大象传媒

MAY 1941

3 SAT Found Sid and Doris at home, Sid having secured week-end leave, going back tomorrow at 6 pm, to be in at W鈥檛on at 11.59 pm (usual army rule). Both were happy at reunion. Went to Shannon corner cinema. Saw Margaret Mitchell in 鈥淨uiet Wedding鈥� and record of Germany鈥檚
rise to power 鈥� 鈥淭he World in Flames鈥�.

4 SUN 8/4 Surrey Dock. Clocks were put on another hour during the night, making it 2 hours ahead of GMT. Lightness prevailed until my bedtime at 10 pm. Beautiful day.

5 MON Back in London Dock, and Visited St Kitt鈥檚. Blasted windows now replaced with some dark tarpaulin material in latter office, completely obscuring daylight: It is fortunate a full time officer is not stationed there. 鈥淓lizabeth and her German garden鈥� proved uninteresting, so Roy exchanged books for me and took out 鈥淎dam Bede鈥� by George Elliott.

6 TUE By launch down to Shadwell Pier Head where I called in for tide news, and mail in the office, rejoining PO at St Kitt鈥檚 office. Seriously concerned at non receipt of acknowledgement of money sent to Kay last Wednesday: wrote urgent letter to her. Dad Home Guard at Wimbledon HQ. One short alert.

8 THU My cold probably at it鈥檚 worst today, but did not let it overcome me. Poor old Dad had to go off to local Home Guard for night. He saw plane come down.

9 FRI Sky alternately cloudy, clear; it was during one of the clear periods we saw 鈥渟ign-writing鈥� in the sky, i.e. vapour trails from high flying aircraft: reconnaissance I think it, therefore no bombs were dropped.

10 SAT Was I hopeful (on 8/5) when I thought cold to be at it鈥檚 worst! Doubted whether I would go to work this morning. Went however, as it was only half day. To bed in afternoon. Relapsed into a deep sleep until coming of large scale air raid on London, the noise of which kept me awake for a long time. Some bombs were heard to fall at a distance but majority in Central London.

11 SUN Air with many specks of flying burnt paper from one of the big fires last night. Dad inspected roof, anticipating shrapnel damage, but OK. Wrote letter to Kay to say safe. Mum and Roy to Church.

12 MON On way to and from Shadwell Office, took opportunity to inspect some of Saturday night鈥檚 bomb damage which is abundant in city. Tower Pier being partially demolished, Our pontoon was used throughout day by Naval Authorities, much gold braid to be seen.

13 TUE To the Shadwell office by river and back by Wharf Road and saw some more devastation. Efforts being made to reach a night watchman thought to be trapped under B and F Wharf, but vault contained 3 feet of water, so little hope. Rudolph Hess鈥� flight to England topic of day. Dad to Home Guard locally.

14 WED Dad鈥檚 return first woke me after his night out. He had had an awkward watch and almost no sleep. Remarkable what patriotism will do! London Dock not very busy, glad when day was through. Card from Kay, letter following. Helped Roy with his homework and checked his calculations with Jap 鈥淪oroban鈥� abacus.

17 SAT Red letter day for Roy today. For months he has been saving for an electric railway (鈥淭rix鈥� Bassett 鈥� Lowke) and in June, prices advance 40%, so Dad advanced him 拢2 and a set was bought (Wimbledon). We had 鈥淭rix鈥� till 10 at night. Greatly excited (鈥淥h boy! it鈥檚 super鈥�). Pictures at Wimbledon. John Gelguid in 鈥淭he Prime Minister鈥�.

18 SUN A fine day, spent almost all of it in the garden.a.m. I took radio-gram onto lawn, disassembled motor, but could not trace fault. P.m. scraped paint off second side of baby鈥檚 cot. Dad at work all day and on Home Guard this night too.

19 MON After I had gone to bed last night, George arrived to stay the night, having had to walk part of his journey from Malden, the transport services now almost all withdrawn after 10pm. Beautiful (right adjacent!) naval motor launch, 100 ft. heavily armed alongside "Harpy". Dad spent another 拢1 on Roy鈥檚 鈥淭rix鈥�; electric points etc.

20 TUE Assistant to the "Harpy" office PO, but the dearth of shipping and subsequent clerical work appertaining thereto meant that my work was light. Another 100ft launch and an RAF rescue ditto alongside today. High officials joined latter, a new uniform on "Harpy". Roy received another 2 鈥渟traights鈥� (rails) for his 鈥淭rix鈥� from Daddy, lucky boy.

23 FRI Visit by valuer re claim incendiary damage = full compensation 拢15 claimed to be paid.

24 SAT Dad was Home Guard, and a visitor friend of Jack鈥檚 used Dad鈥檚 room, a party having gone to a dance the previous night from our house. Last day as office assistant, and strangely enough, my busiest. I was up and down the companion scores of times during the day and was glad when 4 pm came. Traversed part of Kingston Road in bus along which Merton and Morden War Weapons Work procession was passing. Did not pass any Home Guard sections, in which I might have seen Dad marching. He came home at 5.30, tired and perspiring, but 鈥済ame for another march鈥� he said. He, Mum and Jack played solo, while I finished 鈥淎lan Bede鈥�, (very good). Roy to garden party.

26 MON Surrey Dock Rummage, with Mr G. Bailey, under Mr Flaxman, PO. 2 cigarette 鈥渏obs鈥� were made ex S/S 鈥淎lgenib鈥�, one forward, one after-, pk, by Mr B, he and I working jointly: total involved 1150 cigarettes. 7/16 OS.; fine 拢7/10s/0d and 拢5/16s/0d.

28 WED A beautiful day from start to finish: on bus from Grand Drive- South Wimbledon, blinded by sun鈥檚 brilliancy: kept light till hour after I was in bed. Seized 3陆 lbs Cav. From U/FW on 鈥淏aron Ogilvy鈥�. Fine paid. Mum and Roy went to Merton and Morden War Weapons week fete at Cannon Hill. Dad to Home Guard.

JUNE 1941

3 TUE The blow has fallen. All future leave (summer portion) cut from 12 to 9 working days 鈥� an unkindness which particularly affects those with evacuated families who have been separated for a long period. There is no appeal however.

5 THU Night disturbed with an air raid during a storm. Thunder and lightning and the backing of AA guns intermixed. Soon after posting letter to Kay, news through 鈥渓eave granted 9th 鈥� 18th鈥�, so sent another letter on way home saying travelling Sunday 4 pm (about), arrive 10 pm (about). Made arrangements with Mum re rations while away.

6 FRI Business brisk at Surrey Dock; 5 ships in altogether, 4 rummage crews in operation, all getting results. Both my partner and I found 1陆 lbs of tobacco each, secured owners and fines paid. Very tiring work. Bought Roy a 鈥淐harringtons鈥� coal wagon.

8 SUN 8/4 duty Surrey as no substitutes could be found. Took Jack鈥檚 heavy expanding suitcase with me, thence onto Euston for the 3.45 pm for Blackpool. Arrived in plenty of time and strolled around vicinity looking at bomb damage etc. Almost empty train to Crewe, but loaded up from thence.

12 THU Kay, Beryl and I went to the South Shore today, mainly to book seats at the evening performance of 鈥淓scape鈥� (Robert Taylor, Norma Shearer) at the 鈥淩endezvous鈥� Cinema, but we also shopped. Afternoon was visit to Stanley Park again. Betty met us there from school and we picniced. Brilliant sunshine but cold wind. Pictures, good film but antiquated hall. Nearly broke necks!

18 WED A shopping expedition 鈥渄own town鈥� before the shops closed for half day. From thunder and a downpour of rain, to sunshine, so decided to visit Matron of the Nursing Home (16/6), as Kay wanted her milk coupons signed.

21 SAT Arrived Euston 6 am, "Harpy" 6.30 (to the surprise of the night watch), toilet and breakfast on egg Kay provided, there. Plan for half day frustrated owing to couple of 41鈥檚 registering, so in office till 4 pm, but beautiful sunny day. Dad altering position of coal store to side of air raid shelter. Then day in garden, for it was probably hottest of this year.

22 SUN Am expecting the newspapers to say today the hottest of the year鈥� we all simply sweltered. George turned up with news 鈥� good, he has been offered officer-ship in Red Cross; he has been de-reserved so is liable for military service.

23 MON Began relieving Upper Coast APO on his 9 days summer leave. No launch available so travelled by road. PO and I had to split up owing to number of wharves to be visited. Gained access to those I was to visit only after difficulty owing to Defence regulations. Splendid sunny day, job a pleasant change.

25 WED During raids Upper Coast today found myself in the York Road, Wandsworth, which revived memories of my two years employment at Prices there. Then later, the trolleybus took a devious route(owing to bomb damage) through Atheldene Road and I gazed up to the room where (I suppose) I was born. Then鈥︹�︹�︹�nd now鈥︹�︹��

29 SUN 8/4 "Harpy". A beautiful day on the river: The people looking over Tower Bridge must have envied us our patrol of the station in the launch.

30 MON Up Coast Roads, then home for dinner, and out to see the film chosen by Motion Picture Academy as 鈥淏est of the Year鈥� 鈥� 鈥淩ebecca鈥� (Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine), which enjoyed save for comments and sub-title reading of two elderly people behind me.

JULY 1941

4 FRI My Kay鈥檚 birthday. Sent off a card yesterday and on 1/6 (gv) ordered row of pearls to be sent to arrive this day. How I hope they will please her. I look forward to a letter about them on Monday. Home early for half day and spent it at Rialto cinema, seeing my favourite actress 鈥� Rosalind Russell in 鈥淣o Time For Comedy鈥�. Dad finished kitchenette 鈥� Grand!

5 SAT Out in river launch today, weather was so fine that people looking over Tower Bridge must have envied us. Having had half day yesterday, had to stop full time (i.e., until 4 pm). In evening, had letter from Kay, she still wants to come home after having the Baby next month: things get worse for her at her home, not better: Such a good girl doesn鈥檛 deserve such bad fortune. Last (working) day of Dad鈥檚 holiday and he and Mum gave the garden lots of attention, and for 陆 hour, I sat back and enjoyed the luxuriant foliage of flowers and vegetables. If there wasn鈥檛 a war and Kay and the kiddies were here 鈥︹�︹��..

8 TUE Each day we wonder if it is 鈥渢he hottest yet鈥�! One colleague, stripped down to singlet, displayed so much moisture (perspiration) that when he was about to wash, someone asked whether he had not already washed! Letter from Kay shows pearls ordered for birthday (see 1/7) did not arrive, so made enquiry immediately.

9 WED Today鈥檚 itinerary includes a broken seal and some other trouble on a Frenchman, where to the shame of the English, no English man, save one, could be found to interpret although the ship was swarming with workers of all kinds.

11 FRI Yes, letter of thanks came early this morning: Kay must have written immediately on receipt of gift. She is delighted. Dad rendered me a great service by taking my fountain pen into Waterman鈥檚 for servicing, and by repairing the broken cap at home. Quite a new pen all in all.

14 MON A very ordinary day in the docks, about which, of course, a lot may not be said (war precautions). It was France鈥檚 F锚te Nationale鈥�. In the evening we had a good time. George visited us, played chess with Roy, I then read my interesting book (13/7), and afterwards, Jack played us a selection of gramophone records which we all enjoyed.

15 TUE Dad all night on Home Guard. Almost done up in the morning. He is 65 in September, and I feel, should leave home guarding to younger fellows! A slack day at the office, but filled evening writing a long letter to Kay and Betty.

16 WED All day engaged on clerical duties in the absence of something more concrete. Packed up and left Surrey dock office for a while. Kay鈥檚 letter came and I completed one unfinished yesterday in reply, also writing to Betty to congratulate her on her school progress. Kay鈥檚 Mum away at Crewe, and Vera on South Pier in a show.

17 THU Back to the "Harpy" on general duties, that is awaiting orders. Day passed pleasantly enough and arriving home early, went to the cinema (Elite, Wimbledon). Saw a very good American film 鈥淐ome Live With Me鈥� (Hedi La Marr and James Stewart) with a poor support film 鈥� of British origin.

19 SAT On my half day. Jack and two friends played a collection of jazz records which the latter had brought over for Jack鈥檚 entertainment. George turned up and took Jack and Roy to Wimbledon cinema in evening.

26 SAT In contrast to yesterday, today it rained continuously throughout the day. It was an evening in doors for all of us, except Dad who was due for a night of Home Guard. Read at my book 鈥淢artie (= Martha) the Unconquered鈥� by Kathleen Norris (Yank) fairly interesting up till now, and also at a tale from Roy鈥檚 鈥淗oliday Annual鈥�! Home Guard messenger knocked me up to warn Dad, already on duty, of Mock invasion!

28 MON Not getting to sleep till nearly mid-night, I resented being kept awake from 2陆 - 3陆 am by heavy gunfire and zooming of planes. Nearest bombs = Balham. Went to Surrey Dock today to Rummage, no results, ship having been in 6 hours.

29 TUE Repetition of last night鈥檚 troubles, disturbed rest, but fortunately, no raid. Alarm suddenly went at 2 am, had been altered by Jack to his fire watching time; he returned to bed at 4 am. Rummaged a c.w. vessel, cargo sugar and rum! Letter from Kay requires more letters from me. All well, thank heaven.

30 WED Whilst patrolling river on tide, awaiting any fresh arrivals, took opportunity to land at Lime House pier and view extensive damage done in the locality. One bomb crater, amongst poor people鈥檚 houses, was fully 100 feet across and about 12 feet deep.

31 THU Our monthly salaries were not so forthcoming today as the pay office is now located at City Gate House, Finsbury and the money was not distributed on the "Harpy" till 3.30 pm. Kay鈥檚 share will not now reach her till Saturday. Cold and wet, indoors all evening.

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