My Dad's Diary : Mon 16th June 1947

"Dull day.

Coal arrived.

Harry weighs 15 lbs."

My Dad's Diary : Mon 19th May 1947

"Coal arrived."

My Dad's Diary : Thur 1st May 1947

"Rain.

Saw 'Odd Man Out'.

Coal arrived today."

"Odd Man Out" is 1947 British film noir set in an unnamed Northern Irish city and directed by Carol Reed. It's based on the novel by F. L. Green and stars James Mason and Robert Newton. A wounded Irish nationalist leader attempts to evade police following a failed robbery. 

My Dad's Diary : Tues 1st April 1947

"Coal arrived.

Went to S/E re Hospital fees.

Went a run on bike at night , then called at Mother's.

Doris a little better."

I haven't figured out what "S/E" means but this entry brought home to me something I'd never considered before - I was born before the introduction of the National Health Service which didn't start until 5 July 1948. So that extra time Mam spent in hospital must have been quite an additional worry for Dad who really wasn't earning a great deal.

My Dad's Diary : Sat 22nd February 1947

"Doris got Baby's coal.

Heavy snow storm.

Got 12/7 P.W.C. from India."

I haven't figured out the last line yet.

My Dad's Diary : Fri 21st February 1947

"Still snowing. Position very critical.

Met Dave Billingham.

Coals came. also 1 Bag Sea Coal after an argument."

No idea who Dave Billingham might be.

My Dad's Diary : Sat 15th February 1947

"Snow still lying. (3 wks 2 days).

Got some coal & coke today."

As an aside, I note the little epigram at the foot of the diary page:

"Those who govern best make the least noise."

What a noisy government we have at the moment.

My Dad's Diary : Tues 11th February 1947

"1 day A.L.

Running about all day.

Coal trouble beginning.

Got 4 Pkts Fireoids."

I'm really not sure about that last word. It's difficult to read and I've never heard the word. I suspect "Fireoids" might be either firelighters or briquettes made from coal dust.

My Dad's Diary : Thurs 6th February 1947

"Rufus found - out all night.

Registered baby - Henry Robert!

Got 2 cwt p.m. extra coal up to 7 April.

1 day A.L."

Some explanation of the third line may be necessary for ignorant foreigners and those too young to remember: We were being allocated an extra coal ration of two hundredweight per month until 7 April. A hundredweight is equal to 112 pounds in weight.

A.L. = Annual Leave.

My Dad's Diary : Mon 27th January 1947

"Coal arrived.

Library."

Coal!!

My Dad's Diary : Sat 25th January 1947

"Still no coals.

Saw Gateshead beat Rotherham 2-0.

Saw 'Concerto' at Coatsworth."


Five days of no coals."

 Although the Odeon was the cinema of choice, there were of course, several other cinemas in Gateshead. The Coatsworth was an easy walk from the house.

I can't trace a film called simply 'Concerto' from that period.

My Dad's Diary : Fri 24th January 1947

"Still no coals.

Library."

I guess writing up a diary wasn't the main thing on his mind.

My Dad's Diary : Wed 22nd January 1947

"Still no coals."

My Dad's Diary : Tues 21st January 1947

"Finished off all requisitions from Brechan / Cares (?).

No coals arrived."


I assume the first is to do with work and I'm afraid I can't even be sure of the word after the oblique.

I can imagine the non-delivery of coal was worrying.

My Dad's Diary : Mon 20th January 1947

"Demobbed one year today.

Coals from CWS due.

Library."

My Dad's Diary : Sun 12th January 1947

"Usual Sunday.

Coal shortage - 1 bucket from Mother."

The beginning of problems keeping warm.