Wartime Brothers 1944

November 1944

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Hugh

Keith

Joan

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November 1944

Logbook entries November 1944
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Keith's diary 30th October - 5th November 1944
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Keith's diary entries

November

Wed. 1

Went to the Lodge. Dug. Came home smoking a pipe and was sick. Went straight to bed. Very poorly. Mum slept in my room.

Thur. 2

One rocket at Thames Ditton. Went to the Lodge. Dug. Sherwood was a nuisance. I had to go to Margaret about him and she straightened things things out for me. Darky came. Couple of rockets down. Helped Jacky with her jig-saw.

Fri. 3

Dreamy. Went to the Lodge - dug. A bit wet and damn cold. Yanks shoot down 207 'planes over Germany. Pay day. Details of the 'Firefly' F.A.A. fighter released. Finished off the jig-saw with Jacky. did my accounts - in pocket, Aunty Emily ill, rather badly - I don't know about seriously though. Belgium completely liberated.

Sat. 4

Got all ready for work but I was too dreamy so I didn't go. Had a bath. Very dreamy all day. Went to the evening performance at the New Theatre (The Old Vic company). Met Joan there and she came back for the week-end. Alert while we were in the theatre.

Sun. 5

Had a fit in bed, the first there, at least I'm pretty sure it was a fit. Got up about 1.30 went round with Joan to see Mrs Manning & Jean. Jean doesn't look so hot. I think Mrs. Manning nearly cried when I went with her into the kitchen. Alert in the evening, one or two bumps.

Keith's diary 6th - 12th November 1944
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Keith's diary entries

November

Mon. 6

Felt tired so had the morning off. Went to the Lodge at lunchtime. Margaret's back still not so hot. Dug most of the afternoon. Jolly windy. Daphne out. Galloway comes to dinner. Jacky he & I played rummy. I won.

Tues. 7

Hugh came home last night. Went to the Lodge at 9.am. Darky was there, dug all day. Sherwood was a bit of a trouble in the afternoon. Joan comes for the night. Had a look at Hugh's Log book - he is an above average pilot. Got something in my eye had to go to Stotts. Mr. Jones in early.

Wed. 8

Went to Stotts again about my eyes. Went to the Lodge about 10.15. Dug. Rained most of the afternoon. Eyes getting better. Hugh & Joan went back this morning. Roosevelt re elected. Mr. Jones had the day off. Long evening alert - nothing.

Thu. 9

Went to the Lodge - dug all day. Darky came. A nice bit done. Mum goes down to see Aunty Emily - she seems to be getting on O.K. News about the rockets released from Germany. Mosquito flew from London to India in 16 hours 46 mins. Evening alert - one V.1 down. Damn cold. Dreamy. Eyes a lot better.

Fri. 10

Alert yesterday about 10.0. Had a bath. Went to the Lodge - dug all day. Didn't do too badly. Several rockets (4-5) down. The premier says they go 60-70 miles high! Pay day - got a rise. Mum bought a new frock. Alert early in the evening, one V.1 down. No alert can be given for the V.2. Very dreamy, one of my worst days, I think. Cold. Eyes nearly right.

Sat. 11

Very dreamy. Alert in the night, 4 V.1's down. Had the morning off to go to Stotts' but he wasn't well. Mum went down to Ightam to interview the tenant for the cottage. A wet & cold day. Did odd jobs. Dug up the beetroot in the front garden. Churchill in France. Had a very light fit this evening. I think I was concious all the while. Mum quite pleased about the lightness of it.

Sun. 12

One V.2. last night and two to-day. Got up late. Went very dreamy whilst doing so and scared Mum badly. Read most of the day. Started to rain hard this evening. Dreamy, but not too bad.

Keith's diary 13th - 19th November 1944
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Keith's diary entries

November

Mon. 13

Went to the Lodge. Dug all day. Darky came. A new man, north country, dour, good workman, started to day. Margaret started work again. The 'Tirpitz' has been sunk by a 12,000lb bomb. Enrolled with the I.C.S. to take Matric again, in June 1946! Cost £15, I'm going to pay half. Mum got a bedside light for Mr. Jones. Had a bit of a row with Mum.

Tues. 14

Went to the Lodge, dug all day. Had a bit of trouble with Sherwood. I got into trouble for a bit of digging that we did yesterday. Got my Unemployment Book for my extra cheese ration. Came home with Mr. Dumper. Early evening alert, nothing. New attacks in France.

Wed. 15

Alert last night and early this morning. Three V.1.'s all told; saw the one at 6 go up. went to the Lodge, dug. Margaret lousy this morning but better this afternoon. Darky came. Went to Stotts. Went on up to Preston's & waited for Jacky. Got a cold, chapped hands and a sore throat.

Thu. 16

Went to the Lodge, dug all day. Margaret in a much better temper. Mr Weston quite jolly. Had a bath. Mum says that my looks are passable. Very dreamy. My sore throat had gone, but my cold in the nose is much worse.

Fri. 17

Started to rain in the night, still raining when Mum woke me up & for nearly the rest of the day. Mum & Mr. Jones advised me to stop away as it was such a lousy day & I had such a rotten cold. Parcel for Mum from Uncle Ed., contained French scent. Evening alert - nothing. Drew out £3 from the P.O.S.B,

Sat. 18

Cold still not so hot so I didn't go in to-day. Had a fit round about 2-30, not to bad, but worse than last time. Package from the I.C.S. came. Boy am I going to have fun. Drew out £3 from the P.O.S.B. Went to bed early.

Sun. 19

Woke up late, did some work in bed, more in the afternoon & still more after tea. My maths is terrible - really terrible. Very short evening alert.

Keith's diary 20th - 26th November 1944
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Keith's diary entries

November

Mon. 20

It promised to be a cold wet day again to-day and as my cold wasn't a lot better I had the day off. Did some work. My addition & multiplication is terrible. Wet during the evening.

Tues. 21

Went back to work, went to the lodge. Dug in the morning, wheeled weeds away in the afternoon. cold day. Did geography to-night. Golly its going to be a hard 19 months struggle - and if I fail at the end!

Wed. 22

Went to the Lodge. Did odd jobs. Mr. Weston took me to collect my last weeks pay so I got home early. Had a bath. Stuck both my gumboots so had to end them. Cold a bit better. Was very dreamy for 1/2 an hour. Only did maths. Mandeville rang up.

Thu. 23

Alert last night, very short, Went to the Lodge. Did odd jobs. About 4.45 I had a very dreamy turn, made Daphne cry. Mr Weston & Margaret piled me in his car and took me home. It lasted about 1/2 hour. Had another shorter attack this evening. Hugh turned up about 7 and is staying till to-morrow. Joan rang up. Miss Lucas in bed.

Fri. 24

Mr Weston gave me the day off so I lolled in bed until about 10.30. Did some odd shopping jobs. Mucked abound with Hugh. Had another attack this afternoon. Did three hours work. Hugh went at 5.15. Miss Lucas better. Both Hugh's & my colds are lots better. Had a very light fit.

Sat. 25

Short alert. Went to the Lodge. Did odd jobs. Got off around 11.0 to get back pay. Went with Mum to the Elite. Lolled around in the evening.

Sun. 26

Got up late. Put in three hours work this afternoon and another hour this evening. My maths is very weak. I am thinking of asking Biddy if he knows of a tutor.

Keith's diary 27th November - 3rd December 1944
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Keith's diary entries

November

Mon. 27

Started to get up but had a fit. Slept all morning. Did some work in the afternoon. Read in the evening. Alexander made a Field Marshall. Explosion of an R.A.F. underground bomb store near Burton. About 100 feared dead.

Tues. 28

Went to the Lodge. Cleared up most of the time. When it rained I sawed wood. Late home. Cold practically gone. Rocket down last night.

Wed. 29

Rocket last night. went to the Lodge. Dug and cleared up. Margaret probably going to have her holidays as from next week. Went to Stott's. He's cut out the midday pill.

Thu. 30

Went to the Lodge, dug most of the day. The men are coming in pretty soon to repair our house. Mrs. Jackson has moved from the double room to the little room. The Gibsons landed in England to-day and are coming to-morrow. George may be discharged from the R.C.A.F.

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