1 August Tuesday
Another excellent day with Americans, British and Russians bashing fwd – AQ says surrender day will be 11 Nov – hope before! V confident air about everywhere. No mail for third day running – bad biz. Very stiff today – knocked off at 10 pm short drink with Steve and so to bed early.
To – A From – Nil
2 Aug- Duty 10 pm – 0800 3 Aug – Bayeux 2.15.
Up at a gents hour 9 ocl, b’fast shave and then up to V1 where I wrote to A. Nipped down to the Fd Cashier before lunch, cashed cheque for £5 – met Bone, ex Barclays Bank there. On return met French L.O. and gave him lunch. Charles, French L.O. & I went into Bayeux where we had cup of acorn coffee, shops stripped – only purchase was v small bot of scent – into Norman Church at Ruqueville on way there, pillaged by Boche. On return found 4 letters waiting for me. Listened to news at 9 ocl in V1 & wrote A. Duty from 2200 – 0800.
To A From A
D L
G Dorothy
Brian
2 thrillers from L
3 Aug
Came off duty 0800 hrs – quiet night – Slept all morning.
Ken Riff left for A *** 3 Br Div this morning. Duty 1500 hrs after an excellent hour in the sun. nothing much doing. Bed early after I came off at 10 pm.
Uneventful but perfect weather day.
From G To A (by 1200 hrs post 4 Aug)
4 Aug
Quiet day – Information Room – during am wrote A. news good again all round some ground given up – some gained by 12 Corps – USA good.
Move of Corps HQ to Bieville now postponed indefinitely, good show. Kip after lunch – and read in Deck chair. Wrote just after nine ocl news to A and L. Bed early.
From A (2) To A
L
5 Aug
Up at 7 ocl – on duty at 8 after excellent b’fast – porridge, bacon & fried bread, marm and bread & butter – tea 3 parts. Not much during my tour of duty – Martin Brunch tac HQ “exercise”. Came off at 3.15 pm – checked war diary then finished off my letter to L. Chalk with Robert & Lyle Wilson. Tea. After tea read and sat in sun. Back to Inf Room to see if any ‘gen’ certainly was – whole of 12 Corps has adv and 7 Armd Div *** in Fleury Sur Orne – amazing show. Super ‘bath’ wash dinner news incredible at 9 ocl and wrote A in V1 and so on duty at 10 ocl.
To – A From – nil – no letters for anyone
6 Aug (Sunday)
Hot and sunny again – on duty 1500-2200. Slept when I came off duty at 0845 – frightful flap getting out morning sitrep. After lunch read for an hour and then on duty. Went to the evening service at 6.30 but Chaplain didn’t turn up so we said a few prayers and sang the odd hymn. Wrote letter cards to A & L before going to bed in good time.
To – A ] From – Jane Eyre from 14 no letters for anyone.
L ] letter cards
7 Aug Monday
Moved today to BIEVILLE.
Rather a hectic rush as I had to go forward and be on the end of a telephone by 11.30 – managed it somehow – was only able to do a little digging as I had to set up the info room. New area not too bad but a bit dirty. Was 185 Bdes FDLs until they attacked to CAEN. Sharing tent with Lyle-Wilson, G2 (L) from Cdn Army – extremely nice chap. He and Roberts and myself went out to watch the 1000 bomber (?) raid to open Op Totalize at 2300 hrs. Great display. Bed at midnight.
To – A From – nil (nothing for anyone)
8 Aug
Excellent night – on duty at 8 am with John Scott – came off at 1.30 (Stephen relieved me ½ hour late) – he is now in hospital with stum trail so that leaves only John Roberts and myself. Read and snoozed after lunch til 4 ocl then on again til 8.30. Super parcel from A GBH and several letters. Wrote after dinner to A. On duty at midnight. Super hot day again. Op Totalize made excellent start and is going well, hope it goes better than previous ones – if it does, back by Xmas – great thought.
To A (cheque £5-0-0) From A
G A (super parcel)
L L2
B
9 Aug
Left BIEVILLE after quietish day at 7.30, travelled in V1. Very hectic time packing up as we had only 2 hours notice to move. New spot v unhealthy masses of flies and mosquitoes – shelled for about 2 hours on arrival – only about 100x-500x away. Got to bed after relief at 11 ocl at 12 ocl very dark & couldn’t find my tent! Slept like a log til 0645 hrs.
To – Nil From – Nil
10 Aug
Hectic day again. Up at 6.45 for duty at 8 ocl. Then at 2 ocl after packing up my kit again I came over to our new area about 2 miles South of Giberville. Very hot day and boy! did I sweat digging a hole for myself during the pm. Duty 5-8 and then off til 11 ocl when I’m on all night – war news first class. Boche withdrawing in our area. Feel V tired and look it so I’m told.
From G To A – 15 pages
A-Z
11 Aug Friday
Off after frightful squito ridden night and too many cigwigs at 8 ocl breakfast – excellent porridge, bacon & sausage, jam wasps and tea. Nightmare morning, v hot sweated like a bucket, dirt & dust in bed – woke at 12.15 with pyjamas soaked, squitoes everywhere & dust galore – that night out in middle of a busy field. Lunch – then on duty from 1.30-5 pm – nothing much doing – met Guy Pollock, now comd an A/Tank Bty in the infn room. Dug after tea – wrote A before dinner then on duty 8-11 pm. bed & much needed. Attack has petered out yet again.
To A From L
12 Aug Saturday
Very hot day – overslept and 15 mins late! Frightful panic at 10 ocl when maps had to be marked up for Comd BGS, G1 & G2 went round in ever decreasing circles! I was told that I was the only one who knew how to mark a map properly (compliment!) and was told to get to work on it – I did – shouted at – all different instructions by all & sundry mainly threw pencils on ground and told them they could mark the bloody maps themselves. After lunch short sleep and read in gnat infested tent. Tea – hair wash – drink & chat with John Scott – a really first class chap & then at 9 ocl down to V1 where I wrote diary & started letter to A & so on duty at 10.30 pm
To A From Barclays statement.
13 Aug
Another hot dusty day – not a bad night and slept from midnight til 4.30. Usual morning rush. After breakfast slept a bit ‘til lunch time. Duty from 3pm til 10 pm. not much doing this pm but fairly hectic after dinner – Rozzer rozzing – Good news from Yanks – 3 US Armd Div & 2 French Armd Div linked up Illustration also 3 US Cav Gp fighting in outskirts BLOIS. Early to bed.
To Nil From G
A
14 Aug
Op to capture FALAISE – started at 1200 hrs – excellent start. Duty 0800-1500 hrs – tragic bombing by our Lancs of area round 57 Div HQ – I wonder what the answer was? Read Jane Eyre before and after tea then down to V1 to hear news and write letters. Dinner 7.30 and early to bed. G1 signed passes for Ken Hull & myself to visit Cherbourg tomorrow.
To – A (long) From – Parcel Lois
L (long) L
B
15 Aug Tues.
Up at 6.30 and Ken and I left at 7.45. Route up through CAEN, BAYEUX, ISIGNY, VALOGNES, CARENTAN, CHERBOURG, V1 site, BARFLEUR, ST VAAS (lunch) VALOGNES, ST SAUVEUR, LA HAY DU POUITS, LESSAY, COUTANCES, MARIGNY, ST LO, BAYEUX and so back at 9.20 after a good day. Very hot and sunny but got caught and soaked at BAYEUX on way back. items of interest 9-10 000 tons coming through CH. Amazing thickness of E & U Boat pens. Forts all round Larbun. V1 site smaller than expected ramp Illustration. Frightful damage in ST LO, worst I’ve ever seen just one mass of rubble in city centre. Good lunch, wine, pate, fish, veal, grapes, small, hot house, camembert. On duty at 10 pm – heard news of invasion S of France. We are on outskirts of FALAISE. 51 Div doing well – nearly in ST PIERRE SUR DIVES.
To – Nil From Nil
16 Aug Wed.
Off at 8.30 after very hectic night then on again at 3. Wrote A after lunch – frightful flap in the office. Move tomorrow? Nothing very exciting today – again extremely hot – Boche seems to be withdrawing all the way along the line.
To A From Nil
17 Aug Thurs
On this at 8 ocl. Lunch-time told I am to go fwd to new locn, be est by 3.30. Dust simply appalling on roads only captured 2 days previously. Got on back of M/C and ran last half mile. Was G (Ops) until 6.30 pm when rest arrived – battle going very well. New locn is QUATRE PUITS between VIMONT and ST PIERRE – few shells in area – did a little digging then fairly early to bed and read another few pages of Jane Eyre – mosquitoes simply shocking during night. Eventually got to sleep at 1.30.
To – Nil From – Nil.
18 Aug Fri.
Very hot day – hottest yet I think – spent day in infm room then on duty at 10 pm. No very great news – steady progress everywhere but I’m afraid he has got most of his stuff out of the gap. – not correct PCB 1/9
To A From G
A 2
19 Aug Sat
Bloody awful night with very hectic period between 7 and 8.30, usual morning flap. Slept very badly during morning, flies a nuisance & wrote L after lunch. On duty from 3 pm – 10 pm. No very exciting news today. Trap has been closed now it remains to be seen how much in it.
From A To L
L
Essex C.S.
20 Aug Sun.
Completely overslept this morning after a wizard night’s sleep – Woke up at 10.30! Good steady progress today and amazing report from the BOCHE that we are over the Seine – I only hope it’s true. On duty 1 pm – 6 pm (new hours) after which (I didn’t leave office ‘til 6.45. I had a couple of gins with Lisle-Wilson and then down to V1 after dinner where I listened to news and wrote long letter to A.
Flash Elts of five Pz Divs are trying to break out of trap and appear to be near succeeding – poor old Poles are short of ammn but 4 Cdn Div are being sent to help stop the break-out. They did PCB 21/8
To A 2 From Nil
21 Aug
Up with the lark this morning and on duty at 8 am. 6 Airborne 51, 49 and 7 Armd all made good progress – no flaps about the Poles, the tks didn’t get through. After lunch Tim Roberts and I went over to 6 Airborne Div, very happy air there. Back in time for a late tea, then pottered, had good wash and so to dinner. Finished Jane Eyre, last night – first class. On duty 11 pm – wrote letters after tea and after dinner. Very wet and muddy day after many days of wonderfully hot sunshine. On duty **** 11 pm.
To – A From A
Louisa B
Aunt Dolly Louisa
22 Aug.
Bloody awful day. Squitoes prevented sleep during night, and after breakfast, and after lunch wasps stopped play! Instead after lunch wrote letters. On duty at 6 ocl where reports show battle going well. Came off at 10.30 but wasn’t in bed until 11.45 as I had to organise the repair of the HT cable to RA etc cut just in front of me by a very light Tk Transporter.
Not very well. Thank heavens we are leaving this fly infested, muddy spot tomorrow.
To JB. From – Nil
AHEB
A
23 Aug
Very sick 3 times during night, and a rush for the thunderbox after b’fast! Moved today to LA MOTTE, 4 miles West of LISIEUX which we now hold apart from pockets of resistance. Came ahead to set up G Ops and was est at 11.30? Enemy hold East of LISIEUX – don’t think they will be able to. Off after day’s hard work at 6 pm. lay down and was awoken at 8.45. Bed after dinner not feeling 100% fit, but slept like a log til 7 ocl (tomorrow). New area very pleasant. Old type farmhouse, orchards, real green fields and not many flies, wasps, ‘squitoes etc.
To – Nil From – Nil
24 Aug Thurs
On duty 8 am – heard news that Rumania has asked for an Armistice – GREAT SHOW. News on our front first class – with 5 DG of 7 Armd Div going like stink and nearly on line of R. Resle. After lunch Tim Roberts & I went out swanning in his car. Went up to river TOUQUES between PONT L’EVEQUE and DEAUVILLE – br blown – French, old and young working on it. rained all time. Saw perfect crashed JU88?? Stopped for a cup of acorn coffee on way back at BONNE BOSQUE. Bought 2 powders and a lipstick & bot of scent. Back at 5 ocl tea then had hair cut and wrote to my angel – about whom, now, more than ever, I long and think about so much. End now in sight of this bloody war.
To – A From A
L G
G JB
L (Book)
ECS
25 Aug
Bloody awful night again with no peace at all – things kept on cropping up – had an hours doze. Usual morning flap. Excellent breakfast – porridge – egg & bacon bread marm & jam. Slept until 2.30and got up at 3.30. after tea packed up parcels to A and L.
Duty 6 pm – 11.30 by time I got away. 2 French Armd Div in heart of Paris. We (especially 7 Armd) made some steady progress. Bed & sleep as soon as back in tent – move again tomorrow. About 20 miles.
From L (2) To parcel A
“ L
L (LC)
26 Aug
Moved today about 17 miles from LISIEUX – east La Motte. Super news from all fronts – Bulgaria – Italy – Russia and our own – we are nearly on Seine? PW in Gap – time (tomorrow) will tell. Hot sunny day. In lovely orchard. Came in ahead as usual & was, est by 12 ocl. End now definitely in sight. PARIS definitely free now – Boche has well & truly had it. off duty at 6.30 & wrote A before dinner and afterwards – pleasant tea time chat with Butler (G1) & Tim Roberts.
V emotional moment – recording of Paris’ liberation just being given on wireless. Bed early.
To A From Nil
27 Aug Sunday
On duty 8.30 am – 1.30 pm. Had excellent swan with Tim, R up to Honfleur. Many attractively dressed girls about and some good looking shops though being Sunday they were all shut. Delightful old coast Town and only 4 or 5 miles from Le Havre across the SEINE. Lovely day & very clear, one could almost see the people in the streets! Back at 5.15 and listened to news at 6 pm. Nothing much fresh. Slept from 6.30 – 8 ocl. Mucked around after dinner and wrote in V1 until after 10.45 when went on duty.
To – A From – Nil
John Q
28 Aug
Not such a hectic night as usual or the habitual early morning flap. Slept after the bloody usual monotonous b’fast until 3.30 – shave wash tea then on duty from 6-11. Nothing much to report – met Geoffrey Armitage, now G2 of 7 Armd Div.
To A – (L.C.) From A
L
B
(OU pamph)
29 Aug
Very wet day – great news if true from LO from 21 A Gp. Americans should be in Germany within 48 hrs or so. Pottering morning – went over to Rear to cash cheque but Fd Cashier was shut – On duty at 1 and didn’t come off until 7 nattering with G1 L and Liall-Wilson. Had good wash before dinner, after dinner inter alia (2 tinned stewed plums and real cream – super), wrote to A in V1 and ‘shorty’ to Elli. Cleared up a bit in evening – move tomorrow.
To L From –
A
B
Wed 30 Aug 44
Moved today to BOIS INGER a move East of about 20 miles. Travelled in back of V1 with Tim and Edward Rice. Had snooze and read in pm. After tea Tim and I did a swan up to the Seine just South of DUCLAIR. Much Boche equpt, tks, ½ tracks lying about. Got rifle, ammo, bayonet and a nice pair of Boche driving goggles. Back for rather latish dinner at 8.45 after which I wrote long letter to A before going on duty at 11 pm. Wet and windy day.
To – A From G
A
Thurs 31 Aug
Not a bad night – slept from 2.45 – 6 ocl. Good b’fast at 9 ocl comprising egg & bacon porridge etc. Slept til 2 ocl then finished. Mystery of the Green Caterpillar. Super perfect peach shave then wrote Bill before a good tea. After tea started letter to A then on duty at 6 pm.
To AJA From – nil
The Bay Museum & Research Facility 