Category Archives: Uncategorized

Diary Entry: Panto. “Babes in the Wood”. Diary notes: Presumably put on locally, perhaps even by her A.T.S. colleagues.

Diary Entry: Went to church am. Diary notes: All her life KPD was a keen churchgoer, though her allegiance to a specific church was less than that to churches in general.

Diary Entry: Christmas Day. Duty driver am. Diary notes: Like many others on active service, KPD spent this Christmas working.

Diary Entry: Took Capt Piggott & two A.T.S. officers to London. Went Wimbledon. Bad fog. Got back midnight – 121 miles. Diary notes: A very long day, much of it probably after dark at this period when the blackout made night time driving difficult and dangerous.

Diary entry: Went sick parade cold in eye. Helped office. Saw “Mrs Lucky” in camp. Diary notes: Due to her sickness, KPD was obviously ordered to remain indoors. “Mrs Lucky” may have been a play or film, but identification has proved difficult. Any suggestions?

Diary Entry: Messed about. Took N.A.A.F.I. 10 pm Diary notes: The N.A.A.F.I. Provided canteens etc for the armed services: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy,_Army_and_Air_Force_Institutes#Second_World_War

Diary Entry: Car broke down. Diary notes: If the problem was not too serious, KPD was trained (and expected) to repair it.

Diary Entry: Twice Chelmsford Station. Diary notes: A typical day’s work, probably driving officers.

Diary Entry: Two journeys Chelmsford. Pelham for beer. Diary notes: I’m assuming that KPD, who scarcely ever drank alcohol, is referring to beer for the depot mess!

Diary Entry: Day Ipswich & out Dallinghoo to see Peggy & Grahame Diary notes: Dallinghoo, a village near Woodbridge in Suffolk, (north of Ipswich) was where Anthony (when not away serving) and Peggy Dell lived with their son Grahame. Now she was based in Essex, KPD was much closer to her sister-in-law and her nephew …

Continue reading “Diary Date: 17th December [1943]”