Diary George Loughlin Blore - May - October 1940 - Part 4

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they went out into the world
amongst others, & took upon
themselves the oath of celibacy
abstaining from marriage in order
that the utmost concentration
could be given to their mission

in life, many of them fighting

or in the crusade of Richard
the lion heart.
Wonderfully interesting are these old
places of worship somehow
reminding me of past faith &

loyalty to an oath, how
different today when oath
breaking (or in other words)
breaking ones promise is looked
upon with comendment.
Later we visited St Pauls
cathedral, a vast place, a place
that would repay more

61
close study & a year or two's work
to do properly. In the vault
underneath the church proper
lie the bodies of many famous
men & women of past ages.
Christopher Wren, who designed
the church also lies here.
After visiting St Pauls, we
did a little shopping then
went back to headquarters
where we obtained information
as to lodgings for the night
We stayed at the King George
& Queen Elizabeth Victoria club
in Mallett St, a big club
for colonial troops only.
where we slept for the night
2/6 for a room, bath & breakfast
next morning, excellent
quarters they were too
 

62
showing good taste on
somebodies part.

Took a taxi to the hippodrome
at 9 'o' clock to see "Black Velvet"
shows here start at 6 to abou
& another at 9.

then to a news theaterette
then taxi back to the club
where we slept till 8.³⁰ next
morning.
Breakfasted then to Piccadilly
circus by bus, where we
caught the tube train to
Westminster.
 These underground systems
must surely belong to
the wonders of the world
massive concrete structures
deep under ground train
are fast & frequent.
 

63
Arrived Westminster where
we visited the Abbey, it
is so collossall colossal
so mighty & majestic
almost one could hear
it saying "Who are you
presuming to come here
to see me, hundreds of
years have I been here &
many changes have I seen"
perhaps it would say add
& fo who knows "perhaps
the saddest change is
the material world of

this age, where Christ
is mocked & forgotten".
visited poets corner where
lie many famous men
among them our own
Australian poet
 

64
Adam Lindsay Gordon.
The architecture here beggars
description it is too
profound & inspiring to fully
pass on to those who
have never seen it, but
only imagined it in their
minds. It was with a
sense of great awe we
came away, hoping to go again
some day.
Later we visited St Margaret's
to hear an orchestral
rendering.
So to our club again, thence
to Waterloo station & camp
once more, after a most
wonderful time trying
to see London in
36 hours, an utter
 

65
impossibility.
Saturday morning we
took a taxi to
Buckingham palace,
then strolled thru
St James park, passing
Mr Anthony Eden on
the way, past the
admiralty & back once more
to our quarters.
London is not so heavily
sandbagged as I thought

it would be, they plenty
of balloons up, though,
hundreds of them
surrounding London itself
like the buses that pass
daily on their way one after
another in almost endless
stream.
 

66
MON
1.7.40
Breakfasted, then dug air-raid

shelters all day I put up a
marquee, I feel as if I
have earned my pay
today all right.
The food & quarters for messing
here are excellent.

I guarantee no other privates
have crockery & tablecloths
as well as such food as,
cottage pie, soup, trifles,
tea all meals, when on trench
work  morning & afternoon tea
& puddings of all varieties
besides sausages eggs & bacon.
Our unit now is approximately
40 privates, 6 sergeants, 6 corporals

& the C.O & 3 captains & 1 lieutenant
a somewhat large number
 

67
of officers for so small
a unit.
Tomorrow we are being issued with
rifles & bayonets for defence ("I presume")
against the enemy.
We also have sports material,
football, cricket & quoits etc.
& a swimming pool.
Today I learn'd from the C/O that
he wa refused our transfer to
the field ambulance as he
wanted us to stay in the
unit.
I felt proud & pleased that our
C/O had confidence in us.
& wanted us to stay.
wrote to Stew
 

68
LETTERS TO
JEAN &
MARG.
MCKECHNIE
TUES
2.7.40
Nothing much today, merely
trenching gutters round our
marquees. In the afternoon
went for a swim in our
swimming pool.
wrote to Margaret McKechnie.
xxxx & Jean No5 letter.
 

WED
3.7.40
wrote to Mr Lambert,
Colonel warned us about
measures to take should
the enemy try to land by
parachute or otherwise.
Attack expected soon
 

THURS
4.7.40
Not much to do this morning
after lunch dressed in full
service uniform & lined the road
for the King's inspection.
The King inspected all Australian
billets here, who were waiting
lined up on either side of the
road awaiting him.
He came walking slowly along
in the middle of the road
accompanied by quite a few
officials.
Must get morning paper & also
evening one, see if photos are in
After parading we were

moved off & spent the
rest of the day to ourselves.
 

LETTE TO
MISS. CARLETON
THURS
5.7.40
Lying in the tent musing over
many things, I came to
the conclusion that we
must continually be on our
guard against slackness &
dreaming, which I am
afraid is one of my

besetting sins, a habit
easy to retain & hard to
get out of, constant vigilance
is required daily.
I intend to try & fill in leisure
moments in concentrating on
some study, of music if possible
reading & memorising, & first aid.
must also try if time & opportunity
exist, to drive car & learn piano.
Thus only, by application to pit ourselves &
use our talents are we able to
be the best for God & xxx for the work
he requires of us.
 

FRI
5.7.40
had a great job today, unloading
stores belonging to our unit.
Went to Bullford in Austin, with
Captain Christie & 2 others after arrival
emptied 4 transports of hosp. equipment
into storage shed during morning
then on to Amesbury Abbey,
to collect units pay,
a lovely old mansion with a
trout stream flowing thru.
What a wonderful place to live
in during normal times.
 

6.7.40
Sat
Nothing much except erecting
tents.
 

WROTE TO MUM
DAD
HERB
HELEN
PAT
7.7.40
Went to the village Shipton Bellinger
to St Peters for communion
this morning, then strolled
thru the village afterwards.
 

8.7.40
Jack & myself had a great time
tonight, when Snowy, one of
our chaps came in &
the three of us had a yarn
on Christianity, Snowy having
the idea that though
he knew God can forgive sins,
his inner self would
condemn his past actions
& prevent him from the
Christian way, we tried
earnestly to show him how
wrong it was to let that
interfere with the grace of
God freely given, which
should also be freely taken.
I'm sure he knows the right step, but
hangs back, let us pray that
God will lead him to Himself
 

9.7.40 . "
Dug trenches today, another
lot.
 

WED.
10.7.40
Rained for the last 3 days,
English summer.
Lecture tonight, have had
3 so far.
Cars are amazingly cheap, one
Austin 10 1934 being only
₤154 later models only
₤60 or 70 almost brand
new. camouflaged a large
tent today.
 

11.7.40
Nothing doing today
raining as usual so
it gave us a rest
at least.
 

12.7.40
Camouflaged a tent.
went to Bullford
to shift stores about.
rained all day.