| July 1944 |
| 30th | Broke out lovely warm afternoon and evening. Had 2 short warnings in night. Big bang each time. Americans making good advances. British have launched new attack at Caumont. (Picardie region, France). |
| 29th | Wet day but cleared up in evening and we had shelter out for a little while. Set some lettuce plants and some seed. Siren 1.30 - 1.40 a.m. When I looked out of window could see searchlights and shells going up. Then could see doodle bug coming for us, and hear it. Rushed down in to shelter and it came right over shaking windows. Went out back in time to see it blow up over Nayland way. Letter came from Major to Fannie to say he is in Hospital. Over 1000 R.A.F. heavies attacked Germany last night but we lost 62. |
| 28th | Warm day, lovely evening. Siren went 10.40 - 10.50 p.m. while we were out for a little stroll. Advances in Russia and Normandy. |
| 27th | Had a funny sort of day today. Had day off for Marjorie's funeral. Dull windy morning and could not have shelter out. Broke out sunny while we were having dinner. Went to funeral at two o'clock. Came over thundery and showery after we got home. Had to keep rushing in. Had a warning too 3.15 - 3.30 p.m. After tea it broke out lovely and sunny and we put best shelter up on big lawn. Got disturbed by a warning 7.35 - 7.45 p.m. Heard 2 doodles go off. Went down outside shelter. At 8 we had to pack up and come in, in a hurry because a thunderstorm came up. Had one alert in night 1.30 - 1.45 but did not hear anything. Makes 40 so far this month. Great victories. 5 Orders of the day by Stalin. Americans are advancing in west in Normandy. |
| 26th | Lovely sunny warm day. Mother sat out until 10.15. Two warnings in night and one today 11.25 - 11.50 p.m., 3.20 - 3.35 a.m., 2.15 - 2.30 p.m. Heard a lot of bangs in night but no doodles over here. Saw a barrage balloon adrift in the searchlights after first warning. Also another one this evening. The Russians have reached the Vistula. (River Vistula - longest and one of the most important rivers in Poland). Our attack south of Caen has been held after an advance of only 1 mile. The Americans have broken through and advanced 4 miles. Another big raid on Stuttgart by R.A.F. Only 13 lost. |
| 25th | Nice day but came over dull in evening with a few spots of rain. New British and American attacks launched in Normandy. Vera got a bad pain. 2 raids in night 11.50 - 12. 25 a.m. and 3.35 - 3.50 a.m. Heard 2 doodle bugs rush over low together in first raid. Hitler has issued a decree ordering total war throughout Europe. Heavy R.A.F. raid on Stuttgart last night, 30,000 heavy incendiaries dropped. 23 missing. Nearly 3,000 tons on Kiel the night before and only 6 lost. |
| 24th | Very dull again but still and mild 70 degrees. Sat out in evening. Had news that Marjorie died last evening. Had two warnings in night 12.20 - 12.55 a.m. and 3.35 - 3.55 a.m. Both times a doodle bug came over very low and very mean, loudest we have heard. Made windows vibrate as it went along. Great advances by Russians. Now only 50 miles from Warsaw. |
| 23rd | Dull day but a little better than yesterday just managed to sit out all afternoon with coats and rugs on. 68 degrees. Nice, quiet night. Blanch came up at 10 o/c while we were out for a walk with bad tiding that Marjorie had had a bad accident yesterday. (Alwyne's cousin Blanch Garling, daughter of Lexden baker Edgar. Marjorie was mutual cousin, sister of aforementioned Clifford Garling. Marjorie was travelling on a bus when, whilst travelling up Gunn Hill Dedham, the driver fainted. As the bus started to roll backwards, Marjorie jumped off and was run over by the wheels. All other passengers remained on the bus and survived. Marjorie died later this day in Essex County Hospital - of "shock due to a compound fracture of the right femur associated with extensive laceration of the muscles and skin. Accidental Death". |
| 22nd | Dull and cold. Strong N. wind. Could not sit out or anything. Cut branches off the trees in the front. Had a good time playing with 'Mole' a little grey kitten which came into back garden. George getting better at last. His hair is growing. Not much more news from Germany except rumours of mutinies and shootings. Bad weather stopping all operations in Normandy. Had a warning 2.20 - 3.10 a.m. Came scrambling down. Heard a lot of doodle bugs go along, more than we have heard before, two of them rather near, One came down at Kelvedon, we heard the engines stop. About 10 went along altogether. |
| 21st | "There is sensational news. The German high command has revolted against Hitler". That is how the 8 a.m. news began this morning. Hitler and Goering have made speeches appealing to the Germans not the support the rebels. There have been rumours of Civil War but these are not confirmed. All telephones are cut. Nazis still control Radio stations. Confusion and crisis are reported this evening from Germany. 36 hours heavy rain in Normandy has held up operations. R.A.F. dropped 4500 tons last night and lost 31. More than 1000 U.S. heavies have been to Germany today for 3rd day running. |
| 20th | Nice day. Exciting news. Attempt has been made to assassinate Hitler. Bomb has exploded at his H.Q. injuring some of his staff. Hitler is slightly burned and bruised. (At H.Q. in Rastenberg, East Prussia - had it succeeded, a military coup d'etat was to follow. The failure led to at least 5000 people being arrested by the Gestapo). Warning 12.20 - 1.10 a.m. Heard several bangs. Then at 5 a.m. I could hear several doodle bugs going along the front and blowing up but we did not have a siren. |
| 19th | Glorious warm sunny day. No news of battle in Normandy except that it is going well. Good news from Italy. Leghorn and Ancona captured. (Archaic English 'Leghorn' = Livorno, on the west coast/western edge of Tuscany in Northern Italy. Ancona, on the east/Adriatic coast of Northern Italy. On a line with each other). Warning in night 3.20 - 4.5 a.m. We heard several bangs in distance. 4 doodle bugs passed over Chelmsford. Seem to be on a different course. Had 3 warnings at Chelmsford today. Heard doodle bug bang a dew miles out. Warning here 11.40 a.m. - 12. (Lexden). Sang a duet this evening at Chapel. |
| 18th | Another nice day. Great news this evening. Monty has launched a big offensive and broken through into the open country. Attack began with record air bombardment. Over 1000 R.A.F. heavies dropped 5000 tons. Warning 2.15 - 2.30 a.m. and 10.15 - 10.25 p.m. |
| 17th | Nice day but not so good as yesterday. Went back to office. Fanny came home from Braintree. Warning 2 - 2.30 a.m. Not much happening in the war. |
