Category: 1944 Diary

Monday 28th February/ Tuesday 29th February, 1944

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1944 DiaryLeave a comment

Alec’s diary continues:

Monday

Caught 9.10 a.m. for Bristol. Met Kay on Clevedon platform with same until Nailsea. Had coffee on No. 7 then caught 10.25 a.m. Nothing startling on trip. Train arrived 3.20 p.m. Dumped bag and went for meal. Limited in when I returned to station so went over to hotel. John left note saying gone to Millbay. Followed on next bus and met Mr Rendle who is taking record at Laira and Mr Harding. Had trip back to hotel to see if Chas had arrived. Picked John up outside Theatre at 5.30 p.m. then went to Gaumont to see Sweet Rosie O’Grady with Betty Grable. Had supper in the Lord John Malcolm*. Returned to Hotel at 9.30 p.m. No Chas. Turned in at 10.45 p.m.

*I’ve done a bit of Googling but so far failed to turn up any establishment in Plymouth by this or a similar name. I’ll keep searching.

*

Tuesday

Got up at 7.0 a.m. not ready for me so no breakfast till 7.40 a.m. Left at 8.0 a.m. arrived Laira at 8.15 a.m. in time to take 8.20 a.m. Launceston. (Chas arrived 12.30 a.m. missed connection at Bristol Midland train 2 hours late.) Chas and John took walk out to Laira in morning to get lie of the land. Not much doing. Went up to Bakery at 12.30 p.m. got some good pies and buns and returned to Yard. Inspector Ede gave us a cup of tea as big as a bucket. John turned up at 3.50 p.m.

Back to Hotel for a wash and shave then to lounge to write. Chas agitating for a meal so took him to the Lord John Malcolm. Meal cost 4/6d each. Mixed grill, lamb chop, sausage chips and beans. Back to hotel at 7.30 p.m. talked till 8.45 p.m. Hustled Chas out to Laira and waited for John to turn up. He arrived at 9.15 p.m. Bed at 10.30 p.m. No siren.

Sunday 27th February, 1944

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Alec’s diary continues:

Got up at 10.30 a.m. got my own wireless going again for new forces programme. Not too bad. Punch returned trumpet in person at 10.0 a.m. did not see him. Did not go to Home Guard. Far too weary foot giving trouble. John Kay and Cedric came round at 3.30 p.m. Had chat and changed them some more books. Went to Salthouse in evening usual crew there. Cleared out at 8.0 p.m. Listened to Radio until bed time.

Saturday 26th February, 1944

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Alec’s diary continues:

A rougher night as far as traffic is concerned more Cornish coming down. Leave yard at 7.38 a.m. ignoring the 9.55 Bristol which had just arrived on loop. Had to run for the 7.40 a.m. Marsh Mills just caught it. Recover bag from cloakroom at North Road. Refreshment room not open until 8.30 a.m. First in queue tea and biscuits. Caught 8.45 a.m. changed at Taunton and picked up the 11.25 a.m. thence. Got home usual time.

Met Kay on train from Yatton. Saw Cedric on Clevedon station says he will see us Sunday. Met John in afternoon. Went to see Kiddle at 3.15 p.m. after sleep in chair. Round Johnny’s house until five then home for tea. To pictures in evening met Margaret, Frank and cronies in front row. Vera Lynn in big film* much better than expected. To Salthouse for a drink. Met Mrs H. and Pat also a couple of Yanks. Home at 9.30 p.m. thence to bed.

*Vera Lynn had two films out in 1943 and one in 1944 (after this entry). The most likely candidate in my view is Rhythm Serenade, on the basis that he seems to have forgotten the title – which I suspect would have been unlikely with We’ll Meet Again.

Friday 25th February, 1944

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Alec’s diary continues:

Fairly quiet night cold wind early on but dropped later. Colder towards morning. On with Inspector Hunt. John arrived 8.15 a.m. I catch bus to digs OK have wash then deal with breakfast. Out to Muttley Plain for fags and paper. Stay talking in front of fire till 11.0 a.m. Pay bill. Girl says will wake me at 6.0 p.m. and promises cup of tea. Have good sleep till 6.0 p.m. Maid brings in tea. Get up shave and go down to Baby Imperial for food, also cart case round to the cloakroom. Owe Riza 3d. Wait for bus from 8.0 p.m. till 8.40 p.m. Bus then runs past as is full up. Pick up Goods Guard Geo. Hawkins and walk with him as far as Laira. Pick up 21a bus there and arrive Tavy Jun. 9.20 p.m. Chas clears off for home. John went on 3.30 p.m.

Thursday 24th February, 1944

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Alec’s diary continues:

Got up after John left, not much hot water left. Took Chas out to Laira in morning. Met Mr Dowell and explained we were just on a prowl. Wind fit to blow one in half. Met Mr [Haines? Harries?] of Tavy Jun. on bridge. Say we are going out. When he left changed our minds and caught a waiting bus back to theatre. Had coffee in small snack bar. Walked on to Mill Bay met Mr Jarrold and others. Mr Harding not there. They say Mr Hill has arrived and gone to Tavy. Caught bus for Tavy arriving about 11.30 a.m. Joined Mr Hill in Mr Knight’s office he explains the bombing says heavy over Hanwell way. Back to a restaurant for lunch. Returned to hotel and read a bit, Chas out to Tavy (Down side) to relieve John. John returns 4.45 p.m. annoyed because the latter late arriving. Goodness knows why. John and I went round other part of the hotel for dinner (we sleep in annex no. 12 around corner). Too late to go to pictures so took a walk around the Hoe and went back to read until 9.0 p.m. Caught bus for Marsh Mills arrived 9.30 p.m. Chas had to rush for 9.40 p.m. bus. There is a later one at 10.0 p.m. for staff. I do not like his method of changing over.

Wednesday 23rd February, 1944

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Alec’s diary continues:

Caught 9.10 a.m. for Bristol. Reg Bird gave me a lift to the village in his car. Had coffee at Bristol and caught 10.25 a.m. thence. Had to tick off a couple of loco men and a guard for bad language.* Arrived Plymouth 3.15 p.m. Limited 49 minutes late so found hotel and went to the Baby Imperial** for grub. Not a bad place. Met Mr Gillett and John at 4.30 p.m. They say bad raid on London in night Hanwell had it very bad incendiaries chiefly. Took them to hotel then had dinner there. Went to see play at the Palace ‘No Orchids for Miss Blandish‘***. Rotten. To Baby Imperial for cup of coffee then to hotel to bed. Beds hard but warm.

*Remember he’s 22 years old, a skinny kid in glasses and a bad suit. It says a lot for the temper of the times that he felt he could ‘tick off’ these men and expect to be obeyed. I’m surprised he didn’t find himself upside-down in a horse trough somewhere; rather priggish of him, I’m afraid.

**I can’t trace the Baby Imperial, although perhaps if I went on to a Plymouth local history site I might. I suspect it was probably a cafe or dining room run by Imperial Hotel staff but on other premises than their own.

***I’d be interested to know if the tour of the play featured the original London cast, in which case he would have seen Robert Newton on stage. Being a theatre buff myself I would rather envy him that, even if the play itself wasn’t up to much.

Tuesday 22nd February, 1944

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Alec’s diary continues:

Caught 8.43 a.m. arrived at office to find that Chas had brought a bag as rumour has it we go to Plymouth. Later Hill says Plymouth tomorrow. Went over to new cafe next to the Albert. John caught for 3/4d on three coffees and eight sandwiches*. Caught 4.50 p.m. to Hanwell and paid Mrs Stone. Just missed a 211 for Ealing Broadway and had to go via 55 and Hanwell Broadway. Caught 6.30 p.m. Paddington only because the engine was late. Got home at 11.0 p.m. Soldier in train gave me one of the famous “V” cigarettes.

*3/4d in 1944 would be the equivalent of £7.16 in 2018. Three coffees and eight sandwiches – albeit the definitions of both ‘coffee’ and ‘sandwich’ can be quite elastic – would probably come in at roughly £25.00 in today’s prices, so personally I reckon John got a bargain.

Monday 21st February, 1944

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Alec’s diary continues:

Caught 8.0 a.m. train. No cards as Harold not travelling. Talked with Clarence most of the way. Ray bought coffee as he lost the toss. London train not very full. Arrived without incident 11.50 a.m. Not feeling at all well. Hole in roof over Leslie’s head where an incendiary struck and burned out.* Another i.c. fell on Mr Hobbs’s table and burned up some of his papers. Mr Palmer who was on duty put same out single-handed. Big raid on Fridays tons of i.c. fell Gloucester Terrace and Westbourne Park. Mr Rust from Bristol in Paddington Hotel. Had to get up. Sunday’s raid set fire to Kensington Church Paddington Hotel. Areas of Wembley Alperton Chiswick and Hammersmith. Tubes out of order to Hammersmith and Central London from Wood Lane to Ealing Broadway. No bombs or i.c.s in Hanwell but several in Ealing proper. Mr Kathrens fire watching Friday. Went to Kensington in dinner hour saw the burnt-out church. Caught 3.50 p.m. for Hanwell to tell Mr Palmer to resume duty at 7.0 p.m. He is asleep and Mrs P says he has only been to bed since 3.0 p.m. Caught 4.57 p.m. back told Lionel. He says OK if he comes in at 9.0 p.m. but not later. Picked up case and mac caught 6.4 p.m. train for Hanwell. Went to Jim’s place but he had left 10 minutes ago. Took my tin hat and gas mask home. Mrs Stone has her husband home on leave. Had a rough weekend with guns and sirens. Listened in to radio but has not gone as yet 11.0 p.m. (Siren went at 3.50 a.m. bombs dropped but did not wake up.)

*At roughly this time the shortage of office space meant that Alec and several of his colleagues worked from old rolling-stock which had been gutted and fitted out as offices. His recollection was that he worked in ‘Adelina Patti’s railway carriage’- which, believe it or not, has had a book written about it. Photos of Alec and his colleagues from the period are inconclusive.

Sunday 20th February, 1944

On By Sue JenkinsIn 1944 DiaryLeave a comment

Alec’s diary continues:

No Home Guard but got up at 9.30 a.m. to meet Punch returning trumpet. Latter did not arrive. His brother brought same at 1.0 p.m. Read papers in morning then went out in afternoon. Met the gang inc. Pete and Ray Elve while on my way to get fags. Johnny out so walked out to signal station. Met Bernard on the way. He came as far as Lady Bay. Not many people about. Back at 4.30 p.m. met Frank and Bill who said Johnny asking for me. He had to go to Kenn about a calving case. He came round about 6.30 p.m. so went to Salthouse met Mrs H, Margaret* and Pat. Also Tex and Yankee John. Had a few drinks. My cold playing me up. To bed at 10.30 p.m.

*Alec also notes: Margaret died after operation 1945. DE MORTUUS NON NISSE BONAM [sic].

Saturday 19th February, 1944

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Alec’s diary continues:

Caught the 9.10 a.m. by the skin of my teeth. Met Kay and a girl called Ruth. Have seen her about, bit of a nurse.* Latter came all way to Bristol. No message from Mr Hill all the morning. Mr Gillett rang up about 11.0 a.m. but could tell him nothing. Caught 12.15 p.m. home. Met Cedric at Clevedon. Cycled home. Kiddle** put off my appointment. Am annoyed. Went to King’s for a hair cut have a rotten cold. Went down for Johnny. Met Cedric and Kay on the way. More music. Went home at 4.40 p.m. to pictures in evening. Had seen both films, Arabian Nights and Frozen Limits with the Crazy Gang. To the Salthouse at 9.15 p.m. with Cedric and Kay. Home at 10.0 p.m.

*This sort of condescending comment is one of the reasons I’m glad not to have known Alec as a young man, although thirty years later he still thought a woman’s purpose was to marry, have babies and look after her husband. Being ‘a bit of a nurse’ in wartime is not the negligible attribute he seems to have considered it. Thank you, Ruth, whoever you are/were.

**Although evidence is so far lacking, I assume Kiddle was his dentist.