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.
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
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
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)
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
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
L (*** L)
September 1944
(Britain)
On the 1st September 1939 the “Black-out” restrictions were introduced. From sunset to sunrise all lights inside buildings were to be obscured and lights outside buildings to be extinguished. ARP wardens (Air Raid Precautions) were in attendance to ensure these restrictions were carried out. The “Black-out” restrictions were eased on the 6th September 1944 when the “dim-out” was introduced. The “dim-out” was the equivalent lighting to that on a clear full moon night. In the event an air raid alert was sounded all lights had to be extinguished.
(Liberation of Europe)
With Paris liberated the Allies advanced toward the Franco-German border. On the 1s September 1944 Canadian troops liberated the port of Dieppe in France. On the 3rd September 1944 the British Second Army had reached and liberated Brussels in Belgium. In the meantime French and American troops advancing from the Mediterranean on the 3rd September 1944 liberated Lyon in central France.
Two Allied armies met at Dijon, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Compté region of eastern France on the 10th September 1944. With the success of Operation Dragon, the American and Free French troops at Provence in southern Vichy France, advanced northwards forcing the Germans to retreat. When the liberating forces from Operation Overlord, The D-Day Landings, met up with Operation Dragon, they effectively cut France in half. Approximately 19,000 German troops were captured. In the meantime approximately 60,000 Germans escaped eastwards to be integrated into the defence of Vosges Mountains, not far from the German border.
On the 4th September 1944 Operation Outward, a British campaign attacking Germany and German occupied Europe with free flying balloons ended. Nearly 100.000 of these hydrogen filled, cheaply produced balloons were deployed since they were first introduced in March 1942. Approximately half were fitted with trailing steel cables to damage high voltage power lines. The remaining were fitted with incendiary devices to start fires in fields, forests and heathland.
In Belgium, British troops liberated Antwerp on the 5th September 1944 together with Ghent and Liege on the 6th September 1944. Canadian troops liberated the Belgian port of Ostend on the 8th September 1944. By the 10th September 1944 troops from the U.S. First Army liberated Luxemburg from German occupation, after its invasion of May 1940. Also on the 10th September 1944 U.S. soldiers entered the city of Aachen in Germany. This city was part of the Siegfried Line which formed the main defensive network on Germany’s western border. By the 13th September 1944 U.S. troops had reached the Siegfried Line
In London on the 10th September 1944 the Dutch government in exile ordered Dutch railway workers to go on strike. Over 30,000 rail workers responded to the call in order to halt German troop transport movements. By halting the troop movements the Allied forces would have free access for their airborne landings for Operation Market Garden. The rail workers remained on strike for nearly eight months until the end of the war.
Operation Market Garden was an ambitious British, American and Polish operation in German occupied Holland. The objective was to create a salient into German territory via bridges over the Lower Rhine River. The operation began on the 17th September 1944 and ended on the 25th September 1944. For further details see the separate essay on Operation Market Garden.
The port of Brest, on the west coast of north west France, fell to the U.S. and Free French troops on the 18th September 1944. With the Allies occupying Brest the German U-boat facility had been eliminated. The city of Nancy in the Lorraine region of France was liberated on the 15th September 1944 by the U.S. First Army. The Canadian Army had hoped to liberate the ports of Boulogne and Calais as they progressed east along the coast to the French/German border. The German fortification were sufficiently formidable at both ports to halt liberation. Concentrated assaults by Canadian forces resulted in the surrender at both ports. German defenders surrendered at Boulogne on the 22nd September1944 and Calais on the 30th September 1944.
(Germany)
The first successful operational use of the German V-2 rocket was launched against London on the 8th September 1944. The V-2 was a liquid-fuelled ballistic missile and was silent after the initial launch until it reached its target and exploded. The speed of the V-2 was such that the 200 mile flight could be accomplished in about five minutes. The British public soon began to refer to the V-2s as the ”Flying Gas Pipe”, as British propaganda referred to the explosion as a burst gas pipe. A total of 1,115 V-2s were fired at Britain but mainly at London. Launched from the Hague in the Netherlands the first V-2 struck Chiswick, west London, causing 13 casualties on the 8th September 1944.
(Eastern Front)
The Moscow Peace Treaty was signed by Finland and the Soviet Union in March 1940. This treaty ended the Winter War following the Soviet invasion in November 1939. Failing to obtain support from the Allies, the harsh terms imposed on the Finns by the Soviets, led them to seek support from Nazi Germany. In June 1941 the Finnish/German alliance declared war on the Soviet Union. In consequence the alliance invaded the Soviet Union in what became known as the Continuation War. The aim was to regain territory lost in the Winter War. The heavy losses sustained by both sides resulted in the Soviet Union and Finnish representatives signing the “Moscow Agreement” on the 19th September 1944. This agreement and armistice had been signed by both sides to restore “The Moscow Peace Treaty” of 1940. However, Finland was forced to concede and surrender even more territory and became part of the communist system.
Since 1941 Bulgaria had been an ally of Nazi Germany. Soviet troops entered Bulgaria on the 8th September 1944 after declaring war a few days before. On the 9th September 1944, “The 1944 Bulgarian” coup d’état was the overthrow of the government of the Kingdom of Bulgaria. Led by Bulgarian communists, the coup d’état was augmented by the Fatherland Front political coalition, who immediately declared war on Nazi Germany.
The Baltic Offensive began on the 14th September 1944. The offensive was a campaign between the Red and German Armies in the Baltic States. The offensive was a series of separate offensive operations. The Riga offensive began on the 14th September 1944 to clear the eastern coast of the Gulf of Riga. The Tallinn offensive to drive the Germans out of Estonia was fought between the 17th – 26th September 1944. The Moonsund Landing Operation was an amphibious landing on the Estonian Islands and began on the 27th September 1944. The Estonian Islands blocked access to the Gulf of Riga. The Red Army captured mainland Estonia on the 28th September 1944.
(Pacific)
In the Pacific the U.S. Marines were island hopping in the war against the Japanese. The Marines landed on the beaches of Peleliu, during the Palau campaign, on the 15th September 1944. Stiff opposition from the outnumbered Japanese defenders extended the expected four days to secure the island to more than two months. The Japanese fought to the death in the Japanese Emperor’s name and it became known as the “Emperor’s Island” in Japan.
Unopposed, the U.S. 81st Division landed on the Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands on the 23rd September 1944. The survey ship USS Summer found the atoll was well protected with plenty of water depth for fleet anchorage. Shortly after landing U.S. Navy Seabeesstated work on building the largest naval base during the war and capable of anchoring over 600 ships. The Seabees are the better known name for the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions.
(Other Areas)
The British and American governments attended the Second Quebec Conference on the 12th September 1944. In attendance were, Winston Churchill, Franklyn D. Roosevelt and the Combined Chiefs of Staff. The host was Canada’s Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, who did not attend the key meetings. Agreements were reached on the Allied occupation zones in defeated Germany, the plan to demilitarise Germany, the continued U.S. Lend-Lease aid to Britain and the war against Japan to have Royal Naval assistance. The conference ended in Quebec on the 16th September 1944 with provisional plans to drop an atomic bomb on Japan.
Brigadier-General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (Teddy) was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on the 21st September 1944. Teddy was the eldest son of ex-President Theodore Roosevelt. The award was for gallantry beyond the call of duty on D-Day the 6th June 1944. Landing with the first wave to attack Utah Beach, he repeatedly led groups of his men from the beach, over the seawall and established them inland. He achieved this whilst facing heavy fire. Roosevelt Jr. had heart problems which he didn’t disclose to his doctors or his superiors. His major health concern was arthritis, after suffering injures in the Great War, and walked with a walking stick. Aged 56 Roosevelt Jr. died of heart attack on the 12th July 1944 and is buried in the American Cemetery in Normandy. The Medal of Honor is the U.S. Armed Forces highest military decoration.
——————————————————–
Date Time Location Damage
03/08/1944 02.40 Great Warley 1 ‘Fly’ exploded in oatfield between Front land and
Moor Lane (Cranham) 1/4 mile S of junction causing slight damage to property (Bird Lane Romford Division). N.C.
03/08/1944 10.10 Creeksea 1 ‘Fly’ exploded in potato field East Lambourne
Hall Farm 500 yards E of Creeksea Ferry and 500 yards NE of Loftman’s Farm causing damage to approx. 1 acre of crops. No other damage or casualties.
04/08/1944 03.10 Canvey 1 – ‘Fly’ exploded in River Thames 200 yards S of
Island Chapman’s Light. N.D.C.
06/08/1944 15.25 Great 1 – U.K. Practice Bomb (N.E.) from Allied aircraft
Stambridge fell in cornfield 440 yards N of Cagefield Cottages and 150 yards E of main road. N.D.C.
06/08/1944 23.16 Wickford 1 ‘Fly’ exploded in field between Wick Drive and
Cranfield Park Road causing 1 slight casualty and slight damage to property.
07/08/1944 01.50 Langdon As a result of a ‘Fly’ incident at Wheaton’s Farm
Hills Langdon Hills, which is in the Grays Division, the following property at Laindon within the Brentwood Division sustained damages – 1 church, 1 hotel, 1 shop and 10 houses. There was also 1 slight male casualty.
07/08/1944 10.00 Downham 1 – American 100 lb. I.B. was found in a field near
Brook Hill Farm. Bomb empty but fuse unexploded. Part of incident which occurred at 11-25 on 20.5.44 at Downham. q.
07/08/1944 10.45 Great 2 horses were killed as a result of straying into a
Wakering minefield 100 yards N of Sewerage Farm and detonating a mine.
07/08/1944 15.15 Little Driver Rees of 141st Field Regt. R.A. was
Burstead examining a .22 rifle at a camp when a bullet was discharged from the rifle and entered the body of Driver Alfred John Ellis, aged 29, of the same Regt. Causing his death within a few minutes.
08/08/1944 22.30 Canvey A Naval Barrage balloon grounded at The Bay
Island County Club. N.D.C.
10/08/1944 04.15 Laindon 1 – ‘Fly’ exploded in wheatfield 1/2 mile W of St
Nicholas Church causing several minor casualties serious damage to 36 bungalows and extensive minor damage.
10/08/1944 18.00 Laindon 1 – Ux.I.B. (1 Kg) was found in a field near Council
Houses, Markham’s Chase, which is about 1/2 mile from above ‘Fly’ incident and would be in the line of flight of the ‘fly’ before it fell. No evidence of other I.Bs in the vicinity at the time, but I.Bs had been dropped previously in the same locality.
17/08/1944 13.25 Hadleigh 1 – Ux.U.P. Shell fell 50 yards W of Cross Farm
Benfleet Road. N.D.C.
18/08/1944 09.00 Canvey Gordon Lee, aged 12, of 16 Labworth Road
Island Canvey picked up an object on Shell Beach believed to be a small arms bullet, took it home and struck it with a hammer when it exploded causing slight injuries to his left hand and body. Taken to hospital but not detained.
19/08/1944 21.10 Bowers 1 – Ux.A.A. Shell fell in marshes. N.D.C.
Gifford
26/08/1944 15.40 Crays Hill A deflated barrage balloon fitted with an Ux.
‘Device A’ grounded on waste land N of Oak Road. The ‘Device’ was subsequently exploded in situ by BDS and balloon removed by RAF. N.D.C.
29/08/1944 21.45 Canvey The body of Hugh Murray, ship’s fireman aged 22
Island of 11 Blackland Avenue Kilwinning Ayrshire was recovered from the forward engine room of ‘S.S. Sam Long’ now anchored off Hole Haven Canvey Island. The ‘S.S. Sam Long’ was torpedoed on the high seas on 3.8.44 and Murray was reported missing. The ship was towed to its present position on 14.8.44 and the body was recovered by the Police and removed by A.R.P. ambulance to Canvey Island. A.R.P. Mortuary.
31/08/1944 11.50 Canvey 1 – U.P. Shell exploded in field 800 yards of
Island ‘Haystack’ P.H. N.D.C.
31/08/1944 11.50 Canvey 1 – Ux.A.A. Shell fell 100 yards N of Kelverden
Island Avenue. N.D.C.
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
Collins Diamond Diary
1944
Thursday 24 August 1944
Afternoon swanning – great news Rumania out – we bash on. Bummelburg – **** powder – coffee, *** lipstick.
Mail from To – A
ECS, book Lois L
Letters JB, A, G.
The Bay Museum & Research Facility 