Wartime Brothers 1944

August 1944

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Hugh

Keith

Joan

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August 1944

Logbook entries August 1944
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Keith's diary 31st July - 6th August 1944
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Keith's diary entries

August

Tues. 1

Alert. nothing. Went to the Rec; lifted carrots and lead the horse. The blinking horse nearly bit my thumb off. The new girl. José, didn't turn up. Some day alerts, nothing exceptional. Dreamy. British & American drives in France progressing O.K.

Wed. 2

Alert - nothing. Went late to Rec; the new girl, José, was there, she seem O.K. Several day alerts. Had a bath. Thinned carrots and lead the horse. Turkey has broken off diplomatic relations with Germany. Ian turns up on a 48.

Thu. 3

Alert - noisy. Went to the Rec, lifted carrots & lead the horse. Kay seems a peculiar sort of girl. The U.S. troops have captured Rennes. Some day alerts. Churchill made a very optimistic speech.

Fri. 4

Alert - nothing much. Went to the Rec:. hoed swedes all day. José goes home at 12.30 as she is going to get married to-morrow, she's as happy as a bird. Some day alerts - noisy. Ian goes back. Went to José(s) house to give her her pay packet but it can't be obtained without her signing it. Rained a bit in the evening. Every body seems to think the war will end soon.

Sat. 5 Alert - nothing. Went to the Rec., Margaret in until 9 but I had to work alone till 12 and it was lousy. Thinning swedes. Some day alerts, nothing much. Went to the Elite. I hope José is enjoying her first night as a wife. They have started to cut the corn at Keswick, which seems damm silly as it won't be stooked until Tuesday.

Sun. 6

Alert - nothing much. Stopped in bed till about 12.50. Some day alerts. Heavy thunderstorm at 5.30. N.F.S. called out to pump water from shelters. The rain should just about ruin the corn at Keswick! Went to the Youth Club, had a game of snooker which I lost by 1 point.

Keith's diary 7th - 13th August 1944
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Keith's diary entries

August

Mon. 7
Bank Holiday

Alert - nothing V. Hot. V. Dreamy. Went & asked Mum if I was going to have a step father, answer NO. Stopped in bed all morning. Drew in the afternoon. Went up to the Youth Club but it was not open so went for a cycle ride. Went to Ditton, Claygate & lost my way and was going to Chessington. Had a smash but only bruised shoulder. Went back to Youth (club) had game of billards, lost.

Tues. 8

Alert - nothing much. went to the Rec., weeded. José's husband has been recalled so she has come back to work. Shylock back. We all went stooking at Keswick. Finished by 2.30. Helped Jack move the horse hoe over to Keswick. Rode my first horse, the old mare. Finished the day off by weeding. Kay went home at 12 as she 'felt queer'. Had a bath. Dreamy. Day alert.

Wed. 9

Alert - nothing much. Went to the Rec:, lifted carrots till Jack came. Then I led the horse at Keswick Went back to the Rec about four and there was a boy, Brian & 3 youngish girls there. Kay out. One day alert. Close Had a bath.

Thu. 10

Alert, but as it went at 4.20 Mum didn't wake me. Went 1/2 late, which I made up by re-stooking the corn at Keswick, to the Rec: where I was thinning swedes went leading the horse with Jack at Keswick from 9-4 then went back to the Rec: Brian & the other girls were there. Kay out. Some day alerts. A bit dreamy. Had a bath Saw Hemmingway & Keats. Probably getting the corn in on Sunday.

Fri. 11

No night alert. Went to the Rec: till 9 & thinned swedes from 9 - 4 lead the horse for Jack at Keswick then back to the Rec. José isn't as good as she's cracked up to be. Yvonne comes back. A bit dreamy. Couple of day alerts. Payday. Had a bath. Warm day. Kay still out. My watch has stopped. Apparently José misbehaved herself at some time. Advances in Normandy going well.

Sat. 12

Alert - nothing much. Went to the Rec:, thinned & weeded. Margaret left about 10, so I was left in charge of Shylock, Brian & the girls. Did odd jobs in the afternoon. José out. Saw Ullman. Ordered ''The Aeroplane'. Went to the Youth Club had a game of billiards and snooker. Lost the first, won the second by about 6 points.

Sun. 13

A very hot day. Alert - nothing much. Went to Keswick where we were stacking the corn, Paddy, Darky, Sherwood, Rawlins, Margaret & myself. Got very hot & very dirty. A bit dreamy. Needaw's father came & took some snaps. Drank immeasurable cups of tea & bottles of warter. Council provided us with cup of tea & a spam sandwich. Fairly tired. Had a bath. First alert about 9.

Keith's diary 14th - 20th August 1944
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Keith's diary entries

August

Mon. 14

Alert - nothing much. Went 1/2 hour late to the Rec:, thinned swedes until 9.30. Then led the horse for Jack at Keswick & the ByPass Fields until 4. Went back & thinned carrots. Kay out, apparently she is ill. Warm day again.

Tues. 15

Alert - nothing much. Went 1 1/2 late to the Rec:, weeded carrots. The kids came but they weren't too bad. About 2 we moved over to Keswick & did the same there. Margaret got annoyed with me in the afternoon. Several day alerts. José & Kay out. A new girl may come. Invasion of France on 100 mile front from Marseille to Nice. Going O.K. Gap closing in Normandy.

Wed. 16

I don't think there was an alert. Went to Keswick, started weeding but about 9 we went over to the Rec. to get carrots. Paddy & Darkey were there. Several day alerts. Landings in S. of France seem to be going O.K.

Thu. 17

Had a fit last night - slept fairly soundly until about 11. Read most of the day. Several day alerts. Chartres captured.

Fri. 18

No night alert. Went to Keswick and started weeding but Jack came along and took me to the Rec:, where he had the autoscythe going. Payday. Within 20 miles of Paris. Another new-girl starting on Monday - nothing to do with the one who applied on Tuesday. I day alert.

Sat. 19

Alert - nothing much. Hugh turned up in the night, staying until tomorrow. Went to Keswick, weeded & thinned the swedes. Elisabeth came & saw me. Went to the Elite. Falaise gap closed. Sir Henry Wood dies. Joan comes & stops the night. Couple of day alerts. Rained. Got my watch back.

Sun. 20

Alert, stopped upstairs. Hugh & Joan got it in the neck last night as they were out so late. Hugh & Joan leave this morning. Number of day alerts. Didn't do anything in particular. Went to the club, had a game of billiards & two of snooker and lost the lot. We are across the Siene.

Keith's diary 21st - 27th August 1944
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Keith's diary entries

August

Mon. 21

Alert - a bit noisy. Went to Keswick, gathered & burnt some weeds, then we went over to the Rec: and got some carrots and hoed. A new girl came, Daphne, she seems OK. Kay has definitely left. Several day alerts. A windy dull (day) totally different from the weather we have been having. Joan is coming next week end. One Flying Bomb in Balaclava Rd. Dreamy.

Tues. 22

Alert - a bit noisy. One fell opposite the Malden Police Station. Went to the Rec:, did nothing til about 9.30 when we did a bit of hoeing. Then Sherwood and I went over to Keswick to move the weeds, we finished about 4 and went back to the Rec: & dug up some spuds. Got a splinter in my finger and had to get Lil to get it out. José out. Dreamy. Wet misty day. Had a bath.

Wed. 23

Alert - nothing much. Went to the Rec: late and weeded swedes. one of the longest days I have known. José came in but didn't work. Got a puncture and left my bike at the Lodge, got a bus the rest of the way. Went to Stotts. A Mr. Fording and Mr. Manning came. Some day alerts. Saw my 27th flying bomb. Paris freed by patriots.

Thu. 24

Alert - a bit noisy. Went late to Keswick, picked up spuds & burnt weeds. Rained so left about 4. Cycled my other bike home from the lodge. A number of day alerts. Dreamy. Got home very wet. Romania has come on the side of the allies. Had a bath. Margaret got her hand jammed in a window.

Fri. 25

No alert. Started to get ready for work, but had a fit, and, as I slept soundly until about 12 I didn't go to work. Mr. Fording thought I was Miss Lucas' son! I have a feeling that I may get the sack to-morrow. Dreamy.

Sat. 26

No alert. Didn't feel so hot this morning so had it off. Went to the Odeon. Mrs. Jacksons' sister Irene came for tea. Joan arrives for the weekend. She has had her hair cut short, it's O.K.

Sun. 27

No alert. Joan & I washed up the breakfast things. Ian arrives. Joan, Babs (Mrs. Jackson) & I go to Epson downs in the afternoon. I find a cigarette case & take it to the police. Mr. Fording in for lunch. Babs, Joan & go out for an evening walk.

Keith's diary 28th August - 3rd September 1944
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Keith's diary entries

August

Mon. 28

No alert. Went to Keswick. Made a bonfire but it rained for about an hour. Went over to the carrots at the Rec:, but I went back later in the day to put out the fire. Joan went back early. Ian goes back at night. Stayed & talked with Babs until it was time to go to bed. Several day alerts. Got stung by a wasp. Card from Elisabeth. Had a bath.

Tues. 29

Alert. Went to the Depôt, where we dug onions. Rained a bit. Margaret left about 3 and I rather think I was left in charge - we didn't do much. Several day alerts, saw 29th flying bomb. Showed Daphne & Sherwood how to get home. Got a puncture again. Mr. Fording comes to dinner. Very dreamy. Early to bed.

Wed. 30

Alert - nothing much. Went to the Depôt, dried onions. Rained a bit. Margaret was bloody awful. Couple of day alerts. Dreamy. Early to bed. Saw Kenneth Cleel.

Thu. 31

No alert. Went to the Depôt, dried onions- nearly finished them. Margaret was lousy in the morning - after telling me what I could do with my self - but she seemed O.K. in the afternoon. Lots of day alerts. Saw a Tempest. Rained a bit. Saw Darky & Mr. Collins. Early to bed.

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