies [FB read for an Honours Degree in Modern and Medieval Languages and Literature. This was a Tripos which had not been introduced into the University curriculum until the late 19th century and there was not a Fellow at Jesus College appointed to cover this so Brittain was sent to E.G.W. Braunholtz at King's College].
11 October - Attended a meeting of the Rowing Club in the Common Room called by the Captain and was told he would be able to row about 3 days a week.
22 October - Followed the Praelector through the streets to the Senate House and matriculated by signing the University book.
Further entries cover rowing, debates at the Union, church services and canvassing on behalf of the Labour Party in the bye election.