Saturday, Feb 5th
Excellent news from the hitherto silent Russian front in the Ukraine. Ten German divisions encircled as at Stalingrad and can now only be supplied by air…. The Russians are getting near the base line from which Hitler started on his 1941 offensive.
One of those days when everything goes wrong. Went over to Long Dene in bitterly cold weather and crawling trains to take Hilary out. He seemed poorly and miserable and after going to Gerrards Cross to lunch complained of earache, so we had to take him back to school. A wretched day in every way. I brought him a train whistle, some marbles and Turkish Delight but even these hardly raised a flicker of interest.
Thursday, Feb 10th
[In Italy] progress by inches on main front. Even Times critical, but paper lately full of snappy correspondence on military interests versus the preservation of the art of Rome. Discussing it with the Sixth Form.
In a debate in the House of Lords stated that Germans say 28,000 killed in Hamburg, 78,000 in Berlin.
Went down to opening of American Club in Henley but more old ladies between 70 and 80 than Americans. However after the opening more came in and at one time about 60. Games, coffee and sandwiches. No gambling! American troops strike you very much as civilians put in uniform.
Saturday, Feb 12th
My 44th birthday. Hilary wrote me a nice letter with a book of animals from the National Gallery.
Two Americans went to see a film about the desert warfare. The first fainted, the second survived to pin on a medal as a he left the cinema. Various other malicious stories going about of this type. Went past American Club on Monday to help entertain them. Few had been in England more than a week or two, though met one who had been here for a year and a half and was marrying an English girl in March.
Alarming reports of Italian bridgehead from Canada and the U.S.A. printed in morning papers to-day. To-night a statement by P.M. to steady opinion saying that the generals were confident of the outcome.
Sunday, Feb 13th
Very critical article in Observer about latest Italian landing…. After all, we landed unopposed and for five hours the Germans did not know we had landed. We seem, like the medieval knights, to have so much armour that when we get ashore we sink into the sand and plod slowly forward, building up strength for weeks before we can mount an attack.
Tuesday, Feb 22nd
Up in London for half term. A raid on Friday night said to be the biggest of the Germans since 1941. Did not go up till 4.25 on Saturday as had a bad cold. Saturday night was quiet and on Sunday went to a concert at the Albert Hall – Tchaikovsky and very popular, could only get in window promenade at very top of the building, where got a chair against the wall. All very full of soldiers, including many Americans. Went back to hotel fairly early after supper as felt there might be a raid. Sure enough at 9.40 the sirens went. Seemed a long time before the outer barrage began, about quarter of an hour, then the gunfire gradually ceased until for half an hour it went on solidly without a break. Presently we heard the German engines, they seemed very low and could easily be distinguished through the barrage. There was plenty of light A.A. but the building did not seem to be shaken by the heavy stuff. There were some bombs and I got as far as putting my shoes on! We heard the whine of one and there was a fairly heavy explosion that could be distinguished from the gunfire. About 10.30, soon after the last engine had died away, the barrage ceased and in about another ten minutes or so the all clear went. There was another warning in the middle of the night, but there was no gunfire and I only heard the all clear! Both Friday and Sunday were both mainly fire raising raids. Churchill inspected some of the damage yesterday and was reported to have remarked, “Quite like old times”.
The Germans have put out fantastic tales about these raids – “panic, mass flights paralysing industry, gas, electricity, telephone systems disorganized, etc” The Times calls these “imaginative.”
Furious German attacks on beachhead seem to have been tailing off. Feel that the way the news has been handled a poor rehearsal for the second front. Communiqués, which communicate nothing following an optimistic account of landing, followed in turn by alarming reports from Canada, made apparently to serve political purposes there. Not the way news should be handled. Time we were told more by some one with a little imagination and a little faith in our common sense.
Wednesday, Feb 23rd
Speech by Churchill. He said that up till recently the U-boat war had to be put first, but now our lines of communication were secure the air war against Germany had first claim and must be considered as the preparation for the invasion of Europe. On 20th 1,000 machines were sent to Leipzig, on 21st 600 – 700 to Stuttgart. In all 900 tons of bombs dropped. “Scale and degree of attack will be reached beyond the dimensions of anything that has yet been seen or employed or indeed imagined”. Our production far exceeds the German, Russian production is about the same as ours, the American production is double or triple.
Secretary of War asked why V-cigarettes were still being issued to troops in Italy. These it appears are manufactured by some enterprising firm of Babus and popularly supposed to be made of horse dung. “I understand,” he replied, “that the material to which my honourable friend refers may in fact be Indian tobacco.” Asked if he would take the earliest opportunity of smoking some, he said certainly not.
Marmalade, up to now on jam ration (when obtainable) of 1 lb a month, is now to be put on points; how many is not known yet. This is hailed by all as a tremendous concession!
Friday, Feb 25th
The air offensive continues to mount and we seem to be in a phase comparable to the significance of the Battle of Britain – continuous attacks by day and by night and the wearing down of the force of defending fighters. Another raid on London last night, the fifth since Friday last. There was some firing near and some bombs, believed to have been at White Waltham between Twyford and Maidenhead, but may be only rumour, although the bombs were authentic enough.
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