Diary of Wing Commander Edward Lloyd Fleming, January 1944- January 1945 - Part 11

JULY, 1944
THIRTY THREE.
Friday 7
D. A/G.
I got up & had breakfast & went to the
flight by kite as I was duty sgt. I
opened up & went for a flip to
Faringdon, Cirencester, Chippenham & home.
I then had another solo period of
aerobatics & then had lunch. In the
afternoon I did an X/C to Salisbury,
Winchester & Reading, & we saw Stonehenge
& the Aussie rising sun on the
plains. We also saw the earthworks at
Aybury near hear. Flying stopped at
1600 & I came back & wrote home. I
got letters from David & Freda
Plumridge & two from Margaret. She
is the best darling in the whole wide
world & I hope we feel the same way
about each other when this is all over. I
wrote to her & to home. After tea I wrote to
Mrs Slade & then slept a bit because
I'm on night-flying. 

JULY, 1944
Saturday 8
I stayed in bed all morning then got up
& shaved & washed & went to dinner. We
went to the flight at 1330 & I did a
lot of flying. Solo aerobatics X/C to
Somerton, Bath, [[Sandhurst?]] Marlboro' &
base & more solo 25. I got letters
from Ian, Freda, Shirl & Sid Brown.
I had tea & then cleaned my bike &
we went mushrooming & found a bit
more than a dozen. We had supper &
they are going to cook the mushies for us
in the mess tomorrow morning. I
had a wash & got off to bed & wrote a
bit. I wrote Margaret. 

JULY 1944
Sunday 9
I had breakfast & they cooked our mushrooms
for us. They were very nice. I went on the
big bull parade then taxied a kite down
to the flight but I only got in a couple of
circuits as the weather came very low. I
had dinner & we stayed in the huts till
1400 & then we paraded (under protest) &
saw some films. We went to the flights
but there was only a bit of dual. I
rode back early but we didn't do to church.
After tea I wrote for a while & then went
to the intelligence library & looked at the
news. I played the piano for a while
then had a wash & got off to bed.
I wrote to Ian, Ferdy, Sid Brown, Freda
& Shirl tonight. 

JULY, 1944
Monday 10
I got up & taxied a kite down & flying was
dual only, & tried to get into unit but it was
occupied so I played the piano for a while
much to the delight of an old charwoman. I
went down again then came up for a
haircut but he was closed so I went & had
another play on the piano. I went down &
just arrived in time for a B program so
got in a bit of solo. I went to dinner &
in the afternoon had two hours up but
it was very rough & unpleasant. The boys
all made rabbit snares with pieces of
wire today & so far have caught two rabbits.
I had tea & spent the evening quietly in
the hut & down at NAAFI & in the intell.
library. I had a wash and got off to bed.
First thing that looked like an accident
today when I skidded a wing on the ground.
whilst taxying. I got a letter from
Mr (Dr) Drury today. The mess cooked up
rabbits & the boys brought them back to the
hut in a big tray to eat. Salt & bread & plates etc. 

JULY, 1944
THIRTY FOUR
Tuesday 11
I got up & after breakfast taxied one kite
across & as the keys weren't at the flight,
I came back & took another kite over.
I went on a marvellous X/C up the
Wye Valley today low level. I went
with a nav. down to Frome & Hungerford
& after dinner did one to [[?]] & Oxford
& flew low over Cumnor. I saw
Chepstow Castle from the air & Swinton
Abbey too. I had a solo flip & then
tea. I played the piano & read at
the intell. library a while & then
went to the ENSA show "I love Scotties"
& it was exceptionally good. The troupe
has travelled all over the world. I
had a wash & got into bed. I wrote
home then went to sleep. The lads
caught a rabbit today but some
of the civilians are pinching them 

JULY, 1944
Wednesday 12
I had breakfast & went to the flight &
did an X/C to Westbury, Warminster to Rising
Sun & Lindgushall, Malboro' & base. I did
some solo aerobatics & had dinner. Maddock
played a dirty trick on me with the kite & I
fear I'm a terribly unpopular bludger. I
went to Wallingford, Winkfield & Oxford.
We landed at Twyford & asked some Itie
where we were then took off again. We
refuelled & formated with Max Gisbson
back home. We circled Sterling Castle &
Oxford. I came to tea & then reported for
guard & got first shift. I reported from
all the places & then had a shower &
got off to bed. 

JULY, 1944
Thursday 13
I got up at usual time & there was a great
panic for kites & I was briefed to go to
Worcester but a D. program came up so
I did front seat flying & got on swell.
I topped the course with hours. I had
dinner & relieved the duty pilot then we
had our FFI & handed in earphones &
maps. I packed up. After tea I rode
in to Faringdon & despatched my bike
by rail. I walked around there for a
while & then caught the bus out here.
I had a shower & then came to bed.
Got letters from Ruth, Alan Windmill &
two from Margaret to which I replied
immediately. This is the best gal in the land? 

JULY, 1944
Friday 14
I got up & had breakfast but our departure
was put off till the evening so we spent
the day reading & writing & then at
1930 we left Clyffe Rypard. It was a
wild tran - "CATTLE ONLY" on the trucks
and rubbish-bin tops dragging behind
and we unloaded at Swindon & put
our baggage on the train. The bags went
loose on the new officers' beds - water,
skims, thistles etc. We passed thro'
Oxford, Banbury, Nottingham, Rugby,
Leicester. The lads played cards for a
while then we all hit the hay - one in
the luggage rack, two on floor & one on
back seat - I spent a very comfortable
night. Wrote Ruth, Alan & F/O Bayley. 

JULY, 1944
THIRTY-FIVE
Saturday 15
We were awoken at 0300 & had to get out at
Sheffield while they shunted the train.
We roamed about the city & got a bit
to eat. It was impossible to sleep & I
walked out to Ecclehill and I caught
a bus back. Train left 0830 & we
passed thro' some hauntingly desolate
moor land. A fog shrouded the
hills. At Manchester we unloaded the
baggage at London Rd. put it in a
truck, took it to Victoria & re-packed
it into a luggage van & had some
dinner & came to Warrington where
we handled the kit and more & finally
dumped it here. We had dinner & then
I went to town & bought some music &
met Pat & Connie & had a yarn. I couldn't
get my bike as it hasn't arrived yet. After
tea I went to the pictures & saw "Girl
Crazy". Judy Garland & Rooney. I had
a shower & then got off to bed. 

JULY, 1944
Sunday 16
I had breakfast & wrote & then had a bath &
shave & went  church. It was a very good
service. I had dinner & then went to Warington
on a U.S. truck & waited for the bus
to Chistie. I got off at Frodsham & went
for a rather long walk up the hill &
then along thro' the woods for a couple
of miles. It was most delightful & a
beautiful day. I caught the bus back
& had tea at YMCA then came out to camp
I had some supper & a shower & got off
to bed. 

JULY, 1944
THIRTY-SIX
Monday 17
14.15.16.17
I went on parade & we were detailed
for link & I did a lousy SBA. I collected
my kit & went to the Ed. Off. & saw about
my correspondence course. I had dinner
& in the afternoon there was nothing
cooking so we went to town & I took
my best blues to the dry cleaners & also
called at the Guardian about the photos.
Then we went to the baths as it was a
very hot day & swam for ¾ hr. We had
afternoon tea at YWCA & I went to the
station to collect my bike but it wasn't
there. I came home & had tea & settled
down to a yarn with Ken & Jack & then some
solid letter writing. I got mail from Mum
Audrey, Pat Cranwell, Mrs Cranwell, Sheila
Grabham, Margaret Hearn & Margaret. I

replied to Mum, Audrey, Pat & Mrs Cranwell &
Margaret. I had a shave & then got off to
bed.
Sheila Grabham is in the AWAS & seems
quite a nice lass. 

JULY, 1944
Tuesday 18
I got up & had breakfast & we went on
parade & were volunteers for farm work
but they sent us to shovel coal so we
bludged the rest of the morning. I had
dinner & we were given new postings &
had our kit inspected. I rushed into
town to collect our laundry & my bike
but neither were ready. I had tea at the
new YMCA & then came home. I slept a
bit then went out again & met Ken
Butler & we went to the YM. dance. Harry
had told them we were going & they were all
very dollful but I withheld the information.
I danced a lot & had a super night.
It was easily the best so far. We walked
home with the girls who hadn't recovered
much at all from the dumps. Harry & I
caught the train home & got some chips
& had a yarn with a couple of WAAFs. I
washed & hit the hay. 

JULY, 1944
Wednesday 19
I had breakfast & went out on
parade & we copped duty for W/O
Cleary & did a spot of gardening. We
bludged off & I went & received
my allotment to S. 6/-. I had
dinner & went to town with Harry
but we couldn't get our uniforms so
we went to see "Spider Woman" &
"Around the World" & it was a fair
show. We came home & dressed &
shaved & went back to the YMCA
where we stooged about a while. We
helped the girls (Sue, Eileen & Marge) a
bit. I was on duty & had to leave
early. I came back & reported for
blackout patrol & after we had
done the job, I got off to bed. I wrote
to Sheila Grabham today 

JULY, 1944
Thursday 20
I got up & had breakfast & went on
parade. We panicked a bit about our
blues & eventually I went in after
lunch & collected mine. The bike hasn't
turned up yet. I came back & we were
cleared & I'm in charge of our draft.
I washed & had a shower & shaved
& after hanging around a bit, we
went with them to Sue's place where
we yarned then took a bus to Wooldon
& strolled a bit. We came back to
Sue's & Harry put in a bit of good
work with Margery. We bade a
very fond farewell to the girls. The
party consisted of Eileen, Marge &
Sue & Ken, Frank, Harry & self. We
had supper & forgot to say goodnight
to Mr & Mrs Wainwright. We
came home by train & hit the hay.
letter from Ian & Pat Cranwell. 

JULY, 1944
THIRTY-SEVEN
Friday 21
I got up & after breakfast made my way
down to the hangar & was all ready to
go when they told me I was off the
posting. I saw Goldacre & he told me I'm
on an AFW posting !!!! I went thru' to
town for the morning & played the piano
at the YMCA. A Mr Alkinson had a yarn
with me & invited me there for the evening
I had dinner & bludged the whole afternoon
then had tea & a shave & went to
the rly. stn. & cancelled the bike address &
went to the YM. I heard the Polish String
Quartet & they performed pieces by Purcell,
Haydn & Debussy & were very good. There
were 3 fiddles & a cello - 3 men & a
lady. I had supper & came back &
wrote a bit. Got letters from Mrs
Cranwell, Shirl & two from Margaret.
I wrote home & replied to Margaret.
Harry left today for Leconfield where I
was going. 

JULY, 1944
Saturday 22
I had breakfast & went on parade &
we were given our AFW posting - Little
Rislington. I had a kit inspection & then we
bludged all morning. I had morning tea
& went on parade & then came to dinner
I did my washing then went into town
with Frank Ryan & we went to Sue's
place but she wasn't there We roamed
thro' town & met Connie & Pat & later
Sue, Marge & Eileen. We had a yarn &
arranged for tomorrow then had tea
at Y.M.C.A. I went home & wrote to the
Rly. Stn. at Swindon about my bike
& then played cards & listened to the
wireless. I had a wash & hit the
hay.
I wrote to Harry today. 

JULY, 1944
Sunday 23
I didn't get up till about 0930 & after shaving
went to church. It was quite good. I
came back & had dinner & ironed my
battle dress then went to town with
Frank Ryan & we met Eileen & Sue & Marge
came up later & we all went out to Lymm.
We walked around the lake then sat on the
lawn for a while then Marge had to go &
presently we all left. We had tea at the
YMCA & then went to "40,000 Horsemen"
which was a rather good show. We
packed the pass. a bit & later came to
Sue's place where we had supper and
once more bade very fond farewell to
Sue & Marge. We came to the station but
the last train had done so we had to
hike home. We had a yarn with a bloke
the whole way & he showed us a short
cut. I wrote to Rly. Stn. Swindon today. 

JULY, 1944
Monday 24
I got up & had a wash & breakfast &
went on parade. We were given our
movement orders & were off till 1400. We
were paid & I then had FFI & so am
all ready to go. I finished packing
& took my stuff over then had a
shower. I had tea & then helped Ken
with his kit & also altered my address at
the Ed. Office & went to town & left it at
the Rly Stn. I went with the boys,
Frank & Ken and we said goodbye to
Mrs Appleton & to Mrs Wainwright
then came home. I wrote to
Margaret & then got off to bed. 

JULY, 1944
Tuesday 25
We woke very early & after breakfast
moved across to No 2 drill shed where
we got into buses & saw the last of
Padgate. I helped in the baggage party
throughout the trip & we had a very
interupted journey. We changed at
Crewe, Birmingham, Worcester & left
the train at Kingham where we were
taken by tender to Little Riss. It is
a huge station & all up-to-date
with large amenities. I think we'll
enjoy ourselves here but it is very
strange at present & I haven't any
chinas. I had tea & a shower & shaved
& played cards for a while then
got off to bed. 

JULY, 1944
THIRTY-EIGHT.
Wednesday 26
18
I got up & we went up to breakfast &
then I went out on parade & we had
the usual pep talks etc. We were dentally
inspected and heights were taken. I
had a bit of morning tea & in the
afternoon we had a couple of lectures
I was made Assistant Night Captain
& marched the lads around a bit. I
had tea & we went to an ASRS lecture
in which the bloke demonstrated the
airborne lifeboat. I had a shower &
wrote home & swotted up a bit of
cockpit drill then turned in.