大象传媒

SEPTEMBER 1943

1 WED
The hotel bed, being a feather one on an old fashioned spring mattress, and my bed companion unwittingly secured most of the bed clothes, it was about 2 am when I got to sleep, and about 6 when he woke me. But rest of day at Ipswich went well. Court case = conviction: safe return journey. Peter and Pauline were vaccinated painlessly by lady doctor.

2 THU
A long working day and I did not get home till supper time, after which it was time for bed. Dad鈥檚 birthday today: 67th I think.

4 SAT
As promised at Mum鈥檚 yesterday, Dad came today and helped me dismember the old bed he gave me some time ago. With the beams from the frame, he erected a swing for the children in the garden, and promised to finish off the job tomorrow. Radiogram came back: set it going: cost 拢3-3s 鈥� motor caput.

5 SUN
Kay woke me at 4 am with 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 put the p鈥檚 in soak鈥�, and went all the way down to do it! Dad came and cemented in the supports for the swing and left before dinner after doing a marvellously good job. Vera went blackberrying with Kay in Copse Hill. Reckon they picked 4 lbs.

6 MON
Vera and I went off to work together at 8 am. Peter has acute abdominal pains: very worrying.

7 TUE
Whole day went to the Crown. Left home at 8 am, and reached it again at 10.45 pm.

8 WED
大象传媒 took us to a ship where we couldn鈥檛 go wrong today. Ourselves and a local crew concerned in many incidents. Roy called: had 2 stitches in chin and bruised forearm due to running into back of lorry. Always in wars!

11 SAT
Just getting off to sleep on my fire watching bed when a terrific thunderstorm commenced and kept me awake till 1 am. Thereafter, sleep till 6, with 3 awakenings to look at wristwatch for time. I felt tired and useless all day, and was quite pleased when what threatened to be a long working day did not turn out to be so.

12 SUN
Quite a lot of travelling, but rummaged and did not stay 鈥榦n job鈥� overnight. Home to find Betty in charge of Beryl and John.

14 TUE
I felt obliged to absent myself from work as my cold was fairly severe, and should only go around giving it to others.

15 WED
Today, Kay had to take Beryl and John with her to post office for necessary postage stamps for baby food, walk back to clinic which closed (12.30). Thence to Co-op shopping; closing at 1 pm. All in conjunction with usual morning work. Added to this, John ran a tooth through his lip and we had bled all over pram. God aid all mothers! Self recovering. Babies well.

16 THU
Returned to work with most of illness over, but coughing badly; The more so as my colleagues in the Ford as we travelled did not think to reduce their smoking, but it is ever thus. But for a deserter not to spread infection, I would have done better not to have absented myself, for both days were 鈥榚arly finish鈥� days. Today, of course, we worked into the evening.

17 FRI
Up at 5.30am for early work attendance! As on many similar occasions, such early disturbance did not justify itself. Home late in evening with just time to help Kay with babies, supper and bed. What an existence!

18 SAT
Sent off airgraph to George in India giving all the family news. Received an AG from him 3 weeks ago. We keep up this form of shuttlecock communication. Our next door neighbour is away on a second holiday (she and her husband are both working and they have only one child) and poor Kay is rather envious. How I would like to find a holiday possible for her. But with children, she is literally indispensable. School board man came about Betty鈥檚 school absences.

20 MON
The whole day, and evening too, went to the Crown, for I left home at 8 am (with Vera, who travelled with me), and didn鈥檛 return to "Harpy" until 9 pm, and there after, I was fire watching. Here, they fed me some bread and cheese and tea, but beyond that, I had but a cup of coffee and a slice or two of bread during the day. Shall be glad when mobile is over.

21 TUE
Had my usual imperfect state of sleep on the fire watch without (Heaven be praised) any alerts. Felt tired all day, and quite unable to give of my best at work. Reached home at 7.30: roughly 36 hours continuous in Crown鈥檚 service. It was, however, a great happiness to find all the children up to hear their 鈥淗ere鈥檚 Daddy鈥�.

22 WED
Very cold this morning: probably due to late setting of waning moon. Light raincoat , now worn, not carried in attach茅 case as usual. A daily bevy of WREN鈥檚 f鈥檌ling down brow to join the launches on which they are receiving instruction, is a brightening influence on the "Harpy". What would old timers say?

23 THU
Today, such a seizure as we have not made before, - and I with a finger in it. There does not look to be much or any reward financially, but to be in on such an event is very gratifying.

24 FRI
More developments to yesterdays affair, now in investigation stage.Mum came down to pay visit. Sending George, in India, his birthday and Christmas parcel. Short notice, but found packet of blades and spearmint and sent 2/6d for him to buy something else.

25 SAT
During work returned to Kay the 陆 years Co-op divi she so selflessly spent upon the children鈥檚 necessities. Home early to relieve Kay of her cares for the evening and to take care of kiddies whilst she and Betty 鈥減acked off to pictures鈥� I know this relaxation. Heard from Surrey Education. Betty to be transferred to a nearer school at last.

27 MON
Received 5th Airgraph from George in India: weather there sweltering, but George keeps well. Saw steamer run into a tow of barges, from "Harpy" dock, no one hurt: 1 barge adrift. Rather a rush, Kay and Betty went to pictures again.

28 TUE
After a night of pouring rain, the day was overcast and chilly and any inactivity, even inside the "Harpy" lead to cold hands and knees.

29 WED
Today, cleared up matter of 23/9, except that gross number of that day was even further increased today. Then to another vessel and to duplicate that great event! Certainly surprising times.

30 THU
Left Kay and family behind for a period of 48 hours, being on fire watching overnight. Spent my 陆 hour in the tea break profitably, as I often do, revising first aid. What is really wanted is first aid practice. After an average working day, fire watch commenced at 5 pm: lecture on decontamination at 6, fire watch supper at 7.15 鈥� a good feed; read Dickens for an hour and retired about 10.30.

OCTOBER 1943

1 FRI
Had the usual indifferent sleep on fire watch. Woke up at 1.30, dressed and toured through the long station passage for the toilet: woke again early, wondering if it was 6 am yet and so on. Luckily, not too difficult a day.

2 SAT
Had a series of misfortunes travelling to work (missing connections etc), so that the car went without me, to East Ham (Police court), and I and another late colleague, had to travel by rail. I travelled this journey, and beyond, (to Heathway) many times in the past and this, and a half hour鈥檚 shopping down High Street, East Ham, brought back some memories. Our police court case turned out satisfactorily (the 鈥榙uplicate鈥� event of 29/9), so all were happy. Kay and Betty were able to go to the pictures in the evening.

4 MON
Felt the benefit of a day away from the job and consider the old fashioned non working Sabbath a great boon to workers. 2 days rest in a month of 31 days, insufficient. Not home till late, just time to have supper, and thereafter, have a 鈥減edicure鈥�, listening to radio meanwhile

5 TUE
Our new officer in charge of rummaging crew has been forced to retire for a period whilst he is in hospital undergoing an operation: new PO operated fine this morning. Kay and Betty went to pictures. I with children.

6 WED
Friendly rivalry between crews, and even individuals in a crew, is one thing, whilst stark jealousy is quite another. Today, a colleague called me 鈥榓 cantankerous hypercrit鈥� when I made a seizure in his domain, consequent upon one made firstly in my own domain!

7 THU
Another raid at 8.40. Gunfire this time.

8 FRI
We all had a read in the evening, - round fire, it has been necessary to light one daily now. Little John up to all mischief imaginable now: found Kay in despair. Sometimes combined opposition of Betty, Beryl and John nearly breaks her up. Engrossed in machining frocks for Betty and Beryl.

9 SAT
Betty being invited to a party, and the frock not finished, I found a great rush on at home to get her away in time. She came in (party only over the road) at 10.30 pm, and she had a grand time.

10 SUN
A dull misty day; at worst on the river. On duty all day, and then fire watch following. Phoned Kay and found all was well at home. Good fire watch supper, turned in early, but out again at midnight.

11 MON
Slept best ever on fire watch, owing to no companion to come to bed late, snore, and get up early. Day foggy for start, and pretty dull all day. Wrote airgraph to George for mailing shortly. Kay and Betty went to pictures.

12 TUE
Met many friends at the further end of our London station, and spent some time in their company, going midday to a municipal restaurant, where good food was had for 1/3d. Whole day in Crown鈥檚 service. On duty early and did not reach home until 9.40 pm.

13 WED
Poor Kay in desperation about washing. Accumulates quickly. Wants me to see about a boiler. Drying is a problem these misty and humid days. Outdoor lines possible only. Betty changed Beryl鈥檚 gas mask for a larger size..

14 THU
Re observations drying of washed clothes, Kay had greater difficulty today owing to steady fall of drizzle almost all day. On enquiring at gas company, found no boilers (13/10) for duration. In evening.

15 FRI
Whilst on our travels, gave some assistance with mobile car maintenance. Our PO owner driver has left the car for crews use in the charge of an APO colleague who drives us instead. Betty to the pictures.

18 MON
Betty transferred to Morden Farm school today, and finds it a great improvement. Hot meal is provided for 4d per day, school is much nearer, and she thinks, company nicer. All these privileges have been withheld from us for a year, during which, Betty has had to attend elsewhere owing to a lack of accommodation, a disgraceful state of affairs!

20 WED
On fire watch from 5 pm, lasting till 8 Thursday. Excellent supper and companionship. Rowdyism because our brother Home Guarders spoilt efforts to sleep.

21 THU
Further disturbance was an 鈥渁lert鈥� with much gunfire from 1 am 鈥� 2. I took up my usual station in the First aid post and made preparations in case of casualties: fortunately, there were none. Returned to bed to sleep till 6, when rising necessary for early fire watchers breakfast. Felt very tired all day, but pressure of work not great.

22 FRI
One item of note not recorded before, is the imminent departure of an APO who joined the water guard with me, to a 拢700 Customs appointment in Trinidad. Many originals have secured better jobs 鈥� I go 鈥渕arching on鈥�! Called in at Raynes Park homeward bound. Had to ask the boot repairer for favour of accepting B鈥檚 shoes: for with shortage of labour and of leather, they accept 3 days of work only. Long alert in evening.

23 SAT
Betty had been to pictures with a school boy friend (!) who promised to pay for her, but could not, but did pay her bus fare homeward bound (1d).

24 SUN
On way to work, everywhere there were seen Home Guard in full equipment. They had been summoned in the early hours of morning and were on invasion manoeuvres till 2.30 pm. Reached home only just before dark.

25 MON
After the day鈥檚 work, went to Raynes Park for library (鈥淲estward Ho!鈥� by Charles Kingsley). Received a surprise gift of 陆lb of tea from Hilda Falconer: talked to her on phone and promised orange juice in return. Black out homeward bound, worst ever known.)

26 TUE
Fog was so thick am, that I expected to have to walk to railhead (Morden). Fortunately, buses were running. Fog lasted all day: was thick upon river, but not too thick to prevent our motoring. Bought Kay a bunch of roses homeward bound, (now 8d each).

27 WED
Repeat of yesterday鈥檚 weather conditions. Nothing moving on river and fog penetratingly cold.

28 THU
Not so foggy as in recent days; even sunshine in afternoon. Ate satisfactory lunch at a civic restaurant. These, and PLA canteens are war-time institutions, and provide the majority of our meals out. Occasionally take home dried and broken drift-wood for fire lighting: an attach茅 case full, of use to Kay.

29 FRI
Cold and misty: no fires allowed yet till 1/11. Large APO鈥檚 room (lower deck) isolated except through traffic. Contrast to crowded conditions experienced on joining "Harpy" 4/28.

30 SAT
Grey, mist and chilly, with weak pale sunshine occasionally. Abandoned large APO鈥檚 room entirely for the gas heated upper room. Part of the time, and during fire watch in the evening, I read Kingsley鈥檚 鈥淲estward Ho!鈥�, and found it to be in a classical style, like Thackeray. On last fire watch, I was appointed scribe to take down any 鈥渟pecial communications for fire watchers and Home Guarders鈥�, now to be given in 9 pm news, so I am obliged to hear the news out entirely. Our commander, Mr Strong, provided us with an excellent supper, and the only 鈥渁lert鈥� of the fire watch came (very obligingly) just as we finished it. Retired to rest in my room next to Recreation room, but table tennis players operated till 11.15.

31 SUN
Slept reasonably well till 5 am, when, as usual, I slept in fits and starts till 6, being worried about over sleeping and being late at breakfast. Not on duty, so able to go home at 8, but needed more sleep, and slept till dinner time. Vera working in London; and came for day and stopped night.

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