Diary George Loughlin Blore - May - October 1940 - Part 5

"There, but for the grace of God, am I"
13.7.40

Great excitement, this
morning just after breakfast,
a German plane, a large
bomber, came over us
dived out of a low-lying
cloud & machine-gunned us.
Ted & myself were sitting
in our tent, talking &
reading the daily news, when
all of a sudden there was a
sound just like a whip
cracking, only in a burst, we
rushed for our steel helmets
& gasmasks & raced outside,
where we caught sight 
of the plane turning & making
off. Everyone was
unprepared & no one
had a shot at him even.

Evidently he was attracted by
a carelessy left trench,
not camouflaged &
dazzling white, plain to be
seen, his bullets just
missed four men sitting down
to breakfast & smashed thru
several boxes of goods.
I was amused later on to see
a general smartening up,
more trenches dug & those dug
& left bare, camouflaged.
800 men had gone on a
bivouac 5 minutes earlier,
it might have been a tragedy
if fritz had come then, as
it was we received our
warning & no one was
killed. Rumour has it fritz
was brought down later on.

14.7.40
Has been just what a Sunday
should be today, lovely
summer day, no work enabling
us to go to early communion at
8 o clock at St. Peters
Shipton-Bellenger, where we
met the vicar & his wife, a
charming pair,( ??)and, I feel
sure a man of God earnestly
seeking to bring before God 
the fruits of his toil, T
his labor amongst the villagers.
Later, in the evening, we attended
evening service at 6.30.
I have never felt so deeply
moved by it since I arrived
in England, something about
the service & the whole
attitude of the congregation.

too that proclaimed earnest
worshippers who came for
one purpose alone, to meet
with God.
Afterwards the vicars wife
invited us to come round for
tea on Mon night, which
was very nice of herx too.
Text of sermon. Romans v15.Ch:8.
bringing in how we ought rather to
ask God to perfect our souls & our
inward faith & fruits of rather than to
ask God to keeps us from death.
God has certainly promised us that if
we are faithful He will work in
our lives that which is good
but, Stephen was stoned, & Christ was
crucified, Paul was beheaded let us
fear, rather him who is able to cast
both body & soul in to hell, than to
worry over death.

Wrote to Mum
Mon
15.7.40
 

TUES
16.7.40
Camouflaged tents,
not much else of
interest, concert at
night.

Wrote to Jean.
17.7.40
WED

THURS
18.7.40
One of our chaps today I was
bludging in one of our
hospital tents, when, happening
to catch sight of the Colonel
coming down not 6 paces
away, he made a frantic
dive for the back of the
tent, shot out like a rabbit
out of a burrow & 
became snared
in the tangle of ropes at the
back, we nearly split our
sides laughing.
camouflaged another tent.

Wrote to Dad

Herb.
FRI
19.7.40
Bludged all 
morning, afternoon
wrote letters.

SAT
20.7.40
Last night, while on guard, the
weather being inclement,
I went into the orderly room
where the corporal of the guard
sleeps, & had a great chat to
Corporal Caulfield, it extended
over my period last 2¼ hrs.
it is wonderful though
to be able to talk to these
chaps I see their views on
life. I hope many more
opportunities like this
occur again, this is the
second one now, it looks good.
Put in for leave of absence
today to visit Salisbury
leave being granted,
I caught a bus, arriving
Salisbury 12.15.

SAT
21.7.40
What a quaint place 
this Salisbury
is, winding narrow streets,
houses of different periods
from 1000 to the present day.
& by far the most impressive
thing about Salisbury, the
Cathedral, which within
which are buried knights &
bishops dating back to 1100.
The architecture in this place
is simply amazing, it made
as I gazed I suddenly
felt sick & tired of the
modern age for its
pace & emptiness, this place
silent & dignified, a
reminder of an age when
men gave more thought
so the things that matter most.

SAT
21.7.40
no man could put such time
& skill & beauty ^into it unless
inwardly there was the desire
to express it outwardly.
Then again, the poultry cross
is a most interesting
piece of work, built in
ancient time & shaped
like an archway with many legs.
Went to the pictures in the
afternoon, later strolling
down to see more of the town.
There is a river here
that winds thru the town
very shallow not so very
wide where boats are
hired out for the day.
As one travels this
waterway, on either

SAT
21.7.40
side one notices houses jutting
out over the water & some
built right up to the waters
edge.
As it winds in & out of the
old town the scene changes from
town to country, most picturesque
& well worth a visit.
St. Annes arch heralds the
entrance to one entrance of
Salisbury Cathedral.
Bought quite a few presents
& had a photo or two
taken to send home.
While lunching in the
restaurant, the place being
rather full, the waitress
led me thru into
a private compartment

SAT
21.7.40
where sat 12 nurses
from Queensland, it
was too late for escape
so I was forced to
have lunch with them
but felt most uncomfortable
all the same especially
as I happened to be the
only male.
I was mentally cursed
the waitress, perhaps she
thought I wanted female
company. However, I finished
a somewhat hasty dinner &
departed, feeling more relieved
when I reached the street.
Altogether, though, I had a
most enjoyable day, the
only drawback being lack of a
companion.

SUN
21.7.40
Promoted to hospital orderly
today, which is to say,
a more interesting job
has come my way also
specialist pay, not to be
despised, an extra 1/- a day.
Later, if the opportunity comes,
I hope to have some experience
in other departments, such as
X-Ray, if they install one, &
perhaps the pathology department.

Wrote to Mr Edwards,
MON
22.7.40
hospital orderly to Colonel
Loudon. wrote letters
in afternoon, lovely day
for a change.

23.7.40
TUE
Colonel Loudens medical
orderly today, while testing
men for disease.

FRI
26.7.40
Found out today that I get
2/- after all (extra.
which will be most
helpful.
Had a great time tonight, when
Mr. A. May of the Y.M.C.A.
& three of us, two field ambulance
& myself had a time of quiet
fellowship together, having
a short bible study on
Matthew 5. The beatitudes
afterwards being a great
yarn together on christian
living.

Wrote to Mum
SAT
27.7.40
Off this afternoon, 
owing to
night duty tonight.

Wrote to Herb
Jean
SUN
28.7.40
Went to 
evening
 service tonight.
afterwards going 
to supper with
one of the vergers family
having a great 
time there also,
invited again.
These English people most
kind & considerate  to us Australians.