Notebook 13 July – 29 Aug 1944
Notebook supplied for the Public Service.
13 July
During morning John Morris and I took a Jeep and had a ‘look see’ round the places ‘liberated’ during last weeks battle – our route was Villiers Les Buissons – Buron – Caipiquet Village – Anfield – Verson – Haut du Versons and back West of R Mue through Thaon and Basly. All these villages were mere mounds of rubble and stank something awful – round Haut du Verson there were dead cows lying about everywhere and the odd body not yet buried. After this trip we went down to Luc Sur Mer where we had a couple of Grenadines each & so back for lunch. 40 winks after lunch and so on duty at 4.15. No mail again today – v disappointed. After dinner started letter to A but masses of bumph came in at 10.30 so didn’t get very far. Left office at 0030 and so to bed.
From To
Nil A.
14 July
Feeling rather homesick today and none to fit – very restless – in am wrote A and had super wash. For hour before lunch read, smoked, thought alternately. Saw family of Frenchmen carry bouquets of red white and blue flowers and place them on the two graves just by C Mess where 3 Sappers are buried – v touching. After lunch slept, read & thought til 4 then on duty. Letters from A, L and Dorothy made my longing to be at home the more. Off duty at 11 pm & so to bed by light of captured Boche nightlight.
Letters from To
A L Dorothy A
15 July
On ‘information room’ today – nothing happening on all fronts – read at intervals and wrote A during morning – sent note to Bill Maughn – hope to see him some time. No mail today – again felt far from fit, lazy, sans pep and not enjoying life much, paid Mess Bill 440 frs Bed at 11 ocl.
Letters from To
Nil A
16 July
Information Room all day, very tiring answering bloody stupid questions most of the time. Felt depressed all day. Weather and this and that – only letter was from Aunt Dolly – Wrote A and read ‘I will maintain’.
From To
Aunt Dolly A
17 July
Nothing much today – on duty from 0800 – 1600 hrs – much warmer in afternoon with brilliant sunshine ½ hrs face tanning before tea – ditto after tea, then early dinner and wrote A and L. Optimistic chat and glass of whisky with David Carey and then early to bed. Nearly finished ‘I will maintain’ – first class – What of the morrow it should prove to be one of the greatest ever?
From To
L (14th) A
B (14th) L
B
18 July
Up at 5.45 am and saw most amazing sight yet – 1100 Lancs followed by many 100s medium bombers and 1500 Forts and Liberators – Big Day – H hour 8.20 and barrage put down by 880 guns excl 3 Destroyers and a 15 in Monitor! Magnificent start with ammn through to Bouquetus by lunch-time – tank battle now in progress (5.30 pm). Armd Divs taking part are 11th, 7th (Desert Rats) and Guards Armd – 3 Br on left, 3 Cdn on right – Quiet morning – ½ hr kip after lunch then up to PW cage at Eazelle with Ken Hurell. About 60 there with 5-600 on way. Very young and filthy most of them – lousy – much pornographic stuff on them. One very typical young Nazi officer. Pottered after tea dinner early after which I wrote A, listened to the news and then on duty at 11 pm. GREAT DAY.
To A From A
19 July
Uneventful day – consolidation and good work on right by 2 Cdn Corps – 9 Br not in TROARN. New G1 arrived. Was on duty from 2300-0800. Egg for breakfast and sleep, no lunch, til 3.30 when on duty again. At 2300 hrs off duty and went along to John Morris farewell brawl – flat out – bed at 12 ocl midnight – Ruski news first class also fall of Arena & Leghorn
From To
G (letter to A posted am)
(written part today)
20 July Duty 0800-1600.
Heavenly day up to 1600 when it fair poured with rain – still is (now 7.20 pm. chess with Ken Rigg after tea during terrific thunderstorm. Warning order we move to BIEVILLE tomorrow. ? Attempt on Hitler’s life announced. Battle a bit static today – total PW East of ORNE since 18th – 2200. Not too dingy by half. Mucked about after dinner with only one object in view namely to meet the post – nothing arrived so to bed at 10.30 – David C brought mail down at 10.35 – great show – super letter from A and long jaunty one from Aunt Clara
From To A – lettercard
A A – letter
Aunt Clara
ECS of 14th
21 July On duty 1600-2300. Absolutely torrent of rain this morning – after resuming my bed had game of chess with Ken Rigg – won. News of a rival Govt formed by Generals in Germany? Truth – Nazi trying to say only small clique but must be something in it – nothing much while I was on duty. Unpleasant bite by ? mosquito. Slept high and dry – Ken moved into some blgs – rain practically whole day.
Illustration
To A From – no letters today for anyone
22 July Duty 0800 – 1600 – no move of Corps HQ today – not so much rain but v wet and boggy everywhere. Nothing much in news line. At 1810 hrs I was just getting things organised in my tent when a “buzz bomb” flew over – going North to South – very low – under 2000 ft cloud ceiling –
Illustration.
Intended after dinner to go out and visit Ian but no vehicle – long chat with new G1 (Butler) found he knew Tom Thomas well & many old N African haunts. Bed earlyish but disturbed night owing to very heavy AA fire.
To – A From No mail in
L
23 July not called til 7.30 – infm room at 0815 then b’fast after. Dullish morning though I did a lot of map marking made time go fairly fast. Nothing at all exciting from Germany – revolt has probably fizzled out – I wonder. After tea attended evening Service. I was only one there – 2 came in half way through. Nothing exciting to report today – no rain thank goodness. Our move to BIEVILLE postponed to (earliest) 27th – Super letter from A. not feeling so hot after dinner.
To – B From A
24 July
Bloody awful night – very sick. Up at 7.30 and in infm room at 8.15 feeling like death warmed up – tea and biscuits for b’fast. News from Russia first class – say German Army in central sector has disintegrated & hope to be in WARSAW in 24 hrs. Only 50 m to go by lunch time. Saw Dr at 12.30 & after a light lunch & castor oil slept from 1.30 – 6.30 pm. light dinner, wrote A after and bed v early with more medicine.
From L To – A
J.B.
25 July (Tuesday)
Attack at 0300 hrs by 2 & 3 Cdn Divs with in Sp Gds Armd & 7 Armd. Attack by 2115 (now) not too good, progress made though but slow, armour not first in. Wrote a few letters in am. After lunch to Delivrande fixing hall etc for conference tomorrow pm, then to rear HQ (cashed cheque for £4) and on to have a chat with Francis. Back for tea and afterwards in search of Ian and John Higson – found neither but run out was good fun – area round Epron & Galmanche has awful last war look about it. Still not feeling too fit and very tired – duty at 2300 hrs. short drink (lemon squash) with David Carey before ‘short’ dinner. After dinner listened to news and wrote letters.
To G From A
AJA L
Aunt Clara B
26 July Off duty, nothing much but no sleep, at 8 ocl. Bed from 0930 – 1 ocl when got up, lunch and then down to La Mairie, Delivrande taking minutes of conference. Bill H there. On duty on return (5.30 pm) until 11 pm – feeling v tired. Spent most of evening writing up minutes 4½ sheets foolscap. Super parcels from A & L, ackd by letter card. No war news of note.
From Parcels A] To A] letter cards
L] SS L]
Letter A
27 July
David Carey left today, was very sorry to say goodbye to him. Came off duty at 4 ocl. After tea wrote to A and L then pottered til dinner time. Went out after dinner to see John Hig who I found in excellent form but in a bad way, physical & mental. His ‘mucking’ about – quite unreasonably sacking from Cmd – etc etc made me feel very humble. Got back at 10.30 then straight to bed.
From A To A]
ECS L] letters
28 July quiet morning letter writing. Met John Hig at 12.45 and ‘cracked’ my bottle of beer with him and had long chat after lunch – he’s had a thoroughly raw deal. Snooze before tea. After tea wrote A and generally lazed around. Walk with Stephen Garrett before going on duty at 10 pm. Yanks doing well.
From L To A
Aunt Beatrix
Mrs C
Mrs Samson
29 July
Yanks going great guns still – keep it up. Had good night about 4 hrs sleep in the KRAAL thanks to ‘Colombelles’ – Slept during morning and read after lunch ‘til 4 when I went on duty. Super dinner – meat, cauliflower, sauté potatoes. Off at 10 pm, drink with a G3 (L) (Major) on the G1! Mine was a double! Wrote short pencil letter to A in V1
From A (2) To A
30 July
Better day today – sunny & warm. Cerrick, who I used to know well at Uppingham, came in to see me this morning – he is G3 (L) 49 Div. Knocked off work at 4 pm and had half hours sunbathing in my vest (and trews!) before a *** tea. After tea letters and went with Charles Woodford to LUC SUR MER to see “Song of Bernadette” – Excellent. Dinner at 9.45 pm. 30 Corps battle going slowly but surely. Flies too much in evidence – feeling v confident of an early D day today.
To Barclays Bank (Statement) From – Nil
A
L
31 July
Not much gen in today from 8, 30 Corps or Yanks but things going OK – In inform room – Hay, in charge of stealing, iniquitous came up to see me from 16 Bty and had dinner – good game of soccer for offrs v Sgts won 6-4 great game but shall feel v stiff – must have 5/- with Mrs Blackett before I play any serious game again. No mail again today – knocked off 10.15 & wrote in V1
To A From – Nil
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