Diary of Edward Lloyd Fleming, January- September 1945 - Part 8

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

Page 1 / 10

but they mely called a roll and told us we wrute be returning willing etc & getting working dress they said wid be but by the i2th but made med appointments up tell the 14th s & waited for & cought the bus into Refford where I had lineh & picked up my shoes then returned on the 1320 Had a queet afternoon in the put and after diner & came back and a r/ vicwets (who has been Pix a lot rwes a dance band teade & commersin artest) entertained us with his Spanish quitar a wizar shew + his got quit a sweet soice Mose of de lass have stat the for the wiekend 2245 (Bat) Mushroon for breakfed and they were delicious I changed and got priced up & the sought te bus to Rifflrd and the train to siffield I hd a good shophing day buying shees a soldering pen knife, ths Bracls, fell & filen & hada nice meal t tilds cale and then starte beck to the station sad to wait on hour for the 0 train to defferd I found the Shifeed labl was at last but didnt bly any walked to te bus step only had a very short wait before the Elkerly ous asrived I changed imported event to dinny and spet the evening on the baid fora shal cotite (weos, Bragareell, were) then read. I againe the died spicats sim sus wee but eadent boir tem retly exrent particalarly palatable 2945 (Sin) was ys at the and time and had an ex for treatfeet. It had no il effects so I gues my faunder is all over now Iread in to mee for aabble thn sem beek, collected my causes and went for a delightful waek then the woods at the backs side of the len trel couathe R Autte a little rebe stram den weekes three more opee country where a sy beg amie dimpwes sttuated foun a main was at bound and ten cans in following the back ways pising a let of bleeb Curies but te frit is soned here Ith afternon I wrote a couple of litter &caught the 162 bec to detferd in order to go to church at 1h00 sad some the at the savoy and strlled in te Cermation h for a while ther went to ble Carmon St churel &e wes fust a service I almost went to sleep during the sumon at the surhoms & came to the sent when I get off t bes read a bet ter tered in 1024 (Man) I had a slaver after breakfad and then weat to dispatch fet. Sf Eddy read out the lists of diats &xq but my nan was not thre On mg recount thre were about to short so leterk on of each letter of the asprabel we went to the bette
leter r my rebet a dee tole memes were not ceild out. we wex toll to go out but a cauple of ssaps didnt went to go on deeft & O thiak & gt in place of one of them, will know definitel syroed Deame back to dinner feeling very rates fed and spent the afternoon in to nut and did my waiking manlging to get some of it issued. Pexent to tel + stayed in the mees for supper and ten care becks coned a bet & read then he the hay a 245 (Tues) was up as usual & shoold sot teribly wet going to the mess as it was raining very heaviny I waiked up to the hospital and had my medical vxamination. Foe lost a stom in weeght 111 the doe was very interested i to faundid + recbous its stel thre a little & go may of however came back to te Rut coduet changed my shols & wrate a bit went to duing an sent the afternosn in the Ret After supper I fet cam tacks rled the reauarts of 460 Gch alexed har tday of couse that called for a beg driwken party to ae suffered wil lots of wise & Bolgon sim late on the mall 12947 (wid) Had nothing to de all the morning until thy tannoyed for us our went daltn to depath sfeled in a ceuple of forms and we had to hand in our webting & tin hats cle Igot more doesn in the morning, but o catty sttt bitt wan ye (storestyse) wouldnt work a munat after 200 dend the doar in our fail had dime & sturned eart to the seens of actes se first in bam back to the But for the after uven read a whole lot when I went to tee sd hada tick at PoRs & get a great thll to see Im on the dight for Bnighten pent the evening reading mostly 12945 (thurs) we had an egee his parade on which we were given our elecance forms to dismissed It was a slid pob geting them fills if as we hadto call at te0 allen go way apt 530 th sts wees At dumer time & cleared from our mss paying &/3 and the finshed of with sux we hal a pacade at 1500 on it we well gie a bet of go as to when we leave here what happins to oue luggage at ther the pay waite att out f for one dieks Mine can fe (lets w het) ncoupon fectated tho balanse of the sadd then went to ster get ay clothing + buttery she dates ar real Avongs efforts I saw sevcal of the Laps
dused up in ten laving paster taken I seved te but lrm t Nettlan, te g adt who is a seper batters on my shirts but the pants may betwo blat waited notie in greting to bed wall I had tex and had a stewa sut 1524 (at) Tuit dins after bualfest lat whichs wen) the came back funsher off the shiits met David Mackonald 1 9r) was an allurance and wrote a bit Pent most of the time read paiade & this time I got £1:14.0 ten Ireturned to the Rut & sat arcisd and tred to do sene wr hut the lay eoning but the stuff was too damp btterd 1242() was up for breaffact and we had no particular pts for the day so I took my er went to gongs we but couldit yo pants down to change & get a layer pai 3 my beaut defence medal slad dimed andin brought them back and then did my washing t aftenooh & widte for a long while & fixd up to se creet the had afternaon tea I came Put it out & there was a tannay for me to put up another p311n in allowances then I caught the back & did my uening & it came up ouy neck, the bay dusset up in thir new shorts bus to litterd and had lineh there then caugse tetrain to Hebrough we had to change at Bamll t otter dagr is wast wrote a sin tooach and I readly think that sine is the slowest in Bset, TUGo VAREETY, AOSIES RRTHE the world sohear we got to labrough (37 miles o for the bays to hold while their phale his) I had to waik out to 5o0 It taok ty her were taken after supper seame back & wrole and the did a bit more to the sade west & Ididnt arrive till 173 saw the sade ad whe deise to te orderly room & couldnt fine and finally turned in to bey. Pame, thr a bloke with it turned up &9.4 (sun) After sualfect I had a wis and sex and came back to the Rut where & speat se get in I boght t s plet and also got most of the time writing & finishing my S Buttes Hed to wall sail to tbrough & parking I had dinner and same back to fe enght to grtten I ren firm the slatier & Ia ay satle dress rix hesped each other daw wie bl in time to get some glub at Robin Hloods oue ats I read mest of the afternson wrotea taide Dit it ox + rought t bus set the Go
pean and cranges be weatually got on to for sets the says were all luting tre as it a sutthy seit of day After the Teas Oack & arote 3R and once again all the old landmarks and read & wt were all in bed by 2100 when some beame visibl arrived here in Bughten 142 line stasting te who'd spent a leave in belad made the way to the nt an absolv hembles opined in a teerefie quare for shiffield alwoed blewin- and told us have Als bast had given him £170 &0 solole lot sds which msaed about to y in 2 hes oothe bushium H hed forth for about she thea we had to fill is resire of particalar & ax shammed sleep & pan old vie lad to about anselves &finally hald in one pay beoks as the loss nothing se to do we a dolot slartly afterwards we were woten by what secnded the a gun dail and it bed the (not much yf it) I nl sen tured out to be one of the anoes dump but Ison & his Willson we timped our in five there was a beg blage the puit some leggage up to the rson on the wt floar an Alstance from our But the fire tends sem they waiked and stulled along the strats losking for clothing then we wee to heve apob getting there. Eventually get to se to te puctures to ree Ripps which was 225 (Mas) Lamesy at 054 and we got wtth good Couldat find anywhere to cal if has bualfeet sct oges were taken by and so same is the low some in tis place fairly spened n eus and the Camsport to Refford Dead on or the tain which was secially far aso putted ant right fanly shoal one theres a kill of & nith here + kigs seem to be in a we lad a good run to kondon and t complete flat spin am trying to get our ety sid tookedvey putly saw lots of lent damae a we passes thre, and a on a draft on them Fertie of was bet of filtly slemes we lad stra gove 1294 (tues) we got up at on for breakfon compein the train only in the compart and then had quitt a bet of time to spare we mat, these lads produced cale, times got sleased from station 10 and saw t
land other went to dothing sect scame back to do sime starilly gote te after th we went picked up our coupoin also sow te gongs to the HCF clit intending to weet but a little foll. After dimer we went shopping & got a fee sweete gid cept wating sseen to the preats quite good bargans in shirts & Ialso get soe she fauly tured me over wside so reading stuff from the stores Deaft bst were published writing get the go by we went down to the steee I ten on searve for or After te we went for and Trattered to her but she was interestea a wall along te frant and ten got an Atewhere so kill& I weat to see thelay to be excuision bus It camed to start with but clars ltaes Exjayed it oer much same back up woe saw bowfold manastry stopped an sew the ftnal disftlect & for not on it so tenfyld tthe drive also stopped at th Devil it men being Endimoed to Bughten Dpts for as I saw Bynings st back & went another sad or so Hada bath that te hay to the lacker bec Alt eleb on the frent for 209c(thes) was up at the wts knsek suppey Met bhiks Carpentee to bake& in I had a shave after breakfast I stayed infor dslking around wld so called Bill tyne from a while then went to see if any new instructe sydneg but tondon sor Com op to th wen were out also to be blondie o last night & & read & wrote a bit the bat the hay was just bringing in the messages the wind 19945 (doed) went to Creaklast ofter a wash we almost a gale today off the sea then & and & made my bed and we went to the ftt went shopping bought mycell a pair of officer but there was noding doing to wen stacks for $320 beu ball & dinner and Tnopping for shirt lngth but one wa after joind in the querre for watthes let to the Bedy tat service coupans aad lunch and room after hes wait to be told officees on t esaited for sill at the clotting stores, and ren resn would not get them so sesent to the a bit in the intill library boe wacked to Have givg distibution to be told te sam I com on a shopping rcidin & caught the bus pawes to te fit commander butk sold sert Had arded put in tem do anything about it head my bock in the reo
altteatime and then we had grut in the room a few phates and ther are hed tee after it I ix decided wis have to is came wolfing & shaved and weat out in front for a while after paiading up and down the promnade ten event to the tgit dance hall Readiful we peted up two suith innecent tabes eaded ut up and quitea wce exed but the see Shiile & vesire ssd and wasked the to Have flowed wight fast Itwas bed nght other back they cauelt ten busower off then had a competitios madem walt+ an aucts had some supper at Aet and I had a sail of a hand beg. I aft cary feeling very you with bhyss Passenter then bills I weat wndy fosture came back ofter wany eat or the prowl & an old tlake nattred to u along the seapent for a while had a bes fer a whit about a scial sus went shaa the wial a litte &bit the hay a gai to two beg rad wench called la 12945 (Sat) had buckfast at de ssualtime& o Celen they started qusting all teir Ansu then packed? at sat on a very Ohustery day for the requantances so we werent very to lose statev &t to hondon sou made vy way be we cam beck to the nt, I had a back ous to Psecadelly where I bought a las forf lt te Ray at the Aly hest property office took it back to 494 r) ees ef early and after buakfast secteria in a taxt and then returned to Kolale did nu washing to llct decn to seeyt ter was us vee ifground I collected a real with of anything cooking then came up shortlors t mad including three vy timel ones from my sugart aoid shis a wsuseful kid then I slerve & wy phalle shet mede some spaid itts I had lunch and kille swent for a wall stilec off to de terum blus in tiswense A to fi aby de prent as it was a glousees day I came You Bulliamble rofsy s I returned to blaring ot be final parade but was not meeded so feet the train left fiom Livcpool st& get on a will now hoet wait for the nat dealt I effroied but get msed up between Marklane eent fora bug walk &o t white Oalls while aldgate East Maned to get right iatuale sll bed & weater gel Gene nos puit I arrised tisupoel st on& tobl the following
I thought Id stting dune of chaps + timued peacles to follow plaegu was deplayed SACure te letever n calll atian and the spaild up too a phots of the hease tbelld as teaving at way but it but waldent get tagaret or Ounty, and said didntn noom te expecte to get tamon grealze tain to Dendss other was inte to 77 Matfere 16. It wahl gote Ene slade so I same straight dawn to afuss to thaffed tn on fat &fed tarsaid to tenfeeld & nrighter the girl at Oritoria Euggage room wis suit tilleas my witl ple &a hear aplaind to de station maite he put us ane one to tal te bealts tomfaid Daed my cuggage & pt et will my new ease Packed obit and the went out farted first to Hlarris ther to a bus to letet los to see te Rullwil oaty tlest hey lepe where I all adval meat cam in & Bunda were hme but the latte is a sharding tea was shoaing neyphotes to to Hgg when a fou is at lugly now so taussed her speat & vice tw ththe w bacl ther the beaut the bed same into te reson who had fastare wold (supposed to be very black market) to the from Annay after nivery widen for th loas Enos pipt Hid been shot diven rightees itatise very bury shapping sate with uaeads of fore of the were ordered & well alonge pople lraught a ousts Effaid & puceded to the Duslens to find sal wlargant at same we read itfences macon gunst t nether awal Bty acises had to wated matts were hiller the Dounsed sulpla into a wead whic he eade the Edy b uf a speat a good bit we time garing ofte supper asterned in about 0020 boad & bell walked to Holland Ocaptures te taken 2394() 4 at 092s and a beautiful treffest to within ught of Relser shere & nith of ys tnat, becon & patats then I sislle lst 5 stone He showed the picture of the sita to soon writing but a Hernan & pitt be pirsuat that wer used in widence thy wer gate with sauth shatters wene avisee rase had a long yarn to les ben in Amary Acted a most wonderful alber sullet his He tick the watth from the tlen o went commniatie stamks toe had a an oidered his oecution who had taken
his almost vractly 6 meh previnuly I sare tae derial tous from which the abl made its to the reson & repacted my truck and wrote first bisadeact tales met Dick Walter wes quit a bet ten had a batt and but tke to starley Hibban then to reguilto vee Peccasely 24945 (Mor) As kill didt e in all rght I trust for materes lngths ttae quitt founed a dy bedessume of him and after break officially at John Knves in oxfard at the tal sfent an tens siving at dy dials, about widday Eng servin supon for it bast eq/ a yd after drese bect from tush be return backed deain oxsecd st get sem books a having been al Hlactues It was a wild musisthey saught a busback to Austialis &lister, showary day ao rstayed in after linch tus left it the shad lu in a cheap went down to a pdeade at Ruaces Hall at 1420 pch soint opposite beac Huse in the rtean stli had hoppened bast nost dcauace we toandind up to sup for mail tn cal an itistificate payade the life also gave us so a bus to Cistemn t Abbey, after seying gea allat the let beas & stayed in be resav at mer clothing and had a vey quick took ay were stl o0 when tapplied fee rgot three it the was a service on when I llase and alletes wme pay too I had to ethen acrised & slease te organ being played vale sit Iswent to te Levey to see true Hlery; & late being time went in the sut& stery of the waster broat siven s day &o sday pits sm but had to ruk away, it werata good Aevr Hidden Essr was t be up my geas at Aldwych & eatel the train gree but good extetainment we had supper aeo) pron Vistorle flad a bet to eat at at tAtt Euserbar and then cam to bid listeic & when Egot hom I impached fased for tronaw Ste farte re packed once may then tack my washing 15240 (Tuer) sill and I had tueat fast and we to set st to sron some fellly peo eeught the or trann to Sictorie 6e partes ther has beged io the sising retor ite pang Edumped my luggage at the Basmerang blt wes paut tadg bet of this fre suppe then and at sut on a shipping expedition can cae back here Al eled to al a guinitive wa
heud so losil, is it get upeis in a forer menument at the tet ye tedyle is th incupted hatel they have a bg recipten sall outhe and in the shuch at Bynings an ous fleor with the cantlr at the backs oat sert of fix place wed de end aain the bellean room ipitause following cared in it Imsadar a reading writing roem, eard + ping por you libeary ribuing rewing we to Ialong to road to tubt the Aussies can do it of the wish wrote talking rstuig a bet beck in the ream ten pt betak to th macks of the side of the 15) lyte who a sabl lly had ons run and also ma cleen sheets &245 (Wia) shad bealfeet and seaned up picking many beautiful blackberues kicking packed a paial &sent & from tanon St went lack were same pretty occas and yt Falking (as al dwn to Boldalley & saw them selling fich in the o Brember) Iwas street by the te village punps y ste ten Steok a bas to sondear and starta just out of tulking by an im was a wel waing made eal byhe by wos and saw de old sd this inseppteds in tills snt out hatel the veew was shart by a slice H SENAENSPEINeS Mr THe sa med, but in a stear day it must be tenlic isuere wren Re More iw nt seme fell des who wer gung to deat tussee & Te rre tren I started off down th Dyse Ouite steep but on my men ware reae vy invegalating and th Lawtlow berries T tole ref me gaoyeee Suithe along as read & reached adburten and were a beautiful red the sylacks were als upa teng aveaue of thiis was its nd sentey very inticable th way they were sining & thuc sutt in 1180 Insit were mimouswe racles bynings alee a putt one past t lea suces huse & svellag we most atteactied settes neved an again gactering lots of black ent to te Old chuch in which En Aberander John bences and t sun caws out occastonally I sall givense of Matte it is surcex on tiba wenteet reacled Beeding a pretty little oitle
latty and caught te tus to Tunbridg wells went on but surposed by Buamber naldon, which is a man of the sleps and has an old rastle standin hdes, Uolfield Oreubare and the eoentry was vay we sell but this is in almost total ruin the pretty the trees are just beginning to turn colour much has nothing of particular interest, Mevedon and the verginee neepis on the houses are a to tteyning and tappsach was three putty of bad red notices tots of hops fields and also frrhined heuses I saw te Market Hall ther lops sterlouses with tin beg painted vintlaters went ats church and asticed on de sewn Cotlage w had a took at Tunbridge weels bee bught to bus back to Bntte vie Charlam it was very hunred Beactiful wose asked for fileas tr to get my cam up unte and also t Butile a a bak offecd me a roby rivning prrst an old fashiened shopping until sleft a felce at Roslsscan back to be the sd along which only pidusttians can o to Cawiton lads are luve including Ben pdis we welked to west st state rutle &als lade painto our Frebey and bi a caught the train to Bighten Bug oncrs biot cain in the sem has 41 sent ircumpets at I.V and also a suffcc thet the hay aolly few basks at a wigad lockshop I read du to the met & get out best blusd consecation now it went tack to the hme wher Chailes whinch candue D ttyin chuc cawed to tender Phillaion ouristio ty played th bue a pitter in to i2t rentery iated Aatr 4 Deyruph, Handels water usua 491 (thes) sgot of caly and after reading a overtae vs te Mit a S woman thre papus, we went dosin to sprincs Hall fet sol a who insated on talking at the wrong time from hes ateled to pitun in sout toor dismisud with Bill from whom s betone separated we wandered thes tewn doing a bit of slipping therry and we had supper at aer collected I packed a paicl & did a bit of wort on my yo seme thecolate gcans ut to be Bust we had deare and thee waked dsead to fave "Pigs Hetile Drews Let bredsten Haff Mean

but they merely called a roll and told us we would
be returning webbing etc & getting working dress.
They said we'd be out by the 12th but made med.
appointments up till the 14th!! I waited for &
caught the bus into Retford where I had lunch &
picked up my shoes then returned on the 1330.
Had a quiet afternoon in the hut and after dinner
I came back and a F/L Vic Watts (who has been in
Pix a lot & was a dance band leader & commercial
artist) entertained us with his Spanish guitar. A
wizard show & he's got quite a sweet voice. Most
of the lads have shot thru for the weekend.
8.9.45 (Sat) Mushrooms for breakfast and they
were delicious. I changed and got spruced up & then
caught the bus to Retford and the train to Sheffield. I
had a good shopping day buying shoes, a soldering
iron, pen knife, ties & braces, file & film. I had a
nice meal at Field's café and then started
back to the station. Had to wait an hour for the
1310 train to Retford. I found the Sheffield book-walk
at last but didn't buy any. Walked to the bus stop &
only had a very short wait before the Elkesley bus
arrived. I changed & unpacked & then went to dinner
and spent the evening "on the band" for a short
while (WBOS, Brazzaville, WNRI) then read. I organised
the dried apricots Mum sent over but couldn't boil
them & they weren't particularly palatable.
9.9.45 (Sun) Was up at the usual time and had an
egg for breakfast. It had no ill-effects so I guess my
jaundice is all over now. I read in the mess for a while
then came back, collected my camera and went for
a delightful walk thru the woods at the back & side
of the camp. First crossed the R. Poulter, a little rocky
stream then walked thru more open country where
a very big ammo dump was situated. found a
main road at Lound Pk. and then came in
following the back way & picking a lot of blackberries
but the fruit is small here. In the afternoon
I wrote a couple of letters & caught the 1620 bus to
Retford in order to go to church at 1800. I had some
tea at the Savoy and strolled in the Coronation Pk.
for a while then went to the Cannon St church. It
was just a service & I almost went to sleep during
the sermon. Got the bus home & came to the hut where
I get off to bed, read a bit then turned in
10.9.45 (Mon). I had a shower after breakfast and
then went to despatch flt. S/L Eddy read out the lists
of drafts 8 & 9 but my name was not there. On
no 9 recount there were about 40 short so he took
one of each letter of the alphabet. We went to the lecture 

 

lecture room & my & about a dozen other names were
not called out. We were told to go out but a couple
of chaps didn't want to go on draft & I think I
got in place of one of them, will know definitely
by Wed. I came back to dinner feeling very satisfied
and spent the afternoon in the hut and did
my washing, managing to get some of it ironed. 
I went to tea &  stayed in the mess for supper and
then came back & ironed a bit & read then hit
the hay.
11.9.45 (Tues). Was up as usual & shaved. Got
terribly wet going to the mess as it was raining
very heavily. I walked up to the hospital and
had my medical examination. I've lost a
stone in weight!!! The doc. was very interested in
the jaundice & reckons it's still there a little. I got
away OK. however & came back to the hut where I 

changed my shoes & wrote a bit. Went to dinner and

spent the afternoon in the hut. After supper I just came

back & read. The remnants of 460 Sqdn. arrived here 

today & of course that called for a big drunken

party so we suffered with lots of noise & hooliganism

late in the night.

12.9.45 (Wed.) Had nothing to do all the morning

until they tannoyed for us & we went down to 

dispatch & filled in a couple of forms and we

had to hand in our webbing & tin hats etc.

I got mine down in the morning, but a catty

little bitch WAAF sgt (stores type) wouldn't work 

a minute after 1200 & closed the door in our faces.

Had dinner & returned early to the scene of the action

& was first in. Came back to the hut for the afternoon

& read a whole lot. When I went to tea I 

had a look at P.O.R's & got a great thrill to see

I'm on the draft for Brighton. Spent the evening

reading mostly. 

13.9.45. (Thurs). We had an 0900 bio parade

on which we were given our clearance forms, 

then dismissed. It was a solid job getting them 

filled up as we had to call at S.H.Q. & then go way

up to S.S.Q. & the sgts. mess. At dinner time I cleared

from our mess, paying 16/3. and then finished 

up with S.H.Q. We had a parade at 1500 & on it we 

were given a bit of a gen as to when we leave here

& what happens to our luggage etc., then the pay

wallah dealt out £10 for our drabs. Mine cost

£1.15.0. (2 shorts, 2 sox, 2 shirts) & 29 coupons. I

pocketed the balance of the cash then went to stores

& got my clothing & cutlery. The drabs are real 

drongo efforts & I saw several of the chaps

 

dressed up in them having photos taken. I sewed the 

buttons on my shirts but the pants may be too

small. I had tea and had a shower (luke

warm) then came back & finished off the shirts

and wrote a bit. Spent most of the time reading 

then hit the hay.

14.9.45 (Fri). was up for breakfast and we 

had no particular jobs for the day so I took my

pants down to change & got a larger pair. I 

brought them back and then did my washing.

Put it out & there was a tannoy for me to pick up

another £3.11.11. in allowances. Then I caught the

bus to Retford and had lunch there then caught

the train to Habrough. We had to change at Basmitty

and I really think that line is the slowest in 

the world. When we got to Habrough (37 miles -

3 hrs) I had to walk out to 550. It took ¾ hr

& I didn't arrive till 1730. Saw the Sqdn adj. who

rode down to the orderly room & couldn't find

the key. Panic, then a bloke with it turned up 

& we got in. I bought the sqdn. photo and also got 

Len Bustie's. Had to walk back to Habrough &

caught the 1918 train. I ran from the station so I'd

be in time to get some grub at "Robin Hood's

Larder". Did it O.K & caught the bus. Got the Sqdn

crest from F/L Holtham, the Sqdn adj. who is a super 

bloke. Wasted no time in getting to bed. 

15.9.45. (Sat) First thing after breakfast (at which I 

met David MacDonald ex. 21TS) was an allowance

parade & this time I got £1.14.0. Then I returned 

to the hut & sat around and tried to do some

ironing but the stuff was too damp. Pottered

round then went to gongs inc. but couldn't get

my beaut defence medal. Had dinner and in

the afternoon I wrote for a long while & fixed up 

the sqdn crest then had afternoon tea. I came

back & did my ironing & it came up very 

nicely. The boys dressed up in their new shorts

the other day & we wrote a sign "TROPICAL

ISSUE, PONGO VARIETY, AUSSIES FOR THE

USE OF" for the boys to hold while their photos

were taken. After supper I came back & wrote

and then a did more to the sqdn crest,

and finally turned in.

16.9.45 (Sun). After breakfast I had a wizard

bath and came back to the hut where I spent

most of the time writing & finishing my

packing. I had dinner and came back to pack

my battle dress & we helped each other down with

our kits. I read most of the afternoon & wrote a 

 

few letters. The boys were all feeling tired as it's 

a sultry sort of day. After tea I came back & wrote 

and read & we were all in bed by 2100 when some

live shooting type who'd spent a leave in 

Sheffield arrived - blew in - and told us how 

his host had given him £170 & a whole lot 

of other bunkum. He held forth about 2 hrs

& we shammed sleep so poor old Vic had to

take the lot. Shortly afterwards we were woken

by what sounded like a gun duel and it

turned out to be one of the ammo dump huts

on fire. There was a big blaze altho quite some

distance from our hut. The fire tender seemed

to have a job getting there! I eventually got to 

sleep.

17.9.45 (Mon). Tannoy at 0545 and we got 

up & had breakfast & at 0700 were taken by

transport to Retford. Dead on 0800 the train 

which was specially for R.A.A.F. pulled out.

We had a good run to London & the 

country side looked very pretty. Saw lots of

bomb damage as we passed thru, and a

lot of filthy slums.. We had xtra good

company in the train, only 4 in the compartment,

& these lads produced cake, tinned

pears and oranges! We eventually got on to

S.R. and once again all the old landmarks

became visible. Arrived here in Brighton 1430

& the lads made their way to the hut. An absolute

shambles. We joined in a terrific queue for

beds which moved about 20 yds in 2 hrs.

Then we had to fill in reams of particulars

about ourselves & finally hand in our pay 

books. As there was nothing else to do we

had tea (not much of it) & I met Tom

Gleeson & Les Willson. We lumped our 

baggage up to the room on the 4th floor and

then washed and strolled along the 

streets looking for clothing. Then we went 

to the pictures to see "Rippo"  which was

rather good. Couldn't find anywhere to eat

and so came in. The low women in this

place really opened my eyes and the

sights fairly shook me. There's a hell of

a mob here & things seem to be in a

complete flat spin. Am trying to get out

on a draft on Thurs.  "Fortune of War"

18.9.45 (Tues) We got up at 0715 for breakfast

and then had quite a bit of time to spare. We 

got cleared from station P.O. and saw off

 

lunch. & then went to clothing sect. & came back &

picked up our coupons. Also saw the gongs 

folk. After dinner we went shopping & got a few

quite good bargains in shirts & I also got some

stuff from the stores. Draft lists were published

& I'm on reserve for 108. After tea we went for

a walk along the front and then got an

excursion bus. It rained to start with but cleared

up & we saw Cowfold Monastry & stopped at

Henfield & the driver also stopped at the Devil's

Dyke for us x I saw Paynings. Got back & went

to the "Tucker-Box", A.C.F. club on the front, for 

supper. Met Chips Carpenter & the bloke I'm

snacking around with is called Bill Payne from

Sydney but London born. Came up to the room

& read & wrote a bit then hit the hay.

19.9.45. (Wed) Went to breakfast after a wash

and I made my bed and we went to the flt.

offices but there was nothing doing. We went

shopping for skirt together but no one would

play with service coupons. Had lunch and 

I waited for Bill at the clothing stores and read

a bit in the intell library. We walked to Hove

on a shopping excursion & caught the bus

back from the local Hall. Arrived in time

to do some stencilling & go to tea. After tea we went

to the A.C.F club intending to write but a little

sweater girl kept walking down to the front & 

she fairly turned me over inside so reading &

writing got the go by. We went down to the street

and I nattered to her but she was interested 

elsewhere so Bill and I went to see "The Way to the

Stars". Enjoyed it very much. Came back &

saw the final draft list & I'm not on it so

it means being condemned to Brighton

another week or so. Had a bath & hit the hay.

20.9.45 (Thurs). was up at the WAAF's knock & 

I had a shave after breakfast. I stayed in for

a while then went to see if any new instructions

were out & also to see blondie of last night. She

was just bringing in the messages. The wind

was almost a gale today off the sea. Then I 

went shopping & bought myself a pair of

slacks for £3.3.0. Came back to dinner and 

after it joined in the queue for watches. Got to the 

room after 1 ½ hrs wait, to be told officers on 

reserve would not get them so went to the 

gong distribution to be told the same. I complained

to the flt. commander but he couldn't

do anything about it. Read my book in the room

 

till tea time and then we had grub. In the room

we decided we'd have to do some walking &

after parading up and down the promenade

we picked up two quite innocent babes called

Sheila & Desire (!!!) and walked them to Hove 

& back & they caught their bus & were off. Then

we had some supper at A.C.F. and I had a 

yarn with Chips Carpenter. Then Bill & I went

out on the prowl & an old bloke nattered to us

for a while about a social & we went & had 

a yarn to two boy-mad wenches called Ruth

& Eileen. They started quoting all their Aussie

acquaintances so we weren't sorry to lose 

them. We came back to the Met,. I had a bath &

hit the hay.

21.9.45 (Fri) Was up early and after breakfast I

did my washing. Went down to see if there was

anything cooking then came up & shortened the

sleeve of my khaki shirt & made some epaulettes.

I had lunch and Bill & I went for a walk

along the front as it was a glorious day. I came

in to the final parade but was not needed so

will now have to wait for the next draft. I

went for a long walk to the White Cliffs while

Bill landed a sweater girl - Zena. Took quite

a few photos and then we had tea. After it I

shaved and went out in front for a while &

then went to the Regent dance hall. Beautiful

set up and quite a nice crowd but the beer

flowed mighty fast. It was Red X night & they

had a competition modern waltz & an auction

sail of a hand bag. I left early, feeling very

lonely & footsore, came back after roaming

along the sea front for a while, had a bath

then wrote a little & hit the hay.

22.9.45 (Sat). Had breakfast at the usual time &

then packed & set out on a very blustery day for the

station. Got to London 0945 & made my way by

bus to Piccadilly where I bought a case for £4.11.0

at the Rly. Lost property office. Took it back to 

Victoria in a taxi and then returned to Kodak

House via u/ground. I collected a real welter of

mail including three very timely ones from my 

Margaret. Lord this a wonderful kid. Then I

struck off to the Forum Club in Grosvenor Pl. to find

Jose Bullwinkle. No joy so I returned to Charing X

but the train left from Liverpool St., so I got on the

u/ground but got messed up between Mack Lane

& Aldgate East. Managed to get right eventually

& arrived Liverpool St. On a hotel the following

 

plaque was displayed:- 

SITE OF THE

FIRST 

BETHLEHEM 

HOSPITAL

1247-1676.

I thought I'd

be clever and catch a train labelled as

leaving at 1404 but it didn't run &

the inspector told me to get on to one on

platform 16. It went express to 

Stratford then on past Ilford & Ramford to Thenfield. I

explained to the station master & he put me one one

to take me back to Ramford. Dumped my luggage & got 

a bus to Petits Road to see the Bullwinkle's baby Mrs B.

& Brenda were home but the latter is a charming kid. 

Jose is at Rugby now so I missed her. I spent a nice

time with them and came back thru the beaut open

market (supposed to be very black-market) to the

station. Very busy shopping centre with crowds of 

people. I caught a bus to Ilford and proceeded to the 

Dunxcans to find only Margaret at home. We

waited a while & Aunty arrived had tea, washed

up & spent a good bit more time yarning.  After 

supper we turned in about 0030. "Coach & Bell".

23/9/45 (Sun.) Up at 0930 and a beautiful breakfast

of egg & tomato, bacon & potato. Then I settled

down to some writing but a Morman & Betty

arrived & we had a long yarn. He has been in 

Germany & looted a most wonderful album

of recent commemorative stamps. We had a 

slashing dinner of chops & tinned peached to follow

& then I packed up, took a photo of the house

but couldn't get Margaret or Aunty, and said 

goodbye. Train to London as there was no time to

go to Edna Slade so I came straight down to 

Brighton. The girl at Victoria luggage room

was quite tickled with my little joke of a heavy

case with my new case! Packed a bit and

then went out for tea, first to Harris' then to

"Chez Pepi" where I got a decent meal. Came in

was showing my photos to P/O Higgs, when a

lad came into the room who had just arrived

from Germany after giving evidence for the war 

crimes people. He'd been shot down & captured

Four of them were ordered to walk along a 

road & the Jerries machine-gunning them. His 

mates were killed & he wounded but got away

into a wood where he evaded them 2 dys then

walked to Holland. Recaptured there & taken

to within sight of Belsen. There 2 mth & 

lost 5 stone. He showed the pictures of the 

bodies of his mates that were used in evidence

& they were ghastly with skulls shattered with

bullet holes. He took the watch from the Hun

who ordered his execution & who had taken

 

his almost exactly 6 mth. previously. I came back

to the room & unpacked my trunk and wrote

quite a bit then had a bath & hit the hay. 

24.9.45 (Mon). As Bill didn't come in all night I

formed a very bad opinion of him and after breakfast

spent my time sewing at my drabs. About midday,

after I'd come back from lunch, however, he returned

having been at Hastings. It was a wild,

blustery, showery day so I stayed in after lunch &

went down to a parade at Princes Hall at 1420. 

Something had happened last night because it was

an identification parade. The U/C also gave us some

gen. about the trip home. I stayed in the room at

my work until c.1700 when I applied for & got

leave and allotted some pay too. I had tea & then

Bill & I went to the Savoy to see "True Glory", the 

story of the Western front from D-day to V-day &

it was xtra good. Also "Hidden Eyes" was a bit

grim but good entertainment. We had supper 

at the A.C.F "Tuckerbox' and then came back to bed &

packed for tomorrow. "Star & Garter".

25.9.45 (Tues). Bill and I had breakfast and

caught the 0830 train to Victoria. We parted there 

& dumped my luggage at the Boomerang Club

and set out on a shopping expedition. Saw

Aerial House from which the B.B.C. made its

first broadcast & I also met Dick Walter.  Went
to Stanley Gibbons then to Regent St. via Piccadilly
& tried for material lengths.  Got one quite unofficially
at John Luves' in Oxford St & he took
my service coupons for it.  Cost 29/6 a yd.
Walked down Oxford St & got some books &
music then caught a bus back to Australia
House & left it there & had lunch in a cheap
jack joint opposite [[?]] House in the Strand.
Wandered up to [[?]] for mail then caught
a bus to Westminster Abbey, after buying
more clothing, and had a very quick look
thru it.  There was a service on when I
arrived & I heard the organ being played & also
later being tuned.  Went in the cloister &
poet's corner but had to rush away, pick
up my gear at Aldwych & catch the train
(1720) from Victoria.  Had a bit to eat at
Victoria & when I got home I unpacked &
re-packed once more then took my washing
over to A.C.F. club to iron.  Some filthy pig
had bogged in the ironing room & the pang
was foul.  Had a bit of their free supper then
came back here.  The club is like a furniture warehouse

 

so lavishly is it got up & is in a former
hotel.  They have a big reception hall on the
grnd floor with the canteen at the back &
behind again, the billiard room.  Upstairs is
a reading & writing room, card & ping-pong
room, library, ironing & sewing rooms.  No
doubt the Aussies can do it if they wish.  Wrote
a bit back in the room then got between two
nice clean sheets.
26.9.45. (Wed.) I had breakfast and cleaned up &

packed a parcel & sent it from Canon St. went
down to Pool Valley & saw them selling fish in. the old
Ship Hotel.  When I took a but to Longdean and started
walking.  Made Devils Dyke by 1100 and saw the old
burnt out hotel.  The view was spoilt by a slight
mist, but on a clear day it must be terrific.  I
met some folk there who were going to visit [[?]] &
then I started off down the Dyke.  Quite steep but
very invigorating and the Hawthorne berries
were a  beautiful red.  The skylarks were also
very noticeable the way they were singing.  I
reached Paynings along a pretty lane past the local
nurses's house & the village was most attractive.  I
went to the old church in which Sir Alexander John
Hall, governor of Malta etc. is buried.  On the little
monument at the top of the dyke is the inscription:-
Diagram - see original document
and in the church at Paynings an
oak sort of fire place with the following carved in it:-
Diagram - see original document
I moved on
along the road to
Fulking noticing
the marks up the side of the
dyke where a cable Rly had once run and also
picking many beautiful blackberries.  Looking
back were some pretty views and at Fulking (as at
Bramber) I was struck by the old village pumps.
Just out of Fulking by an inn was a well
with this inscription in tiles:-
PRAISE
YE
THE LORD
"HE SENDETH SPRINGS INTO THE
VALLEYS WHICH RUN AMONG
THE HILLS.
OH THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE
THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS"
Further along the road I reached Edburtan and
up a long avenue of trees was its 12th century
church, built in 1180.  Inside were numerous saxon
relief.  Moved on again gathering lots of blackberries
and the sun came out occasionally.  I
eventually reached Beeding, a pretty little village

 

but surpassed by Bramber next door, which is a
mass of tea shops and has an old castle standing
on a hill but this is in almost total ruin.  The
church has nothing of particular interest.  Moved on
to Steyning and the approach was three pretty old
fashioned houses.  I saw the Market Hall then
went to the church and noticed an old Saxon Cottage.
Caught the bus back to Brighton via Shoreham &
looked for films & tried to get my camera opened.
A bloke offered me a  Baby Browning for 25/-.
I left a film at Pearts & came back to tea. The rest 

of the Launceston lads are here including Ken

Huttie & Isla had a fair to Frickey and he's

answered. Wrote & yarned in the room had 

supper & hit the hay. "Railway Ball" "(?)"

[Maltese Cross Symbol} - confeciation(?) cross in the

Steywing church, carved in 

a pillar in the 12th Century

27.9.45 (Thurs) I got up early and after reading the 

papers, we went down to Privates Hall for roll- call

Watched the fishermen en-route. Were dismissed &

we wandered thru town doing a bit of shopping.

I packed a parcel & did a bit of work on my sqdn

crest. We had diner and then walked down to Port

Valley and caught the bus to Tunbridge Wells. Went via

Reeves, Uckfield & Orsibors and the country was very 

pretty. The trees are just beginning to turn colour

and the virginia creepers on the houses are a 

blood red. Noticed lots of hops fields and also

hops storehouses with their big pointed ventilators.

We had a look at Tunbridge Wells but

it was very ruined. Beautiful civic

centre and also the Plantine_ Pantile,

an old fashioned shopping centre 

along which any pedestrians can

pass. We walked to West St Station

& caught the train to Brighton. Bought

some crumpets at T.W. and also a 

few books at a wizard bookshop. I

rand down to the met & got into best blues &

went back to the Dome where Charles Winch conducted

the London Philharmonic Orchestra & they played Shuberts

Unfinished, Brahms 4th Symphony, Handels Water Music

& Leonora Overture No 3 We met a S.A. woman there 

who insisted on talking at the wrong time. Came home

with Bill from whom did become separated &

"Higgsy" & we had supper at A.C.F. collected

some chocolate & came up to bed. 

"Pig & Butcher" "Crow & Tate" "Crest & Lun" "Half Moon"







 

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