13th July 1942

Monday
This morning the “Mail” published an article by Wentworth Day attacking the War Agricultural Committees.  He describes the case of the young Rodds at Lexden and Peldon quite unmistakeably, and makes a great song of the “hardship” which they suffered.  This man is an unscrupulous poseur, not to be trusted a yard.  Capt. Folkard was most amused by the article.

Pleasant surprise this morning – a letter from Meg MacDougall.  Not a word about the unanswered letters of last year.  At any rate, it is a great relief to know she is not in prison.

Called at Sissons’ on my way out tonight, and left some more photographs.

Lovely summer day.

The writer, James Wentworth Day, became the figurehead for a number of protest meetings against what he called 'the bureaucratic tyranny' of the War Agricultural Committees.  This extract from Rudsdale's diary refers to Wentworth Day's first newspaper article crticising the War Agricultural Committees and he went on to elaborate his views in his books, 'Farming Adventure' (1943) and 'Harvest Adventure' (1946).  Wentworth Day was friends with the Rodds whose land had been taken over by the Essex War Agricultural Committee.
Meg MacDougall was the Acting Curator at Inverness Museum and a Scottish Nationalist.  Her support for the Nationalist cause, particularly in wartime, had led to some friction with the authorities during the previous year.  CP

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