| December 1943 |
| 10th | Dull and misty at first but cold N.E. wind got up and cleared away the clouds and fog. Have had a rare old time this evening. Siren went 7.5 - 8.25 p.m. At about ¼ past 7 the guns began to go and planes came over no end. Guns were banging away and planes diving about for ¾ hour without stopping. Heard 2 big lots of bombs blunder on back door. Four bombs were dropped in Castle park. Four Dorniers were shot down out of about 20, three by one Mosquito. |
| 9th | Dull and cold. Rev. Arnold called in afternoon. |
| 8th | Dull and foggy. Mother got up in evening to celebrate her birthday. No news of any importance. |
| 7th | Foggy day. Went down to Village Hall and sung Br. James Air. Roosevelt and Churchill meeting President of Turkey in Cairo. Germans reported to be rushing troops to Turkish Frontier. Mother kept in bed all day. Dad went to town to get some fish and all he could get was a 4s. one, alive. (4shillings = £6.92 in 2010). |
| 6th | Cold day. Mother taken with bad pain. Had to send for Dr. Did not come till late and was just going as I got home. Big news of meeting between Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin. Full agreement reached on plans for final assault on Germany. Dr. has given us a certificate for mother to have a pint of milk a day for a month. |
| 5th | Sharp frost with a little ice on windows for first time but nice day and milder. No news. |
| 4th | Cold East wind but very clear and sunny all day. Went to town in afternoon and did Christmas shopping. 5th Army has started offensive in Italy. 1500 tons dropped on Leipzig last night, 23 missing. |
| 3rd | Cold day. Big raid on Berlin last night. 1500 tons dropped, 44 bombers lost. Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin reported to be meeting in Persia. R.A.F. dropped 13,000 tons on Germany in November. 127,500 tons dropped so far this year with loss of 2,083 night bombers. |
| 2nd | Wet morning but nice and sunny in afternoon, mild. The big news is out today. Churchill, Roosevelt and Chaing (Generalissimo Chaing Kai-shek of the Republic of China) have met in Cairo and made plans for the defeat of Japan. Eighth Army pursuing Germans. |
| 1st | White frost but lovely sunny day. Quite springlike. Good news today. Eighth Army has broken through German winter line in Italy. Special Communique issued late last night. Have just had a jerry-go-round. Siren went 7.55 - 8.45 p.m. Jerry came right over and went round making a real old lumbering noise. The guns fired at it. Big debate in House of Commons on release of Oswald Moseley. (Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet - British Politician/British Fascist/Founder of British Union of Fascists. Released from internment but spent the rest of the war under house arrest). |
| November 1943 |
| 30th | Dull and rainy early but brightened up. Rather cold. Lots of bombers about in morning, going out to bomb Germany. Eighth Army have broken into German lines in Italy. Lots of peace rumours about. Fortress crashed at Wormingford this morning while going out to Germany. Crew were seen to bale out. 11 raids this month. Total 759. |
| 29th | Colder but brighter. Had raid in night 2 - 2.30 a.m. Had to scramble up, sound asleep. Heard 2 bombs dropped near Terling. (W. of Witham). The rocket guns went off. Eight army launched big attack in Italy yesterday. Where is Churchill? Believe the big three are meeting somewhere. Germany bombed today, Fortresses and Mosquitos. |
| 28th | Very much milder 56 degrees. Rainy. Spent day indoors and had fire in drawing room. Got Mrs. Smith to play in morning and Vera played in afternoon. |
| 27th | Another cold morning with frost and ice but turned to rain. Can't get rid of my cold. Spent afternoon in drawing room. Bremen bombed yesterday by record force of U.S. bombers, 29 missing. Heavy raid on Berlin last night by big force of Lancasters. Well over 1000 tons dropped in 20 min. Stuttgart also had a heavy attack. 32 bombers missing. |
