TODAY we're beginning a series of articles looking at the First World War in this area.

Author Jacqueline Wadsworth has very kindly shared some fascinating stories from her book Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland in the Great War.

This book is former newspaper journalist Jacqueline's third.

Bristol-based Jacqueline was inspired to write about South Dorset because it's where her husband's family is from.

She said: "They were prolific diary-writers and photographers, which gave me some marvellous material to start off my research."

One particular story of interest to Jacqueline was that of four sisters Kitty, Sylvia, Madge, and Rosie Sneyd-Kynnersley, all of whom were young ladies in their late teens and early twenties when war broke out, living at home in Greenhill, Weymouth with their widowed mother.

Jacqueline said: "When I discovered their pocket diaries, full of colourful detail, I decided to use them throughout the book to bring my story to life."

All four sisters worked as Red Cross nurses when the war began.

They were worked very hard, Jacqueline notes, as this extract from their diaries shows:

"Made about 40 beds and carried tons of blankets till we were doggo," wrote Sylvia after a tiring shift at Sidney Hall Military Hospital, Weymouth, in September 1914.

Her sister Madge agreed: "Made beds, took pulses and respirations, massaged painful ankle and leg, and after went round with a nurse who did dressings, I put on bandages, one awful one on groin (disgusting)did it badly."

When wounded Belgian soldiers started arriving at Weymouth hospitals in October 1914, the sociable Sneyd-Kynnersley sisters took the opportunity to chat and get to know them.

Madge was obviously flattered by their attentions: "Belgians very nice, talked French to them...they said I was bien gentille and j'aime Mlle Madge."

However, this sort of fraternisation didn’t go down too well with those in charge.

"Sisters nasty, asked me not to talk to men," wrote Madge.

A remarkable find during Jacqueline's research was a tiny album full of photographs taken by Rosie, the youngest Sneyd-Kynnersley sister, at the Princess Christian Hospital in Melcombe Avenue, Weymouth (on the site where Weymouth Community Hospital now stands).

Taken during the later years of the war, they reflect changes in society that the conflict had brought about.

Nurses and wounded men are now at ease in each other’s company as they pose for the camera – a far cry from the more formal days early in the war.

Other photos show how confident women – who once may never have sought employment – now look in the workplace.

The sisters’ diaries give a detailed description of domestic life, beginning when war was in the air but not yet declared.

Uncertainty among the public had led to panic buying, shortages and rising prices: On August 1, 1914, Madge wrote: "Food going up so Sylvie and I went to town and bought 21lbs biscuits, 1 ton coal, 12lbs jam, 4lbs tea, also cocoa, beans, macaroni, Horlicks, flour and soap, candle!"

Four days later came the fateful news: ‘ARMAGEDDON Great Britain declares war on Germany last night and may we win it.

"Belgians repulse Germans. Great naval battle at any moment. 2 spies from Westham tried to poison water last night. 7,000 Territorials to be billeted on Rodwell people tonight. C&M Stores closed."

The military was now everywhere and ‘spy fever’ had quickly taken a grip among civilians.

Madge described the precautions her family took at the end of this entry from August 11 1914: "Bathed, lovely. Tide high. In evening Kitty and I walked all round by Wyke and all way home – place so full of soldiers and fortifications. Everyone at Rodwell uncertain, road has soldiers billeted...Took knives to be sharpened and put bolts on our doors!"

*Next week we're going to be looking at another wartime story from Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester - what happened when South Dorset welcomed an influx of strangers.

Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland in the Great War is published on October 5 by Pen and Sword Books, RRP £12.99. We're offering a discount code for readers, quote the number 179442 to get 25 per cent off, plus free P&P, when they buy it from Pen and Sword Books.

The book can be ordered at the Pen and Sword website http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/ Or call 01226 734222