Diary of Wing Commander Edward Lloyd Fleming, January 1944- January 1945 - Part 8

MAY, 1944

EIGHTEEN

Monday 8

A/G 1
I got up & shaved & went to breakfast &

then I went on a forced route march

of about 8 miles. It was jolly good 

fun & we called first at the Beehive Inn

then to Seaton Hall and then to Hollywell

Deal where we had lunch. After lunch

we watched a bit of fun with a RAF

truck and then had a bit of a game with

the flight in attack. We were defending

a hill & I think were successful. We

marched back from Hartly and I 

had a swim & a hot shower then went
to tea. After tea we collected mail at
Prudhoe & I learnt that Lorna is married,
Syb is to be in June & David & Audrey got
their exams. Aunty Roma has a new son!
I wrote to Mrs Morris, Dorlla Lancaster,
Pat Cranwell & home. Then I had a
wash & hit the hay. The obelisks in
the fields near Seaton Hall is in 
memory of some miners who were
killed & the whole ground belongs to the
Duke of Northumberland.
 

MAY, 1944

Tuesday 9

We had breakfast and then had a lecture in

the St Pauls Hall. We got a pep talk from

F/L Martinez then went out to the assault

course where we had a lecture on pistols &

then went over the course. It was fairly strenuous

& they fired blanks & thunder flashes etc. Then
I had dinner & we spent part of the afternoon
out there too cleaning grenades this time. We
changed & went to a lecture in the Priory (gym)
but it was a glorified bludge. I stayed at
the Willow for a while & then went to tea. I
sent a cable to Mum for Sunday today.
After tea I wrote a couple of letters & one to
the Slades then we went along to dancing
class. There were three girls there Pat
Wade & Joan - & another. I took Pat to
the station then came back to the mess &
had a bit to drink & then came back home
to bed.

MAY, 1944
Wednesday 10
After breakfast we had two periods at
the bandstand & then two on battle drill at
the golf course. The boys were in a very
troublesome mood today. I had dinner &
then stripped for P.T. I went for the X/C
run & it was jolly good fun & I finished
second. I had a shower & then got dressed
& went to see the Ed. Off but he was not
in & I went to the Aust. Liaison Off. but
he also was out. I had tea & then went
to dancing lesson. We learnt the cross
Chassée & lock & revised all our work
so far.  After it I walked to the station
with Pat then came back to the mess,
had a drink then hit the hay. I got an
Airgraph from Beth Duncan today. Wesley
won the heats of the Head of the River by
beating Scotch.
 

MAY, 1944
NINETEEN
Thursday 11
We had breakfast & then went out to the golf
links & did a flight attack & made a fairly
good fist of it. I went to see the Ed Off. &
he was engaged & so I missed a gas
lecture. I collected my laundry & then had
dinner. I continued my letter to Margaret &
posted it later on. In the afternoon we
almost had a mutiny when P/O Sawyer

tried to give us rifle drill on the paddock at
the back of the billet. He stood on a chair to
give his orders. Then we had then gun work
& finally P.T. but instead of doing the
work we went to the showers & got nicely
washed. After tea I came back & wrote
home then went for a stroll with Chips. It
was a glorious evening & awfully peaceful.
Half of Whitley Bay seemed to be along the
waterfront. I came back with Jack (who
has arrived) & Ken & then did a bit of
washing then hit the hay. Tea has been
xtra good lately & we have been getting
super food. 

MAY, 1944
Friday 12
After breakfast we hurried around to

Prudhoe where we picked up the

ammo. We proceeded to the range & then

spent the day out there. We fired 5 rounds

.303 application, 5 grouping, 5 scrap & 10

rapid. We also threw a grenade and

fired 25 rounds from the Sten. This was

spread over the whole day & we had lunch

from a field kitchen alongside the A.T.S.

camp. I did butt party for a while.

They fired a grenade from a rifle & it was

a super sight to see it burst in mid-air.
I came home & had tea then we

got dressed at 2000 went to Mr

Belcher for another dancing lesson. I

took Pat to the station once more and

let myself in for taking her to the pictures

I came back & had a wash & then hit 

the hay. Another beautiful day today -

when the wind drops, conditions are just

ideal.
 

 

MAY, 1944

Saturday 13

9

we went for a route march of about 8 miles

thru Monkseaton, Monkseaton West, Earsdon,

Delaval & home. Then we had dinner & after

changing, watched the big Salute the Soldiers 

march thro Whitley Bay. All services were

represented as well as scouts & guides etc.

Then we saw Pat & Joan & everything was called

off. They later saw Ex. & it was all rearranged.

Finally we went to tea and then

saw the girls again & fixed everything

up but then Ex said he wouldn't come.

It is a terrible mess. Chips & Ken & I went to

the pictures & Ex drowned his woe in beer.

We saw Topper Lakes a Trip & the Gold

Scandal & an excellent March of Time on

Portugal. We came back & got off to bed.

I had a shower earlier Letters from Ruth,

Pat, Dad & Mum & Ted Brown came

today & I wrote to Ted & Ruth. Uncle Rex

received my telegram O.K. & acknowledged

by cable to home!!!

MAY, 1944

Sunday 14

I got up & shaved etc & then went to church. It

was a very good service and the church

anniv. Then I came back and had

dinner & we got ready and then I collected

Joan and we went in to Newcastle We 

met Pat and Shiela Rockliffe & Sylvia ?

We then went out to Ponteland and 

stomped around a bit, had tea & walked

a couple of miles. It was a slashing day

and the girls were just O.K. Joan & Ex. an

went off after a while & we came back

to Newcastle & were invited to Shiela's

place. We had some supper & played

cards a bit then had to hit the trail for

home. Ken & Mick Davis were there too.

Chips was the only one in here & we all

got off to bed pronto.
 

 

MAY, 1944

TWENTY

Monday 15

I had breakfast & then we had a couple of

lectures until lunch time. We cleaned up

the billet a bit and then in the afternoon

had an F.F.I. at the Priory and after

that we were broken off. We returned our

boots and denims and made up our

beds. After tea Chips and Ken & I all went

to "Behind the Rising Sun" and "Ladies 

Day". It was quite a good programme and

the Playhouse is a very nice theatre. We

came back & got off to bed after packing

our kits. I went & said farewell to Mr

Mortimer at 35 Davison Ave. today &

he promised me a photo of the church.

MAY, 1944

Tuesday 16

I was billet orderly and so stayed in all

day. The rest of the boys were on

clearances and at 1200 we were paid.

After dinner I played cards & read & the

boys had a security lecture. I wrote

Beth, Margaret. We had tea and then

the four of us went to the dancing

class. There were a lot of girls there but I

danced with Pat all night. After the dance

we had supper & then Ken & Sylvia & Pat &
I walked to the A.T.S. camp & back & then

followed a wild turn over £1 at the

Wadis surgery. It turned into a bit of

a smooge session & lasted till 0230!

Most of the boys were shickered & we

felt we had a good celebration. In the

end Pat managed to give us the £1.

We bade farewell to Mr Belcher & to

Whitley Bay.
 

 

MAY, 1944

Wednesday 17

We returned our blankets and on the

way to breakfast I dropped the [[fl.?]]. We

had breakfast and packed & marched to

Monkseaton & caught the train to Newcastle. The

boys lit a smoke generator in Ventura Gdns

& a thunder flash in the Newcastle station.

I got on the train at Newcastle & we went

via Durham, Northallerton, Ripon, Harrogate

Leeds & Huddersfield & finally ended up

in Manchester. We got off the train & took a 

bus to the central station & then came out to

Padgate. Our impressions were not too

good but I guess we'll soldier thru. We

met ever so many of the boys - Gordan Lepas

Bill Butler, Al Baker etc & had a yarn. I went

to tea & later, after unpacking, to NAAFI. We

had supper & then I washed rather

thoroughly and finally got off to bed.

MAY, 1944

Thursday 18

We paraded in the morning and were told

a bit of gen then went to the NAAFI and had

to wait in a queue for about an hour & then

went to lunch. After lunch time we went

on parade and then took in our laundry

and then had the afternoon off. I saw the 

Ed Off about my course. I had a

shower & then met Gordon & we went

into Warrington. It is an industrial

town & rather uninteresting. We were

invited into a house but weren't very

impressed by our guests. We continued

our recco. of the town then caught the bus

back & I had a wash & got off to bed. I

posted a letter to Kodak House & one to Pat

Alan Windmill & Shirl. Phillips wrote

me today.
 

 

MAY, 1944

TWENTY ONE

Friday 19

After breakfast we went on parade &

were selected for another Salute the Soldier

march this time thru Warrington. We

did a spot of drill & then went to the canteen

after which we bludged awhile & then went

to dinner. In the afternoon we paraded

then were dismissed & I did a lot of

reading & also wrote to home, Shirl &

Margaret. I went to tea and then came

back & read some more & then after

having a yarn with Al Baker we went

to the canteen & had a spot of supper.

I came back & did some more writing

I had a wash & then hit the hay. The 

queues in this place are horribly long &

we have now been limited to only one

canteen. There are about 4000 pilots &

others here & still they cry out for them at

home. The 38 course chaps from Aussie

are now in Ops.in N.G.

MAY, 1944

Saturday 20

We went on parade & then did a spot of

drill & were broken off. Chips & I went to

the clothing store & after reading etc we

had dinner. I washed & went out on

parade again & this time marched off to a

transport & were taken into town. We assembled

at the Town Hall & were addressed

by the Mayor & some Army bloke. Then we 

marched right thro' Warrington & got

a great welcome from the townsfolk.

We came back & then I had tea, washed

& went out with Ex. intending to go to

the Open Air Dance behind the Town

Hall. It was on grass & rather corny so

we roamed about & ended up at the

Y.M.C.A. for supper & later we came home.

I had a wash and got off to bed.
 

 

MAY, 1944

Sunday 21

Eggs & Bacon for breakfast & then we had a parade 

after which I went to the local Methodist

church. It was quite good. We came back &

had dinner then hurried off to town & took

a bus to Chester. It was a very delightful

trip thro' Frodsham etc. and the town itself

was just super. We walked along the old

wall and stood where Charles 1 stood in 1605

Then we wandered thru the cathedral - one of

the finest in the world. From there we wandered

along the walls & saw a bit of old Roman

work & had tea at Y.M.CA. After that we wandered

past the castle & down lots of the streets

thro' Handbridge & back to church. When church

was over we roamed past St Johns church ruins

& along the river then came & caught the bus

home. I had a yarn with the conductress.

I had a bath & hurried off to bed as we

had had to walk out from Warrington

I took numerous snaps today.

MAY, 1044

TWENTY TWO

Monday 22

I had breakfast & we did a fair bit of

drill after parade then I went to NAAFI &

after we were broken off I went to the

barber & did 2/6. I came to the canteen &

had a bit to eat & then wrote a letter home 

then went to dinner. In the afternoon I

went on parade & we had a route

march then were broken off. I tried to

change my battle dress but no go. I

changed & went to town & did a bit of

shopping & had tea at Y.M.C.A. then

I came home. I finished writing home &

posted the letter & went to NAAFI. I came

back & had a wash & read & wrote a bit 

then hit the hay.
 

 

MAY, 1944

Tuesday 23

11

I got up & had breakfast and then we

had parade & went for a route march. We

had morning tea & then I came back & wrote

& read a bit. I had dinner & then went on

parade again. I wrote to Margaret this

morning. We were broken off & went to the

store. At last I have a uniform. The tailor said

it would be O.K. but the W.O. said blue jacket &

grey pants & I said it was ridiculous. I saw

the S/L about it (S.E.O) & he said I was to have

a new uniform so it was a minor victory I

scored! I had to take it to the tailor to

get altered & fixed up a bit. I went to tea & it

was xtra. We had a glorious sunny day

today. I stayed home at evening and wrote to

Frida. I got a beaut letter from home today

& John McIlwraith is married & Joyce Denwick is

secretary of the WAAAF choir. I had some supper

& posted a lot of airgraphs then had a

wash and went to bed & read awhile. I

didn't contact Westburys or the dancing

people - bad show. Posted to Naval School for

1 wk.

MAY, 1944

Wednesday 24

We had our first day of Naval school & it

was very interesting. I rang up the

Appletons about our dancing & at dinner

time I wrote to Pat Wade. We had school all

the afternoon & then I had tea & after that I 

wrote to Mr Mortimer. I did a fair bit of

work & fired up my ship recco. Then I

had a bath & got into bed & read for

a while & then turned in.
 

 

MAY, 1944

Thursday 25

I got up & it was very wet. I went to breakfast

and then we had rally parade & went to

lectures, I took a few notes & then days lectures

were awfully interesting. I had dinner then

went to lectures again & after it I collected

my laundry. We handed in our pay books

& I gave my name for an outing on

Sunday to a local place. We had tea over in 

the far mess & then I read & wrote up notes

then did my washing. I washed & then

came back to bed & read & wrote a while

& hit the hay. I collected my ACF parcel at

lunchtime. A Lightning & a Thunderbolt

put on a turn today over the camp. Ken

has been posted to E.F.T.S.

MAY, 1944

Friday 26

We had lectures as usual in the

morning & then I had dinner. We had

the same in the afternoon & after they

were over I collected my battle dress. It

is O.K. & I changed & went to tea. It was 

a slashing meal. Then I came back &

did a spot of work then Chips & I

went to a concert in the gym. It was

all musical & quite good. I came back

& did a bit of work, washed & went to

bed. I got a letter from Mrs Cranwell 

today. The boys had got the wireless

going & it's just O.K. Ken left today
 

 

MAY, 1944

Saturday 27

We had N. School all the morning & then

I had dinner & after that we played

Switch for a while & went over to the other

parade grnd. & had newspapers dealt

out to us. I got one but I don't know who

it was from. We had the afternoon off

so I took a walk over to Winwick & got a

snap of the church there. I came back

across country & had tea & a bath then

I got ready & we went to Appletons for

dancing lessons. Mrs. A. concentrated on

Q. step & we got it pretty right. She gave

strictly private lessons. We walked

about a bit & had supper at YMCA &

watched the dancing behind the town Hall

again then came home. I did a fair

bit of sewing & ironing & then got off

to bed & read awhile.