I am still transcribing my Great Great Aunt Kate’s diaries and, because today is a special day and one which she lived through, I dug out the 1944 diary to look at what she wrote. I have only reached 1936 so I am jumping a few years on.
It’s another small diary – they all are tiny – and the writing is minute too but I mostly have my eye in by now and know her ways and shorthand.
It was also stuffed full of little bits of newspaper cuttings.
Anyway, I thought you might be interested in her entry for that week….
Some background: Kate is 65 years old. Her sister, Alys (my great grandmother) is 60. For the duration of the war, they have left the dangers of London to live at Layton Manor, Richmond, Yorkshire (left to Alys’ husband (my great grandfather), Dennis, a few years back). Dennis is at Ashbridge Hospital, Berkhamsted working as a pathologist for the Army. The sisters are looking after James, Alys’ grandson (my uncle). My mother (Eve) is 4 years old and remains with her mother.
Allies enter Rome – June 4th, 5th
We land in France between Cherbourg and Le Havre
Airborne and seaborne. Fighting in Caen 6th
Tuesday 6th June 1944
Windy. Cool.
Baden said Invasion started. Heard at 10 o’clock. Eisenhower speech to Europeans and troops. Dutch and Belgian; Prime Ministers Auctioneer’s men taking furniture all day. Alys gave them sausages and mash. I got tea. We had oxtail, red currants and raspberries and custard. To Dimmock, Holt, Barnes, Gell, Dob, O’Brin. Cake and water. James with Alan. Wrote Ella. Listened to news. To garden, pigs and lettuces, sausages and bacon. I late so no bath. Brains Tr; Meynell. King spoke.
Memo:
10th Fete 6th Auction men and 7th
5th James’ 7th birthday
6th INVASION started. Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force – “SHAEF”.
10th Rents
9th Miss Brown with posters.
And I found tucked into the diary this little folded slip of paper.
I am very humbled by this. Somehow words don’t seem enough.
