Thursday, 6th January, 1916
The Epiphany 1.Went to early Mass
& later on to town. Saw Aunt Agnes
who said she knew American Consul
& would see him if he could enclose
letters from me in his dispatches to
American Consuls 2at Constantinople &
Sofia. Must say Aunt Agnes is
most helpful & even if these efforts do
not result in much it is such a comfort
to think one is doing all one can to
get in touch with you.
I wrote to McGrigors your bankers
to ask them could they make enquiries
but they said not, but if a draft were
drawn on their bank by you they would
let me know.
I hear from Tommy nearly every day
which is a great comfort. he is very fit
but they have nothing but storms & rain
at Bere Island. The Regiment hope to be
moved soon.
Jack came back from Laughanstown had
a splendid time, went on to find some of
Uncle Tom's horses with the Wards.
Editorial Notes1Christian feast day that falls on the 6th of January commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi or Three Wise Men.
2Henry Morgenthau (1856-1946) was the American consul to the Ottoman Empire during World War One. Dominic I. Murphy (1847-1930) was the American consul in Sofia, Bulgaria from 1915 to 1917. He was known for distributing funds to needy Allied prisoners and worked hard to improve their facilities.
(No Reference Available)
Agnes née Ross Todd Moore
Wife of Richard Martin (Uncle Dick) who was Mary Martin's brother-in-law. Istanbul, Capital of Turkey
The capital of German ally, the Ottoman Empire, now known as Istanbul. Sofia
Capital of Bulgaria, ally of Germany in World War I. Charles Martin died fighting against the Bulgarian army. Charles Andrew Martin
Born 3 June 1895, Charles Andrew was Mary Martin's son. This diary is dedicated to him. He was reported wounded and missing in December 1915 and died of his wounds on December 8 while in Bulgarian captivity, aged 20. However it wasn't until July 1 1916 that official confirmation of his death was received. McGrigors
Sir C. R. McGrigor, Bart., and Company, British Army paymasters and cashiers of army cheques. A source of information on prisoners of war during the First World War. Thomas Patrick Martin
Born on St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March 1891 and died in 1954, Thomas Shannon Patrick was Mary Martin's son and was known in the family as Tommy. He served in the 5th Battalion of the Connaught Rangers, a famous Irish regiment of the British Army but survived the war. Bere Island
An island off the west coast of County Cork used by the British Army as a training centre during the First World War. Laurence John (Jack) Martin
Born on 28 May 1899, Laurence John, Mary Martin's son, known as Jack. He attended Downside, the English public school near Bath, like his brothers. Laughanstown
Townland of Monkstown. Thomas Levins Moore
Born ca. 1871, Thomas Levins was Mary Martin's brother and was known in the family as Uncle Tom. Married Florrie Smithwick, part of the Kilkenny brewing dynasty on 5 June 1906. Thomas and Florence lived at Ashton House, the Moore family home. Ward Union Staghounds
The Ward Union Staghounds, a hunting association covering North County Dublin, Meath and parts of Kildare. Mary Martin's family, the Moores, traditionally belonged to the Wards and the Martin boys, particularly Thomas, were also members of the hunt. | 
