Diary of Edward Lloyd Fleming, January- September 1945 - Part 7

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.128
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

out I lege cantal Stancall, so Irot t sutia which I now anlg fe loss te partey was hai sltly wasging back with tlla Hetan to wont to bed tal very wld ever in daylegst t arrised at Pntiel Lewe about r00 & I pet a fea to basth where I had a bal + slaw & te st faid to est but food put wount so I had to gowident I weat to Bodal House to in aboud my pt but they told a nothing deny for tes & aloues i t se Sept E0 aller of avnors abset the nsaveate went esland to bost letle was out so sray th oll wites to se if it would be or to come down the agrees I got t first coadabletian & to nail was a paie from hous + came mupapies but atter from Mun as Magar &also I desoered Io Aft my pysmes at Pituel i wet for avery ayry able wack to mut De tisls & I des mota th Aidet nre b too agate ten Retty puntd my du fil forto seefx fin where th trable lay we nates for a white the timed in they all sean very wals litty willes be tell ip se as a carss ts will gave me wo v inlustry sals on lasl wriling too &&ix lwea) butt cased in at o7r & sduse ssupped sactly into town and pestanned at Musyy House as bapt Aller was coming out to fost on the tea d thand wed her & he told me Underity degreesin wag as now requires for acev c& com for griduties by that teifee apanton is in vesage to desand will be quate than the suppe y lct o knowledge I have of flyny will be soal o that the degres will be resputin stues bfe Ifthe at diral Hus leaded for Esgwar lo 6 pe ut my show butth shop inclosed to tou so Iwent t te camees foll they seemed o that light was gating thre he whdow is we blacked it out mas bought to bes to expescs d went then the Auplane whitites aey toroughly the had deme at them reterent Returnd t Radal Houss upul propree they had nothing ne to pt I went Otle Beos ireng blus met trank Dunnool thrs Coontn worh, after a bod called D leggid bull came at warg, a red bentous posig but so bein thembe aough we had sen say ice paweseads 224 (then) thed a toll & shaw other bualp Aty wished my watles for me while I hepped Hisbiittes shall sim apples of a tree euttten y fe pr Metsis Arhur Kill the sdidse reading before dims In deaftenss we punted some
peud After ie dunk rlly &Eant a becastly fetuers and the went fico ne week th lonter igad tlesco n t lada isedil gony and werl daning someone stong upa tell wll in tad tex I spentls evening writingd reading yp thmited sanully w saw twe bi a my room wrasted twllepes who figared sathe promined ot Treansueeoce atee we warled daloh whitehall to Dawnin De wuths dus is to town after treasast and the steat but appet from sevice cheeps, to re the the sabebowes most interesting Icalled titll to be sun aitea faily laage wodw h mad ofte sing his rams they lave a secaut waiting for atte to appear. Lowe returnd auttod oea park Ritly Mistasles I set out for to the Playmarket & ses two trolls had Caving & Ed. 4o do rem shopping of backs in been wiited on to shoulders muns this sent must of iustient a sagles I bought o sool weaties & that was aiste clothes they had be returned o the Natisal &allry where Ditty bought on top shay were taken into a shap presently tebet lud midday emet while miscau when they drassed a ty sulant the lought by buch which we allate on the stips of the were amyed ty lost ao tias is getay y excelecting tefalgang It was s beutfi bt to Picadith & swagging thee kips sumy day and the two peac playing at Roconars bsoms al t way byths time har polict was betyen when it had fintes ar weuleshing sme th siewd disploses we went of somy t panting ahen Fintee te neas on a he last stuels & saw the pnls & twlle t fper Eltty spper out & bougst austty reton & th rlygugtes Mither Mastell as we enough heves was ever h warked of Young & Kydes bome than &hada ben tey macket to you bee tous has a di tee ther git a tew all actet falt be sun otte casteling the rcied in hicadelly a witte while te well being blkes in tean srcme cop adedI had to stande iit in t pit Rea Se Aten Rott conduc some Buthover standing alloae the beosstature buss wer worksEment oestios boces sygh stepped on secus was besiing wery taxe that
aent whe was brilliant leal detar bail& to go the wall from t te the the Rest was very teart taidince that asen more ss at buch and I epart a most intresting tim at the goe saw to buds plety of Cooketuues badgu drgso wallabie It is lea Blac & the sas senging or the steps of rlens Veller a leaplgar 3 the parklands wer puitt a big place on the way bac stob a pholt of a pavd fail of peope, so beautefas was the negst and ment artict bal it was off the fel took the train to rosdicas status wce & send a fing nan Charng & & ten same out home steaget we aad nuse we waited a while for this thrbet thee deave a becutiful to and Pitty & Tweat for a wall in the e nd thats ltte wil sape duecton of orpongter ten diviliped my plon Iuas streamees but up near Kingsway it was deackd a bit before tuning in was amused at the bady trught the ubbicted Bulwed some Dutergu nsaley takory forteels mits falle& eating what after supper we all got off to bed I wrote & citte a find and also to chem batson aed splade Just Hhewould herns asside t b inbabiswed hes walls Another nonly hada mse I couldit quilt fatter it t e t we only a spd of b 12245 (Sin] we were up latish and Bitly and I of hrad inside we but I as first to thering & and t printed my filos but they were done on the wrong to lesfelon 3o I teal sags of Admicety Acct and als poper ao plsuts were not particularly satisfactory aled of to Mad to Buchingham Palace then to Boadea lol then went for a walk ove the goll links & selne t wat ba atong tecasily t be dce uan auct alsng sloftobery Ave bad to Claing &ld wtes Biggin tall antils matters fol at hom or so der caupt a bes to Bdat les spl my fid letter from returned, I packed I said nodly to Pitty pust as she had to play for 35 and then I took leave & Orr home for 6ac I continued in to Blckfrias budg hes withs & cougst the busa re Bromley & so walled along to enbankoeat matelly gatig yo u to litle back banter struts between to rey & t detiann so went to Stt Mombey ggot slandon just in time to catch the 1205 noith. It was ten nt the psipp land + had brch the went ipl St Buls Madt de to Rucl to hay & dea to th poanss erewded & shadto stand all the evey we the tation to Mable Act the went alet Pack ttores were accapied by about 4 bads i
sytt a ham to Millene thee some any putty ubects, A deffeed Igot a bus which toa me to EldertyI silliauses tulfuas aey trautifu wta good lyse of here gt a good bed bast wte tiue intering in oent of thes Iwalked the some woods to Beals Aep Mon) Afte bushfast Iweat to Dpatch tl breck and saw a beg shadl on matem tones at a kigh hopes of getting away Aday but a py Hgh Stoves load I walked to lendfuld gden prsnted a a bet of trauts over cail wanants but I t all will be was tomorow I went to the luggage store tcity in rer they were looking very beautiful ten aught te tram to the Botandel gdus which I wasked fir my stilf forard on Coffey thir Hid been thres then get an aner are h to thecos stati to merpect ste e had along ga togite th saw a let of the industrical didrects that way I i t get a fot n Deds or Beadford I went to went to a treates + saw thos but the honly please aunte othen put the beaid on Evy als wC0 pe sit was vey road. slad the prise to that at the ususe at 150 started to litelinto town wih a paied ce and tn caught te sou cain Had quite a sph sone for hems& my but thu parts whec aod tr bet 2 let of O8s filles dest compan te depped in some white paint docted te par mew + also get my umpen shaveso pussed at ir shore intell by Clarks & lefers to one would se 14845 (te) &F-Ofan Drcnemy & RACE we re woken na stiamou a be ness I up ay kit beak as I stacted to wast back waker a get te boat ds trip ws perfectly smuth & acaro Atambalones gave se a left to the cas &a stale hame early lang this ee and the caueet t truel lack to a I cxpeeted my sweet cate tain to Biffect & had quite an interesting garn and spert the wlaing packing roganing they low pssus (Yeats) at the car wee r writing tuned in quite early ( Tes) tu at hewuld tim has bruffer stated I had a bath + shave + caught the Ritrust tan t Betty ate girls at the hous and Portuie a save ten packed & took my best bl to th bign wes lasingly gay with bands maring store the wileted my leave pass, signd out s pitch about 2 blomes Hancy daes a faure duss ntt helforton a Rvan &a ordenay oon the caugt de train to shippel I had a longting to wait and pacade toal place at 1500 and a hug happy
ded assembled on lamose to see it after I bey to get working I tasked araund swn soia white people feest wandeed aroun & then after te at Hn sght te i back to Coluam, I called at th H00 we went to lamer to see the bonfix & wilits C.C. He for harvestiry wwas dsited to a s the neval baats shat of soos trace wckets ete stewart by the ministry of aqugatture to bead to fire was very big hight, ro hu wou was hour Istact work in to fields on Munday at tere we had supper swent to the Palladum reven £32:0a week from adoo w0 & tednese after be dand the used were still roaming acsuas at bought t ben back & missedabout Utee time. Pettys I went to se the less Dead & bet wiging deacing tat to lay about as Be thurs) was up in fairly good time & after &celfae Blomp io te wearng sit was an enjoyableo incuesting where felor Cams back & had supper just waited absut for but We went for a stioll dewn day I had a bit of a gai witl from Meffats pasnts to staand to be dines + I put set on the said in besatful sinuctin atthed tl carein to disine got straget an are senning foll then I termed in out again yoined we sumbased but didnt seven R.L.4C Bat) I pent the morning writing letter & Retty came in about 120 for dienner the hada bad cam into tee afterwhich ae wlded the handegous & ten were & of them be weat to go to be pictures but therewas first ding in th afternoon and then we went act ful house called it off in aat cam back& wae sill plags. It was a difficult Jobs Ihad to de plenty of the went out to supper P de Julsgue A bad was sates talk but we unded up by extracting £2:13:02 from the publics pocket pan sead us by a hap aaned off the last steand today w had at the pury we had tea after da been talking to a cha Majste Ofter waiting tas hour & getting a really starkg who ansidered pagdays all wrong & started to tell derege Came it & ratterd fora whole ten got offte me why ( he was tight) and in the weaig Cetty A2t Pre) baught the eges to Refest & made ay pan? I went to the Palladuion It was full way placely to Emplayment Edang where Isaw but my daming is improving ots rat the begin tbe hatie again but he was against the clral to of each danse wed get a good ren Cane hame to so Igave of to the ast would have taken oting supper to bed
enten) wwes up for braffer and then wald for City we set on the Counge a whe ten went for a tng wall to the white lochs discussing the ereation Eligion generally we las teek for dines, den in t aftenson we went out along te said dimes & read te papss we didnt say much after te we went to the sucader listend to the musie and same hom interding to go to the Epilegal but changed our mind sett cut my land for tonsury thi hane get my tresfest healy then ie but the hay 4 245 (M) Iwasarak but oter called w at or weeled, at I got rely for my lay onth land I waiter at the state forthe nuch and met another bad & bleraine we answered our names and Mr Stewart come of & told me he had a lt wer fortuest for one bed I was diffident but te promiced aring one during the mbrning, meantion I returned hom here the rreend of wolkes sertainly looked mht roug I felt a bit & agig in my nice nea demons I spen the mirning reding, waiting for he shene when it did come, it was to diret me to a te belde gentte farmer who lves narty I had be and stacl photes in in the afterson after the Cetty and I went to se wheing in Brooklyn what was a literious stow and I got a pain laughing at ine tlge where A shetterput on geggles, fala sett Support an also good we came sed to supper and the got up a few more lauison & drewing resm and then turned in Tes) woks fuling ant ofte buffed I wrote a little thengot outod twent fora walk 4 te whiterocks and it was til battling against a gale going tthe said was plying hed shead boming bec as a whole let casies & reads stept all dinnr time and den started to contisider a picture of King willian I souget at the conce shop stell full rotteer at the bat lede nitt & after Bitl had been to te doctor we went along to te salladum Hes were very po tre to start will & we hes the pleas to reuslves we came back, Bilt has some supple and the cougt aff te bed 222 (wid) Dint falter trght odry tt morning writng & redorg Collected my plen onle rlts fe dinner Bitty ss off for the afternaon swe went out on the sand Limes & stabitle but cleud car up a we gave it away & camt at to I ley & Legort toon while whole Petty reed to mth Tast into my own restd we read its Itmed in about ess0, stillfaln sut fiered Atty brought me a tittle supper
et state + we got the wirpas working Had notting a during to regrt est all day again + Cetty has been a great react to mi De (thurs) tlex about se feeling very sun + we betenld to the weeekes at night and then sterned in spent the morning saday woriting rly went out to pr + for a change, get a very good night rest th that a letter Iouty has a serateh al dinner ten Citty were Eeauld be home in ny old next apstans now beck to work and I reas or played the piacs all te 26845 (sun) wile feeling ight on tes of the Oftenson It was sold + ready outsed & twa ver world but that elation passed off before long& sold on to drawing room pd up there ofter Twas quite siek for a time I had a batt & chavce tu 1900 ten idecidedtiting in Betty can& nat ten care ball to beso just distines to the cadis Bott by te redt &I was tuidlyhet in it so she tecl away stayed with me geting anything I wanted being some of the clothes fack bill MeAtayd a very checrful & I got betty rttte during te day lt o noi aber ty sam in generally opeeding at rocted tallled a pacted egg On mum te nght iccef I could have done wid one of issuire packed E4 Pridy) I fill a bet better in the morning It was very enjoyable & I oe been having quite a bet bat didn't habe any breakfast and sat in the drewing room went up the street to plone betly desin o gestit agucon tos was in great spirits te to morning fill thubl Taged in doers all the About 1020 when my cchubirance rather, had to aftenoon actually bd am te, Bitty or pay heavily & for the rest of de mest I felt on minged evest to a te e e a yo Rith stayed wed we sel about 2120 whe & gave the soae medicine the has gent some te. Alssue ow D pack in trite to we imtam I terned in 262.42 (Mon) was sock all worning & misse s fulng thdace got stought to be out in all weals again Trees some toast for 345 (t) Seaned to be a lot worse in the morning after a first effort at getting ip, I lay intess of my next tea te went down to see Ds Shiln Cloomen went in front of me + another bludged in rest of the norning and Woln Cetty came in, He made the bids I spot the afternoon in it in a cather chan Iwas sick when talking to him H wanted
to devr what sert of attention Iwas getting suggested I should fo to the hospital & acked for a dut and he fired ups I decided to try it for a day or so firsl Had quite a pt getting hem a I was vlly weak & then hit the lay Teaper in portruch oe costing 8/6a16 and olter is tiully annoying in her effocts to please the suggests a sohale d mense & asks, after Ia al are you seet now t a to stepid weath piles siddotting on top of me on see would have on suffecate Bltty is stl a wizeu lid t have round stideed t re whice Tives out tonight 22 Rues) another full day in bed but feeling guite a tet better thy fired me up for bulfast and as diner time they brought out 6 fied from the house which was very nice I got up about 1800 shared and went to be doctor I felt rotter dere & atthe he discesed an improvatient. I was very plased to get to bed & Altt, who was alse thre apu te night will me tel 2300 (ed) I have a taully disgraable nature Im sure My behavious towards bitly has hee pip & is rethr rminiscent of te way I behaved with pnon one Sixtand tip. I nus dought it and memfet telf wit a gus I lep woiding her glane, bees, grempy & argumentive ty trouble is that all good recollitions foued in bl absence go by te wind wohen shishere yet thee couldnt be anyon so kind attentive to me He day passed ordinaely & for a char I reda lt which I vefell mmlik doing before Iwas vry tired at mast & Belly read a bitt to me thed tred in 38 242 (Thure fust spent an sederary moning in sed and had a beautiful dinner there I get up en & cleaned af a bet then went to be part office It was very tiring & played the preas a bet & got be to bed at 1620 Nugaret can out for a fgs as sa wesed the dose. I deeided to hand it thei He wind put it, hal full of wates, on the bed o repaet the whole lot Just read a bit at night & Autty tided the reson & made my bed M & MisRass toll came out to ill me & it was very nice of the Retly read me a couple of stoppy sheep stores and then I get set fol the nightsumed in (The) le before so had buakfest telegram saying leaw was not extended & to then as soon as possible was brought me I set u most of the morning & wrote a bet I did some embroidey den slept for a while Ellen can
out at the hire which put m in a towering uge which I wluted all day on psor old Bett I ssent to afterneon reading the eening being niggly &c& &o Oat & got up for buabfect but lay in my bed most of the morning and read a ltell In the afternoon, Aeter dina, Betly I went out in to the said dunes for an hour or a but Id las it by the tews we got bec + turned in Had tee in bed and read a lot & Betty went to the pitures Imad my rest + turned in there was an arrift cerrier offstore a bet ooday, I believe it came in say sd at night 2Er Bun once again I was up early and Belly I sent the liter part of the morning sumning on lane H Ident fuel wel enough to go to church In the Afternoon we went out to the sandhills & Bully um beted but as the serg yas a bit much for m. I just set in the shade nearly +reas. al te jachts sent out to the sarries and looked very pty e came back lesurely to tee and inthe evening Citty did a wholelet of my embrssdey & wisled presed it we aldged af tel about 22 waiting for this knox to come out bal sh came ds I was drawying 2910 Mon) Killd Bltly &2 were all upa 570 at eatch the 0900 to Belforl freaus Bell ha an appointment with D Hloke t tenoue, Hille wat to meet the Bill & Iwanted to tey to get a fly by air to Hlendon the teep to beffesl was putt dissed remoded we went to £0 but the only char was censillations & so we sald on kill bros then Iwent tac to 20 to se if any starters has failed to arrive but all well on pron so we took my steff to the station and went to dimer ats Cartton- stra good then the girly went to the spualest &d to be statin & back to a tookslef weter they were neding a felen called Back in exland & saul red to come out of the shop reating to praise of illiter & the managu same out shad a word with him Auit andusing los beck to city tlall + met the gul rleft hilfe to her on dwvices while faly & Tsat for a while by twar Mmoria then went 6 a ca. At 120y we na our way to the statin & I got the 1220 for hain Depatsgues as best I could for my some behave te parting was maredly platance but I still felt the same pang as t trom pulled out slas aony at harn sot knowing a letter sd geten the rest or no but buiseed mwhen 80 stea places were rebased & tely got on the Avoy
test to PNayeret. Avery smoold trep over Ellens sickn sandwiches were As service personell were the first off at Stramder I got a sat but some rid day pups filled to comp activen x (lus) a putt goot nght o slet a we had to get out at Hutll sown again the countly thre Derbyslic was beautiful in the tms Icauset the Ground to Kings & but codd not get a bect so went to Radal house wheres ficked ip a hupe wad of mad and my pay too. I raught a huis to Edquald & went to the shal place to pix ye nos dleft to long ago out they didnt kave a cl to I left in adslute disguse went to Kings & (where they were seeling beautifu appls) caught the 1600 norttbound train lt a good seet & I read my mearl & papes on the run o Hd 14 his to wait for the bus at lattold so went to a ce and ten waited ito stret. Put ap the neght in the late arried huts el was I teed Met lite booneyd ahe thous (wed) up in good time capter shaving & brakfast I went to accomodation & got a bex & reported to dispatel fit. Im not on dight & thy dont esent me chtel Friday Dod got my bep in of atore s came back to the heet to wait for the stif Apart from going to bund & tee I spent the realy ddy in the But re pasting and mending in Rit ag In the evening & irate a bit then turne in ally very cold The Hen Butler on the mes &246 Thurs went if to buskfast & had a shower pattered round in the nuot all the morning & tool my stols to town at 1220& had denne in there too then started wall ig out but an lt oan driver by an Aussee of pished me up & brought me in to back evey Hhe didnt book behind as io tuned off the man rad + a by any true who was swinging out to overtake has eterifie fot avoiding an accident s tough our tike had some waited for allowances the afternoon but didat get in so I statled my mus buil of £159 sead dune and then reiy ball to de put & wrote tul it came on da th corin becease ours the rad buts are widout least toneght 2ane (Ir) we were woken very early by the felles on draft going out then Ihas bullfast collected my allowences amounting to £10903 went over to lear what dispatch fet had to ray

out. A large crowd at Stranraer, so I got the slow train 
- in which I’m now writing. ‘Ye Gods’ the parting
was hard! Betty was going back with Nella. The train
trip wasn't too bad but very cold even in daylight. We
arrived at Kentish Town about 1200 & I got a U/ground
to Euston where I had a bath & shave & then set forth to
eat but food just wasn’t so I had to go without. I
went to Kodak House to see about my job but they
told me nothing doing for Wed, & advised me to see
Capt E.U. Allen of Q.U.A.N.T.A.S about the civil aviation.
Went round to B.O.A.C. But he was out so I rang thru'
to the Willis' to see if it would be O.K to come down. They

agreed & I got the first available train. In the mail
was a parcel from home and some newspapers but no
letter from Mum or Margaret & also I discovered I’ve
left my pyjamas at Portrush!!! We went for a very 
enjoyable walk to meet Dr Willis & I also met a Mrs
Herbert & we had tea together then Betty printed my
”dull” 35 m.m film for me to see if we could find
where the trouble lay. We nattered for a while then 

turned in. They all seem very well & Betty Willis 
has taken up music as a career. Mrs Willis gave me
some very interesting dope on book-writing too.
8.8.45 (Wed). Betty called me at 0730 & I dressed
& nipped smartly into town and just arrived at Airways 

House as Capt Allen was coming out so I got on the bus to
the Strand with him & he told me a/. University degrees in 
science are now required for aircrew & in econ. & comm.
for ground duties b/. that terrific expantion is envisaged 
& the demand will be greater than the supply.
c/. that the knowledge I have of flying will be invaluable.
d/. That the degrees will be useful in retired life. I left him

at Aerial House & headed for Edgware Rd., to pick up
my shoes but the shop is closed till the 11th so I went to
the camera folk. They seemed to think the light was getting
thru the window so we blacked it out more. Caught
the bus to Oxford Circus & went thru the Airplane
exhibition very thoroughly then had dinner at Kensington

restaurant. Returned to Kodak House to report progress

& they had nothing new to report give me so I went to the Boomerang 
Club and met Frank Dimmock there. Came home
shortly after. A bod called Dr Reggie Ruell came
in the evening, a real bumptious pommy but very

brainy & harmless enough. We had some very nice
gramo records.
9 8.8.45 (Thurs). I had a bath & shave & then breakfast
& Betty washed my clothes for me while I helped

Mrs. Willis shake some apples of a tree & cut them up
for preserving. Met Sir Arthur Keith & then I did some
reading before dinner. In the afternoon we printed some

 

films and then went for a nice walk thru Loxted &
round Biggin Hill airdrome & watched the Dakotas come

in. Had tea and spent the evening writing & reading up
in my room.
9.8.45 (Fri). JAPAN SURRENDERS.
Dr Willis drove us in to town after breakfast and the
run thru the suburbs was most interesting. I called
for mail after seeing Drs rooms & they have a beautiful
outlook over a park. Betty, Mrs Willis & I set out for
Charing X Rd. to do some shopping of books in &
spent most of our time in Foyles & I bought 9 books.
We returned to the National Gallery where Betty bought
tickets for the midday concert while Mrs Willis & I
bought the lunch which we all ate on the steps of the

Gallery overlooking Trafalgar Sq. It was a beautiful
sunny day and the two piano playing at the concert
was bang on. When it had finished we were looking

at some paintings when I noticed the news on a 
bloke's paper. Betty nipped out and bought another &
sure enough the war was over. We walked up
Haymarket to Lyons Corner House & had a drink

after watching the crowd in Piccadilly a little while.
They were throwing blokes in the air, servicemen & cops
& standing all over the Eros statue. Buses were
stopped & one crowd was besieging every taxi that 

passed. After our drink Betty & I went to Piccadilly
again & now they had a "crocodile" going and
were dancing. Someone slung up a toilet roll
& it undid beautifully. We saw two big-breasted
trollops who figured rather prominently 
later. We walked down Whitehall to Downing

street but apart from service chiefs, there was
little to be seen altho a fairly large crowd was
waiting for Attlee to appear. So we returned
to the Haymarket & these two trolls had

been hoisted on to shoulders minus their
sweaters & that was all the clothes they had
on top! They were taken into a shop presently
where they dressed & altho they made out they
were annoyed they lost no time in getting
back to Piccadilly & swaggering their hips & 
bosoms all the way. By this time horse-police had

come & the crowd dispersed. We went up some of
the back streets & saw the Yanks & trolls in
action & the sly grog too. Met Dr & Mrs Willis at
Charing X Lyons Corner House and had a beaut
tea then got a taxi to the Albert Hall. We "promenaded" -
ie. had to stand or sit in the pit & hear 

Sir Arthur Bolt conduct some Beethoven
works - Egmont overture, Eroica Symph & more

 

concerts - he was brilliant. Took the taxi back to
Sardinia Street & saw more crowds at Buckingham
Palace & they were singing on the steps of

Nelsons Pillar in Trafalgar Sq. The parklands were
full of people, so beautiful was the night, and
Boadicea's statue looked A1 beside a finger nail
moon. We waited a while for Mrs Herbert then drove
home. London streets were littered with paper &
streamers but up near Kingsway it was deserted
tonight. They celebrated here with some Dutch grog
& after supper we all got off to bed. I wrote a little
first.  "The World Turned upside Down."
10.8.45 (Sat) Up early & off to town with only a couple of bits
of bread inside me but I went first to Charing X and then
to Trafalgar Sq. I took snaps of Admiralty Arch and also
walked up the mall to Buckingham Palace then to Boadicea's
statue. Walked back along Piccadilly to the circus & wandered
along Shaftsbury Ave back to Charing X Rd. where I
caught a bus to Kodak house & got my first letter from
home for 6 weeks! I continued on to Blackfriars Bridge &
walked along the embankment, eventually getting up into
the little back bombed streets between the river & Fleet Street.
Went thru newspaper land & had lunch then went up to
St. Pauls. Made down to Pauls Wharf & then to the U/ground &
got a train to Marble Arch. Then I went To Regents Park to see

the zoo. The walk from the tube thru the Park was very beautiful

and I spent a most interesting time at the zoo. Saw the birds

plenty of kookaburras & budgies & dingoes & wallabies. It is

quite a big place On the way back I took a photo of a pavement

artist but it was off the film. Took the train to

Charing X & then came out home straight. We had

a beautiful tea and Betty & I went for a walk in the 

direction of Orpington then developed my film. I read

a bit before turning in. Was amused at the baby

monkey looking for ticks on its father & eating what

 it found and also the chim baboon which splashed

the onlookers with his water. Another monkey had a

mirror & couldn't quite fathom it.

11.8.45 (Sun) We were up latish and Betty and I

printed my films but they were done on the wrong

paper so results were not particularly satisfactory.

We then went for a walk over the golf links & sat near

Biggin Hill Airfield & nattered for an hour or so then

returned & I packed. I said goodbye to Betty first as

she had to play for S.S. and then I took leave of Dr. & 

Mrs Willis & caught the bus to Nth Bromley. I'd  missed 

the train so went to Nth Bromley. I'd missed
the train so went to Sth Bromley & got to London

just in time to catch the 1705 north. It was terribly 

crowded & I had to stand all the way. Even the

lavatories were occupied by about 4 bods in each.

 

At Retford I got a bus which took me to Elkesley & I

got a good bed. Lost little time in turning in.
12.8.45 (Mon) After breakfast I went to Despatch Flt
in high hopes of getting away today but no joy &

a bit of trouble over rail warrants but I think all

will be well tomorrow. I went to the luggage store to
fix my stuff & found John Coffey there. He'd been 
to Morpeth etc & we had a long yarn together. He's
off to get a job at Leeds or Bradford. I went to 

dinner & then put the braid on my old N.C.O jacket 
& at 1545 started to hitch into town with a parcel 

for John & one for home & my best blue pants which 

I'd dropped in some white paint. Posted the parcels 

& also got my uniform cleaned & pressed at very

short notice by Clarks of Retford. No one would sew 

up my kit pack so I started to walk back when a 

R.A.F. Ambulance gave me a lift to the corner & a station

truck back to camp. I collected my sweet ration 

and spent the evening packing & organizing things 

& writing. Turned in quite early. 
13.8.45 (Tues). I got up at the usual time, had breakfast &

a shower & then packed & took my best blues to the
luggage-store then collected my leave pass, signed out & hitched 

into Retford on a G.P.O. van & a ordinary car then caught 

the train to Sheffield. I had a long time to wait and so
caught a tram to Millhouses thru some very pretty suburbs & 

Millhouses itself was very beautiful with a good type of house 

& plenty of trees. I walked thru' some woods to Bents 

Green and saw a big school on modern lines at 

High Stores Road. I walked to Endfield Gdns. presented to 

the city in 1887 & they were looking very beautiful. Then I 

caught the tram to the Botanical Gdns which I walked 

thru & then got an inner circle bus to the LMS station 

& saw a lot of the industrial districts that way. I 

went to a theatre & saw "None But the Lonely Heart" 

& it was very good. Had tea prior to that at the usual

café and then caught the 2040 train. Had quite a 

good trip but a lot of O.R.'s filled the 1 st compartment.

14.8.45 (Wed) VJ - OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF PEACE

We were woken near Stranraer & told the news. I 

got the boat & the trip was perfectly smooth & we arrived 

home early. Rang Mrs Knox and then caught the

train to Belfast & had quite an interesting yarn

with the fellow passengers (Yanks). At the LMS NCC

station I had a bath & shave & caught the Portrush 

train. Met Betty & the girls at the house and Portrush

was exceedingly gay with bands marching 

about & banners & fancy dress. A fancy dress 

parade took place at 1500 and a huge, happy

 

crowd assembled on Ramore to see it. After it the
people just wandered around & then after tea at 

2000 we went to Ramore to see the bonfire & rockets.
The naval boats shot of some tracer & rockets etc &
the fire was very big & bright & a huge crowd was
there. We had supper & went to the Palladium & even
after the dance the crowds were still roaming around 

singing & dancing. Hit the hay about 0230.

15.8.45 (Thurs) Was up in fairly good time & after breakfast

just waited about for Betty. We went for a stroll down along
the Strand to the dunes & I just sat on the sand in beautiful
sunshine & nattered. We came in to dinner & got straight away
out again & yarned. We sunbathed but didn't swim &

came in to tea after which we watched the Lambeggers & there
were 4 of them. We went to go to the pictures but there was
full house so called it off & instead came back & read 

then went out to supper & the Epilogue. A bod. was 

drowned off the East Strand today. We had "supper" at the

Majestic after waiting ½ an hour & getting a really stinking

sausage! Came in & nattered for a while then got off to

bed.

16.8.45 (Fri). Caught the 0900 to Belfast & made my

way slowly to Employment Exchange where I saw

Mr Latimer again but he was against the clerical job 

so I gave up the idea as it would have taken too long
to get working. I looked around town for a while &

then caught the 1310 back to Coleraine. I called at the 

E.E. there for harvesting & was directed to a Mrs

Stewart of the Ministry of Agriculture in the Courthouse. 

I start work in the fields on Monday at

£3.3.0 a week from 0800 - 1800 & till 1230 on

Sat. Caught the bus back & messed about till tea

time. Betty & I went to see "The Life & Death of Col. 

Blimp" in the evening & it was an enjoyable &

interesting, colour film. Came back & had supper & 
I had a bit of a yarn with Joan Moffat's parents who

are charming folk, then I turned in.

17.8.45. (Sat) I spent the morning writing letters &

Betty came in about 1230 for dinner. She had a bath 

first thing in the afternoon and then we went out to 

sell flags. It was a difficult job & I had to do plenty of 

sales talk but we ended up by extracting £2.13.0½

from the public's pocket. Joan beat us by a halfpenny! 

We had tea after I'd been talking to a chap 

who considered flag days all wrong & started to tell 

me why (he was tight). And in the evening Betty,

Joan & I went to the Palladium. It was very full 

but my dancing is improving lots & at the beginning

of each dance we'd get a good run. Came home to

supper & to bed.

 

18.8.45. (Sun) I was up for breakfast and then waited for
Betty. We sat in the lounge a while then went for a
long walk to the White Rocks discussing the creation &
religion generally. We were late back for dinner, then in
the afternoon we went out along the sand-dunes & I
had the papers & we didn't say much. After tea we went to
the Trocadero & listened to the music and came home
intending to go to the Epilogue but changed our minds.
Betty cut my lunch for tomorrow & Miss Knox got my
breakfast ready then we hit the hay.
29.8.45. (Mon) I was awake but Ellen called me at 0645 &
I washed, ate & got ready for my day on the land. I waited
at the station for the truck and met another lad. At
Coleraine we answered our names and Mr Stewart
came up & told me he had a job nearer Portrush for one
bod. I was diffident but he promised to ring me
during the morning, meantime I returned home here.
The crowd of workers certainly looked mighty rough &
I felt a bit of a gig in my nice new denims! I
spent the morning reading, waiting for the phone &
when it did come, it was to direct me to a Mr Baldwin
"gentleman farmer"!!! who lives nearby. I had lunch
and stuck photos in in the afternoon. After tea Betty
and I went to see "Whistling in Brooklyn" which 
was a hilarious show and I got a pain laughing
at one stage where Red Skelton put on goggles & false
teeth. Support was also good. We came back to
supper and then got up a few more hours in the
drawing room and then turned in.
20.8.45 (Tues). Woke feeling crook & after breakfast I
wrote a little then got outside. I went for a walk to the
Whiterocks and it was like battling against a gale
going & the sand was flying hard & high. Coming back
was a whole lot easier. I read & slept all dinner time
and then started to embroider a picture of King William
I bought at the corner shop. Still felt rotten at tea but
had a bath & after Betty had been to the doctor, we
went along to the Palladium. There were very few
there to start with & we had the floor to ourselves. We 
came back, Betty had some supper and then we got
off to bed.
212.8.45. (Wed). Didn't feel too bright today and spent the
morning writing & reading. Collected my film - only
8 results. After dinner Betty was off for the afternoon
so we went out on the sand-dunes & sunbathed
but cloud came up so we gave it away & came home.
After tea I lay in the girls' room awhile while Betty
read to me then I got into my room next &
we read etc, I turned in about 2300, still feeling
sick & feverish. Betty brought me a little supper

 

during the night.
23.8.45 (Thurs). Got up about 1000 feeling very crook & I
spent the morning reading & writing & only went out to post
a letter. I only had a scratch at dinner then Betty went
back to work and I read or played the piano all the
afternoon. It was cold & windy outside & I was very
cold in the drawing room. We yarned up there after tea
till 1940 then I decided to turn in. Betty came & sat
by the nest & I was terribly hot in it so she took away
some of the clothes. Jack & Bill McCartney made a
lot of noise when they came in & generally speaking,
the night was unsuccessful.
24.8.45 (Friday). I felt a bit better in the morning
but didn't have any breakfast and sat in the
drawing room. Went up the street to phone Betty during
the morning & felt terrible. Stayed in-doors all the
afternoon & actually tackled some tea. Betty organized
a visit to Dr Shien & he told me I have Jaundice
& gave me some medicine. He has spent some time in
Aussie & knew Dr Jonah in Lister Hse. We came home
I was feeling chronic & got straight to bed.
25.8.45 (Sat) Seemed to be a lot worse in the morning &
after a first effort at getting up, I lay on top of my nest the 
rest of the morning and when Betty came in, she made
the bed & I spent the afternoon in it in a rather exhausted
state & we got the wireless working. Had nothing to
eat all day again & Betty has been a great scout to me.
We listened to the wireless at night and then I turned in
& for a change, got a very good night's rest. Oh that
I could be home in my old nest upstairs now!
256.8.45. (Sun). Woke feeling right on top of the
world but that elation passed off before long &
I was quite sick for a time. I had a bath & shave etc
then came back to bed & just listened to the radio. Betty
stayed with me getting anything I wanted being
very cheerful & I got better & better during the day
& at 5 o'clock tackled a poached egg. Oh mum,
I could have done with one of you're poached eggs.
It was very enjoyable & I've been having quite a bit
of grapefruit & glucose too. Was in great spirits till
about 2030 when my exuberance rather had to
pay heavily & for the rest of the night I felt very
sick. Mrs Knox came out to have a little yarn
& Betty stayed with me till about 2130 when
I turned in  .  .
267.8.45 (Mon) Was crook all morning & missed
out on all meals again. Tried some toast for
tea then went down to see Dr. Shien. 6 women
went in front of me & another bludged in
& I was sick when talking to him. He wanted

 

to know what sort of attention I was getting &
suggested I should go to the hospital. I asked for
a diet and he fixed me up & I decided to try it
for a day or so first. Had quite a job getting home
as I was very weak & then hit the hay. Grapes
in Portrush are costing 8/6 a lb. and Ellen is
terribly annoying in her efforts to please. She
suggests a whole d- menu & asks after I say
"no", "Are you well now Mr Fleming?" And
the stupid wench piles bed clothing on top of me
& I am sure would have me suffocate. Betty is
still a wizard kid to have round & tidied the room
while I was out tonight.
28.8.45 (Tues) Another full day in bed but feeling
quite a lot better. Betty fixed me up for breakfast and
at dinner time they brought out a fish from the
house which was very nice. I got up about 1800 &
shaved and went to the doctor. I felt rotten there &
altho he discovered an improvement, I was very
pleased to get to bed & Betty, who was also there, spent
the night with me till 2300.
29.8.45. (Wed). I have a terribly disagreeable nature
I'm sure. My behaviour towards Betty has been piggish
& is rather reminiscent of the way I behaved with
John on our Scotland trip. I never thought it would
manifest itself with a girl. I keep avoiding her glance, being
grumpy & argumentive. My trouble is that all good
resolutions formed in her absence go by the wind
when she's here yet there couldn't be anyone so kind &
attentive to me. The day passed ordinarily & for a change
I read a lot which I've felt unlike doing before. I was
very tired at night & Betty read a little to me then I
turned in.
30.8.45 (Thurs). Just spent an ordinary morning in
bed and had a beautiful dinner there. I got up c
1130 & cleaned up a bit then went to the Post Office.
It was very tiring. I played the piano a bit & got back
to bed at 1630. Margaret came out for a jug & as I'd
locked the door, I decided to hand it thru the window
& put it, half full of water, on the bed & upset the 
whole lot! Just read a bit at night & Betty
tidied the room & made my bed. Mr & Mrs Knox
had come out to see me & it was very nice of them.
Betty read me a couple of sloppy, cheap stories
and then I got set for the night & turned in.
31.8.45 (Fri) Even before I'd had breakfast, a
telegram saying leave was not extended & to
return as soon as possible was brought me.
I sat up most of the morning & wrote a bit. I
did some embroidery then slept for a while. Ellen came

 

out & lit the fire, which put me in a towering rage
which I vented all day on poor old Betty. I spent the
afternoon reading & the evening being niggly.
311.9.45. (Sat) I got up for breakfast but lay on
my bed most of the morning and read a little. In
the afternoon, after dinner, Betty & I went out on
to the sand dunes for an hour or so but I'd had
it by the time we got back & turned in. Had tea in
bed and read a lot & Betty went to the pictures.
I made my nest & turned in. There was an aircraft
carrier offshore a bit today & I believe it came in
very close at night.
2.9.45 ( Sun). Once again I was up early and Betty & 
I spent the latter part of the morning sunning on Ranier
Hd. I didn't feel well enough to go to church. In the 
afternoon we went out to the sandhills & Betty
sun-bathed but as the sun was a bit much 
for me, I just sat in the shade nearby & read. All
the yachts went out to the Skerries and looked very
pretty. We came back leisurely to tea and in the 
evening Betty did a whole lot of my embroidery &
washed & pressed it. We stayed up till about 2250 
waiting for Mrs Knox to come but she
came as I was drowzing
3.9.45 (Mon) Nella, Betty & I were all up at
0730 so to catch the 0900 to Belfast because Betty had
an appointment with Dr. Holme re her tumour, Nella
was to meet her Bill & I wanted to try to get a trip
by air to Hendon. The trip to Belfast was pretty 

wicked & crowded. We went to E.Q but the only chance
was cancellations & so we called on Bill Cross.
Then I went to E.Q. to see if any starters had
failed to arrive but all were on form so we took
my stuff to the station and went to dinner at the 
Carlton - xtra good. Then the girls went to the
specialist & I to the station & back to the bookshop
where they were making a film called "Back in
Ireland" & a Yank had to come out of the shop
reading "In Praise of Ulster" & the manager came
out & had a word with him. Quite amusing. Went
back to city Hall & met the girls & left Nella to her own
devices while Betty & I sat for a while by the War
Memorial & then went to café. At 1700 we made 
our way to the station & I got the 1720 for home.
I apologized as best I could for my cronic behavior 
& the parting was markedly platonic but I still 
felt the same pang as the train pulled out. I had a
worry at Lorne not knowing whether I'd get on
the boat or not but bludged in when 50 xtra 
places were released & thereby got on the civvys

 

Boat the “P.Margaret." A very smooth trip over & 
Ellen's chicken sandwiches were A1. Service
personell were the first off at Stranraer & I got a
seat but some 3rd class people filled the compartment.
4.9.45 (Tues)  Had a pretty good night & slept a lot.
We had to get out at Kentish Town again. The
country thru Derbyshire was beautiful in the
extreme, I caught the Uground to Kings X but could
not get a bed so went to Kodak house where I 
picked up a huge wad of mail and my pay too.
I caught a bus to Edgeware Rd. & went to the shoe
place to pick up those I left so long ago but they 
didn't have a clue so I left in absolute disgust
Went to Kings X (where they were selling beautiful
apples) & caught the 1600 northbound train. Got a
good seat & I read my mail & papers on the
run up. Had 1½ hrs to wait for the bus at 
Retford so went to a café and then waited in the 
Street. Put up the night in the late arrival huts.
Still, was I tired!!! Met Pete Cooney & Arthur Thorne.
5.9.45 (Wed). Up in good time & after shaving & 
breakfast I went to accommodation & got a bed & 
reported to despatch flt. I'm not on draft & they 
didn't want me until Friday. So I got my bags out
of store & came back to the hut to wait for the stuff.
Apart from going to lunch & tea I spent the rest of
the day in the hut re-packing and mending my
kit-bag. In the evening I wrote a bit then turned 
in - very, very cold. Saw Ken Butler in the mess.
6.9.45 (Thurs) Went up to breakfast & had a 
shower & pottered round in the hut all the 
morning. I took my shoes to town at 1230 &
had dinner in there too. Then started walking
out but a R.A.F. van driven by an 
Aussie F/L picked me up & brought me in
the back way. He didn't look behind as we 
turned off the main road & a big army truck
who was swinging out to overtake had
a terrific job avoiding an accident. I thought
our time had come. Waited for allowances in 
the afternoon but didn't get 'em so I settled my
mess bill of ₤15.9. Had dinner and then 
came back to the hut & wrote till it came on
dark then turned in because ours & the 4 adjacent 
huts are without light tonight.
7.9.45 (Fri). We were woken very early by the
fellas on draft going out, then I had breakfast &
collected my allowances amounting to ₤10.9.0. I 
went over to hear what dispatch flt. had to say

 
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