Mr Brown's War E-Book

Helen D Millgate

• Herausgeber: The History Press
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Richard Brown kept a personal diary throughout the whole of the Second World War. He used it to record the course of the conflict as he perceived it, gleaned from the newspapers, the wireless and hearsay. As well as describing the development of the war, Brown captured a vivid image of life in wartime Britain, with rationing, blackout restrictions, interrupted sleep, the prospect of evacuation and the enormous burden placed on civilians coping with a full-time job as well as war work. Richard Brown was a well-informed man who made his own judgements. His attitude to the war is fascinating, as he never doubts ultimate victory, despite being impatient and critical of the conduct of the war. His observations range from the pithy to the humorous and scathing. Above all, his diaries reflect the moral and social attitudes of the period, and the desire to be fully involved in the war effort. They also totally refute the argument that the British public were kept in the dark.

Leseprobe

MR

BROWN’S

WAR

To Margaret Brown who trusted me with her father’s diaries and answered my endless questions with great patience I dedicate this book. Sadly she died just a few months before publication.

MR

BROWN’S

WAR

A DIARY FROM THE HOME FRONT

EDITED BY HELEN D. MILLGATE

First published in 1998

This edition published in 2011

The History Press

The Mill, Brimscombe Port

Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG

www.thehistorypress.co.uk

This ebook edition first published in 2011

All rights reserved

© Helen D. Millgate, 1998, 2003, 2011

The right of Helen D. Millgate, to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

EPUB ISBN 978 0 7524 7232 4

MOBI ISBN 978 0 7524 7231 7

Original typesetting by The History Press

Ebook compilation by RefineCatch Limited, Bungay, Suffolk

Contents

Abbreviations

Acknowledgements

Conversion Table

Introduction

The War Diaries of Richard Brown, 1939–46

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945–6

Select Bibliography

Maps

Western Europe

North Africa

The Russian Front

The Pacific

The Torgau link-up, April 1945

Abbreviations

AA

Anti-aircraft

AG

Anti-gas

AMI. Mech. E

Associate Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers

AP

Anti-personnel

ARP

Air Raid Precautions

ATC

Air Training Corps

BLA

Browning Light Automatic

CD

Civil Defence

CMB

Coastal Motor Boat

CW

Chemical Warfare

DO

Draughtsmen’s (Drawing) Office

DR

Dispatch Rider

EADT

East Anglian Daily Times

EAM

Greek National Liberation Front

ELAS

Greek Popular Liberation Army

FAP

First Aid Post

FFI

Free French Forces

FG

Fire Guard

FIDO

Fog Intensive Dispersal Operation

GOC

General Officer Commanding

HE

High Explosive

HG

Home Guard

IB

Incendiary Bomb

KR

Kingsley Reavell

LAC

Leading Aircraftsman, RAF

LCI

Landing Craft Infantry

LCT

Landing Craft Tank

Magna

Mutual Aid Good Neighbours’ Association

MG

Machine-gun

MOI

Ministry of Information

MTB

Motor Torpedo Boat

MV

Muzzle Velocity

NAAFI

Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes

NFS

National Fire Service

NWEF

Norwegian Expeditionary Force

OP

Observation Post

PO

Platoon Officer

PRU

Photo Reconnaissance Unit

RE

Royal Engineers

REME

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

SA

Small Arms

SHAEF

Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force

SW

Senior Warden

TAF

Tactical Air Force

UNRRA

United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration

USAAF

United States Army Air Force

UXB

Unexploded Bomb

WR

Sir William Reavell

Acknowledgements

First and foremost I must thank my husband for his constant support: practical, technical, professional and moral. His enthusiasm for this project has matched my own and he has helped me at every stage. I am also particularly grateful to the then Area Archivist David Jones of Suffolk Record Office whom I initially approached and who, amazingly and immediately, found me a publisher. Norman Howard an ex-colleague of Richard Brown has been very helpful with information about Reavell and Co., and I must also mention Robert Moss who was interested enough to read through all the original twelve diaries.

I apologise for any factual errors in the text; it has been very difficult fifty years on to check all data or to trace all those people mentioned, very often only by first name. I trust we have offended nobody.

Conversion Table

1

d

(penny)

0.4 new pence

6

d

(sixpence)

2½ new pence

1/- (one shilling)

5 new pence

2/6

d

(half a crown)

12½ new pence

10/-

50 new pence

20/ (one pound)

100 new pence

one guinea (one pound and one shilling)

Introduction

Richard Finn Brown, born in 1902, spent all his working life at Reavell and Co. in Ipswich, starting as an engineering apprentice and finally becoming Chief Designer. He met his wife Dora when she was a tracer in the same drawing office. At the outbreak of the war their daughter Margaret was five years old and son Godfrey eighteen months. Reavell’s, manufacturers of compressors, were heavily engaged in war work and Mr Brown worked on the design of submarine dehumidifiers. From the outset of war, he became a faithful recorder of life on the Home Front and events around the world in twelve notebooks containing 400,000 handwritten words and several carefully drawn maps of the theatres of conflict.

His daughter first showed me the diaries at a time when certain revisionist historians were questioning the Allied conduct of the war, challenging the statistics, and particularly implying that the British public were often kept in ignorance of the bad news. I think these diaries entirely refute that argument. Richard Brown, a ‘member of the public’ if ever there was one, with no access to restricted or secret information, seems to have been remarkably well informed. When I started to check figures he quotes I found only a very few minor discrepancies with contemporary statistics. More importantly the disastrous news seems to have been released with startling rapidity, for example, the sinking of the Hood on 23 May 1941 was reported by the BBC the very next day and there was equal speed in coverage of the fall of Singapore, the infamous raid on Coventry, the loss of Bataan in the Philippines and heavy RAF bomber losses, to name but a few. Numbers of civilian casualties were not withheld, only the location of those casualties. Nor were shipping losses concealed, though sometimes published monthly instead of weekly.

Concurrently with his narrative of the progress of the war, the design engineer gives us a vibrant image of life in wartime Britain – rationing, blackout restrictions, shortages, air raids, the uncertainties of evacuation and the enormous burdens placed upon the many civilians coping with a full-time job as well as an almost full-time commitment to Civil Defence.

Of equal interest is Mr Brown’s attitude: he never doubted ultimate victory though he was frequently impatient and scathing of the conduct of the war, particularly during the first two years of defeats and ‘strategic withdrawals’; he, like so many others, had enormous faith in Churchill’s leadership; and he was as disgusted by the French capitulation as he was admiring of the Russians. He was also a well-informed man, more than capable of making his own judgements based on the news reports of events often in places that had barely appeared on the map before but now suddenly became strategically important household names. There were misconceptions and he was sometimes prey to unlikely rumour but, above all, these diaries reflect the moral and social attitudes of the period and will I am sure be of great interest to those of us who shared these wartime experiences and equally to those who did not.

Note: The other people who appear most frequently in the diaries are: Richard Brown’s mother who lived with the family; Dora’s sisters Muriel, Sylvia and Gladys; Mr Brown’s sisters Aggie and Win; Win’s son Dennis; Mr Brown’s work colleagues Green, ‘Aldy’ and ‘Ven’; and neighbours George and Nelly Rudd, Harry and Doris Weaver, Reginald Thrower and Arthur Mayhew.

The War Diaries of Richard Brown, 1939–46

1939

Although war was actually declared on 3 September 1939 after the German invasion of Poland, preparations had been mounting since the Munich Crisis a year before. However, as Prime Minister Chamberlain’s voice drifted from wirelesses bringing the news that the country had feared, activity reached fever pitch. The armed forces were mobilised and the Civil Defence organisation put onto a war footing. On 1 September 1.5 million schoolchildren, mothers with small children and accompanying teachers were evacuated from the big cities to safe areas. Unfortunately the efficiency of the transport operation was not always matched in the reception areas where countless muddles and mismatches added to the anxieties of youngsters torn from their homes.

Richard Brown was already an ARP warden when war broke out, as were hundreds of thousands of his fellow countrymen, and his readiness was to be tested that very first night albeit by a false alarm. From the outset he was clearly determined to record the detail not only of foreign operations in all the theatres of war but also of the dramatic changes on the Home Front. Coping with the blackout, patrolling the streets looking for illegally shining lights, fitting gas masks, all quickly became part of the daily routine. By 12 November he and most of the country had ‘slipped very easily into war habits’ in spite of early teething troubles although he felt very strongly that some of his fellow wardens were not taking their duties seriously enough.

Beyond the shores of Britain action began slowly in the first tentative and tense days of hostilities. A British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was dispatched to Northern France in much the same way as in 1914 but this time France was presumed to be protected from Germany by the Maginot Line so the BEF was assigned to the Franco-Belgian border. Nothing happened. The only fighting was in Poland where on 17 September, as the Poles were desperately trying to repel the Germans in the west, the Red Army crossed their eastern front and Poland was lost. Then the Russians turned on Finland but were fiercely resisted with much courage and skill. Slowly, very slowly, plans were formulated to come to Finland’s aid.

Impatience at home at the slow start was tempered by the widespread opinion that it would all be over soon. Meanwhile in Ipswich, lulled by the lack of air activity, many evacuees were already drifting homeward. Fewer people bothered to carry their gas masks. This was still a ‘phoney war’ but Mr Brown was convinced it would not remain so. From the outset he estimated that hostilities would last ‘five to six years’.

Only at sea did the action begin in earnest as the German U-boat packs wreaked havoc on Allied shipping. Naval losses are recorded throughout the diary with astonishing accuracy, as is illustrated by the account of the sinking of the Royal Oak. However, in spite of the losses there was something to be glad about. The country was cheered and enlivened by the dramatic events in the South Atlantic in December. Captain Hans Langsdorff of the German cruiser Graf Spee, trapped in Montevideo harbour, chose to scuttle the ship rather than face internment. He then shot himself. The gallant captain’s suicide was regretted but it was a forcible demonstration of the effective long arm of the Royal Navy.

FRIDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

I don’t know how far this good resolution will keep good, but, there being no harm in trying, let’s try and keep it for the duration.

The war being nearly a fortnight old I had better hark back a bit.

On the Sunday morning 3 September tension was pretty great but it wasn’t till we heard a grave voice tell us to wait for an important announcement at 11.15 that the full gravity struck us. Hitler had been given until 11.00 a.m. to clear out of Poland and, as I hadn’t expected him to do that, there was only one way out; but somehow, when the time came, it came as a mild shock. Chamberlain sounded quite annoyed and, at the same time, sorrowful and I noted that he referred to ‘Hitler’ and not the usual diplomatic ‘Herr Hitler’.

George and I worked like the Devil then on the dug-out. Fortunately we were fitting the doors and when that was done the place was at least habitable. We are now patting our own backs over that dug-out, and we certainly have the laugh over those who said it wasn’t necessary. Poor old Ven is quite contrite over his lack of foresight and continual ‘don’t think it will come to anything’.

That night we had our first air-raid warning, at 2.35 Monday morning. I was pleased that I was on duty at the post at the time, with Ungless, and it was pleasing to see how quickly the wardens turned up, 100 per cent strong. Fortunately it was a false alarm and the all-clear soon followed, but I was a little proud that I had been on duty for the first alarm. Next warning came the next Wednesday morning at 6.45. I dressed quite rapidly, I thought, trousers and waistcoat over pyjamas, and was tenth at the post. Soon after reaching my beat we heard planes and gunfire, the first guns I had heard fired to kill, but am afraid I wasn’t too impressed. Analysing my feelings I found I was immensely interested in wondering if they were coming over the town. It was misty at the time and it was possible that the mist had saved us. However, the official news said it was not the enemy but our own planes.

It’s queer to note the effect this war has on different folks. Ma, bless her old heart, isn’t upset in the least. Aldy’s tummy is a bit rebellious again and I’m sure it is the cause of Wilson’s bilious bother. Ven takes it in his stride and Dora, I was pleased to note, takes things quite well. She has procedure mapped out in case of a raid and, though quick, doesn’t fluster.

I can honestly say I am merely very interested. Didn’t do much work the first day, possibly due to the lack of sleep, but more probably suppressed excitement. On the day war was declared I had a peculiar feeling of intense patriotism, a determination to do whatever I could to help (swank) and in the evening when the King spoke to us am afraid I stood up to attention when they played ‘The King’. Queer how we get moved out of our usual feelings at times, because though I am patriotic I wouldn’t usually have stood at attention with only myself for company.

In the land-fighting poor little Poland is sticking it manfully. She is continually falling back but is giving a good account of herself. Warsaw is nearly surrounded and it seems my estimate of three months before being swamped will be an overestimate. Now the news seems to suggest that Russia will hit Poland in the back. She is talking of Poland oppressing her minorities, and she is certainly mobilising. If she starts in this little war what will be the end of it? Why are they chumming up with the Germans who have always called them the scum of the earth? Am afraid it means no good to us and probably Russia is after the Baltic States and Poland, as before the last war.

By the way I have estimated this affair will last five to six years. What a hell of a time. Five times 365 days each of which might produce some sort of frightfulness in the way of air raid or bad news. Anyway who cares?

MONDAY 18 SEPTEMBER

Well, well. Yesterday Russia marched into Poland on the thinnest of excuses. She said it was to protect her White Russian nationals because the Polish government does not now exist. The Poles are still resisting the Germans and making a few successes but, poor devils, they are no match really. I wonder what it means. Russia says she will remain neutral but will take over the Poland she used to have and leave Danzig and the corridor to Germany. Will she come into the war more actively, I wonder? If so and she tackles the French frontier with Germany, and then Italy and Spain decide not to remain neutral any longer, we look like being up against it. Even so things are not hopeless by any means.

Some sub sank the Courageous today. Reports say they think the attendant destroyers sunk the sub, but I guess not or they would be more definite about it. Plucky devil to tackle a thing like an aircraft-carrier. Haven’t seen any reliable news yet though.

THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER

More exciting news tonight. The Roumanian Premier has been assassinated by a group of young men, probably Iron Guard Fascists. Results may be anything. Russia is still the ambiguous quantity but she has occupied the Polish border with Roumania, possibly intending to cut off any chance Germany may have of stealing Roumania with her oil and grain. That point seems to suggest that Russia and Germany are not so friendly as might be. We listened tonight to Roosevelt addressing Congress on the repeal of the Neutrality Act. From the enthusiasm of Congress I guess it will be repealed. Marvellous wireless. We heard it all with no fading at all.

Muriel came down for an hour or so today and has gone back to Rotherhithe, St Olave’s Hospital. What a place! If the raids start in earnest she will see some excitement and casualties too. Had a peculiar feeling of comradeship with her when shaking hands at saying goodbye. After all we are both working together now, though my share is so small in comparison.

WEDNESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER

Warsaw has surrendered, poor devils. Half of it in ruins. Wonder if that allows Hitler to concentrate on the Western Front. There was some fear that Russia was going to invade Roumania, but whether for own gain or to prevent Germany doing so wasn’t clear. Now we may see. Ribbentrop, the Estonian Minister and Turkish are now at Moscow, for what purpose can’t be told. Russia is also annoyed with Estonia for letting a Polish sub leave an Estonian port after internment, and seems inclined to make trouble out of it.

The War Budget came out today. Drastic but this war must be paid for somehow. Income tax is 7s 6d in the £1, beer up 1d, sugar up 1d, baccy up 1½d, spirits up 10s a gallon. I expected petrol to go up still more. It is rationed now and therefore the yield is reduced. But it wasn’t mentioned this time.

SUNDAY 1 OCTOBER

Last day of old duties. Now we start doing 4 hours at post per fortnight, on patrol from 8 to 11 p.m. Post duty to be as company for full-timers who do 24 hours per day.

Quite a bit to report today. Thursday morning it became known that Russia and Germany are to request peace now that the Polish question is ‘liquidated’. If we refuse it will prove conclusively that France and Britain started the war and have no desire for peace!!! Clever, as usual with Hitler, but can’t say I want peace under those conditions. If it were agreed upon it would only crop up again a few months hence when Hitler will undoubtedly discover an ill-treated minority in France or England and it will all come again but more favourably for him. Wonder what Dad would think to my warlike wishes? All the same I think it best for future peace of the world, and us particularly, to keep on and dust Hitler’s pants if we can. Apparently the official terms will come from Hitler next Tuesday. Till then we can, at any rate, expect no air raids over here. I should have added that the statement said if we refuse the peace suggestions, Germany and Russia will collaborate further to decide what steps they will take. At first it seemed to mean that Russia will declare war on us, but am not so sure now.

Reports say that Germany is massing on the Belgian frontier. She has also solemnly assured Belgium and Holland that she will respect their neutrality which, from previous experience, means that she has every intention of invading them. Apparently Holland and Belgium think the same for the Dutch are reported to have already partly flooded their land and the Belgians are manning the frontier. By the same token I guess our peculiar silence and inaction is due to the fact that we are probably mobilising on the Franco-Belgian frontier, waiting to support if necessary, leaving the French at the German frontier.

The Express this morning is cussing the British Ministry of Information for not releasing news. All pictures published are, so far, German. Ours are censored for some peculiar reason. Apparently it’s making America suspicious and I don’t blame them. It’s all very silly and mysterious. Russia has also agreed with Estonia that in return for munitions Estonia is to allow her to establish naval bases and aerodromes. The thin end of the wedge? Latvia next? The Bremen is known to be at Murmansk. Pity. Still she must have had a cold journey. All the same, I’m annoyed, a little.

Last Friday night was National Registration Day, 29 September. All returns to include those who spent the night at the house. I cheated ’cos I spent 4 hours of it, 12 to 4, here at the post. Was on with Thrower and had a very interesting 4-hour chat. He showed me sides of his character which I certainly had not suspected. Fancy him liking Scott’s poetry. Good bloke!

I must, if I can, start the finishing off of the dug-out. Now things are quiet (now, I suppose, the siren will blow) we ought to get things moving. Must see if I can get it painted and distempered this week. Poor old George is queerish this week with a cold on his chest, so must see what I can do.

We get a varied type of Bobby here on patrol calls. All of them are reserves or war reserves. Good lads but, in my conceited judgement, a little suet-puddingish.

SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER

Coo! A whole week. And in that week a fair amount of ‘nerves’ and little progress. Hitler made big proposals in a speech at the Reichstag on Friday. There was a lot of splutter about his famous Polish victory, and a queer sort of résumé of what war might mean and a suggestion of a world conference. So now we must wait till Tuesday or Wednesday when Chamberlain makes a reply. And then do we start the war in earnest? When we do presumably we wardens will have a little more to do. At the present, for the last week I have been going to bed quite confident of a good night’s sleep. Will it be so for much longer, I wonder?

They are doing things well at Reavell’s. The dug-outs are finished, fire-watchers’ posts and control centre nearly so, and instructions have been issued to everyone on how to get to the dug-outs. Wardens will be given a job in dealing with gas, and seeing that the offices and works are properly evacuated. Can’t see anyone wanting to stay unless raid warnings get frequent and are false alarms. Did my first night’s light patrol1 under the new scheme last night, and of course it rained. Still I did one round and then went home to hear the news and dry off. On the second round, about 10.15, it started raining again so I packed up, reported, and got home by 11.00.

TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER

Well, well, well. We move at last. To give events in correct order, last Friday certainly was unlucky for Germany. On that day we sank three submarines, the news coming on the radio something like this ‘Here is an important Admiralty announcement, and you may care to listen carefully for it is good news. The Admiralty announces that two subs (later increased to three) have been sunk today. That is all’, and then the blighters went and torpedoed the Royal Oak, with loss of about 800 men out of 1,200. We heard today (today Tuesday notice) that it was sunk while at anchor and Hamburg boasts that the sub which did it made its way into Scapa Flow harbour and then got away again. We may hear one day what the facts were.

Yesterday, Monday, there was an air raid over Rosyth Dockyard; fifteen men killed, twenty-five injured but no civilians. All casualties on ships. The Southampton had a ‘glancing blow’ which did no damage to the boats but splinters hit a few men. Fighters brought down three planes and AA one more which I think is lousy on the part of the AA, there being twelve to fourteen planes.

This morning coming home the placard said ‘Air-Raid warning over Hull’ and I expected something in this direction but not as soon as it came. We were having dinner at 1.30 when the sirens went and less than a minute after they finished I heard what I think were bombs followed by AA fire. A hectic rush to the post to report, then back and a tedious wait in the street, with two faint salvos of AA at intervals until the all-clear came at 2.05. That’s about all it was. The ladies went down the dug-out because of the firing but I had to make Ma go down. Shan’t bother any more as I hear she was a bit of a nuisance with rather misplaced remarks.

There was a rather unusual silence in the office for the first part of the afternoon as though most of us were a little thoughtful. Conditions were certainly favourable with clouds at all elevations. Wonder what’s coming tonight? Went the length of Leopold Road last night trying to find evacuees with babies under four for respirators, but there weren’t any. We are going to have baby masks issued next Thursday, from 12 till 2. Dora says she will be there at five past twelve ’cos you never know.

FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER

Dora fetched the mask and it seemed a real good job. The boy whimpered a bit when we put him in but it didn’t seem to be a defiant cry and would probably settle down after a bit. Let’s hope he will never wear it. All the same when Hitler really gets desperate I firmly believe he will use gas and we may fall unlucky here. Which reminds me (fearful grammar), I guess there will be as much danger of incendiary bombs, and it’s time I decided just how to deal with them.

Went for a swim at St Matthew’s Wednesday evening. We just managed a few minutes before they blacked out at 6 o’clock. It seemed a little eerie swimming in dark water. I hear today the baths may keep open all the winter. Cheers.

There must be more than a dozen air-raid shelters in the centre of the town. Direction signs are always being put up. Now they are putting up directions to first-aid posts, but I believe there is only one special one besides the hospital and that is in Currier’s Lane.

Another air raid over Firth of Forth today but don’t know any details yet. Won a bet (1d chocolate) from Ven on Wednesday. I said there would be an air raid somewhere in the country and there was! Jerry is certainly playing fair so far. He is attacking strictly military objects (except with subs and propaganda) and the bloke who crept into Scapa Flow and sunk the Royal Oak at 1.30 a.m. then got home safely certainly deserved his medal and Churchill’s praise. Wonder if they will praise our blokes in their Reichstag?

Did lights last night with Mr Sullivan. Quite a companionable bloke. We have started our new post. It’s about 8 ft square, including two recesses for AG clothing and enough room for four or five people to stand up in. Can’t say how it will accommodate us when we report for a raid. The steps leading to it are only just wide enough to get down when dolled up in kit. Still we shall see, anyone can criticise.

MONDAY 23 OCTOBER

Quite a bit to report. Last Saturday, Trafalgar Day, twelve planes attacked a convoy off Lincolnshire, result being four shot down and no damage to the convoy. Good going but it was the fighter escort who did most of the stuff. Where is that marvellous accuracy we have heard of with regard to our Archies?2 Of course it was probably a try-out but I can’t see much good in Jerry only using 12 planes; 120 would be more sensible. Perhaps he will next time.

Mr Thrower came round this evening to say he is to be notified of yellow warnings and will knock up us lesser fry. A good idea and will at any rate get us ready for the siren, which certainly does make one’s ticker and tummy work overtime. Its wail is a little terrifying though I wouldn’t have it otherwise. So now we can look forward to more disturbed nights, but who cares? Perhaps it will be ‘yellow’ and then ‘red’ tonight. Am on duty tonight 0000 hr to 0400 hr tomorrow morning, my first in the new post.

Talking of dug-outs we decorated ours over the weekend, biscuit distemper inside, grey doors and stained seat. Looks quite posh but expect the creosote from the sleepers will work out later and spoil it all. By the way, Dora thinks I am doing German when I sit down and write this. Dear me.

MONDAY 6 NOVEMBER

Not much action news. In fact the radio gave up altogether yesterday. At the 4 o’clock news it just said there was nothing and played records instead. Rather queer, all this. After all we had been led to believe that this would be a lightning war with huge air raids; it’s nothing but a flop. Perhaps each side is waiting for the other to begin and then it can’t be accused of ‘air aggression’. Coo that’s a good phrase!

We were told last week to be prepared to be rationed on butter and bacon in December. Probable amounts are ¼ lb per head per week of each, margarine will be unlimited.

SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER

Life is not much changed these days. We have slipped very easily into war habits. At sundown, and recently lighting-up times, we conscientiously black out, which means we have to feel our way about parts of the house in darkness. At work it means closing all windows and drawing blinds, the result being a darned hot, stuffy office. So far we have only had it for half an hour or so, and that overtime. What it will be like for two hours I don’t like to think of. I haven’t been in the town yet in real darkness but in the twilight it seems a bit eerie. I don’t mind admitting to myself that I think it will be wisest to funk the town and go home by back roads.

There are a good many basement shelters and trenches about the town. Very frequently one sees the blue boards with white lettering giving directions to the nearest shelter. Now there are added white boards and red lettering for nearest first-aid posts and red boards with white letters for fire stations. Added to that, one sometimes sees white arrows on the pavement leading to the nearest shelter, and here and there are huge piles of sandbags round important buildings. There are not quite so many gas masks taken about nowadays. People are getting a little contemptuous I guess. Can’t help thinking we are soon to be in for a real series of raids.

SATURDAY 18 NOVEMBER

After a week there is quite a lot I ought to enter. Perhaps I can. I should have recorded last time that the submarine Oxley was destroyed by an internal explosion, they said. A big boat, 1,380/1,850 tons, and not much about it in the papers. We weren’t told how it happened either; perhaps we’ll know afterwards.

Last Sunday Churchill broadcast a speech and such a speech! The tenor of it was ‘Poor old Goering, you would like to bomb us but you daren’t, I dare you’. He even said the fleet had been waiting for them all week in the Firth of Forth without a visit. Next day Jerry sent four planes and bombed the Shetlands. He said it was a crushing reply to Churchill, showing that they could come in any weather, and claimed two seaplanes destroyed. We said there was no damage except windows, and one rabbit killed. The wireless comedians have made the most out of that rabbit.

Times of duty have been altered again. Now we do one night a week, 8 to 12, pardon, 2000 hr to 2400 hr, three of us at a time, one to man the post the other two to go on lights patrol. Also once in eight weeks we are to do 0000 hr to 0400 hr post duty. Those poor devils of full-timers are now condemned to 72 hours a week. What a life, and all for £3 a week. I can see one of them going when he can, and don’t blame him, though it would mean longer hours for us.

Heard today the Admiralty might take over the dehumidifiers we are making for Turkish subs. Don’t know if it means the boats as well but it is probable. The boats won’t be much good without blowers.

MONDAY 27 NOVEMBER

More ships gone, mostly merchantmen. One of them the Rawalpindi was an armed auxiliary cruiser.

Heard some interesting news this evening when talking to Brother Thrower. We were yarning in his dug-out and he quoted a naval pal of his who is on the Greyhound, a destroyer. Of course all is second-hand rumour but interesting just the same. He says the Rawalpindi was out as a decoy to the Deutschland but unfortunately the German got her blow in first. Certainly that would account for the death toll, there being only 17 survivors out of 300 and there is no news of how, when or where she went down. Also he says that when the Gypsy went down she was due to go sub hunting with the Greyhound and slipped into Harwich to drop survivors of a mined tug. Sheer bad luck to have hit a mine herself, for Greyhound, probably with others, found eleven subs in the Thames estuary, probably laying mines, four of them were bagged. Again, his opinion is this is essentially a naval war.

These nights are beautiful. It was a full moon yesterday and tonight the sky is cloudless and glorious. I came home tonight by the bypass and the sky was glorious. It was fairly dark, the moon just rising, and the clouds were breaking up and dispersing with the result that great rifts were in the clouds showing an infinitely deep purple, spotted with stars. The edge of the rift was jagged, torn yet fleecy clouds, lit by the moon and standing out like silver fluff yet mingling with the black rain banks. A little way off was Jupiter like a great lamp. Really it was indescribable, so I won’t try any more. There is a good side to this blackout, somehow one could never get such beauty before.

THURSDAY 30 NOVEMBER

The rumour about the Rawalpindi is correct. Poor old gal, she went down fighting but Germany had the cheek to claim control of the sea as a result. Poor fools.

Haven’t heard the report myself but Russia, blast her, has bombed Helsinki. Seems almost unbelievable that in these otherwise sane days any country can barefacedly trump up charges, as Russia did against Finland, and then accuse her of piracy, conduct a fierce propaganda war and then march in. Wonder if the USA will do anything active? Roosevelt offered to mediate yesterday but Stalin obviously wouldn’t have anything come between him and his plunder. I go on duty tonight at 0000 hr so may hear the news then.

THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER

Russia is still lamming Finland, or trying to. She has repeatedly bombed Helsinki and other towns but, if reports are to be trusted, she is not having it all her own way. The Russians tried the stunt of dropping troops behind the Finn lines by parachute, but possibly they weren’t far enough behind ’cos they were picked off and it ended in failure.

We had a few minutes meeting in the canteen this evening, Hartley giving us wardens a much needed enlightenment on our duties. Tomorrow I am due to receive my equipment for use down at the Works which will save the necessity for taking the regulation stuff about with me. I must say Reavell’s are doing things well. All we need now is an alarm to see how things really work and to buck up a few of the critics and sluggards.

WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER

Finland is still going it with a will. Chiefly in the Karelian Isthmus. There are now 1½ million Russians massing there, with 1,000 planes. Also the Express on Sunday reckoned this business shows the Russian giant to have feet of clay and the Chronicle is fairly smacking her for her previousness in saying so. It must be fearful fighting in those conditions and reports say the Russians are not well clothed to meet it. The Finns fight on skis and in white uniforms and everyone praises their pluck.

I should have reported some weeks back that the Belfast was damaged by mine or torpedo. Not much news was given about it except that it was in the Firth of Forth. Estimates put the bag of submarines at about forty. Five were sunk last week.

SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER

Chief item is the Graf Spee. On Wednesday she came across the Ajax which opened fire at 12 miles. All this is mere report, which accounts for some of the facts being a little peculiar. I can’t see how 6 in guns can carry 12 miles and score a hit with the second round, but perhaps I’m too doubting. Anyway then the Exeter and Achilles arrived and, after several hours’ action, Graf Spee bolted into Montevideo, damaged, with thirty-six dead and sixty injured.

Position now is that she has been given 72 hours’ notice to quit and outside our ships are waiting. Poor devils. They were sports, treated the crews they had captured very well, who, when liberated, attended the funeral of the thirty-six, and it seems plucky to try to get out. Perhaps they won’t but will prefer internment. Reports say the Renown, Ark Royal and Dunkerque have reinforced the Ajax and Achilles. Still war is war. Free she would be a menace, and must be stopped.

Tried to get a flash-lamp battery today. Only a casual request, as I know one might as well ask for the moon. One can’t get batteries for love or money. With petrol restrictions, cars are laid up and owners are cycling which requires two batteries, and with the blackout, torches are everywhere. Heaven knows when the manufacturers will get on top of it. Walking out at night, the streets are pretty black at times and most people use torches. One sees them flashing everywhere. I shouldn’t have thought it was so easy to hit the railings or step off the path, but it certainly is easy. Cycling home the other night I couldn’t find Leopold Road after a car had passed me with lights on.

WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER

There certainly is more news to record and lots of it. The Graf Spee incident has straightened itself out. Now it seems that the Exeter was first to come across the German, who opened fire at 12½ miles, the fifth salvo being a hit. In fact she concentrated her fire on Exeter and gave her a heck of a time, until hits in the boiler-room slowed her down till she couldn’t make much steam. Also, only one gun was left in action and that hand-operated. Poor devils. Casualties were sixty-two killed, twenty-five injured and at the end the captain was giving orders by chains of sailors to the helmsman and others. All this gave Ajax and Achilles time to do ‘summat’ which they did, keeping to landward of Graf Spee. Commander Harwood is made Rear Admiral and KCB and well he deserves it. He must have done really well to force such a large boat to harbour, and with extensive damage too. Good old Nelson. Your spirit was there alright. Lord Haw-Haw3, or rather old Goebbels, claimed it a German victory, poor fools, which seems rather strange in view of the following days. The Uruguayans inspected the boat and gave 72 hours’ grace. Germany howled that this was not nearly enough, forgetting that they had claimed a victory, and Hitler personally gave orders to the captain to scuttle his boat. This he did. He took on 2,000 tons of fuel oil, steamed out at the appointed time, stopped 5 miles out, anchored, then blew her up. The Uruguayans are real annoyed about it. Also, I’ll bet, so was the German skipper, for it transpires that the only boats waiting for them were the Achilles, the damaged Ajax and Cumberland, a sister ship to Exeter.

Later. Just heard that the captain of the Graf Spee has committed suicide. I can appreciate the poor devil’s feelings and can sympathise. It was not a very glorious end to sink his ship but, as a man, he was no worse for doing what he was ordered to do.

The news also said that this evening aircraft appeared over the east coast. Wonder if it was over this district? Coming home I saw searchlights and twice saw peculiar lights which I took to be landing flares or star-shells.

TUESDAY 26 DECEMBER

Am writing on duty at the post. To my secret surprise we have passed through Christmas (so far, touch wood) without a visit from Hitler’s air force. Have now made a set of blackout wood and paper frames for the front room. Only our bedroom and the kiddies’ remain now. Must tackle the kiddies’ room next.

There are notices now that the ‘yellow’ will be sent out to people like Wambach who will use his judgement about whom to pass it on to. I don’t see the fun of being awakened very frequently for a ‘yellow’ though shouldn’t mind now and then. There is also a notice asking for wardens to sign who can get time off from their employment on news of a red warning. We are getting a little more shipshape now in our organisation. Am just a little perturbed about the way some chaps are treating the patrol duty. Some don’t do it and the last time I was on we all three stayed in and played shove-ha’penny. Hope I’m not a prig but it doesn’t seem the right thing to do, but I can’t push against the stream on my own. Must see what happens. After all we didn’t join up just for the pleasure of meeting here and playing games. Still there are sure to be sources of friction, and backing out here and there.

NOTES

1 Wardens patrolled the streets to check the efficiency of household blackout procedures.

2 ‘Archie’ was the nickname given to anti-aircraft fire during the First World War.

3 Name given to William Joyce, then member of the British Union of Fascists, who broadcast from Hamburg throughout the war.

1940

The hiatus, known as the Phoney War, continued. Rationing of butter, bacon and sugar began and the main topic of interest early in the year was the prolonged period of freezing temperatures. Allied activity was still predominantly naval, the highlight being the daring raid in Norwegian waters by HMS Cossack to free British seamen held prisoner on the auxiliary ship Altmark. By March Russia had overwhelmed Finland, the British aid then en route serving only to precipitate Hitler’s audacious attack on Norway and Denmark on 9 April. Denmark was overrun in a single day but the Norwegian campaign lasted long enough for a British Expeditionary Force to land and assist, only to be evacuated three weeks later in spite of massive naval support.

The disastrous Norwegian campaign was the catalyst for the downfall of the Chamberlain government and Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, was appointed Prime Minister; the popular, if not political, choice. That very day, 10 May, the Germans swept into the Low Countries. The Dutch capitulated four days later and the Belgians on 28 May, leaving the BEF on the Belgian front stranded. The invader’s tanks ignoring both the Maginot Line and the supposedly impenetrable Ardennes forest to the south raced to the French coast and squeezed the Allied forces into the Dunkirk salient. The miraculous evacuation at Dunkirk and Churchill’s brilliant rhetoric raised everyone’s spirits even after the astounding French collapse in June.

In common with most of the population at this period Richard Brown was very apprehensive and feared that the British Isles would be next on the list. He did however have great faith in Churchill and never entertained the thought of defeat. Ipswich was bombed for the first time on 18 June and Brown debates whether or not to send his family away. He was also very anxious to do more, notably hold a gun with the newly formed Local Defence Volunteers, known as the ‘Parashots’, and renamed Home Guard in August. He sent an idea for combating the magnetic mine to the Admiralty, but it was not taken further.

The Battle of Britain, Goering’s attempt to destroy the RAF preparatory to an invasion, was unleashed in August and probably would have succeeded if Goering had not switched his bombers to London on 7 September. ‘Civilisation was saved by a thousand British boys’ (Denis Richards). As the Blitz began it was announced that Ipswich was to be voluntarily evacuated and Richard Brown moved his family to Northampton. The family returned in October in spite of continued air raids on Ipswich and the threat of invasion, as far as they knew, unabated. Meanwhile London was being pounded nightly and gradually Londoners were learning to cope with the great damage and disruption to their daily lives. ‘We can take it’ became their byword. On 14 November the infamous raid on Coventry took place and this was followed by a series of heavy raids on other large provincial cities.

In June Italy joined the Axis as expected and in August her troops marched into Somaliland. Then on 13 September five divisions crossed the Libyan border into Eygpt. Although initially successful they were to be driven back to their starting point by the year’s end; this first Allied land victory being greeted with wild enthusiasm. The Italians also invaded Greece in late October but didn’t have much luck there either.

WEDNESDAY 3 JANUARY

The New Year. I suppose I ought to indulge in fogs of reminiscence but I don’t pretend to be a model journalist so I won’t. This whole darn thing is supposed to be a summary. Heaven knows there is plenty I could enter but can’t find time or opportunity.

There has been another encounter with the Messerschmitt 110, the twin-engined long-range fighter. Three of our bombers encountered twelve near the German coast and shot down three, losing two of ours. I should have recorded that we are continually making reconnaissance flights over Germany. Seems we can do pretty much as we like.

We went in Harry’s car to Felixstowe last Sunday, the last day of the year, and saw the balloon barrage, eighteen of them. The clouds cleared off leaving a perfect sky, showing them up very clearly. We are now in a frosty spell, about a fortnight old, and the roads were icy then, and we were unfortunate enough to encounter an accident. An RAF lorry was in a hurry and skidded round Langer Road bend hitting the kerb, a stationary car, a small tree and then us. Thank heaven Dora and the kids were not hurt. All the same the RAF chap told me a warning had been received so my first thought was to get the ladies home, so we put them on a bus and I then had a lousy few minutes wishing I had gone too in case they ran into a warning in Ipswich. However, no sirens were sounded and all was well, that is, except with Harry’s car. On the way home I had the comforting feeling that we were passing close to AA guns and searchlights, but nary a one did we see.

The Finns are still holding out, whacking at the Russians. Three cheers. Various reports show that they can lay traps and the poor Red Army falls into them quite cheerfully. There was that incident of enticing them on a frozen lake and then bombing the lake. They have also induced the Russians to fight each other. Clever large-scale guerrilla tactics. Now, reports say, Stalin is asking for German technicians to help him out.

I see the Tacoma, the boat which fuelled the Graf Spee has been interned. She was coming out of harbour, saw a British ship waiting, and chose internment instead.

MONDAY 8 JANUARY

Well, well, well. There are changes in the cabinet. Hore-Belisha1 resigned Friday, reason unstated. Naturally most papers, Telegraph excepted, are indignant, calling for explanations, Parliament to meet, etc. For myself I think that Chamberlain knows what he is doing, has reasons for doing it, knows more about it than I do, and I have every confidence in him. If he says that Hore-Belisha should go, there is a damn good reason for it. It is significant I think, that it comes after the King, Chamberlain and Churchill, etc., have paid visits to France and rumour says it’s because the Army is too comfortable and democratic.

Summer time will probably begin on 14 February nice and early. Then we might be able to buy dry batteries. I have been surprised to find the nights not dark so often as I expected. Actually very few have been really black though lots are dark. After being out for a few minutes one can usually see fairly well.

Rationing starts today for butter, sugar and bacon – 4 oz butter, 12 oz sugar and 4 oz bacon and ham. We shall have to cut down a little more on sugar, but not much. We ought to manage on 3¾ lb a week and as for butter, I like margarine just as well. Morrison2 explained it was to conserve cargo space for munitions and to save foreign currency.

FRIDAY 12 JANUARY

Am afraid I told Dora the other day that I am running this diary. A weak moment. Still, one ought not to have secrets from one’s dear wife, Richard, and one can still talk to oneself.

The first dehumidifiers were tested today, quite OK thank goodness, and in a heck of a rush. A great improvement, the monobloc, on the old type. Let’s hope, and touch wood, on the smaller sets going together properly.

MONDAY 15 JANUARY

On duty again. The others haven’t turned up, both unavoidably delayed. Next Wednesday there will be ‘paper’ incidents, being practice in making out reports and using the phone. Attendance optional if not detailed off. Haven’t been detailed yet so will consider it.

Chief news is unsettled conditions in Holland and Belgium. Both countries are mobilising and our BEF leave was stopped yesterday. They fear something and in a way I hope Germany will be rash enough to invade. It will definitely put them in the wrong and give us an opportunity to use the Army. Let’s hope (the wireless is just playing the ‘Clock’ symphony. Lovely) my faith in the Army is justified. It hasn’t been proved yet. Reports tonight say the situation in Holland and Belgium is much easier. Incidentally, partly the scare was caused by a captured German airman having certain papers on him.

Have just found some drops of water coming in the corners of the post. The frost shows signs of ending, can’t remember one lasting so long. It must have been here for three weeks with only two days’ respite.

The Finns are being subjected to fierce air raids now the severe weather has eased. The Telegraph this morning was saying they will be in a poor position in March when the clear weather comes for they have no air force to speak of and the Russian aircraft will have everything just their own way. Poor devils. I can’t imagine us doing anything in time, being England, and USA is talking and talking about help. The Finns have done wonders on land, seemingly surrounding whole divisions of Russians and annihilating them, which will make the Russians all the keener on finishing the job with aircraft. What will be the outcome?

MONDAY 22 JANUARY

On duty last night, 2000 hr to 2400 hr as usual, with Day and Roper. Nice fellows, but none of us any intention, I’m afraid, of light patrolling in this snow. Still I heard a rumour that light patrols are being tightened up (about time too) and the night shift 0000 hr to 0400 hr abolished altogether for part-timers. Really this weather is the limit. Still it freezes, and snows on and off most of the day. The roads are foul. No attempt to clear them at all, except in the town, and no wonder with the shortage of staff. This morning when I went to work the Cornhill and Princes Street top were well clear and then the snow fell again. Too disheartening to have to start all over again. Last Wednesday Gilbert said he measured 19 degrees of frost, and Corunna in Spain has had snow for the first time since 1800. What a winter. It has kept to the eleven-year cycle again – 1917, 1928 and 1939. All the same I don’t think we have ever had a frost to last a month with only two days’ break.

The chappie in the barber’s went for medical exam today and passed A1. It’s when an actual case comes to your notice that the damnableness of the whole business shows up. It’s pretty rotten to be hoiked out of one’s job and made to fight, even admitting all the arguments for patriotism.

FRIDAY 26 JANUARY

Principally weather this time. Still the damn frost continues. Have been staying to dinner at work all the week and today, with a slight sign of thaw, it darn well snowed like hell this evening. When will it end? Probably not till June. Twice the wind has boxed the compass; rather peculiar that.

This week the hood became compulsory for car headlights. Good things those. In a slight mist it looks like a large fan spread before the car, yet there is no glare and no light at all above 4 ft. The trams have them. They seem a little ghostly rushing about with two dim sidelights, hooded headlamp and dim blue lights inside. They still stop about 7.30 at night. Bikes may now be wheeled on the nearside without lamps. Shops, too, have a concession. They may have one light per 10 ft of window consisting of a 15-w lamp inside a box with a slit 6 in by ¼ in covered with tissue paper. Surprising what a light they give.

SUNDAY 4 FEBRUARY

Talking meteorologically, last night was a wonder. It thawed. The first frost was a few days before Christmas and it has kept it up since, except for two days. The snow outside has been there for almost three weeks. Phyl says the road to Felixstowe has been made possible by cutting a path through the snow for a single line of traffic with passing recesses. Trains are held up and people are short of coal. Factories are running short and it’s all a helluva mix-up.

Ma is highly disgusted just now. She’s bought a Rollo and found two short, can’t be convinced it’s quite fair either. If that’s the worst discomfort, we shall do well.

Reverting, I wonder if there really is any offensive nature in those squads of masts round the coast, e.g. at Bawdsey. Certainly they are secret, these erections, and there is yet time to prove or disprove the popular theory that they can cut out a plane’s electrical gear. When massed raids have been attempted, then we shall know.

Have just been listening to a radio item showing how German propaganda is intended to undermine our beliefs in our own country and government. An excellently portrayed picture. They finished by showing how the Jerry stories of a Graf Spee victory were disproved by the facts themselves. Apparently we have a monitoring service constantly listening to foreign news broadcast in all languages, 500,000 words daily, eight novel lengths, all sifted, mostly recorded and studied. A service we hear nothing about. In this week’s Engineer they quote the Bremen newspaper saying we have lost twenty-four tankers since war began and giving the names. Five of them are still afloat and haven’t been attacked, three others are not tankers at all and, in one case, the tonnage was given as 7,060 tons, actually it was 706. Our convoy shipping losses continue to be 1 in 500; 7,000 ships were convoyed up to 17 January and 14 were lost.

SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY

Had a brainwave yesterday. Magnetic mines this time. The idea was a torpedo-shaped object propelled by air-jet and magnetised, moving in advance of its sweeper on the end of its pipeline. Being magnetised it might affect the mines enough to explode them in advance of the ship and, there being no working parts at all, it should be indestructible even if blown out of the water and the pipeline should be flexible enough. Trouble is I don’t know enough about juice and magnetism to say if the field could be made strong enough for the job. It would be rather fun to see a boat oozing along with explosions in front of it. Must see if George knows anything about fields.

Bought a piece of deal today for the front fence, 4 in × 4 in × 5 ft 6 in and cost 2s 6d. Christmas! Still it’s wartime.

Went on duty last Wednesday. The other two made no attempt to do light patrol and I, as post warden, was told by the full-timer that the part-timer usually clears off at 2300 hr so I went. All the same I think it’s a darn shame. There is no genuine enthusiasm, only a desire to dodge all they can with the excuse that we have no authority over people’s lights. People don’t carry respirators about nowadays. Hope it is not a false security they are feeling; still I should do the same I suppose if I hadn’t got one at work and at home. Went to an auction sale and bought a bureau on Wednesday. My first sale. Cost was £3 10s; now I can have somewhere to do work and ‘German’ in peace. Perhaps.

THURSDAY 15 FEBRUARY

Those blasted Russians mean it this time. For sixteen days they have been hammering away at the Mannerheim Line, 300,000 troops on the sector giving the Finns no rest. Yesterday they pumped 300,000 shells into one town in the day. No wonder they have made gains and captured some outposts. I very much fear the Finns are cracking but hope very, very much that I am wrong. All the same, reverting to the Karelian Isthmus, the Russians have had fearful losses, one estimate saying 40,000 dead and 200 tanks destroyed. The latter gives an idea of the mechanisation. It is now possible for anyone in England, over twenty-seven, to enlist in the Finnish army.