THE DIARY OF WILLIAM SELLERS

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April 19^th. The past week has been the coldest whole week I remember in April. For six days the wind has been blowing a full gale from the North, today we have had heavy showers of snow. Have worn a topcoat at field all the week.
Two very large mines are ashore on the beach a quantity of wood and a few pieces of butter and margerine. During last night a very big explosion occurred on the coast but no one appears to know what it was. The general idea is that a mine struck a rock and exploded. The mines have broken from thjeir moorings owing to the gale.
Ap 20^th. A large quantity of margarine and butter washing up today. Some of it is still in boxes but a large quantity is loose owing to the boxes breaking up. People are coming from all the villages for five or six miles round. A few people have got a cwt, some more. It was estimated that there have been several tons ashore between here & Filey during the week end.
24^th. Wind still North, very foggy & cold.A mine washed ashore at Bridlington and though attempts were made to secure it, it finally struck one of the breakwaters and exploded. No lives were lost but a large amount of damage was done by the breaking of windows & on the front. The wind has been between North & East from the last day in March till the second week in May & we have had one of the coldest springs for a long time.
May 6^th. A litter of newly weaned pigs were sold at Bridlington cattle market today for 64/- each. Gilts in pig are quoted up to £23 each.
30,000 men are to be taken off the land for the army before the end of June
May 16^th. Finished sowing corn, weather cold & unsettled.
June. Weather fine & warm, very dry.4^th. Drilling swedes,
15^th. Finished sowing turnips.
22^nd. Large steamer torpedoed in the bay.