大象传媒

Extracts from my Grandmother's War Diaries 1939 - 1945 (by Paul I Marshall)

CHAPTER THREE - 1939

Ricketts. September 5th 1939.

Tomorrow we move from here to Radwinter, about 4 miles away.

War was declared between Britain and France on the one hand and Germany on the other on Sunday, already Germany had marched upon Poland and in fulfilment of our solemn pledges to Poland and after vain attempts at honourable negotiations we found it our duty to declare War against Germany. What the issue will be, rests in God's hands. The majority of the people in the country have behaved marvellously, true to British traditions and the spirit of their forefathers "stout hearts, unafraid". Every night now there is a "black out" over all the country and we take our gas masks with us wherever we go. This time last year the thought of air raids and gas masks made most of us sick with horror to the depths of our souls; but, somehow, we have accepted these things with nothing more than a cold resignation.

The days are beautiful and the last of the harvest is being brought in homely sounds, comfortable scenes, in strange contrast to that unrest which lurks at the back of our minds. The high sounding words of our politicians that we are saving Mankind from Tyranny and oppression strike us all as being absolutely true; but what a price will have to be paid! But, we are all contributing towards it and we are all "in it". May God grant that this unspeakable task we have to do is over soon!

The "Athenia" has been sunk, causing horror and disgust in America, as many of the passengers were Americans. It was torpedoed.

Well it's lighting up time and I must "scrounge" about and heave and haul in order to effectively darken our windows. If wishes could kill, Hitler would be dead several times over each night as we face this task.

Radwinter Sunday 10th.

A week since War was declared. A full and busy week for everyone. We shifted over here last Wednesday, although the chickens still have to be shifted.

The country has settled down to War time conditions and the common people are displaying a spirit which must win through.We had our first Air Raid warning on Wednesday and all had a good laugh after it was over. The enemy planes did not cross the East Coast and we've had no alarms since then.

Poland is being very badly battered. Hitlers' idea is to smash Poland and then turn his attention to Britain and France! He's done something now that he's really aroused the British bulldog!
This piece of country is very pretty and we've a pretty view from each window. We're not "straight" yet but pegging away.

Sunday 17th.

Russia has invaded Poland this morning. What effect this will have upon events, of course remains to be seen; but without doubt it will mean the breaking up of Poland, whether temporarily or otherwise, also remains to be seen. There have been no major events on the Western front as yet but the French are steadily encroaching upon German territory. This seems to be an era of shocks and surprises and our main task seems to be to keep ourselves calm and immune from any violent reaction to the events that occur from day to day. We shall have many more dark days and anxieties and crosses to bear and in the meantime we must thank God for the comforts and blessings we enjoy.

Sunday Sept.24th.

Another week nearer the end of the War! We're all still pegging away, but we've not been disturbed by air raid warnings again. Russia and Germany have divided Poland; but Warsaw is still holding out.

October 2nd.

The "curtain raiser" of this War is over with Poland completely overrun and divided up between Germany and Russia. We have now rumours of a Peace Appeal put forward by Hitler, backed by Russia. Stalin is playing a deep game, self interest its main motive and Hitler the one time arch enemy of Communism is playing into Stalin's hands it seems.

Meanwhile, we go about our business as usual and the War seems to be part of our lives. It has not as yet touched as much but we expect it will soon start to, When Hitler finds his Peace Appeal rejected and vents his anger upon us. No one can now trust his word as he has deliberately broken it time after time.

Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty spoke on Sunday night in a broadcast to America. He is very virile and "John Bullish". The disdain he puts into the word "Nazi ism" is admirable.

Sunday October 8th.1939.

Hitler has put forth his "peace" proposals in a speech to his "Reichstag"; but it seems that they are typical of him and will not be accepted by Britain and France. In his speech he goes over and over the same ground again we have all long since become bored with all that. Every day we hear rumours of dis unity and discontent in Germany.

Tom came to see us last Wednesday he had 24 hours leave (from Northolt Aerodrome).

Nobody knows how the course of the War will go but I think in this country we are prepared for anything and calmly resolved to see it through. Rationing will start this month, on certain articles of food.

Over the wireless on Thursday evening we heard "How the Empire accepted the news of the Declaration of War". Right round the world we went from South Africa back to Canada. The New Zealand item was of particular interest to me and the singing of the N.Z anthem brought back in a flash to me the first time I think I ever Heard it during the Peace Celebrations of the Great War. I was about seven years old!

We are gradually getting our new house cosy. It will be nice and warm in Winter.

Helen (now 2陆 years) is out in gumboots and a mackintosh with Micky, the pup. She is very sturdy and enjoys an open air life.

Sunday October 14th.

It has rained all day today. Chamberlain has effectively answered Hitlers' "peace appeal" to the entire satisfaction of the people of Britain, France and our colonies. If what we read in the Sunday papers is true, the War will not last long. But they all said that in 1914!

Anyhow, the Germans will really start on the offensive now, we expect.

The Air Force is to be bolstered up by continuous training of its personnel in the colonies, Canada, Australia and New Zealand so that the fresh batches of fully trained pilots will be "on tap" as it were.

Unless Hitler is supported in his military manoeuvres actively by Russia or Italy we believe that he cannot last long in a War. There are endless reports of internal trouble in Germany and it now appears also that the Communist element is coming out in the open following upon Ribbentrops, wooing of Soviet Russia. Their pact with Russia does not seem to have been much of a bargain for them after all as Russian influence is rapidly spreading in the Baltic countries, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Sunday October 29th.

Life goes on much the same there have been no "major developments" yet. There have been enemy air raids around Glasgow and Edinburgh but they have all been beaten off. The weather is cold and wet and we feel we have winter upon us.

November 5th.

It's three years today that we went to Ricketts' Guy Fawkes' Day.

If all the news we hear is all that there is to be heard, this War is being waged mainly on the Sea at present. The United States Neutrality Bill was made law yesterday and the main clause of this that affects us is the lifting of the Arms Embargo which means that belligerent's can purchase arms and ammunition provided they pay cash and carry the goods in their own ships. As Britain and France at present command the seas, this is a setback for Germany. Of course, they threaten unrestricted submarine warfare etc; but it's quite plain that they realise this is a bad thing for them.

Molotov's speech in the Kremlin indicated that Russia intends to be neutral Hitler was expecting military assistance from Russia. Italy's attitude to Germany seems to be growing more and more negative. It is quite obvious at this stage, that Mussolini intends to "set his house in order" and leave other peoples alone.

November 12th.

Yesterday was the 21st anniversary of Armistice Day. The Queen broadcast a message to the women of the Empire. Our Queen is a very worthy person.

During last week an attempt upon the life of Hitler was unsuccessful but six of the Nazi party were killed and many wounded a bomb had been concealed in the Building in Munich where Hitler was making a speech. Strange to say, he had left earlier than was expected and gone back to Berlin. Rumours abound as to the instigators of the crime but of course the German authorities are trying to pin the blame on Britain.

Anyhow, thereby hangs a tale!

Lloyd George continues to write deeply pessimistic articles for the "Sunday Express". Queen Wilhelmina of Holland and the King of the Belgians have sent a joint appeal for Peace to Britain and France and Germany. At present the German Government are giving the message their careful consideration and King George and the President of France have answered the appeal in words to the effect that the Germans must repair the wrongs done to Czecho Slovakia, Austria and Poland before we can talk of Peace. Russia is making demands of Finland and Germany seems to be threatening the invasion of Holland and Belgium.

This "Strangest of Wars" to quote Mr. Chamberlain, still goes on but there have been no major happenings apart from the continual war at sea on enemy submarines and a few "dog fights" in the air. It is a politicians' war, up till now at any rate. Would to God it would continue like that!

November 26th.

The Germans have laid "magnetic" mines near our coast, causing the sinking of several neutral as well as British ships one a Japanese and another an Italian ship. It seems that these mines are particularly dangerous because the ship itself acts as a magnet to the mine. Britain, as a reprisal, has announced that she will in future seize German exports upon the seas. This has called forth protests from neutral countries as they say it will seriously affect their trade.

We have lately listened in to a German station broadcasting in English propaganda.

December 3rd.

During last week, our little old war has been crowded off the front pages by the Russian invasion of Finland. Negotiations had been going on between the two countries for some time, Russia demanding certain privileges and Finland determined not to give in. Stalin has copied Hitlers' technique to the last detail even to the familiar phrase "there must be an end to patience". Helsinki the capital of Finland has been bombed and towns bombarded from warships.

It is significant that the news of the invasion was withheld from the German people at first but it seems that since it has leaked out, there is much fear and disquiet among the Germans.I wonder how Hitler feels now at seeing the country that the Germans helped to free from the Russian yoke in 1918,suddenly pounced upon by a ruthless aggressor in the self same style that he has himself adopted towards Poland. Italy and Spain are especially indignant and disgusted about the Russian aggression.

The magnetic mines have not done much more damage since last weekend.Tomorrow England starts seizing German exports.

We hear news of a New Zealand contingent ready to sail as soon as there is accommodation.

There seems to be spiritual re awakening going on in this country.The broadcast of the Earl of Athlone to America last week on Moral Re armament must have made a deep impression on all thinking people who heard it.It was also refreshing to hear such a sincerely worded talk by a layman and an earl.There is so much of the Wellsian strain nowadays likening Man to the pre historic beasts and warning that such will be the end of Man with no mention of the relationship between Man and his Maker.

December 10th.

The Russo Finnish War goes on.The Finns are fighting in white uniforms on skis so that they are invisible in the snow and thus are able to surprise the enemy.There have not been any more air raids on open towns since the first three days of the War.The Finns are fighting desperately but unless someone comes to their aid they must sooner or later be crushed.

The Finns have appealed to the League of Nations which is at present assembled at Geneva to consider the position.There is not much hope that anything really decisive will come from the League more than likely the last nail will be driven in its coffin is as far as decisions on aggression and aggressors are concerned.

Our War at sea continues occasionally we hear of sinking's of our ships by submarine or mine. But all is more or less quiet on the Western Front.

Rumours are rife that the next move in the sphere of war will be in the Balkan States Rumania to begin with. Thus, Turkey will be called in, with Britain and France as Allies. But, we've enough on our hands at present without anticipating any more.

December 17th.

At present, Naval history is being made. The German Pocket Battleship, Admiral Graf Spee has been attacked off the coast of South America, near Montevideo by our ships Exeter, Ajax and Achilles. They chased her into Montevideo Harbour after inflicting severe damage upon her. It is regarded as a very gallant feat on the part of our small squadron which are not nearly so heavily armoured as the powerful Graf Spee.

Capt. Harwood, Commander of the Battle Squadron has been Knighted. The Achilles belongs to the New Zealand Navy and has been co operating with the British Navy since the outbreak of War.

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