1939-40 (viii)

[8th page – September/October 1940, in ink]

Sept 29th Sunday have missed 2 weeks in which quite a lot has happened.  went to Aldershot & stayed a week.  Dick came back with me Friday morn 20th it being our Silver wedding day.  Neither Der nor Lionel could get leave so Margaret was our only company.  Dick went back Sat.  during my absence a Bomb 1000 lb dropped on St Aubyns Church & made a mess of surround in district no Casualites  Elsie & Husband had left & Bill came to stay with us  Monday Lionel walked in unexpectedly for 7 days same night Bill & he sleeping in Dining Room & Marg: & I in Front Room down Stairs.  Air Raid every night  Wed: Dick came in during a raid had to walk from Fratton through Gunfire  We went to see Father on Sat: 28th & to see Portsmouth play Aldershot.  Portsmouth won 3-2, 2 warnings whilst we were there  nothing doing over Aldershot but Portsmouth Had another fierce Air Battle.  got the 6 oc Bus. back at Cowplain  we were told warning through & all lights extinguished in Bus.  Gunfire very heavy & Bombs were falling on open ground or in Sea.  2 warnings today but our planes must have intercepted them out at sea.

Oct 1st A busy day yesterday  Lionel went back to London by the 10.24 Am train having to get back to Bks by 2 pm.  Bill took him to station in his Car.  What a job to get in with his full pack & Rifle & we had Jerry over practically all day & night  Quite heavy High explosive Bomb dropped last night we we playing cards in Dining Room.  Derwent had had his first win & was grabbing the Pool when a couple were dropped near enough to shake House & doors rattled to selebrate his win  Margaret & I were the lucky ones of the evening  I went in to sleep with Mrs Ford  I have lost count of raids now. & we have