Thomas Cairns Livingstone began writing his diary shortly before ‘flitting’ from 20 to 14 Morgan Street, Govanhill, Glasgow in 1913. He had married Agnes Smart Cook (thinking that marrying A. Smart Cook he would never starve…) three years before moving to Morgan Street. Their son, Thomas Cairns Livingstone junior – invariably known as ‘Wee Tommy’ – joined the family in 1911 and was a toddler at the time of the move.

The diaries reveal how very well suited Thomas was to his job as a mercantile clerk. He never missed his daily entry for over 20 years, loyally filling each dated page with his signature dry, humorous notes, observations and wonderful drawings, summarising the day’s events at home and further afield. From the accounts of other relatives, they were seen as something of a family treasure. In later years, Thomas enjoyed showing them off to his nephews and nieces. Thomas ended his epic in 1933 as Wee Tommy started his working life at Glasgow University. A very poignant last entry, dated 1950, records the death of his beloved wife, Agnes.

Upon Thomas’s death in 1964, the diaries passed to Tommy. He kept them until his own death in 1995, by which time he was living in Northumberland. The diaries were entered into a local county auction house in 2005 which, as a local antiques dealer, I happened to attend. There was something compelling about these 20-odd little volumes nestled together in a shoebox, and I was able to secure them for the princely sum of £300. That very weekend Thomas and his diaries quickly began to become part of my life. It was like opening a time capsule. When the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow rolled in to Alnwick Castle in July 2007, I couldn’t resist taking the diaries along. I found myself pulled out of a queue and ended up being filmed with books expert Clive Farahar.

The episode was broadcast that autumn and caused a lot of interest from publishers and literary agents keen to bring the diaries to the nation’s attention. It was thrilling that in the end they were taken on by HarperCollins, themselves of Glasgow descent, and in whose blank diary pages Thomas Cairns Livingstone left his enduring mark.

1913

Friday, 10 January

Cold east wind today. Factor here in afternoon to see about a house we wanted. Agnes ironed tonight, I cleaned the brass rail and jelly pan.

Tuesday, 14 January

Horrid cold frosty day. Not out at night. Youth up today putting a board up at our window.

Thursday, 23 January

Got away today at 11 a.m. to fl it myself and family. Called in at Bow’s Emporium and arranged for a man to fit in the room grate. Went up to the new house in afternoon and whitewashed the kitchen press and bunker. The fl itting starts tonight. To help we had Sam and Donald, Mr McCort, Mrs and Miss Gordon and Josephine. We ceased operations at 10.30 and had supper.

Friday, 16 May

Beautiful summer day. Took the wee man a walk to Queen’s Park at night. Agnes met us there. Saw the recruits drilling in the recreation grounds. Thursday, 21 August Wet all day and extra special wet at night. The doctor got paid tonight (12/-). Got myself a new pair of boots today (10/6).

1914

Thursday, 29 January

Tommy not well at all, so I went for the doctor at night. Doctor came, took his temperature, which was 101o, shook his head and looked serious. May develop into quite a lot of other things. Got a new hygienic pipe (6d).

Tuesday, 28 July

Austria and Servia at war now. Things looking bad.

Wednesday, 5 August

Town full of Territorials. Getting ready for our country’s defence. Britain declared war on Germany last night at 11 p.m. Now fi ghting: Britain, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Servia and Russia. The biggest war in the world’s history.

Thursday, 6 August

Took a run into Sam’s shop at night to talk over the ‘war news’. All sorts of rumours are going about. The soldiers are lifting horses all over the town.

Thursday, 3 September

The new recruiting offi ce in Cathcart Road seems to be doing business. About 10,000 men have enlisted in Glasgow for the war. 1915

Sunday, 31 January

Wet forenoon. Took a walk to town before dinner. Mr Armstrong (upstairs man) was with me with his boy. We went into his shop as he had to wind up all the chronometers. German raid by submarine on west coast of England: three boats sunk. They say they are going to sink all our shipping. Ora pro nobis.

Thursday, 1 April

To encourage his loyal subjects, King George has sworn off the bottle. To encourage King George, I will do the same. ‘God save the King.’ Saturday, 8 May Germany’s most accursed act committed yesterday. The Lusitania, the world’s finest steamer, torpedoed and sunk without warning off the south coast of Ireland. 751 saved. 1,208 lives lost.

Sunday, 13 June

Very windy day. Took a walk to the docks and was pleased to see that the Germans had left us a few boats.

Friday, 24 December

British losses in all theatres of war to 9 December: 528,227. Killed 119,923, wounded 338,758, missing 69,546. 1916 Friday, 3 March First groups of married men called up for 7 April, groups 25 to 32. I’m in group 39, so I’m in the next lot.

Wednesday, 15 March

The government have postponed calling up my group for a little. Austria declares war on Portugal. Verdun battle resumed once more. Saturday,

1 July At last!

The big push!! British and French take the offensive. Great fi ghting. The Battle of the Somme started at 7.30 a.m. today.

Saturday, 15 July

Spent the forenoon helping Agnes to pack up. I also cleaned the kitchen windows. We met the Gordons in St Enoch Station. Saw Agnes, Tommy and them safely away. I shed a few tears. She is away for a fortnight.

1917

Friday, 20 April

Dull, cold, windy day. Got myself a new hat. It has evidently affected my brain as I went and paid the gas bill.

Friday, 25 May

Working late tonight. Agnes finished out the scullery today. Great Italian victory: 10,000 prisoners. 10 batteries of British artillery assist.

Saturday, 24 November

Great scarcity of butter. Went out to Ruglen in the afternoon and got my new overcoat (£3 5s). My next overcoat will likely be of a khaki shade.

1918

Friday, 19 April Was greatly upset today to hear that James Crichton was killed in action. He fell on 21 March. He is the first of our staff to go. Sunday,

13 October

Took a walk into town in afternoon to see if there was any excitement over the ‘peace’ proposals. I saw no signs. In the evening we did a little singing. I thought I heard the neighbours going for the police or the fire brigade, so we gave it over. Germany says it agrees to Wilson’s peace terms.

Tuesday, 12 November

World at peace. Allies’ great task done. Germany staggered by our terms: 30 warships and 50 destroyers to be given up. Hoch hoch! Kaiser interned in Holland. Recruiting for army stopped. Shading of lights to be done away with.

Wednesday, 25 December

Peace on Earth. Thank god. The first Christmas since 1913 in which we could say it. I left my work about 11 a.m. We all went to the Cinerama in the afternoon. At night I took a turn over to Greenlodge to see how Pa was keeping.

FIELD FACTS Excerpts from ‘Tommy’s War: A First World War Diary’ by Thomas Livingstone, edited by Ronnie Scott and published by HarperPress at £20. There are two copies of Tommy’s War to be given away. To enter, visit www.scottishfield.co.uk