22nd June 1916 Thursday
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After spending the afternoon and evening taking in the excitement of London, Douglas took the last leg of his long journey on the overnight train to Edinburgh.
“I left London for ‘Auld Reekie’ by the 11-45pm train. It was packed with Navy men and the journey was very tedious. I got into Edinburgh at 8am on June 22nd and was soon home.
I spent five days in Bonnie Scotland and as this is a war diary I won’t go into any details of my days on leave.
Briefly here is what I did:
I wallowed joyfully in numerous hot baths and partook of glorious foods, slept in clean cool sheets, in utter peace and quiet, visited the Infirmary and Watson’s College and all my friends there; went to Picture Houses, played tennis, patrolled Princes Street where I met many acquaintances; went to the zoo and wasn’t detained there; had a glorious motor run one day with mother, Betty, Mrs. Sturrock and *Elma, via St.Mary’s Loch, Moffat, Broughton and Crock’s Inn.”
Elma (Elizabeth Mary) Sturrock
*Douglas had no idea at the time but young Elma would become his wife towards the end of 1919.
Centre of picture Elma’s mother Mrs. Annie Sturrock with her son Gordon, Elma’s brother.
Gordon 20 years old, here in the uniform of 2nd Lieutenant 17th Battalion Royal Scots, was attached to the Royal Flying Corps and was shot down near Arras and sadly died from his injuries October 16th 1916.
20 Queen Street, Leith, Edinburgh the former Sturrock family home.
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