大象传媒

This entry to the People's War site has been submitted by Mr John Barrett, formerly of Portsmouth and now living in Cleethorpes. Mr Barratt kept a wartime diary for 1944 - he was a schoolboy during the war and the diary is meticulously written in pencil in an old school exercise book.

As well as recording details of all the events as they unfolded across Europe, John's family obviously kept chickens as each diary entry has a note in the margin indicating how many eggs were laid!!

This contribution has been added by staff in Grimsby Library on behalf of Mr Barrett. It has been typed in exactly as it appears in the diary.

"June 6th 1944. THE SECOND FRONT HAS STARTED. Over 4,000 landing craft and 1,000 smaller craft took part the landing took place on the coast of Normandy. Naval warships have shelled the batterys on the beach and have silensed them. Aircraft last night dropped 5,000 tons on beached targets. The 5th Army have crossed the Tiber. (2 eggs)

June 7th There is desperate fighting between Havre and Cherbourg. We have now got 50 miles of the coast. We have capture Bayeux and there is fierce fighting round Caen. Meanwhile the navy and airforce are giving cover. There is no change in Italy.

(6 eggs Wednesday - double yoke)

June 8th One of the fiercest battles of the war is taken place between Havre and Cherbourg and the Germans have brought up reserves but we are still advancing. The 5th Army are now 40 miles from Rome and are still pushing on.

July 20th 1944 Hitler has nearly been killed by a bomb thrown at him when he was with some of his generals. Hitler was burnt and had some bruises. The Allied forces in Normandy have capture 9 Normandy villages. The Russians are now 30 miles from Kowel. In Italy we are now a good few miles from Leghorn. (5 eggs Thursday)

July 21st It is now known that 50 high ranking officers have started to revolt against Hitler and his headquarters. The bomb that was thrown at Hitler was thrown by one of these officers. Heavy rain has stop fighting in Normandy. The Russians are still advancing. ( 3 eggs Friday)

July 22nd There is no fresh news from inside Germany. On the Russian Front the Russians are only 80 miles from Warsaw. In Normandy we are regrouping for a new drive. The 5th Army are in the suberbs of Pisa. (2 eggs Saturday)

July 23rd Two Generals have not yet signed there oath of loyalty to Hitler. The Russians have captured Pskov, they are fighting in the outskirts of Lublin and they are 4 miles from Brest Litovsk. They have also captured 68 tanks, 500 guns, 625 mortars and 3,500 lorries. There is still a lull in Normandy. In Italy we are advancing. (2 eggs Sunday)

August 9th The Canadians have now advanced nearly ten miles in their attack. On the Italian Front there is heavy fighting near Arrezo. The German trapped in the Baltic are trying to get out. (3 egss Wednesday)"

The final entry in the diary is for September 8th 1944.

"The British are now 25 miles from the Ruhr. We have reached the village of Bourg Leopold. All Germans left in the Balkans have been cut off by the quick moves of the Russians. We are still advancing in Italy. (2 eggs)".

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