大象传媒

JUNE 1944

1 THU
Resumed my regulation studies with added interest having rid myself of the V.E.C. anxiety. Having time in afternoon, I answered a paper set at the class last week (which I did not attend). Furthermore, I quite enjoyed the 5 鈥� 7 pm weekly class at the "Harpy" although it showed up my behindidness(!) Feel I am on my way to acquisition of knowledge at last!

2 FRI
The weather turned out to be beautiful again! On duty, heat made engine rooms unbearable; best rummaging was on open deck! On way home, I paid monthly rental (拢7-3s). Did some study.

3 SAT
We missed our 陆 day yesterday (which I could have sorely done with) but were fortunate in securing a couple of hours off, and I was home 3.15 pm. Saw to my 2 meals and had very little time for studying. Mum phoned to invite me over tomorrow evening, and, feeling solitary and needing a change, I agreed, so it looks as though yet another studyless evening will pass tomorrow.

4 SUN
Was glad to be on duty, as this relieved me of cooking my own dinner: I was able to have a hot meal from the dock canteen. Mum had offered me another dinner ready for my arrival at her house, but I would not be greedy.

5 MON
Homeward bound after work today, I did part of my ration shopping, my next available day being Friday 鈥� very crowded. After my meal, did some housework, listened to 鈥淢onday Night at Eight鈥�. Finished study shipment stores.

6 TUE
Was awakened at 5 am by tremendous roar of bombers going over. Later, we heard by radio, the second front was opened. Much excitement and interest in radio bulletins. Trouble at work over PO wishing to make us work at his whim, to hours beyond the normal eight. 2 of the crew rebelled. On fire watch, good supper: wrote letter.

7 WED
Expected air raid (due to 2nd front) but slept relatively well. On duty 8 am from fire watch, but by pm, felt effect of not sleeping at home. Wrote up my class question paper. Had a surprise phone call (long distance) from Kay. Was she to come home? Ticket up at week end. I said 鈥渘o鈥� 鈥� danger of bombing.

8 THU
Get up 5.45 now, to arrive office Surrey Dock at 8 prompt, owing to dispute. Class followed 5 鈥� 7pm, atmosphere in class room ("Harpy") thick! Home soon after 8, another trunk call from Kay at about 9: extension of availability of will cost 拢2-12s: Pauline now with whooping cough: unfit for travel, so decided to pay and let them stop.

9 FRI
Not on duty till 2. lie-in till 7.30. Raining hard almost all day, but shopping in lull: Took about 1陆 hours after taking my meat ration down to Mum鈥檚, and left no time for study. Was allowed lean piece of bacon which I boiled. On 2/10 watch, wrote to Kay and L.M.S. about tickets (8s/6d). Stayed aboard a ship all evening, coming in for tea at 9 pm! Home,
11 pm.

10 SAT
Was involved in some trouble at the office which took the CPO to investigate and patch up, not very satisfied with my part of the affair; but PO and I settled amicably. 陆 day, dinner at dock canteen, home 2.40 pm. Was given some 50 cabbage plants by neighbour, and spent 3 hours digging and putting them in. Broken fork handle caused me blisters. Lit boiler for a bath.

11 SUN
My neighbour, having offered me more cabbage plants, I spent 3 hours digging for the purpose. More blisteres!. To Mum鈥檚 for dinner and tea: took her my lone piece of ham: did not boil it properly.

12 MON
After a week-end of no study, did very well at work, at which there were opportunities. Answered 2 of my 6 questions set at last Thursday鈥檚 study class. Hurried home and gave place a good clear-up, as a couple were to inspect house with view to buying. They turned out to be agreeable people.

13 TUE
Very Very bad night. 2 alerts. Did not get up, but laid awake till 鈥榓ll clear鈥� and lost sleep thereby. In the afternoon at work, there was evidence that others were tired for the same reason. Sent letters to the 2 head teachers at the 2 B鈥檚 schools.

14 WED
Wrote a letter to Myrtle, who has relieved Kay of Beryl, making her burden with the coughing kiddies, one lighter. After the day鈥檚 work, to Mum鈥檚 where I was treated to excellent dinner. LMS going to issue permit free.

15 THU
Was attached to the boarding PO today, as his companion PO had reported sick. Was not a bit impressed with the duties I should have to perform as a PO of which, this time, I took especial note, owing to coming exam. In fact, could do with a change of employment. 鈥淔ed-up鈥� are the common words. To class from 5-7pm, taken by Mr Burt. Letter writing in evening.

16 FRI
Today, the pilotless plane was used by Germans and caused a lot of excited talk. Witnessed some damage en route to Surrey Dock: the journey taking 2 hours instead of just over 1. After rummage duties to Custom House for fire watching. The effect of raids was so devastating and continuous that it was suggested I sleep in the First Aid Post to save running back and forth.

17 SAT
After last night鈥檚 sleeplessness, due to air raids, I found the aforementioned suggestion too good:- I slept the morning鈥檚 air raids through. Fortunately, nobody wanted the First Aid man, so no-one missed me. However, I was rather conscience struck. There were air raids during the morning, but amid the noise of the working of the ship, I probably missed them. But certain it was that there were a continuous stream of 鈥榬obot鈥� planes in the afternoon; I spent half the time in the Anderson shelter, and other half about the house, and trying to re-dig side strip of garden, which has been weeded over. Finally decided to furnish the shelter and sleep there.

18 SUN
Among many explosions, a terrific one some time early morning. Rose early to see if any bomb damage: found front windows burst open and had to repair; garage doors awry, soot and dust from fireplaces. Bombs fell on cemetery and wrecked shop facing 鈥榗ow-field鈥�. Due to strafing them with gunfire.

19 MON
Stream of 鈥榬obots鈥� caused continuous 鈥榓lerts鈥� and curtailment of travel facilities. Terrific jam at London Bridge. Arrived office at 8.50am! After the day鈥檚 work, had another attempt at gardening, showing less regard for the raiders. One landed with a terrific bang in a sports ground, beyond the 鈥榗ow-field鈥�, but did not damage house this time.

20 TUE
Not so many day 鈥榓lerts鈥�: effective measures being taken with the 鈥榖uzz-bombs鈥� (pilotless planes). A rough night though, in the shelter, and when I reached home, heard of another near shave 鈥� West Wimbledon. Roy brought up my French window bolt that Dad had fixed for me and I finally fixed the windows. Did an excellent evening鈥檚 digging. Bed at 11 pm.

21 WED
Midsummer day, and a beautiful one: this led to us receiving less visits from the pilotless planes, our patrolling airmen get them first. After day鈥檚 work, with one or two alerts only, did 2 questions on paper for handing in at class tomorrow. Dad paid me a visit, brought some bean plants, and did me many jobs.

22 THU
Was constantly awakened by 鈥渂uzz-bombs鈥� during the night but was grateful to arise safe and sound. Workers travel times are the occasion for sending many bombs over, and at Morden, I found the tube temporarily out of action. It was not pleasant to have to travel part journey by road in these circumstances. At the class on "Harpy" witnessed clearly the arrival and fall of a buzz-bomb in the city.

23 FRI
There was an alert again at the usual time, around 7, when workers are leaving for their offices. Risked setting out in between the explosions of falling buzz-bombs. At work, found one side of office windows blown in and other dock damage. All set to and had a good clean up. Ministry of works blocked these up. Letter from Kay, first for 10 days: not able to come home until 21/7/44.

24 SAT
2 or 3 of the buzz-bombs were heard to fall in the night, otherwise, it was a little quieter than usual. Travel to work, at London Bridge tube trains were continuing under the river to the Bank station, so that 鈥渁ll clear鈥�, but was surprised to hear 鈥榬aiders passed鈥� siren at 9. Beautiful weather kept us free of 鈥榓lerts鈥� all the rest of the day. Had a 陆 day, but LPTB took 戮 hour of it homeward bound waiting for buses:. The 118 bus service is a constant source of annoyance. Lay myself down on my bed in afternoon for first time for a while ) 鈥� quite a luxury. In evening gardening a (very) little studying, and writing up in bedroom.

25 SUN
Great processions of bombers fly overhead with a mighty continuous hum these days, bombing the bases of the 鈥榝lying bombs鈥�: such a procession went over as I came out of shelter early morning. Pressure of business led to special attendance of rummage crew to an extra Sunday. The day was a beautiful one. Rummaging was hard and hot work. Went to Mum鈥檚 to tea. Changed and had bath. Watered garden.

26 MON
A dull and rainy day gave Hitler his chance today. From 12.30 鈥� 5 he bombed London with his 鈥榝lying bombs鈥�, so that even journeying from Surrey Docks to the Custom House was a risk. Damage had been done by one of the bombs to east end of Custom House, so that fire watch supper had to be in the watchers kitchen. Slept with 4 others in First aid post. Nobody told me 鈥榓lert鈥� was on: slept through

27 TUE
Breakfast in watchers kitchen (26/6), cleared up First aid post: to Surrey. 鈥楢lerts鈥� on intermittently all day due to cloud and downpour of rain. At home going time there was also a storm, so that I barely did my Co-op shopping before closing time. Storm had broken tomato plant, therefore staked others up, a muddy job. At night, a terrific bang (bomb) but windows O.K.

28 WED
Again, an overcast and humid day. Advantage of the weather was taken to send us a succession of 鈥榝ly-bombs鈥� (new abbreviation) and we sat tight or ran to shelter as the hideous things passed over. Evening was pretty clear of them, and I worked at my principle study question uninterruptedly. Rain.

29 THU
Continued 鈥榓lert鈥� in which the passage of the flying bombs could be heard but not seen, in the dull grey sky. If noise too near, we rushed to shelter. Able to do a study paper in the office, and present it at the 5-7pm class. Subject = Navy regulations: class quite interesting, but diminished to a few stalwarts now. At home, need for quiet to listen for bombs therefore sorted Co-op checks.

30 FRI
Road conditions same as yesterday: several bumps at night. Into official shelter for near bombs. Systems of whistles for girls in canteen.) 陆 day shopping in Morden, paid rent and electricity bill (拢4!), visited Grand Drive Co-op manager re presenting sorted checks. At home, did lawn in front, washing of handkerchiefs, put Co-op checks into packets of 拢1 = 4 and aired my shelter bedding.

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