Friday 1 Sept.
Great news all round, Arras, Dieppe (2 Cdn Div), Verdun etc etc. Belgium will be ended in 48 hrs. Off this am overslept & not in to b’fast til 9.30. Then went swanning with Tim. Bought powder, cream face & lipstick in ELBEUF. Hectic afternoon. Off at 6.15 pm. Baccy from G & super letter from A. Long chat & drink before dinner with Lisle Wilson. Not a bad day – stiffish breeze and sunny
To A From – ECS.
G Baccy
A super
2 Sept Sat
Blustery day – almost a gale and very heavy showers – some sun. On duty 8 – 1 pm. Very hectic am – still time goes more quickly. After lunch went to Rear & cashed cheque for £6 – then on to RIVTOT. After tea wrote L and A & listened to news. After dinner wrote A in V1 and listened to a good wireless play ‘Thunder in the Air’. On duty at 11 pm – hectic. Move details for tomorrow’s move.
To – L From L
A
3 Sept Sun
Moved today to FOUCART about 30 miles EAST of LE HAVRE. Busy but not flappish night 1½ hrs sleep. Left BOIS INGER at 8.30 – route through ELBEUF – ROUEN – YVILLE. Busy on journey in V1 – on wireless most of time. Arrived FOUCART at 3 pm. Sorted myself out then on duty at 6 pm. Stephen relieved me at 9 ocl – listened to news – wrote up 3 days of War Diary then to much needed bed and sleep.
To – Nil From – Nil
4Sept Mon
Eggs, scrounged, for breakfast. Swanned this morning into BOLBEC via FAUVILLE EN CAUX. Gave lift to 2 Maquis wallahs. Super scent shop – purchases in Bolbec included – Chanel 1 bot 1 Fr bot of scent – powder – lipstick p.c.s – 2 charms for A’s bracelet. Back at 12.30. On duty at 1 ocl – 6ocl.
In BRUSSELS – 12 miles from ANTWERP great show – Finland out. At 6.30 long letter to A. Move again tomorrow.
Surrender terms to LE HAVRE Carlton taken in by CSAO, refused. Good drinks at dinner time – white wine, Benedictine
To A From A
5 Sept Tues
Moved this morning at 11.30 to a place about 6 miles East WEST of Bolbec. After lunch had a half hours lie down before tea and after helping to set my tent up. At 5.30 went over to Bolbec where Tim & I had a couple of glasses of red wine. Stopped at farm on way back & had long chat with some evacuees from LE HAVRE – we were the first English they had seen + eggs, cognac – cigs and soap. Back at 8.15 for dinner – news, not-much then after writing Arthur on duty at 11 ocl.
To A From A
6 Sept Wed
Quiet night and managed to work in 4 hrs sleep. Slept all morning after good breakfast comprising, inter alia, egg, bacon, fried spam. Grey and rather cold day. Fires burning in LE HAVRE after yesterday evening’s LANC & HALI raid. After lunch good kit turn out and discovery of odd kerchiefs and collars. Wrote A before going on duty at 6 pm. Airmen bailed out over Le H this am in to lunch.
To – A From L, G, B, JB.
7 Sept Thurs
Swanned for last time for some days this morning – went up to FECAMP with Tim & Stephen. Bought – 1 large bot. Benedictine
12 small “ “
1bot No 5 Chanel ‘Lotion’
1 box Houbijant Powder.
Drinks before we returned. V wet all day – not much war news. On duty 1 – 4.30 pm when I attended very long RA ** Plan conf (Le Havre attack) – latish dinner then down to Kraal – 2 wiz letters from A. wrote in V1 til 11 ocl to A
To – A From A (2)
L
8 Sept
Slightly overslept this morning. Very wet all day, showers and very occasional bright intervals. After coming off duty at 1 ocl pottered during afternoon. Had a few swings with golf club in field nearby. After dinner went in to BOLBEC with Ken Hull and Tim where we had a glass or two of white wine – Tim absolutely stinko when he & I went on duty at 11 pm. No real news today.
To A From – Nil
G
9 Sept (Sat)
Quiet night – no flaps, no interruptions. Slept very heavily from 10 ocl til 3.30 wash, shave, tea then on duty at 6 ocl. Very little on but ultimatum handed to HAVRE garrison at 1900 hrs. Two German officers came to 146 Bde HQ at 22.30 but said, as before, no surrender. Reading Rogue Hermes by H. Walpole. Very good. Off duty at 11 pm bed and sleep.
Very little news from outside world today – opposition stiffening. Bloody awful rainy day.
To Nil From L
10 Sept (Sun)
Read most of morning. Wrote to Mrs Wilson, then after early lunch went on duty at 1 ocl. Rained a bit during am but otherwise bright & sunny. Attack on LE HAVRE started at 1745 hrs – Lancs & Halifaxes did their stuff first. Attacks going well & all first strong points captured. Very early to bed (9.30) and after reading for a bit soon asleep.
To Mrs Wilson From – baccy from L
A
11 Sep Mon
Up bright and early – super cloudless day – no rain! (lost 25fr bet to Marshall the Met offr. Sticky start to Le Havre battle but by lunch time things going well and by nightfall 4,100 PW had been taken during day. Very good show. Kip after lunch and read – walk before tea. After tea pottered – early dinner. Listened to news – wrote A and played 21 in traffic office. Lost 50fr. On duty at 11 pm – got to bed at 2.30 am! V Cold.
To A From baccy – DF from G. ECS
12 Sept
Quiet night but hectic hour or so until 8.30 – Tim did absolutely sweet FA to help. Bed from 9.30 til 12.30 then wash and shave. After lunch went on a swan with Lyall and Stephen. Got to Le Havre, or nearly, fausands of mines etc. saw also fausands of PW on the roads and in the Corps cage – total about 8,000. Le Havre virtually captured – excellent show. Duty from 6-11 pm. Only main item of news from outside world being US forces into Germany at TRIER. One egg on way back. exchanged goggles for compass – good swap.
To – Nil From – Nil
13 Sept Wed
Egg in the Mess for breakfast – very ***e. During morning wrote to A and L – drew my NAAFI rations and went for short walk before an early lunch at 12.30. Then on duty at 1 pm – 6 pm. Odd flap for maps for Rozzer – off duty at 6.30. Then out on egg recce – got glass of fire water – 2 pears, 3 oeufs. After dinner finished off letter to A. Bed very early.
To A From –A
L L
B Baccy (DF)
14 Sept Thurs.
Up in good time and on from 8.30 – 1 pm – no startling news today – 1 mile from AACHEN. BBC postscript about le Havre. Finished Rogue Hermes after dinner. Flap about our move? Tomorrow to Antwerp – BGS brought back news that move not before 4-5 days time. Good ‘swan’ to bty posn with T, K and CW at BRIERE – got some useful stuff incl super wooden box etc, etc. Wrote A before & after dinner. Good dinner incl pork, fried spuds, stuffing etc. V good & buckshee captured wine (red)
To B ] From – A
Mrs C] LCS G
A AJA
15 Sept Fri
Quiet night – move to Antwerp postponed for 5 or 6 days so we now sit here with flog all to do. Siegfried line v much in news today. Slept all morning and after lunch inspected a Boche battery at St Andrieux – SW of Octeville. No ‘loot’ – went with Steve & Lyall. On duty 6-11 pm. wrote A while on duty – no work to do. Rained on & off mostly on, after tea.
To A From Nil
16 Sept (Sat)
After good b’fast incl egg went out with Tim on an egg swan – morning’s bag was 6 eggs, 2 peaches, tomatoes, apples (each). On duty from 1-6 pm. good old map flap from about 4 ocl – Came off duty at 6.30 – wrote A and sent off charms, washed my feet (v necessary!) then dinner, drink and so to bed early. Lyall went back to Army so I’m ‘font sent’ in the tent now – move Mon to Dieppe.
To – A (R.L. + charms) From L
A
Clocks back an hour.
17 Sept (Sun)
When I put my watch back at ‘last light’ just prior to going to sleep found it was 8.45 pm! – Up early good b’fast – egg, sausage, tomato & bacon! (see 16 Sept) – nothing much this morning except at end when I went out to help sort out a traffic problem. After lunch read & slept til 4 ocl tea then good game of soccer offrs v sergeants – Draw 6-6 (yours truly got 3) – After super wash & dinner wrote A in V1 then packed up prior to tomorrows move and relieved John R at 10.30. excellent news about 1 Airborne Army drop today.
To – A From Nil
18 Sep (Mon)
Moved today to Smermesnil – about 30 miles SE of DIEPPE – not far from NEUFCHATEL. Felt very stiff today – on duty 7- 10.30 – rozzer in one of his usual ill-bred uneducated moods – otherwise not much to report. News of Airborne landings good – 60% of objectives taken so far. Good show. Quiet night no flaps. Left old locn at 9.40.
Finished Flowers for the Judge – v good.
To – L (during night) From Nil
19 Sept (Tues)
Domestic morning – wrote A during morning got kit sorted out – on duty 1 ocl until 6 pm after which had wizard half hours no 6 practice before an early dinner. Very early night after listening to excellent news all round & finishing off letter to A. Wizard letter from A, tres bien reçu et avec beaucoup d’excitement!
To A From A
20 Sept (Wed)
Up pretty early – 7.15 am – expecting to be in the infm Room but plan changed – usual duty 8.30-1 pm. Lovely day – sunny & warm. After lunch, armed with mass of cheque books went over to Rear. For self cashed £3-19-4 (700f Belgian) – after tea wrote A and had half hour with no 6 in field just by Rear Area. Wrote again after v good dinner which consisted inter alia of trout – paid out my 50f bet lost to Nigel. Steve a bit tight took over from him at 10.30 pm hectic to start with –
To A From – L
G G, B, JQ
21 Sept (Thurs)
Left at 6.15 after hectic night with one hours sleep. Route – EU – St Valery – up just W of Bethune where I left the 49 Div column I had been watching – back through Arras (I brought a wizard bot of Houbijaut 350fr) – Cambrai to our staging area just W of Valenciennes. No real sign of poverty, illness etc – all absolute balls. Arrived at Staging Camp at 6 ocl. Shared tent with Roger Hopkins. Had good lunch up side lane – bought a few eggs and had a couple hard boiled for lunch. Stephen G tight last night? Went in – though someone out of office – sure to get away with it – he did!
Through Ochancourt where A Tp in 1940 were surrounded.
From – Nil To – Nil
22 Sept (Fri) Demob scheme]
Extra pay ] announced
Up at 5.30 and on the rd at 6.30. Up through Mons, Hal, Brussels, and Mechelin (Malines). Took up my posn in rd just W of Mechelin but was never given any infm by the G1 (B.S.) who said he would give me the dope before 2 pm. Brussels super – buy anything – people well dressed – far better than London – no damage. Had wizard 2d in civvy house seat and chain! He had fought near Pari in last war – Houthulst Foret – F*** – E on left *** Essex R. Left at 6.30 & was led by LO to our new HQ in a SUPER hotel at Keerbergen – champagne etc. Bed at 11 ocl in Hull’s tent – all the Belgium smells & noises. In part finest just like Zute G.C. Trains etc & car hooters.
To Nil (Bought pipe in Hal & tomatoes & pears) From Nil
23 Sept (Sat)
Pictures of King & Q Astrid everywhere & notices ‘Hearty Welcome & gratitude to our Liberators’ – crowds v excited – felt quite a hero!
On duty tomorrow am at 8.30. On duty today 1-6 pm. Nothing very much doing – no major flaps. Wrote A during am and again after dinner. Had superb bath – water not boiling but OK to sit in. Early night – read Summer Pie and ate large quantities of fruit before going to bed. Lovely day – masses of gliders over during afternoon.
To A From Nil
24 Sep (Sunday)
Up at 7.15 and had super breakfast – egg, tomato, sausage and beans. Lovely day with perpetual showers. On duty 8.30 – 1. After lunch had my hair cut by Williams – then had hours shut-eye before tea – feeling none too well – bloody tired and also have ‘external pile’ thanks to this bloody army life. Dance in mess tonight – thank heavens on duty so not taking part – my next proper dance will be with A (GBH) and I shall enjoy that no end. Shower & hair wash before dinner – Wrote A in V1 after dinner – 49 doing well across Turnhout – Antwerp Canal.
To A From ECS.
25 Sept (Monday)
What’s gone wrong with this war, there seems to be no organisation anywhere and everything seems to be just drifting along – no grip – eh bien. Not much sleep last night. Slept all morning – pile no better – Doc gave me some ointment. After lunch went into Malines with Tim. Bought scent, 4711, powder and nail scissors. Good tea – coffee fruit ice and macaroons. On duty 6 pm unpleasant atmosphere as usual in office – Didn’t get away until 11.30 pm. Dull wet day
To L (LC) From A (2) L, Parcel L.
26 Sept (Tues)
Moved today to SANTHOVEN – messes in Chateau surrounded by moat v picturesque. Piles no better. Wrote A during morning then travelled with Martin in V1. After tea wrote again and had very early night, now have pansy compo table in my tent.
Illustration
** – not meant to be in perspective.
To L From L
A (2) B
27 Sept (Wed)
Up bright and early good b’fast, egg tomato, sausage. After coming off duty at 1.15 quick lunch then into Antwerp with Tim. Super shopping etc town. Didn’t buy much, purchases incl 2 stamps, I didn’t want much, 2 very nice little danglers for A’s bracelet, crest of Le Havre and Antwerp. Good tea – coffee, dame blanche ice and creamy cakes. Had a glass of hock before I left there another on way back at LIERRE where I bought for 21frs, 1 kilo plums ½ kilo Muscat grapes. So after letter writing, on duty at 11 pm.
To A From G
28 Sep (Thurs)
Very lazy day – comparatively peaceful night then slept til 2.30 pm – read Judith Paris, first class book, til 4.15 – wash shave tea – After tea I packed some scent into a tin for A then was on duty 6-11 pm – drank Boche Rum – with Tim before dinner. Letter from A great show – kept it to read in bed – lights (candles) out at 12.15 am.
To – Nil From A
29 Sept (Fri)
Off all morning – b’fast at 9.20 then after writing to A went over to Rear HQ where I cashed cheque for £5-13-4. Duty 1-6 pm. After I came off I wrote again to A – oh! God how I just live only to be back with her, will this bloody war never end? Than very early to bed after dinner. Otherwise absolutely NTR today.
To A From Nil
30 Sep (Sat)
On duty 8.30-1 pm. After lunch packed up parcels to A & L. Then read Judith Paris til tea. After tea frigged about until 6 ocl when, in Tim’s car, Tim Lyall & I went in to Antwerp. Had super bath at The Century Hotel also washed my hair – had couple of drinks with a Belgian – v patriotic type! Dinner – celery soup, steak, potatoes and beans, fruit ice. Beau red wine. Arrived back 10.30 wrote A til 11 pm then on duty – cold and wet night. Slept 2.45-6.15 – Wrote L and A again before getting to sleep – have got foul cold.
To A Parcel A From A
L L (*** L)
The Bay Museum & Research Facility 