大象传媒

This diary was written by our mother, Alice Gwendoline Boniface, Nee Dunbar
The year is 1945. I have entered the whole year to give an idea of how difficult things were, even when the war had finished.
Explanitory notes in square brackets.

JANUARY 1945

MONDAY 1 Cold and frosty. Boys out sliding morning afternoon. K out Cirencester. Two weeks washing, awful drying weather.
[The water meadows were flooded and they would freeze over giving very thick ice covering. Quite safe because the water was only inches deep.K was Miss Knapp, the lady we were evacuated to.]

TUESDAY 2 Cold and damp. Not freezing Fine. Walked to Eastleach after dinner. Kiddle brought us back. Edith packing. No letter from George. Parcel from Wades. Feel very tired and headachy.
[Eastleach was where Edith lived and taught. It was she who found us accommodation in Eastleach before we moved to Coln St. Aldwin. Mr Kiddle was the village taxi driver. Wades were next door neighbours at Coney Hall. Edith - Mum's cousin, daughter of her Mother's sister and Sam Keenan (Senior).]

WEDNESDAY 3 Very dark and cold morning. Rained heavily in afternoon. Cleaned room. Did shopping in afternoon. K out Oxford. Whittaker called. Cardigan. P.W. hospital.
[Miss Knapp took us in when we left Eastleach. She was a formidable lady but an exceptional teacher. And she ran the village school. Don't know who Whittaker was. P.W. = Peter William, the son of the village parson.

THURSDAY 4 Cold north wind. Freezing. Black. Turned out bedrooms.. Letter George. Rocket - News Beckenham. Parcel Mrs Ham. Paint and brush. Walk with boys after dinner. Skating at Quenington. Dreadfully cold. Wrote letters.
[Quenington was a nearby village. George was my father. 'Rocket' referred to the German V2 weapon which was a rocket propelled bomb. The sound of it's approach was heard after it had exploded.]

FRIDAY 5 Still very cold, not so severe. No letters. Cooking all morning. Ironing afternoon. Boys out sliding again in afternoon on their own. Spent evening knitting. Frost clear night. Shopping in afternoon.

SATURDAY 6 Slight frost, slight mist. Mrs Moaby came. Children out on ice in morning. Baths in afternoon. Miss K Fairford see P.W. Letter from George, rockets increasing. Wrote George evening.
[Mrs Moaby was the lady cleaner. P.W., as noted above stood for Peter William. He was the Vicar's second son of about Bryan's age.

MEMS Mon. Eggs from shop (9). Tue. Visited Mrs Spreadbourgh. Wed. Lemons from shop.

SUNDAY 7 Sunny frosty morning. Had afternoon cloudy then cleared. Cooked dinner. Bryan S. School. Afternoon reading paper. Tea. Then knitted. Too tired to walk. Spent evening in Miss K's room.

MONDAY 8 Still very cold. North wind. Frosty but sunny. Washing. Good drying day. Met Bryan. Took Ian. Evening Knitting and mending. Miss K. shared room. Met Bryan from Hatherop school. [The Coln school was infants, Hatherop junior and about one mile from Coln.]

TUESDAY 9 Woke up to snow. Still very cold. Letters from George, Fan. V2's increasing. F. ??? in Burnhill Road. Many casualties. F. sent 5/- for birthday. Wrote to George. Met Bryan. Evening knitting.
[F = Fan - Mrs Wade our next door neighbour at Queensway, Coney Hall, West Wickham where we lived before moving to Ambleside Avenue, Upper Elmers End, Beckenham.

WEDNESDAY 10 Cold north wind. Bright. Turned out room. Feel cold and misery all day. Shopping afternoon. Met Bryan. Evening knitting. Snow falling fast. Much pain all day. Worried.

THURSDAY 11 Cold dry more snow. Letters George, Mrs Hannam. Another rocket. Still have pain, feel groggy. Cleaned and polished bedroom etc. Met Bryan. Called in lodge re bread. Evening knitting. Wrote George, Fan.
[Mrs Hannam was a neighbour from Queensway.]

FRIDAY 12 Wet and Windy. Cold all day. Letter from Doris. Better today but dreadfully depressed and fed up. Pain easier. Morning baking cake etc. Met Bryan. Baths in evening. Bryan in "hot water", extra troublesome.
[Bryan was always getting into trouble with Miss Knapp!Doris was the wife of Mum's cousin Sam Keenan, Edith's brother.]

SATURDAY 13 Cold and windy. Rainy. Two letters from George. Mrs M. came. Boys at party. Easy afternoon reading papers. Met boys after tea. Shocking pains in tummy. Whiskey etc no relief. Bed at 9.45 - pain bad.
[I believe that this was a party given to village children by the U S army at Williamstrip House, Hatherop. This was one of the 'stately homes' of the Earl St Aldwyns and was requesitioned to serve as the local headquarters of the U.S army.]

MEM0 The nearby Hatherop Castle, home of Sir Thomas Basley was requisitioned for the British army. I believe the Intelligence Corps were occupying this 'Stately home'.

SUNDAY 14 Cold dry. Pain better, shoulder troublesome. Cooked dinner. Boys went to S. school. Wrote to George after dinner. sent "Journal" to Doris. Knitted, spent evening in Miss K's room.

MONDAY 15 Cold NE wind dry and sunny. Washing, poor drying. Mags from Doris. Tummy better, shoulder troublesome. ??? In all day then tea. Knitted after tea. Put clothes to dry by fire. Rubbed shoulder and foot and so to bed. Think it's rheumatism.
TUESDAY 16 Cold damp morning turned to rain. Letter from George. Still more V weapons. Ironed ere dinner, after wrote to George. Much better today. Wrote letters Doris, Benny. Homesick. [I do not recall Benny, but see entry for March 7th.]

WEDNESDAY 17 Milder and damp. Sunny afternoon. No letters. Turned out room. Shopping in afternoon then met Bryan. Pain better but very depressed. K pictures with Stephens. Wrote Norah and Alf's boys in evening.
[Norah was a friend that mum was confined with when Ian was born. She had a son, Richard. Later, Ian and Richard became friends. Both were in the scouts. Stevens and Alf's boys - See MEMO below]

THURSDAY 18 Very wet, mild. Cleared 3.0pm. Turned blustery rained evening. Letter from George, no news. Did bedrooms. Wrote to George. Collected billitting money and Bryan. Russians doing well. Daren't build up hopes though. Evening mending etc.
FRIDAY 19 Bright frosty morning, turned to snow. Letter from Norah. Morning cooking pastry etc. Met Bryan. Very cold wind. Russians continue advance. Evening knitting. (coal 2cwts)

SATURDAY 20 Snow, bright sunny.Letter from George. No news. Mrs Moaby came. Boys out playing with snow. K at Cirencester. Afternoon boys haircut. Bath in evening. Doing well on all fronts. Storm in evening. Electricity failed, on again before bed time.

MEMO Stevens were the main farmers in the village (Home Farm) Tennants of Earl St Aldwyns. Alf's boys - Alf may have been Mum's brother and so the boys may have been our cousins Dudley and (I believe) Ronnie.

SUNDAY 21 More snow. Lovely day but cold - very. Usual Sunday morning. Boys at S.S. After dinner walk round Hatherop, home through Quenington. Bryan again in hot water, banging doors.

MONDAY 22 More snow, freezing hard, sunny. Washing froze on line. No letters. Met Bryan. Called Kiddles for batteries, no good, returned same. Evening as usual, knitting.
[Kiddle ran the village garage, taxi and bus.

TUESDAY 23 Still snow falling all day till 3o/clock. very cold, freezing. Letter George Fan. Rockets again increasing. Wrote to George. Met Bryan. War still going well for us. Thanks Russia.

WEDNESDAY 24 Icy cold all day. Coldest yet. No letters. Usual work. Shopping afternoon. 6lbs oranges. Met Bryan by meadow. Evening knitting. Cold in head.
[The meadow referred to was the Coln side of Grandage and about third of a mile from the school house. It was on Bryan鈥檚 way to school at Hatherop.]

THURSDAY 25 Colder than ever - arctic, snow again. Letter from George. Cold in head. Miserable. Sun shone. Wrote to George. Met Bryan after collecting billitting. K full of complaints. Knitted evening.

FRIDAY 26 Again as cold. Little sun. No letters. Cold in head worse. Cooking pastry etc. Met Bryan called in shop. News still good re Russians. Snow late evening. Baths. Knitting. K's room.

SATURDAY 27 Cold cruel. No sign of thaw. Letter from George. Mr Jackson injured by rocket. Cold on chest very sore. In all day. Wrote to George and knitted rest of evening. Cooked joint.
[I believe that Mr Jackson lived a few doors down our road on the opposite side and was the sergeant in Dad's Home Guard Unit. (Dad was a Private)

MEMO Russians continue to push on. 150 miles from Berlin. Sat. 100 mile according to papers.

SUNDAY 28 No sign of thaw, still very cold. Russians doing well. Wrote George, Kids wrote. Throat and chest very sore. Boys at S. School. Read afternoon. Evening Miss K's room knitting.

MONDAY 29 Coldest morning yet, even sitting room windows frozen. Less severe towards afternoon. Thick snow evening. Russians still forging ahead. Usual daily routine. Bryan copping it again as usual.
TUESDAY 30 Deepest snow yet. Rain early morning. Thawing fast. Boys unable to go to school. Letters Edith, Doris. Not G. Weather expect. Usual jobs. In all day.[Edith - see Jan 2nd. Doris was Edith's brother Sam's wife.]
WEDNESDAY 31 Much milder. Snow going fast. Rained good deal of day. Letters from George, Betty. Wrote to George. 2 cwts of coal. In all day.
[Betty - Dad's youngest sister.]

FEBRUARY 1945

THURSDAY 1 A lovely mild sunny morning. Rained afternoon. Letter from George. Cleaned larder. Made cake. Shopping, met Bryan. Russians nearer Berlin, 65 miles. Wrote to George. Sent off insurances.

FRIDAY 2 Wet, mild, windy. Catalogue Pontins. Nice afternoon. Made pastry. Met Bryan. Called in shop for cake. Russians getting nearer Berlin, 45 miles. Cheers.
SATURDAY 3 Beautiful sunny morning. Light frost. Rained evening. Letter from G. Cooked joint. Walk in afternoon, Quenington. Tea then baths. Wrote to George.
SUNDAY 4 Lovely day. Boys went to Sunday School. Out for a walk in afternoon with me along Bibury Road. Loads of bombs. Back for tea. Evening K's room. Miss Woods came.
[I don't remember Miss Woods.Was she the evacuees teacher at Miss Knapp鈥檚 school?

MONDAY 5 Another rainy day. Did washing, no drying. Letter from Mrs Hendrick at last. Met Bryan. Called in shop for oranges. Battle for Berlin beginning. If only they'd give in.
[Mrs Hendrick was a neighbour and friend at home in Beckenham.]

TUESDAY 6 Rained all day. Letter George, Mr Angus, Dr Madigan and Syd. Building Soc. Ironed in morning. Wrote to George and Bramley. Met Bryan. Russians cross over.
[I don't know who Mr Angus Dr Madigan and Bramley were.]

WEDNESDAY 7 Rainy all day. Lovely sunny afternoon. Letter from Doris. Went to Ciren. Met Mrs Page. Wrote to Doris and Syd. Building Soc. War seems to be nearing its end. I hope so.
[I don't remember a Mrs Page at Coln. Syd-etc = Sydenham Building Society.

THURSDAY 8 Rained most of day. Usual housework. Letter George. Wrote George and Dr Bloscome. Shopping and collected billetting money in afternoon. Did not meet Bryan. Evening mending.
[I don't know who Dr Bloscome was nor why she wrote to him.]

FRIDAY 9 Lovely crisp spring day but rained in evening. No letter, usual Friday work. Met Bryan. Evening darning. Offensive in west going well.

SATURDAY 10 Bright colder morning, snowed a little afternoon. Letter George. Cooked joint. Mrs Moaby came. Rested after dinner. Bathed boys after tea and self. Evening writing letters.

SUNDAY 11 Very wet day, little snow in night. Hoped to go to Eastleach but too wet. Mucked about and wrote letters. Very short walk after tea with boys, but rained.
MONDAY 12 Mild and damp all day. Milk form from Dr. Posted it to food office with ration book. Did washing. Met Bryan. Bryan's boots sent to be mended.

TUESDAY 13 Mild rainy morning. Turned fine and sunny afternoon but colder. Ironed. Wrote to George. Met Bryan. Letter from George, Doris.

WEDNESDAY 14 Lovely day. Usual shopping in afternoon. Met Bryan. Sent into Mr Garner. Letter from George and Building Soc (Syd). Evening mending.
[Mr Garner was the headmaster of Hatherop school. If Bryan was sent to him I wonder if he was in trouble. When I was at Hatherop school and was sent to the headmaster I received six of the best.]

THURSDAY 15 Dull misty morning, brighter afternoon. Usual housework. No letters. Met Bryan. Chat to Miss Woods. Came for bread. Wrote George. Collected billeting money. Usual evening.

FRIDAY 16 Dull damp day. Letter from George. Still rockets. Morning: cakes and pastry making. Ian home from school earlier. Half term. Both of us met Bryan. War seems to settling down again.

SATURDAY 17 Another dull day, raining. No letters. Mrs M came. Cooked joint. Boys haircut after dinner. Walk up Rag Hill with Bryan, Ian turned back. Wrote George.
[I don't remember Rag hill nor why I turned back!]

SUNDAY 18 Warm damp, turned to lovely afternoon. Walked to Eastleach and back with boys. Called on Doris. Very tired. Hour in Miss K's room listening Sandler.
[Eastleach is four miles from Coln. I don't remember Doris, Sam's wife living in Eastleach. She may have been another Doris of course.]

MONDAY 19 Warm and damp, no sun all day. Letter G. Ian half term. Stayed in bed all morning. Did washing, but little drying. Met Bryan with Ian. Usual evening.
TUESDAY 20 A most beautiful spring day. Letter from Fan. Ironed, aired washing. Met Bryan from school. Walked down with Mr Kiddle. Evening mending.

WEDNESDAY 21 Another lovely day but colder. Oranges and comics from George. No letter. Shopping after dinner, more oranges, lemons. Met Bryan. Walked back with Mrs Bartlett. Mending.
[Mrs Bartlett was the local blacksmith's wife. And if I remember correctly, Ian fancied his daughter!

THURSDAY 22 Dull and coldish all day, no sun. Letter from George. Morning housework. Afternoon collected billeting money. Wrote to George. Evening as usual. Met Bryan.

FRIDAY 23 Dull, turned to steady rain. Fine evening. Letter from George. Syd repay book returned. Bryan's boots repaired. 5s/11d. Rocket Eden Park. Called shop then straight back. Homesick.
[Eden Park was a mile or so from our house in Elmers End. Ruby and George lived in Eden Park Avenue, at the Eden Park end.

SATURDAY 24 Cold frosty morning. Bright sunny all day. Mrs M. came. Boys walked Quenington for sweets. Too tired to go out after dinner. Bathed boys and self after tea. Wrote George.

MEMO The war looks like going on for another year. Things seem at a standstill more or less.

SUNDAY 25 Dull cold blustery. Short walk with boys after dinner. Very tired. Wrote cheques; gas, electricity, Sydenham, Bradford. Wrote to Benny.

MONDAY 26 Dull all day. Letter from George. Washing but not much drying. Took James out for a walk to meet Bryan. K annoyed. Wrote to George after tea.
[I don't remember James but he may have been the youngest son of the Vicar and his wife. This might explain why K (Miss Knapp) was annoyed. I don't think she liked us to associate with anyone without her permission. (Ian)I think vicar鈥檚 youngest was Chris. (Bryan)

TUESDAY 27 Nice day, good deal of sun. No letters. Ironed. After dinner, took James with Mrs Spreads, to meet Bryan. 2cwt coal. Evening mending.
[I don't remember who Mrs Spreads was. (Ian)Mrs Spreadborough. 鈥淪preads鈥� was mums abbreviation. (Bryan)

WEDNESDAY 28 Bright and cool. Nice day. Letter from George. Felt dreadfully homesick. Usual work. Met Bryan. After tea, wrote to George and needlework.

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