Diary Entry: Found John. Had ears syringed. O.C. left. Diary notes: A relief that the dog was found! “O.C” is, of course, ‘Officer Commanding’.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Diary Date: 22nd November [1943]
Diary Entry: Took A.T.S. office (sic) in ambulance from Rossett to Wrexham E.M.S. Went on bikes to look for John Harkess (dog). Diary notes: ‘E.M.S.’ is ‘Emergency Medical Service’. “Office” might be a mistake – meaning “officer”. Strange name for a dog! Must have been an ‘in’ joke!
Diary Date: 21st November [1943]
Diary Entry: On duty. Diary notes: For some reason KPD thought it worth saying that she was ‘on duty’, but not what she did, or where she went. I think this reminds us that she wrote these diaries for her own benefit and use. She was very well organised, and I remember many times dropping …
Diary Date: 20th November [1943]
Diary Entry: Went down Gresford Mine. Diary notes: Gresford colliery, in north Wales near Wrexham, had been the scene of one of the UK’s worst mining disaster in 1934 when 266 miners were killed. The mine finally closed in 1973. For more information see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gresford_disaster
Diary Date: 19th November [1943]
Diary Entry: Devine & King. Quite good Ensa. Diary notes: ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association – sometimes called ‘Every Night Something Awful’) was set up in 1939 to provide entertainment for servicemen/women. ‘Devine & King’ were presumably entertainers.
Diary Date: 18th November [1943]
Diary Entry: Lovely convoy. Did Cookhouse. Went to Dolgelly, got lost on snowy mountain. Diary notes: Early snow, perhaps. KPD’s quite matter of fact comment may hide quite an exciting (or scary) trip!
Diary Date: 17th November [1943]
Diary Entry: Nan came to theatre. Diary notes: ‘Nan’ may be ‘Nan Richards’, a friend from Rhyl. [NB By mistake this entry was posted on November 8th! It is now being reposted on the correct day, 80 years after it was written. Apologies.]
Diary Date: 15th November [1943]
Diary Entry: Started course of lectures etc. Diary notes: It would be interesting to know what the lectures were about! Sadly KPD doesn’t tell us!
Diary Date: 14th November [1943]
Diary Entry: Day with Nancy. Diary notes: Nancy was a friend, presumably in the A.T.S., with whom KPD socialised regularly during the war years.
Diary Date: 13th November [1943]
Diary Entry: Met Flora Wrexham Saw “Life & Death of Col. Blimp” Diary notes: ‘Flora’ is Flora Gardner, a friend from a family living near Berkhamsted, where KPD had lived years before. The “Life & Death of Col. Blimp” is one of GB’s greatest films, in many people’s opinion (mine included!) Directed by Michael Powell …
Aunt Pamela's War 