11th June 1944

Sunday
Dull day, showers at times.  Planes in all directions all day long.  Spent lazy morning, writing, bath, etc.  Cycled to Lawford this afternoon.  Crops look very well after rain, and there may be some hay after all.

Saw the wrecked cottages on Ipswich Road, near the “Lion and the Lamb”, two little red brick houses on the E. side of the road, completely wrecked.  The Bren carrier apparently blew up just opposite (marks of fire clearly visible on the road), and bits of the machine were thrown into fields more than 100 yards away.

Everybody well at Lawford.  The little red bull is still there, and they have two fresh calves.  After tea went down to Dedham.  The American Sergeant, Merrill, was there, and old Major Inde.  It was quite funny to see the Major trying to be affable to the American, who amused us by reading poems by Ogden Nash, which were very funny indeed.  The only one I can remember is:

            Little Lamb,

            Do you know
            Where you am?
            I’ll give you a hint –
            You’re in the middle of
            A bed of mint.
            Scram, Lamb!

He also gave us what he said was the shortest poem in the English language, written by himself, entitled “Lines Written by an American Citizen who has spent Six Months in the County of Lincolnshire”, and it runs,

            Lincs

            Stinks.

Left at 10.30, in a beautiful summer evening, and went to the post at Horkesley from 11 until half past one.  Feel very unhappy about the whole affair, as I find I am quite incapable of distinguishing one kind of ‘plane from another, and worse still, have no idea whatever of judging the height of ‘planes.  However, the two men on duty were very kind and helpful.  Got to bed at 3 o’clock, light beginning to show in the east.