大象传媒

OCTOBER 1944

4 WED
No alerts, but one loud explosion in the night. Arose in morning feeling healthier, but by no means well. Again, there was sufficient to occupy me and help me from considering myself. At 5 pm, I was on fire watch at the Custom House. Consulted Mr Boalch, P.S.A. re travelling claim (29/9). Matter is to be re-submitted. Hearty supper: aired bedding in F.A.P.

5 THU
Broken sleep and one dangerous incident when nightlight caught fire and buckle sides of lantern enclosing it. At breakfast, herrings were offered as an alternative to bacon 鈥� option declined. Cold following usual development: now a cough. Letters from Kay and Roy. Kay not well, overworked, needs comfort. Need her home myself, seriously thinking about it. Wrote part letter to her.

6 FRI
Still queer from cold, and this afternoon, being half day, cooked my meal and went to bed for afternoon. Had my tea (from a tin), washed up, and not feeling up to work, spent a leisurely evening. Read 鈥淩ailway Magazine鈥� borrowed from Mum鈥檚, listened in and did some writing, but a couple of 鈥榓lerts鈥� took up a 陆 hour or so and stopped my scribing. One flying bomb passed very near our district

7 SAT
Occasional coughing bouts, but on the whole, feel on the road to health. A slack afternoon on the job gave me the opportunity to write my weekly epistle to Kay: I know I shall not be able to do so tomorrow as I shall be at Mum鈥檚 where I am to meet Jack鈥檚 lady friend Margaret. The evening was spoilt by an alert. Spent an hour in front room looking over radiogram (no result) and repairing 鈥楶ut-u-up鈥� mattress, sending linen cover to laundry.

8 SUN
Have put my cold behind me, today was only partly incommoded. Duty 8/4. To Mum鈥檚 for usual dinner, bath and visit. Met Margaret, Jack鈥檚 new girl friend and one other. Grand time.

9 MON
Up at 1 am to short 鈥榓lert鈥�: Saw and heard nothing. On way to work, observed usual large number travelling: Monday is mostly like this. Weather very cold; have even worn overcoat (uniform) once. Paid smallest electricity bill so far at this house = 15/- standing charge, + 7d current. In evening, listened to the radio, read 鈥楻ailway Magazine鈥� and American 鈥楲ife鈥檚鈥�.

10 TUE
Sleep badly interrupted by an 鈥榓lert鈥� at midnight for a 陆 hour, and another around 5 am. The latter made returning to bed debatable 鈥� but I went! A colleague brought me up a tract on Sir Thomas More, which I read in afternoon 鈥� a sad story.

11 WED
A night clear of alerts, which was (judged by remarks), appreciated by all. Plenty of activity on job. By an act of courtesy, a colleague鈥檚 wife (pitying my 鈥榞rass widower鈥� state perhaps) made me a pair of braces, with real elastic 鈥� a luxury. They are most comfortable. Very wet coming home from work. Spent evening doing various jobs until 10.

12 THU
A glorious undisturbed night, a great blessing. Enable one to start the day at peace. In the course of duty, had time to peruse part of a tract on 鈥楽ir John Fisher鈥� (from same source as previously 10/10). Also of absorbing interest. In evening, listened in to Tommy Handley. Alert at midnight.

13 FRI
Up 3 times from bed, at midnight, 5 and 5.30. Stayed up the last time: on each occasion, the alerts were short, and I saw and heard nothing. The waning moon made it bright and cold; badly need my warmer suit from cleaners. The day became fine, if a little chilly, and later into the pouring rain of the last few days. Feet were wet, changed socks, dried shoes.

14 SAT
Out of bed keeping a vigilant watch for flying bombs from 3am to 3.40: slept but lightly thereafter. Beautiful clear sky and sunshine: bombers passing overhead looked like silver fish. Half day鈥檚 work only. On fire watch at 5 pm, so filled in afternoon by visiting New Theatre, Leicester Square, having lunch at Fishmongers Hall, London Bridge. The Old Vic people were putting on Shaw鈥檚 鈥淎rms and the Man鈥�, and I thoroughly enjoyed the acting and production, but did not enjoy the gallery seating 鈥� scandalously narrow. At the fire watching, we had a filling supper at 7.30.

15 SUN
Straight from fire watching, on duty: Creek. My services were well used, and having slept badly in my strange bed, was glad when 4pm came. Returned home to pack soiled laundry etc into a case and gather some garden produce, and proceeded to Mum鈥檚. Met Roy and his billet landlady Mrs Hollingsworth, here by invitation, on visit sight seeing. Roy now home for good.

16 MON
We had 鈥榓lerts鈥� disturbing sleep at each end: one at 11 pm, and another after 5 this morning. This interference meant tiredness in my 鈥渓eisure鈥� (inverted commas really necessary!) time in evening. Letter off to Kay, and billeting money to Surrey County Council. (2 weeks = 7/-), and at home, parcelled Kay up some clothing, a book, 鈥淒aily Mirror鈥�, comics. First letter for 9 days from Kay: she is feeling better. One 鈥榓lert鈥�.

17 TUE
A good night鈥檚 rest made the day bearable. Furthermore, the day鈥檚 work was not too hard. Posted off my parcel to Kay, although there was some suggestion I spend too much time doing correspondence, etc in the office. Did my Tuesday shopping and proceeded straight way to Mum鈥檚. Mrs Hollingsworth still there: Dave Willoughby came over and we had a happy evening playing cards. Said good-bye to Mrs H.

18 WED
No disturbance. The weather was as the last few days: fine, but chilly, with a complete change mid-afternoon 鈥� a downpour, which, fortunately, I was not out in:- my shoes have leaked lately. 鈥淎 sprat to catch a mackeral鈥� was offer by CPO at 3 pm 鈥� go home early, but be prepared to stay late another day: no takers. Leisurely evening enjoyed.

19 THU
Was up a little before mid-night, for a flying bomb warning, and to keep active while watching for bombs, I laid my breakfast in the dark. On duty, I was able to read part of 鈥淪hirley鈥�, which I have laid by for a long time, and again in the evening. Before dark, I picked the largest of the tomatoes and wrapped them for putting away to ripen. A cheerful letter from Kay:

20 FRI
Up 5.30am, but went back to bed after the 鈥榳arning, not getting up till nearly 6.30! For all that, I caught my workman鈥檚 train and arrived the usual time at office. Cold 鈥楽cotch Mist鈥� as I left for 陆 day, which developed into a downpour most of afternoon. Before it was dark, however, I had retrieved, babies high chair lent to us by Lou, from the garage, scrubbed it and carried it on my shoulder to Mum鈥檚.

21 SAT
A raid free night: blessed rest from 10.45pm till 5.45 this morning. Mid-day meal at the 鈥榃elfare鈥�: a low hall situated in middle of high flats, near docks. An L.C.C. restaurant going by the name of 鈥淩edriff Restaurant鈥�! Meals provided are in the main, quite good: cost 10d + 3d. Had time to read at 鈥淪hirley鈥�; but the story is painfully slow. I find myself impatient with early Victorian novels; at one time, I liked to read them. Received a letter-card from Kay (lettercard is our new means of correspondence) and 3rd communication within 6 days. Pauline not well: I am anxious.

22 SUN
Many difficulties getting to and from work on Sundays now new time table in operation. Had to walk from home to Morden station (= 25 minutes), then queue 10 minutes, change trains at Kennington, wait for train at London Bridge. After day鈥檚 work, took laundry down to Mum, had bath there.

23 MON
Good night鈥檚 sleep, no alert. Worked well whilst on duty, additionally, read chapter of 鈥淪hirley鈥� and revised 1st Aid. Poured with rain all afternoon. Called Achille Serre and found suit cleaned and repaired. Glad to change into it, weather bad for light suits. Letters from Blackpool: fine photo of Kay and her Mum and Dad; with news that Pauline has bronchitis: request for clothing from Betty.

24 TUE
Sent off clothing for Betty, farming in Blackpool (potato crop), and 拢1 for Kay for doctors bills and expenses. Hope Pauline soon better. Good day鈥檚 work, with results. At 5 pm to main Custom House for firewatching duties; good supper at 7, and from 8 till 10 in F.A.P., reading F.A. manual and doing writing. Being left alone, I thoroughly enjoyed my evening. Bed 10 pm.

25 WED
Although no alert slept fitfully on the wood-wool packed mattress, and awoke many times fearing it was past 6 am. After fire watchers breakfast to Surrey, where a hard day鈥檚 rummage awaited me. At home in evening, endeavoured to patch bed sheet 鈥� no good. Read paper and railway book.

26 THU
Expected important work today and turned up for duty very promptly, only to meet with a disappointment. A tremendous explosion rocked the place at 8.45 am and a boatman was injured in Canada Dock. Believed to be due to rockets (V2). The whole day was foggy. Evening: suit to cleaners (summer suit): shopping at Co-op and to Mum鈥檚 for dinner by kind invitation. Pauline better.

27 FRI
Very active day with good results, arriving quite promptly to time, I did not leave office till 4.45 pm. This meant home at 6 pm. The moonlight we now have in evenings, means frost, so got in remainder of tomatoes, mostly small. Found ground water logged, but picked a good quantity. In evening, did various jobs, but dining room was cold: needed coal fire. Read railway magazines etc.

28 SAT
Had some experience at testing seized spirits by Sikes hydrometer this morning. Later, had the melancholy job of being present whilst offender was charged at police station. This shortened 陆 day considerably, but from 3.30 till 5.30 (approx) I worked in garden. Spent the next 1陆 hours making a good fry-up meal and reading 鈥楧aily Mirror鈥�. The comics from this paper are sent to Blackpool, where they circulate and are enjoyed. I spent remainder of evening writing letter to Kay, and reading the 鈥楻ailway Magazine鈥�, which I borrow from Roy week by week. I find them most interesting.

29 SUN
One week only when I do not set the alarm clock for 5.45 鈥� and the siren went at that time instead. Soon back in bed though: not up till 9.30 am! Morning preparing to visit Mum鈥檚, Jack鈥檚 girl friend Margaret there鈥� he now has an 鈥渦nderstanding鈥� with her. Very happy day and very good food.

30 MON
Took a new jacket to work and wore it to Tower Bridge police court, anticipating being called to give evidence in witness box. Accused pleaded 鈥榞uilty鈥� so my vanity was confined. The day鈥檚 work carried us up to 4pm unbroken save for quick lunch. Returned serge vest to Achille Serre for completion of repairs not done. Letter from Kay saying Pauline better now.

31 TUE
A day of explosions and 鈥渁lerts鈥�, one of them causing damage within sight of the office. A very ordinary day鈥檚 work, which, however, tired me so that, although I availed myself of the society and comforts of Mum鈥檚 in the evening, I was glad to leave and get away home to bed.

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