大象传媒

TUESDAY 1ST AUGUST 1944 - General duties, Night stand. Getting the hang of things now. Started letters to E. May go on leave in about 3weeks time. Swimming.

WEDNESDAY 2ND AUGUST 1944 - Guard duty driver. Heard I am to go driving for sub-area. Letter from Mum & Dad.

THURSDAY 3RD AUGUST 1944 - Ready to start off 6.15- started security job driving 3 tonne for sub-area. Missed my pay. A/mail from Shaddock. KM from Ethel June16.

FRIDAY 4TH AUGUST 1944 - Still hanging about with lorry - rather monotonous, went to pictures saw Robson in Naffi.

SATURDAY 5TH AUGUST 1944 - Answered Ethels letter (n) with a/mail, start work 13:00 hrs. Not a lot to do, browned off.

SUNDAY 6TH AUGUST 1944 - Still on the S/B job, head Norfolk have 12 hrs sortie - wrote a/mail to my darling, did not mark letters should have been (p). Must write to Betty.

MONDAY 7TH AUGUST 1944 - Wrote to Win and Betty - Driving still S/B.

TUESDAY 8TH AUGUST 1944 - Letters from Joyce. 2 letters O & P from my pet. Answered them with letters P. Wrote to Shaddock in answer to his letter.

WEDNESDAY 9TH AUGUST 1944 - Think this job will soon finish. Must get Ethels ring. Wrote to my darling letter (q).

THURSDAY 10TH AUGUST 1944 - Still on the job, hope to hear from my darling, getting browned off with this job. Went to pictures. Not satisfied with ring.

FRIDAY 11TH AUGUST 1944 - Must write to my pet today. Had photo taken this morning. Not much work.

SATURDAY 12TH AUGUST 1944 - Hope to hear from my darling, wrote to Henry. Wrote letter (r). Wrote to Stokes.

SUNDAY 13TH AUGUST 1944 - Wrote to Dan Sullivan, not much doing.

MONDAY 14TH AUGUST 1944 - Received letter from my darling letter R answered with letter (s), Letters from Henry also from Rene.

TUESDAY 15TH AUGUST 1944 - Job finishes just hanging around, wrote green envelope to Ethel sent 2 photos (bad ones). Hope to hear from my darling tomorrow. INVASION 2

WEDNESDAY 16TH AUGUST 1944 - PWB. Letters from Ethel.

THURSDAY 17TH AUGUST 1944 - PWB. Blow out. Heard we are being attached.

FRIDAY 18TH AUGUST 1944 - Not much to do, on truck to Reisme.
Heard we may be posted, hope so.

SATURDAY 19TH AUGUST 1944 - Left Bari for Naples 10-30. Punctures on way, brakes no good. Arrive Naples 8-20 approx 260 miles.

SUNDAY 20TH AUGUST 1944 - Left Naples 11am Arrived Bari 5-30. No trouble.

MONDAY 21ST AUGUST 1944 - Four KM from my darling, Cigs from Flossie. Wrote and thanked Flossie. Wrote to Bert and Gladys. All right at garages.

TUESDAY 22ND AUGUST 1944 - Letter (r) from my darling, she has received photos and is pleased with them. Letter fromBetty. Day off.

WEDNESDAY 23RD AUGUST 1944 - Brindisi. Answered my darlings letters with a/mail. Wrote to Win.

THURSDAY 24TH AUGUST 1944 - Brindisi. Wrote to my darling letter (v).

FRIDAY 25TH AUGUST 1944 - Foggia, Received comforts parcel from LPTB.

SATURDAY 26TH AUGUST 1944 - Brindisi.

SUNDAY 27TH AUGUST 1944 - Taranto and Setusa on to Naples.

MONDAY 28TH AUGUST 1944- Wrote to my darling letter (w) in answer to letter R. 21st August. Returned from Naples, letters from Lewis.

TUESDAY 29TH AUGUST 1944 - Day off, started letter (x).
WEDNESDAY 30TH AUGUST 1944 - Wrote to my darling. Maintenance. Wrote to Mum, Dad and Betty

THURSDAY 31ST AUGUST 1944 - Wrote letters to my own darling, answering S.S.T. 3 letters from my darling 1 from E.

FRIDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 1944 - ? Wrote letter Z to my darling. Cigerettes from Florrie and Auntie Doreen

SATURDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 1944 - Letter from Edith. Maintenance. Heard we are going back on 5th.

SUNDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 1944 - Foggia. Heard we go back to Battalim on 5th

MONDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Headed for Naples sent letter A I to my darling. Sent flowers to my darling.

TUESDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Left for Naples, Left Bari 9, arrived Naples 3:15, 6.25 hrs. Now looking for somewhere to sleep.

WEDNESDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Left Naples 8:15 Arrived Bari 3 O鈥檆lock. Told we are going back to one battalion. Wrote letters A2 to my darling.

THURSDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Wrote to Auntie Doreen, thanked her for cigs. Packed ready to join C. Coy. Back at C. Coy. Wrote letters A
In answer to my darling letter T. Letters from Ethel, Fred and Dave alias Popkiss.

FRIDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Answered Freds letters also Ethels (Portugal). Day off. Heard we have invaded Yuga also heard Hitler Assassinated (rumours). Letter from Jack.

SATURDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Maintenece off in Evening. Browned off . Keep thinking of my darling.

SUNDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Guard Duty Driver. Heard we are going home in 1 months time. Went on the Vino last night feel rough now. Busy night

MONDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Wrote to my darling A4. Day off. Paper and books from my darling. No letter no hair. Keep thinking of my darling.

TUESDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER 1944- General duties, on stand by. Two letters from my darling, answered them with letter A5. Ethel told me that Bobs wife is jealous have not received lock of hair yet.

WEDNESDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - General duties. Letters from my darling (sept 7), answered same with letter A6. Also received K mercury and lock of hair, thanked Ethel for same. Bless her.

THURSDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Wrote to Jack and Edie. Maintence, not much to do.

FRIDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Monopoli. General Duties.

SATURDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Night. Letters from Flossie and Win answered same. Wrote to my darling for our anniversary.

SUNDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Start my leave. Wrote letter A7 to my darling, got very drunk tonight am getting over it now.

MONDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - What a head I鈥檝e got, still I had a good time. Not a bad camp this. Wrote to my darling describing the
place A8.
TUESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 1944- 2 letters from my darling. Letter from Betty. Answered Ethels letter with A9. Capsized boat, enjoying my leave.

WEDNESDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Wrote to my darling A10. Drunk again. Having a good time. Had photo taken.

THURSDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 1944 - Swimming. Weather not too good. Thinking a lot of my darling. On the Vino.

FRIDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER 1944 - Collected photo and ring went to Bari. Browned of with it. On the Vino again.

SATURDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 1944 - Wrote to E for her Birthday, wrote to my darling. Vino again.

SUNDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Our wedding anniversary. Boxing 19:00 hrs, boxing stadium. Had letters from Ethel written 17th sept, also one fromBob. Wrote to my darling. Celebrate my anniversary. Leave finished.

MONDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Day off . No mail. Wrote to my darling.

TUESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Guard duty driver. Wrote to Ethel sent photo. Letter from my darling. Letter from George Goadges, answered.

WEDNESDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Had a letter of congratulations from my darling. Realised I wrote thinking if the 24th instead of 21st wrote and apologised, also answered her letter. Day off.

THURSDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - General duties. Wrote to Bill & Het Helling. Not much to do, stand by driver.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Guard Truck finished 5pm. Saw Ensa show at Gassidy. No mail for me. Hope Ethel legs are improving.

SATURDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 1944 - Started letter to my darling hope to have to some mail today. Maintence. Thinking of my darling.

SUNDAY 1ST OCTOBER 1944 - E鈥檚 Birthday. Heard we are going to Florence. Letter from my darling. General duties/ Gassisai.

MONDAY 2ND OCTOBER 1944 - Duty driver ,wrote to my darling also letters from Bert and Gladys.

TUESDAY 3RD OCTOBER 1944 - Day off. Letter from Mum and Dad, pictures.

WEDNESDAY 4TH OCTOBER 1944 - General duties, stand by driver. Letter from my darling answered same Kentish Mercury 14. Letters from Auntie Doreen & Uncle Len. She has sent me some cigs.

THURSDAY 5TH OCTOBER 1944 - General duties. No mail.

FRIDAY 6TH OCTOBER 1944 - Wrote and thanked Auntie Doreen for cigs. Guard duty. Went to Ensa Garrison.

SATURDAY 7TH OCTOBER 1944 - Maintence. Wrote to Gladys and Bert. Stayed in. No mail

SUNDAY 8TH OCTOBER 1944 - Guard duty driver. Wrote to my darling, Betty, Win, Mum & Dad. Letter from Ethel tells me she has sent 400 cigs. answered same. Wrote to Stokes.

MONDAY 9TH OCTOBER 1944 - Day off

TUESDAY 10TH OCTOBER 1944 - Stand by Driver. Naples, Capua, Aversa. Wrote to Ethel.

WEDNESDAY 11TH OCTOBER 1944 - Left Bari for Naples 11:15, stopped Foggia 1hr 15 , Arrived Cusesta 7:10.

THURSDAY 12TH OCTOBER 1944 - Got drunk, Naples Carosia.

FRIDAY 13TH OCTOBER 1944 - Salerino, Pompei (overstated)

SATURDAY 14TH OCTOBER 1944 - Cassino, Rome.

SUNDAY 15TH OCTOBER 1944 - Rome, Salerno, Plenty to do, bit of trouble with the wops shot 2.

MONDAY 16TH OCTOBER 1944 - 6 Loads today for Florence.

TUESDAY 17TH OCTOBER 1944 - Left Florence for Caserta.

WEDNESDAY 18TH OCTOBER 1944 - Received letters from Dan, E and 2 letter, 3 papers and parcel from my darling. Betty is home, answered Ethels.

THURDAY 19TH OCTOBER 1944 - Oreona.

FRIDAY 20TH OCTOBER 1944 - Guard duty driver.

SATURDAY 21ST OCTOBER 1944 - On the Vino. Wonder how much. Hoping we will be out soon.

SUNDAY 22ND OCTOBER 1944 - The yanks will be leaving. Us soon. Heard they are going to France.

MONDAY 23RD OCTOBER 1944 - Browned off, this dump. On English rations now.

TUESDAY 24TH OCTOBER 1944 - Wrote to my darling in answere to her letters of 17 Oct. Wrote to E. Capana. S Maria.

WEDNESDAY 25TH OCTOBER 1944 - Avesso - Rations.

THURSDAY 26TH OCTOBER 1944 - Must ask Ethel to send me another diary. Wrote to my darling a/m and Green envelope.

FRIDAY 27TH OCTOBER 1944 - Had letter from my darling. 18 Oct, answered same. Had letters from Win & Jack and Popkiss. Ethel loves me a heck of a lot.

SATURDAY 28TH OCTOBER 1944 - Rations Guards.

SUNDAY 29TH OCTOBER 1944 - NO ENTRY.

MONDAY 30TH OCTOBER 1944 - NAPLES, CASSINO

TUESDAY 31ST OCTOBER 1944 - Letters from my darling, answered same. Sad letter from Win letter from Digger.

WEDNESDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 1944 - Wrote to Shaddrack.

That was the last entry. Arthur returned from the war some time later and went on to live a happy life driving various vehicles. He lived with his wife Ethel and daughter Betty at the same address until 1987. In later life they moved to Brackley Northamptonshire, where he died of bone cancer on May 1st 1997. Ethel died in July 2004 aged 97. Diary transcribed by his Granddaughter in Law Tracey Boyd.

This was written at the back of the diary.

I WILL COME BACK TO YOU

It was a happy word we shared together you and I. There were joys and tears; long hours of idleness and just being young and free. To you I was no hero theat day when I became a solider, still less a hero to myself. It was a war not of my making, but in it, I have found a cause too precious to betray. That is why one day I will come back to you.

Oh yes it might have been too early to have joined, aside I heard no call to battle - only deep down within me a conviction, that was greater than myself. If I had lived to love you, could I face death to fight for you? It was no challenge; it was a simple ache of the heart that whispers now - I will come back to you.

There is only misery in war to those whe weigh life in contrast to gold and power. Those are the seales of our enemy and they have called me from beyond side to challenge our possesion of the right to live. They call it 鈥渇reedom鈥� but I call it - you. How simple then it seems as I stand in line awaiting the fate that has already gone forth to thousands of my comrades. I shall press on to victory, believe I will come back to you.

Through out on that battlefield may lie many of those wheo staked a claim to life, their souls triumphant will go marching on in the cause of the sight. Shoulder to shoulder we will stand- even in death, and if my living comrades on the line shoud close their ranks for me. I to will be there content, Gods will be be fulfilled - a night, a letter - a little day, and I will come back to you.

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