1 – 12 July 1944
Notebook supplied for the Public Service.
1 July – No mail today.
Again day of probing by Hun a day which has cost him about 30 tks and hvy inf cas. Most attacks in Banneville, Ramay, Vendes, Le Valtin area. Nothing from our part of the world. Came off duty at 1600 hrs after slack day – kip ‘til 1830! Then finished letter to A. Listened to news at 9 ocl with John Morris and back, in pouring rain to tent – read, of all things, manage service and so to bed. Several v tgts fired this evening – odd shells landing nearby at this moment? 88s
To From
A –
2 July duty 0800 – 1600 hrs.
Nothing of great interest on the war form – pretty unsuitable wet day. In evening went along with John Morris to a concert – Biff Bynton and His Boys! Quite good. Early to bed.
To From
A A 27 Jun
L L 27Jun
ECS 23 Jun
3 July
Not on duty at all today – very idle. In morning took an airborne push bike and went over to Rear HQ (a) to give them the latest ‘gen’ (b) to cash a cheque (£6). Got simply covered in mud – returned and had good wash and change of clothes. Read ‘Doomsday’ by Warwick Deeping before lunch. After lunch tried to sleep but couldn’t – read on bed til tea time. Read again after tea. At 7 ocl Martin Bunch & I went over to Barville where we had an excellent dinner with 16 Bty who were in great form. Back at 10 pm and wrote to A in Vic I – On duty midnight. Eileen a Sergeant. Great Work.
From A – 28 To A
Bill – 28
4 July
Attack on Carpiquet airfield started at 0500 hrs – v hectic from 0500 – 0800 when I came off duty. B’fast then to bed. Slept excellent from 0915 – 1600 hrs. Good tea – biscuits – farm yard butter – cream cheese – jam. Now sitting in my tent about to write A and Gerald.
Packed up parcel having come by some brown paper at last. Attack fairly successful though not yet complete. So far has been a lovely day but it’s just beginning to rain – same of A’s ‘lambedrats’ eating my camouflage!
To A From –
Gerald
5 July
Off duty at 0800 – amazing how light and airy one feels coming off duty (hectic night) with the prospect of a good breakfast and a spot of bed. In bed at 9.15 – ** at 12.30 and woke unaided at 4.15. To my great delight found letters from A, L and Brian waiting for me. Shave, wash, tea at 5.15. After tea wrote A and then dinner. Wrote L after dinner – on bed 10 ocl but as usual merely dozed. Lovely day sunny and warm. Relieved Stephan at midnight. Also wrote Martin RAF & Ranceby – they seem to have been very good to A – Very relieving thought. Full moon, what wouldn’t I give to be seeing it with A. Big things tied up for Saturday.
To A From A, 30/1 July
Martin, RAF Hosp + L 30th
L Brian 30th
Brian Jack B
Jack B
6 July.
Nothing much happened during night – came off duty 8 ocl and went to bed after b’fast getting up just in time for tea and the reception of a wizard letter from A which had only taken 2 days to get here. Read most of evening and finished Robert E*** ‘The Journey’ which really was excellent and well worth reading. Thunder storm in evening just to add to the general tone of things! Otherwise nothing much to report.
From A (4 Jul) To A
7 July.
Off duty at 8 ocl – one or two shells fell closeish (about 500x!) away during night – everyone thought it a hell of a show! Didn’t sleep in morning but had a super bath, hair wash etc – in trop shirt, sleeves up, for rest of day. Slept from 1.30 pm – 7 ocl then after dinner went up and relieved Stephen G at 10 ocl. At 9.50 prompt 450 Lancs went over at 4-5000 ft and bombed area just N of CAEN – incredible sight – (no Oerlekon shell bullets all but hit yours truly whilst standing mouth open, watching the attack). Quietish evening though slight flap in preparation for tomorrow’s big battle. Wrote A after dinner. Sent 25/- to Brian to buy odd things – A book, A, L and Dorothy flowers
From L To A
G Brian
8 July
D day for capture of CAEN. On duty from 10 last night until 3.15 then to bed. Up at 7.15 then breakfast. Had a good wash and shave and then back again on duty until 6 ocl when I sloped off and wrote to A – after dinner Ken and I took a walk up to PW cage and saw about 350 of the swine, a thoroughly moth eaten looking lot, cruel and very young – nearly all 12 SS Div. Wrote in Vic 1 to Lois bed at midnight.
From To
Brian A
Eric Brough Lois
9 July
Longish day – should have been up at 7.30 but was rather prematurely aroused at 5.45! On duty all day until 7.30. Battle went very well indeed. Caen (up to line river-canal was cleared by 1.30 pm. No real excitements during day – last night Hun bombers were very busy dropping flares over the beaches but heard no bombs drop. After dinner wrote A and then walked up to PW cage with David Carly on return we had a drop of whisky and then to bed boy shall I sleep like a log – yessir.
From To
Nil A
10 July
Up in the morning early – called at 7 ocl with good cup of char. Relieved Stephen at 8 and was on duty until lunch-time after which I slept like a log until 5 ocl when I got up for tea – second mail-less day running. I then cleaned my ‘office case’ thoroughly and wrote to A – after dinner slept until 10.30 when Ken Rigg woke me up but fell asleep again waking with a start at 0020 hrs – and was a bit late on parade.
From Nil A
11 July
On duty at midnight – only item of interest during the night was an attack by 51 (H) Div on the Columbelles Factory area – not a success and by lunch-time they were back where they started. Came off duty at 0800 hrs and after breakfast (and a good egg) and shave bedded down and slept til 4 ocl. Tea then up to office to see if the postman has ‘played the game by me today’ – he has and letters from A, L and G. Very relieved to hear A’s leave OK and safely arrived in C. Wrote A there. At 6.45 met John Morris and went to concert in DOUVRES with him. Excellent show – OC was one of those who came up with an ENSA party to Scotland. Back at 9.30 after dinner went along to Vic 1 where I finished off my letter to A and wrote L – on duty 2355 hrs – jolly good show!
From To
A – 7th (posted 9th) A
L – 7&8 (1 letter) L
G – 9th
12 July
Slightly improved weather today – Came off at 8 ocl after very boring and cold night – breakfast – S, S & S! then to bed at 10 ocl – bread for b’fast (2 slices retained for dinner) – slept til 1 ocl then from 2-3-45 pm. On duty at 4 ocl very little happening – we have now lost 3 Cdn Div who have gone to 2 Corps (Cdn). Not a bad dinner – soup, hash peas & spuds – bread and cheese, coffee. No letters today. Feeling very tired tonight and completely pep-less. Sheet on bed today. Weather improved slightly this pm – sunny and quite warm. Russians only 60 miles from East Prussia – bash on the Ruskis.
From To A
ECS of 7Jul G
End of this notebook.
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