21st November 1944 - Shurlock Row

Tuesday
Wakened several times during the night by aircraft.  Woke again at 8, and listened to the soldiers next door, calling on short wave radio – “Able, George, Baker, Victor, Fox, Zebra, can you hear me? Over.”

Wrote to the Biggams today, a poor letter.  Felt very “homesick” as I posted it down the village street, and saw the address “16 Glengyle Terrace” slide into the letter box.  Within 48 hours or less that letter will be 400 miles away.

A lovely day, the birds singing everywhere.  Felt rather weak and sick, so stayed in this afternoon and read some of Carlyle’s “French Revolution”.  Soon after 4, as the sun sank in a golden mist, a great mass of bombers came over.  Stood and watched them and then went into tea in the warm cosy room, while they went on across the sea to bring death to some poor devils who were still alive and well as we ate new bread and apricot jam.

This morning I suddenly heard a shrill shrieking whistle, high in the blue sky.  There was nothing in sight but I wondered if this is the sound of a rocket which had already passed over.

It came over foggy this evening.  Situation must be serious indeed to send them out in this weather.  Gen. Eisenhower is now talking about shortage of ammunition, when about a week ago the press announced the closing of some munition works as the present stock of shells would last ten years, fired day and night.

20th November 1944 - Shurlock Row

Monday

Heavy showers but then cleared up.  Margery brought me a cup of tea and I wished her many happy returns and kissed her.  She must be about 40 now, but does not look it.  Uncle kissed her, and said he was sorry not to be able to give here the usual box of chocolates.

 

Hundreds of heavy bombers went out in the dawn.  The papers speak of great fighting in the West.  Bonn and Trier are both in frightful danger.  Some accounts say Bonn has already been utterly destroyed.

Set off with Margery, on cycles to Twyford and caught 1 o’clock bus to Reading.  Seemed curious to go into a cinema at half past 1 in the afternoon.  Saw “Fanny by Gaslight” First time Margery had seen it.  I enjoyed seeing it again, as it gave me a chance to see details missed before.  Thought the Islington set looked rather artificial, but Belgrave Square and the Yorkshire House were excellent. I insisted we had tea so we went into a café in Broad Street.

Bought evening paper – “French Reach Rhine”.  Caught 5.30 bus, and got seats on top.  The street lights were coming on.  Margery had not seen lights for 5 and a half years but was not very impressed.

Had to cycle back from Twyford in heavy rain and Margery hates cycling in the dark.  Said she had enjoyed her outing enormously.  Poor dear works far too hard, and has very little fun, but always keeps happy and cheerful.

Had birthday tea in the front room tonight, did not finish until 8.

19th November 1944 - Shurlock Row

Sunday
Strong wind again, and pouring wet day.  Spent the whole day indoors, reading and writing.

18th November 1944 - Shurlock Row

Saturday

Warm, fine and cloudy.  Up rather late.  Writing all morning.  Newspapers came at 10 o’clock. 'The Express' reports that Leigh-Mallory, Air Chief Marshall and his wife are missing.  

About midday heard 2 or 3 heavy explosions in the direction of London.  Perhaps rockets?  About half past 5 there was a great noise of bombers, and we saw many Stirlings coming over from the West and NW, at various height.  They finally made off to the S.E.  Before 7 some could be heard going back to the NW, and more came in between 9.30 and 10.

Had very bad heart pains this afternoon, after playing with the cat.  It was only for 5 minutes, but I was so exhausted I thought I should faint.  There must be something radically wrong.

17th November 1944 - Shurlock Row

Friday

Terrible storm all night and rain kept on all morning.

Wrote to Miss Bentley, paid more rent, and to Miss Lazell about the old man’s death.  Don’t know whether to write to Mrs Smallwood or not.

This afternoon Margery took me to the village “Library” in the school next door.  Took “The Changing Village” by F G Thomas.

Heard on 6 o’clock news that a new form of announcement is now adopted regarding V1 and V2 even vaguer than before.  In future we are to be told that in “the period of 24 hours ending at dawn there was enemy activity over southern England.  Damage and casualties were caused.”  Nothing more.  What more could be done to create alarm, fear and rumour?

Had a bath in the kitchen.  Bed 10.30.

16th November 1944 - Shurlock Row

Thursday

Brilliant morning, but cold.  Uncle out in the garden, working like a man of 50.  I sat indoors writing, but Marjery insisted I should take the WLA girl to Reading to the cinema.  The only film of any interest seemed to be “The Four Feathers”, so I suggested we should go there.  Enjoyed the film just as much as when I saw it years ago.  Much amused by someone in the stalls who clapped eagerly at every opportunity, whenever the gallant British Army shot the hell out of various natives, whenever the flag was shown or Lord Kitchener appeared.  

When we came out it was dark, and there was nowhere to get a drink except at a rather dirty milk bar down the road.  We had milk there, and then set off home very cautiously, as she had no front light and I no rear.  However, we got past the police at the junction near the Cemetery, but just after I tripped against the curb and fell down, putting out my knee and jarring my elbow.  Fog on the road, and we had to be very careful owing to the danger of traffic.

At last got onto the side lanes, and up the Straight Mile to supper after which heard the “Itma” show, which I much enjoyed, though I don't think the others did.  Margery told me that the Land Army girl had a very pleasant time, though I thought it must have been very dull for her.

Rain began this evening.  No alarms or explosions, though there are divers over every night.

15th November 1944 - Shurlock Row

Wednesday

Fine and sunny.  Writing in the morning, and then decided to go to Maidenhead.  Went to Food Office and got ration card for the week, bought some cakes, went to Library.  The “museum” is practically closed.  The case of material from the Castle Hill villa is now in the entrance hall.  There is a letter exhibited over the Castle Hill case from R A Smith, 7/9/05, in which he calmly accepts the possibility of Domituin, Gallienus, and Constantine all in one grave!  And in the Reference Room are two table cases (one broken and patched with brown paper) in which local archaeological material has been arranged by Williams-Hunt, Maitland’s friend.  Nicely done with labels typewritten in red, quite attractive.

There is a magnificent Bronze Age spearhead, from the Thames at Windsor, lent by Newbury Museum, and a nice little series of Achehian and Chellen hand axes from local sites.  Feel sure that they had once a cast of the great Maidenhead axe, but not there now, unless in the broken case. 

Beautiful polished axe, about 10” long, from below Maidenhead Bridge.  Incomplete Saxon sword, v. good.

Long case in the passage to Juvenile Library contains mass of mixed rubbish, hair of Wellington’s charger, fragment of Napoleon’s Standard, miscellaneous ethnology, hardly a label in the lot.

Alderman Silver’s excellent map of the district 100 years ago no longer to be seen.

Cycled back by 5.30.  The Essex County Standard for last week arrived today.  Poor old Harry Lazell is dead, last Monday week.  He was 86.  Wonder what will happen to his negatives and photos?  His daughter was so furious at the Museums 2 years ago that I fear she will not be disposed to be very friendly.  Must write to her.

Account of the Mayor making – Ald. Piper is Mayor again after 20 years.  Suddenly noticed that poor little Smallwood is dead – Pye, the retiring Mayor referred to him.  Poor little chap, he had been terribly ill during the last 2 or 3 years.  He was a useful man on the Museum Committee, and who is to fill his place I cannot see.  Laver, Benham, Hazell, Smallwood – Blaxill well over 70, Sam 71, Rendall about 94.  What is to become of the Museum?  There is no one to follow on at all.

Smallwood’s death puts Hull more firmly than ever in the saddle, for Smallwood was the one man who was determined at all costs to get Hull out of his job.  He was a good friend to me.  I last saw him when I went to see him to discuss my position.  He looked ill then, but was as kind as ever.  It was of course intended that Smallwood was to have been Mayor this year, and he was very disappointed when the proposal was rejected.

Looked at the obituary column, and found that Uncle Frank had put in a notice for Mother –

            “RUDSDALE, AGNES – November 13, 1943

In remembrance of my dear sister.  She looked well to the ways of her household, and in her tongue was the law of kindness.”

I appreciate this very much, and cannot think how it could have been done better.

See that Tendring Rural District Council wants more shelters and a siren, and the Copford people say they’ll put in an “unofficial” siren if they’re not given one.  And 3 months ago we thought the war was over.