4th July 1943

Sunday

‘Planes went out at midnight, and came back at 4 this morning.  Leaned out of the window to hear them go, high among thin clouds, and below the roar of the engines could hear the laughter and chatter of girls talking to soldiers up on the main road, coming away from a dance at Foxash Hall.

Fine morning.  Spent a quiet time, writing until 4 this afternoon, then down to Sissons’, chatted there and then had tea in the café.  Suddenly decided to go over to Boxted, for no particular reason, and called on the Roses.  They have bought a very nice four-poster bed, and were putting it up when I got there.  It looked very well. 

At about 7.30 a lot of ‘planes got up from Langham, one after another, and flew off towards the S.W.  Then several dozen more came down from Suffolk on the same course.  Looked like a big operation, but some came back fairly soon.  Had supper, and heard the 9 o’clock news – big raid on Germany last night, and 32 ‘planes lost.  

Left just after 9, and took some eggs to old Mrs Pat Green and then took some more home to Mother – how she enjoys them.  Fed Bob in the meadow and then to Castle.  Big crowds of Americans, English ATS, sailors, etc rolling about the streets, nearly all drunk.  Due to Independence Day I suppose.  Fire-watchers at Groom & Daniel’s timber yard leaning over the wall, talking to friends in the street, and several young girls in “slacks” hurrying along, carrying rugs and baskets of food, going on fire-watch.

Got to Holly Trees at 10.30, and spent an hour in the Muniment Room on old photos.  Then went to the Castle and found the door locked and bolted, which is quite contrary to rules.  Kicked and hammered and shouted so loudly that two policemen came along from High St. and added a tattoo with their truncheons.  At last, after about 5 minutes, a very slow watchman came down and let me in.  Both the men were partly drunk.  Locked myself in the Oven in a rage.