1st May 1944

Monday
Brilliant and warm.  Cuckoos calling, ‘planes roaring over.

Committee at Birch.  The Park looked lovely, Thoroughbred horses grazing under the trees.  Col. Waller and Col. Maryles came to the meeting to explain the effect of Home Guard patrols as regards agricultural workers.  Apparently there is no intention now to muster the entire Home Guard unless there is a direct enemy invasion, and the amount of patrol work which the men are called upon to do is only one night in 10 or 12.  Waller was most amusing, his stammer worse than ever.  He is now a living caricature of “a fine old English gentleman”.

Glass going back, and clouds came up late in the afternoon, but cleared later to a fine haze.  Light S.W. wind.

There are a lot of strange firemen in the town, apparently living in the newly built fire brigade barracks on the Horse Show Ground.  They wear berets instead of peak-caps, and some say they are men who are to go to the Continent with the Army (if and when it goes).

About 11.30 I went into the yard, just as ‘planes were going over, very high, some way to the west.  Suddenly I heard firing of machine guns, very faint, then there was a great flash, a few seconds pause, and a dull, hollow boom.  Suppose a bomber must have blown up in the air. 

Lovely clear moon.

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