Below is a transcription of the 1819 diary of Herbert Runciman.
I have a hobby of repairing old boxes, including writing slopes. I picked up a dilapidated slope in early 2025, and tucked into its secret compartment was this tiny diary, measuring only 8cm tall. The slope came with a bundle of family photographs. The diary belonged to a Herbert Runciman of Glasgow and deals with the time he was training to be a pilot in the RAF in 1918. He arrived at the front just as the war ended.
Herbert Runciman was born 15 January 1892, in Holm, Orkney. He was the son of Rev. Charles Runciman (1841-1918), the minister there, and Jeannie Watson Runciman (1855-1941). Herbert was the fifth child, behind Alexander (1871-1913), Helen Clark (1872-1957), Anabella Scollay (1883-1961), William Watson and (1892-1918). Herbert had one younger brother, Henry Irvine (1895-1919). Among the photographs were some relating to the churches and Manses of Orkney.
Sometime after the war, in 1939, Herbert married Mairi Ann Nicholson Morrison. She was also a child of a clergyman, Rev. Norman John Morrison, sometime minister of North Uist. However, Mairi died on 12 March 1941 at Redlands Hospital, aged only 38.[1] Their son, Herbert Morrison Runciman, had been born on 11 March 1941, so she presumably died of complications in childbirth.
Herbert Runciman died in Glasgow’s Western Infirmary on 7 June 1978 and was buried in Craigton Cemetery on 11 July 1978, in the same plot as his wife Mairi and sister Annabella (died 1961).[2]
The Diary
T.J. & J. Smith’s Thin Waistcoat Pocket Diary and Almanack for 1918. Editorial notes are indicated by square [ ] brackets.
Flyleaf
117643 Rifle No. 8762
Herbert Runciman
A. Flight, No,5 Squadron, no.1 R.F.C. Cadet Wing, Hastings
Memoranda Pages
[Herbert seems to have used these pages as a small address book for family and Friends]
47208 Cpl W.W.R.,[3] Room 45 F. Section R.F.C., Badajos Barracks, Aldershot
Lieut J.G.R., 6th Borders Regt, B.E.F.
2/22717 Pt R.T.R., B Coy, 1st 1st H.C.B., Corn Exchange, Cupar, Fife
Rev J.W.R. B.P., Presbyterian Chaplain, 35 British General Hospital, Basrah, Mesopotamian E.F.
Miss H.C.R.,[4] Queen’s Nurses Home, Westbank Place, Falkirk
Mrs J.F. Whillas, 162 Old Road, Fareley, Near Leeds
Rev G.H. Morrison, D.D.,[5] 29 Lilybank Gardens, Hillhead, Glasgow
Sergt H.I. Runciman[6] 44310, C47 Staff Sergeant Mess, Harrowby Camp, Grantham
Mr J. Petrie, West Breckan, Holm
F.H. Johnston 2794, City Hotel, Nottigham England, (Goldsmith Street)
Mr Charles Runciman, H.M.T. St…grove, G266 G.P.O., London
Lieut Capt J.G. Runciman, 5/6 Btn Royal Scots, BEF
47308 Cpl W.W.R.[7], B F Light 32 T.D.S, No. 6 Sqdrn R.F.C., Union Mills RAF, Montrose
2/22717 Pte L.T.R., Trench Mortar Battery, 8th Gelit Brigade, St Andrews
Miss B Lindony(?), Highenden, Westcombe Hill, Blackheath S.E.
Mr Charles Runciman, 2nd Engineers, H.M.T. Clutha E128, c/o G.P.O., London
Pte L.T. Runciman, 1/1st H.C.B.,Randalaton, Ireland
Tues 29 January[8]Arrived St Leonards
Wed 30 JanuaryArrived Home
Thurs 31 JanuaryL.W.S. M.A.
Fri 1 FebruaryHome. Willie.
(Cadet Banks Pencil).
Inoculated with vaccine
Sat 2 February John (home allow).
Ignie.
Louis.
Sun 3 FebruaryNellie.
Bella.
Lizzie.
Thur 7 FebruaryLetter re Army and Navy Allowance.
Sun 10 FebruaryLetter Father.
Postcard Bella + Jeanie
Mon 11 FebruaryCaptain Harold H.R. Hanford, P.O. 2/6 d for washing. Not found.
Tues 12 FebruaryRe. J.W.R. B.D.
Fri 15 FebruaryL.W. Smith M.A.
Mon 18 FebruaryMrs Charles Runciman.
B. Weekly.
J. Petrie.
Tues 19 FebruarySergeant H.J. Runciman
Wed 20 FebruaryMiss Macpherson to remember Bella
Sun 24 FebruaryBexhill Hospital (measles)
Mon 25 FebruaryWilliam Charles Runciman.
Cadet Muir + Co.
Tues 26 FebruaryFather
Wed 27 February Lt John G.R.
Thur 28 FebruaryMr J.F. Whellas
Miss R.S. Runciman
Miss Catherine Miller, 30 Sutherland Terrace, Glasgow W.
Sat 2 MarchMother
Louis J. Runciman.
Mon 4 MarchO.C. No. 5 Squadron
No. 117564 Dudley Newbronner
Return Calling up papers to Recruiting Office Glasgow.
Tues 5 MarchCorporal W.W. Runciman
Thur 7 MarchMother
(Income Tax Paper) £3 – 9 – 6
Fri 8 MarchJohn F. Whillas
Mon 11 MarchA.S.R.
L.W.S.
Thur 14 MarchSick leave from Bexhill
Tues 19 MarchCadet F.N. Johnston
(Comb & Brushing)
Fri 22 MarchArrived Leeds
Sun 24 MarchEnd of Sick Leave
Mon 25 MarchHome (M)
Mrs J.F. Whillas
Fri 29 MarchHome (F)
Mon 1 AprilCharlie
Tues 2 AprilJ.R. Watt (R.C.)
Mon 8 AprilHome (M).
Miss Miller
(Rec. Parcel)
Thur 11 AprilPassed Air Board as pilot.
Fri 12 April Nellie
Captain John G.R. 5/6 Royal Scots 2nd London General Hospital, St Mark’s College, Chelsea, London.
Mon 15 AprilHome (F)
E.W. Smith M.A.
Wed 17 AprilMiss Johnston.
Lizzie (P.C.)
Sun 21 AprilBella
Mon 22 AprilAndrew Blair
Final exam in Topo & Signal at St Leonards
Thurs 25 AprilBella P.C.
Fri 26 AprilLeft St Leonard’s for Denham
Home (M)
Sat 27 AprilNellie
Mon 29 AprilBella re Income Tax.
Paper
Lizzie
Sun 5 MayHome (F)
Falkirk (two)
Mon 6 MayCpl W.W.R.
Sat 11 MayHome (M)
Sun 12 MayP.C. G.L.W. A.W.W.
Sat 18 MayHome (F)
Ret Income Tax Paper 6/9d
(War Loan)
Sat 25 MayB.W. to J. Petrie
Home (M)
Sun 26 MayLewis
Mon 27 MayNo 8/23603, B Coy 1/pt HCB, Castle Barracks, Ennis Killen, Ireland
Tues 28 MayJenny Plymouth
Sun 2 JuneHome F
Mon 3 JuneNellie
Tues 4 JuneBella LC
Mon 10 JuneFinal exams Dunham
Tues 11 JuneHome (M)
Final Exam
Thurs 13 JuneParcel (Brakirts loordigas 2 pairs pants) home
Sat 15 JuneArrived Fowlmore
Sun 16 JuneHome M
DH6, 6847, First flight Lt Bell & First Crash
Mon 17 JuneNellie
Tues 18 JuneBella
W.W.R.
Lizzie
Fri 21 JuneHome (F)
Sun 23 JuneCharlie
Tues 25 JuneL.W. Smith M.A.
Fri 28 JuneHome (M)
Lt Reiss DH6 (no 5483), 2.26pm -3pm (35m), Height 800, Turns to Straights
Sun 30 JuneDH6 (6847) 8.20pm – 8.30, Lt Reiss 600
Mon 1 July DH6 6847 1000ft, 5.40pm – 6.5 Lt Reiss, Gliding Turns
Tues 2 July DH6 6847 Turns, 8.16am – 8.35 (20m), Lt Reiss
Wed 3 JulyLt Bell 40 min, DH6 (6847), 10am – 10.40, Stalling – (1200ft) turns
Fri 5 July8.50-8.30, 40min ht200, 7 landings, DH6C7248 Lt Bell
Sat 6 July7.40am – 8.20 40 mins, Landings and taking off, DH6 (6847), 60, 385
Home (F)
8.20-9pm 40 mins, 8 landings (6847) DH6
Sun 7 July30 min (DH6 7248), 6 landings 7- 7.30pm, 8.25-9.15pm 60 min, 6847 12 landings
Total 6 hours 25 mins
[at end] Mon 8 July 50 min, 6.40am – 7.30am, 12 landings (6847. DH6), Lt Bell
Tues 9 July First Solo, C7268 8.05-8.45, 8 landings, Total time 8 hours 15 mins
Week end 9th 8 hours 15 mins
[at end] 9 July, (6847) 6 landings 8.25-9pm, First Solo,9pm-9.30pm. 2 landings
Wed 10 JulySee End.
(6847) 6.45- 7.45am 1 hour, Solo 3000 ft
Thur 18 JulyCrash BE2E 6127 (stick)
Fri 19 JulyHome (M)
Sat 20 JulyJenny
Sun 21 JulyHenry
Tues 23 July Chassie (P.C.)
Sun 4 August Lizzie
Thur 8 AugustHome (M)
Fri 9 August W.W.R.
Fri 16 AugustHome (F)
Sun 18 AugustDH4 5538 Graduation
(W.W.R.)
Flight 1 hr
Sun 8 SeptemberHome
E.W.S.M.A. (photo)
Tues 10 September M. Greig photo
Lizzie photo
John (re. 25th)
Thur 12 September Miss M.J.D. & A.L.M Runciman Photo
Sat 14 SeptemberJohn
Mon 16 SeptemberHome (M)
Tues 17 SeptemberEvie (photo)
John (photo)
Wed 18 SeptemberJohn
Mon 23 SeptemberFinished Service Pilot Test (Fowlmere)
Wed 25 SeptemberJohn’s Marriage Southend
Sat 28 SeptemberBelle
P.C. (Mrs Hinks)
Sun 29 SeptemberH. Forbes R.A.F. Cranwell
Sleaford Lines
Mon 30 SeptemberNellie (Photo)
P.C. to MJD&ALM Runciman
Cpl W.W.R
L.T.R.
Tues 1 October R.A.F. Tunic £5-17-6d
Sun 6 OctoberHome (M)
Mon 7 OctoberJohn
Tues 8 October(£10 from home)
P.C. to Belle
Camp Bed £2.5
Valise 3.15
Wash Stand 1.1
Wed 9 OctoberJennie (photo)
Gazetted (Times) 8th October
Sat 12 OctoberLeft Fowlmere for Sedgeford. Sent on to Bircham Newton
Sun 13 OctoberCox & Co
2nd Lt A Mackie
Home (F)
Mon 14 OctoberWillie
Wed 16 OctoberE.W.S. M.A.
Fri 18 OctoberRev G.H. Morrison DD
Mors(?) Scannville(?)
Sat 19 OctoberArrived Sedgeford from Bircham Newton.
(P.C. Belle)
Sun 20 OctoberHome (M)
Mon 21 OctoberCox & Co (form)
Charlie
Tues 22 OctoberNellie.
Henry.
Wed 23 OctoberW J F Whillas (?)
Fri 25 OctoberCox & Co. £10
Willie
Sun 27 OctoberHome (F) Jenny
Wed 30 OctoberLeft Sedgeford
No.3 S.A.F
London to Glasgow
Thur 31 OctoberGlasow to London
Friday 1 NovemberReported for Overseas
£15 Cox & Co
Sat 2 NovemberArrived ‘Range de Fliers’ via Boulogne
No.2 A.S.D.
Sun 3 NovemberOfficers Claims Sedgeford
Home (M)
E.W.S. M.A.
Mon 4 NovemberCambrai
Willie [cross symbol][9]
Tues 5 NovemberHome (M)
Lt Arch Mackie
Cox & Co (address)
Thur 7 NovemberLizzie
Fri 8 NovemberWillie
Nellie
Tuesday 12 November Home (F)
Sat 16 NovemberHome (M)
Thur 21 NovemberHome (F)
Tues 26 November‘O’. 10-10-10-40
Arrived Houdain (Barai)
Wed 27 NovemberBella
Thur 28 NovemberCharlie
Tues 3 DecemberCox & Co (Pass Book)
John
Home (M)
Wed 4 DecemberL.T.R.
Thur 5 DecemberE.W.S.M.A.
Sun 8 DecemberCox & Co. – £5 to home
Lizzie
Mon 9 DecemberMiss H.C.R
Tues 10 DecemberHome (F)
Sat 14 DecemberA.S.R.
Thur 19 DecemberReceived Pass Book from Cox.
Home (M)
Visited Malplaquet
Fri 20 DecemberCox (Return Pass Book)
Rev G.H. Morrison D.D.
Sun 22 DecemberVisited Lille
Mon 23 DecemberLizzie
Field Cashier at Lille
Wed 25 DecemberJohn
Thur 26 DecemberHome (M)
Fri 27 December(Home £10-0-0)
Cox and Co
Mrs A.W. Watt
Sat 28 DecemberTelegram from Home (dated 26th)
Sun 29 DecemberNellie
[1919 continued in back]
Jan 1 Jenny
Jan 2 Second telegram from home dated 29th December[10]
Home (M)
West – Bulverhythe
North – Holington Terminus
East – Ecclesbourne Glen
Jan 5th Cox & Co. (pay book)
Jan 6th G.S. Pay Officer
Jan 9th E.W.S.M.A.
Jan 10th Home (M)
Jan 18th Home A.S.R.
Memoranda Pages
[..] Monday to Tuesday
6.30-7.30 Flying
8.30-9.30 Flying
9.30-10.30 Aerial Reconnaissance
10.45-11.45 Machine Gun
11.45-12.45 Flying
2.00-3.00 P.T.
3.20-4.00 Buzzing
5.00-6.00 Flying
Wednesday and Thursday
6.30-7.30 P.T.
8.30-9.30 Photography
9.30-10.30 Flying
10.45-11.45 Flying
11.45-12.45 Buzzing
2.00-3.00 Machine Gun
3.00-4.00 Machine Gun
Friday and Saturday
6.30-7.30 Flying
8.30-9.30 Machine Gun
9.30-10.30 Buzzing
10.45-11.45 Bomb
11.45-12.45 Machine Gun
2.00-3.00 Flying
3.00-4.00 Flying
Jan 21st/19 Cox & Co. (Pass Book)
(John)
Jan 28th Home (M)
Jan 29thCox & Co. (Income Tax A.M. 63)
(31 T.D.S. & No.3 Flight School Flying Pay)
Feb 4th Home (M)
Feb 10th Captain A. J. Swinton
Feb 11th Home (M)
Cox & Co. (for Pass Book)
Feb 12th Lizzie … Lewis
Feb 17th Home (B)
Feb 22nd Returned Pass Book to Cox.
Feb 24th Home (M)
Henry (cross symbol) 21st Feb.
27 FebHome (M)
3 MarchCheque £2 Duton
8th MarchHome (M)
5th MarchLeft Bavay for Alquinis. Landed Proven
9th MarchLeft Proven for Alquines
11th March Bella (St Omer)
13th March Home (M) (arrived 25 Squadron)
15th March Lizzie
16th March E.W.S. M.A.
17th March Nellie
21st March Home (M)
24th March W. Joseph Runciman, 10 Wardlaw Drive, Rutherglen. Received parcel from Bucham.
24th March Mrs A.W. Watt.
[Accounts]
13 June 1/10/-
20 June 4/-/-
27 June 4/1/-
4 July 4/-/-
11 July 4/1/-
18 July 4/-/-
25 July 4/1/-
2 August 4/-/-
9 August 4/-/-
16 August 4/-/-
23 August 4/-/-
30 August 4/-/-
6 September 4/-/-
13 September 4/1/-
20 September 4/0/-
Service Pilot 23rd
22 October Cox & Co. 39.0.0
25 October A533576 – £10 – — 29-0-0
1November 7 £15 — 14-0-0
8 December £ 5 — 9.0.0
Additional Unknown Pictures
These pictures were among the bundle that came with the diary.
[1] Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser 22 March 1941.
[2] Headstone in Craigton Cemetery, Glasgow: Erected by Herbert Runciman in loving memory of his wife Mairi Ann Nicholson died in Glasgow 12th March 1941 aged 38. His sister Anabella Scollay Runciman died in Glasgow … 1961 aged 74. The above Herbert Runciman died 7th June 1978, aged 86.
[3] His brother, William Watson Runciman, 1892-1918.
[4] His sister, Helen Clark Runciman, 1872-1957.
[5] Possibly a relation of Herbert’s future wife.
[6] His brother, Henry Irvine Runciman, 1895-1919.
[7] Brother William Watson again.
[8] This is the date Herbert’s service as cadet began.
[9] This mark records the death of Corporal William Watson Runciman, Scots Guards & R.A.F. from August 1914, Died in Dundee War Hospital 4th November 1918 aged 29 (inscription on the family memorial in Craigton Cemetery).
[10] This telegram will have been the news that Herbert’s father Charles Runciman had died on 28 December 1918. The previous message may have been to say that Charles was gravely ill.