1942

[20th page – February 1942, in ink]

Feb: 13th Friday Time flies & when I get home there always seems so many things to do this book is forgotten.  Enemy action over England has been very slight.  however since the last entry here Japan has start & Singapore has been invaded  we lost 3 big Ship the Repulse Prince George & the Ark Royal.  on the Ark Royal was a complement of 16 or 18000 men. & only 2 were lost & they need not have been  I’ve met a man from that ship & he said one lost his head & jump to a destroyer & lost his life  the other an old pensioner was asleep & refuse to move.  on Nov 26th Lionel was married.  Father & I went up to Kensington to see him married  Father is definitely stationed back at Hilsea unless there is an invasion then he will be moved I’ll not say where in case that happens & a Jerry should get hold of this book.  David is still in the Middle East.  he remitted £10 to me last week.  I expect £5 is for a wedding present for Lionel the same as he gave Margaret & Joan  I’m still working at Catherington Cottage & Margaret in Petersfield  Der has moved to Chatham & is going on an M.V. course at Brighton for 3 months so he & Mag will be able to spend week-end together  Rationing is being tightened 2 oz tea 2 oz cheese except farm workers 2 oz Butter 4 marg 2 lard.  ½ sugar n. 1lb jam per month all tin food sold on points approp: a lge tin of salmon a month. & it may be pos to get a tin of meat. which takes all p’ts.  now tin fruit & tomatoes also cereal such as Rice split peas Beans etc also soap one can have 3 ozs toilet soap or 6 ozs household.  no wrapping any other article oh & 1/- worth of meat per person per week & one doesn’t get much fore one shilling  cant get olive oil oranges or bananas.  a few orange come over and are distributed between the children under 7 yrs.  clothes are also Rationed  2 coupons for 1 pair of stockings 5 shoes. 18 great coat 7 cotton frock of 14 woollen 3 vest 2 knickers 5 petticoat & one only gets 60 a year & in June they are being cut again  well who worries as long as we get the devils beaten  it’s not so bad as it sounds really only needs a bit more thought   

[21st page – April, June 1942, now in pencil]

April 28th 1942 
Have been home for a week. going back tomorrow Dick also has had seven days leave  been spring cleaning & doing the Garden. in hopes that David will be home soon  his last three letters says he hopes to be home this year maybe August  Jerry has started visiting us again  Hit “Bath” very badly  the papers say Why Did Hitler want to bomb Bath a home of Invalids & evacuees.  Well well  Why put that in an English newspaper. When we all that Government is using it also.  just as well leave well alone.  Derwent has been on seven days leave & had to rejoin another Battery  now he’s expecting to come on seven days embarkation leave.  hope he doesn’t go overseas till at least David has returned home now that he’s expecting to get home.  most beautiful weather but windy  more rationing starting  Coal Gas & Electricity – men are not allowed turn up or wide Trouser or no double-Breasted Suits for anyone but we are still no where need starving with either food or cold.

June 29th Came home from the Cottage. on June 8th  Mrs Pegram sailed for Freetown West Africa on the 10th & David came home on the Friday 12th June.  Sad to say Derwent missed him by being sent overseas.  must have passed him in mid ocean.  We had a cable today to say safe & well but we’ve no idea where he is  David is very fit & still the same disposition Lad  we went up to see Joan but did not get any further as David had only 2 weeks leave. which is rather disgusting considering the time he’s been abroad and on Active Service hoping he’s going to get posted near home.  the news is very bad for us  the Germans are in Egypt.

[22nd page – July/August 1942, in pencil and ink]

June 2nd
Wonderful organisation of the British Army  they have sent David & some others that came with him to Wick Caithness Scotland  extreme climates.  that’s how everything has been done during this war. & why we are in such Chaos  today 60 miles from Alexandria are the Germans. & now we are in danger of loosing that port  the Government is beginning to wake up & chuck some of what must be traitors in our Government  I’m glad David is home his RegT are captured or wiped out.

August 26th David still in Wick  Derwent is in Egypt  we or rather our Troops etc have been busy  we raided Dieppe on the 18th & the return was to the South Coast Ports so we had a heap of planes & Gun fire on the 19th  Elizabeth Squibb & Maureen were here.  one plane we brought down near here had a pilot aged 16 yrs.  the Whole crew were killed & our Spitfire drove one to earth therefore we have one whole german plane to our credit  my puppy “Chaing” is very ill  Zulu had to be put to sleep. & I’m afraid the puppy is not going to live but who knows while there life theres hope  the Duke of Kent was killed in a plane smash this morning going to Iceland.  that’s the 1st of the Royal Family to be killed on active service  the “Yanks” are taking over Hilsea so that means a probable move for Father  I’m wild about it  why cant they let the Englishman guard his home himself  why send men miles from home as David says it show England is no longer an English man home.  the worst August for weather that I can remember  everything & everywhere is dreary & miserable  the apples are full of maggots & falling fast so there wont be many for winter use  the rations are being tightened up. & one has to hoard even bits of string & cotton  nothing must be thrown away  however we’re not starving yet.