Monday 18 September 1939
Admiralty announced this afternoon sinking of our warship H.M.S. Courageous off coast of Ireland by German submarine (called u-boat, apparently), which they think was sunk by our destroyers afterwards. Some survivors rescued, but no more information than that.
Tuesday 19 September 1939
No instructions from Women's Legion today so drove Dad and Mother to visit Mr and Mrs Powell and Hattie. Mr and Mrs P very proud of H – wonderful to see. However Mr P insisted that British forces now leaving for France, also that HMS Courageous was sunk w help from Ireland – on Germany's side, he said. Dad furious, gave him stern lecture about spreading gossip. Quite right, too, but nice visit ruined.
Later – D's mood not improved by report in Brighton Evening Telegram: Bishop West visited Worthing, said worship ought not to begin w national anthem (amongst other things).
Wednesday 20 September 1939
More news about HMS Courageous – 681 rescued, but 518 of our servicemen dead or unaccounted for.
Cannot think of anything else to write. Am feeling rather useless today.
•••••
Braithfield
Fullerton Road
Red Rice, Andover, Hampshire
20 September 1939
Dear Laura,
Just a brief note to underline my good wishes. I hope you are settling in nicely up there in Cheshire. When you have a moment to spare, I wonder if you could do me a small favour.
Before your departure we spoke about my niece and god-daughter, Sam Stewart, and how her parents have kept her locked in a tower, so to speak. I have now begun a stealth campaign, in which I need to enlist you, to induce them to release Sam for war service. (She will remain a minor for nearly another year, remember.) Of course this authority lies with my brother Iain, but I feel certain that he won't act without my sister-in-law's blessing. Could you please write to Emma? Don't mention Sam in connection with war work (and certainly don't mention that I asked you to write!) — just enthuse about your own service. That would be most helpful. My thanks in advance.
Your step-brother Teddy went to Winchester on Monday to enlist and was told to wait for a call-up letter. Meanwhile Alex, as a husband and father, had determined to do just that, but came by to tell us that he received his letter this morning!
Fondly,
Amy
Thursday 21 September 1939
West Sussex Gazette full of stories of dirty and unruly evacuees, but also report about pair of evacuated teachers rejecting billet because it had no bath. Times has photographs of London Passenger Transport Board's lost property office – filled w gas-masks and helmets.
Friday 22 September 1939
Petrol rationing begins tomorrow. To Arundel after breakfast to fill tank. Was in queue for 3/4 of an hour but quite orderly.
Longish article in Times today – Home Secretary says only one-third of civil defence workers being paid, so M.T.T.C. not out of step. Dad says I am spending too much time reading newspapers, does no-one any good. Quite possibly true, but can't seem to take anything else in at present.
Saturday 23 September 1939
Dad very bucked up by letter from Bishop of St. Albans in Times today, calling for relief from petrol rationing for clergy.
Later – Wireless announces instructions for drivers and bicyclist in air raid: stop as soon as can find shelter, do not leave vehicle where it will be in the way of emergency vehicles, follow instructions from police, A.R.P. wardens, etc. Cars to be left unlocked, valuable items removed. Headlamps must be switched off at night whether air raid or not, rear lamps to be alight. (Strikes me as poor idea – how to keep from running people down as they go over the road?)
Sunday 24 September 1939
Times reports Friday will be National Registration Day – 1931 census out of date, so new 'census' to be taken for use as basis of emergency measures including food rationing.
Monday 25 September 1939
Item in Times notes that people being advised 'Wear White for Safety' so that one can be seen a bit in the blackout. Says now possible to purchase collars, cuffs, etc., made of white piqué. All very well, but won't show under coat – would need white scarf, or perhaps something to wear on hat. Times also reports two policemen were attacked in blackout on Friday night – a sergeant in Cardiff, who has a skull fracture, and a detective sergeant in London. How horrid!
Tuesday 26 September 1939
Received National Registration forms in morning post – will be collected Saturday. Instructions state that 'the occupation of wives not following any employment should be listed as "unpaid domestic duties".' Does not say anything about twenty-year-old daughters not following any employment.
No instructions from Women's Legion.
Wednesday 27 September 1939
Mrs Fennimore came by, supposedly only to say hello, but also as it turned out to try to persuade Mother to join Lyminster & Poling Women's Institute at last. Think that this would be very good idea, but M uninterested as ever. Not even especially polite about it this time. Mrs F then turned to me – told her that I would consider it – did not want to say am planning to leave Lyminster – & Poling & district – as soon as can arrange.
Thursday 28 September 1939
Times reports Warsaw on verge of surrender. Went to Wick to run errands – very sad atmosphere.
Later – Dad cheerful after receiving telegram from the Rev. Mr Percival Holt, old friend from Westcott House days, who is to be vicar of St Nicholas, Poling, w immediate effect. Long interregnum there – parish must be quite glad.
Friday 29 September 1939
Times and wireless confirm Warsaw surrendered to Germans. Tried to talk again to Dad and Mother about war service. M took my part up to a point, said there's a need for everyone to do something, still insists I must do my bit close to home, billet 'not suitable for young girl,' etc., etc.
Saturday 30 September 1939
Man in bowler hat came by to collect registration form this morning. Was rather rude to Dad – told him 'there's a war on,' and said I should be 'put to use!' Not sure whether this helps or hurts.
Sunday 1 October 1939
Took Holy Communion this morning. Thought that this would provide feeling of strength, courage, fortitude, etc., but in fact quite distressed as only two other people in pews. (Mother reports ca 3 dozen people at Matins.)
Much later – Mr & Mrs Holt to tea. Left scones in oven slightly too long but otherwise menu turned out rather well. Mr & Mrs H quite nice, around same age as Dad, no children apparently. D & Mr H scandalised (or pretended to be?) by item in Sunday Times announcing first woman professor at Cambridge. M & Mrs H defended her, or perhaps simply idea of her. Then Mr H asked me what are my plans for war service. Saw D about to say something, don't know what, so told them about Women's Legion problem and M.T.T.C. Said 'Splendid idea.' (Mr H, not self.) Feeling a bit more bucked up.
Monday 2 October 1939
Wireless reports all men 20-22 to be called up, however farming reserved occupation, and article in Times says some young men who left farms in recent years now going back. Says some farmers lack workers due to labourers joining Territorial Army or Reservists being called up. Women's Land Army helping out but not enough to meet demand – refugees doing work in some cases. Wondering now if ought to consider Land Army. Thanks to Uncle M know how to drive tractor so might have possibilities. As well, who will do jobs of young men being called up?
Tuesday 3 October 1939
At war for a month today. Times has very good map of Western Front – entire page. Dad clipped it, will put it up on corkboard in study. Also says 35,000 more schoolchildren to be evacuated from all over England. Not all at once this time – good thing. 8,000 from London, so we may get more here.
No instructions from W.L.
Wednesday 4 October 1939
Rather troubling day. To Crossbush w Dad in rain to visit various having great difficulties w evacuees. Evacuees won't eat food put on table but steal from larder instead – befoul hosts' homes – use foul language – etc. Brighton Evening Telegram leader is on just this topic – so problems apparently not only in Crossbush. But makes no suggestion as to what ought to be done, says only 'something'. Times more cheering – many lovely photos of London in black-out, also of Mr Robert Donat in Romeo & Juliet at theatre in Streatham. Very handsome. Should dearly love to see this – must remember in case go to London for war work. As well, article about emergency register of qualified women available for National Service work. (Queen and Duchess of Kent went to inspect.) 5,000 names to date – 100 being added each day. Wondering now how to go about adding my name. Wondering as well what I am qualified to do.
Thursday 5 October 1939
Times announces that Mr Bernard Stubbs will cover home front, civil defence, war at sea, etc., for B.B.C. using recording car. Wonder if I could get job driving it for him? Really no point in keeping diary if I am to spend war here in Lyminster knitting Balaclavas or the like.
Friday 6 October 1939
Drove to Arundel shops w Mother. Discussed whether to register w retailers in Wick or A when rationing begins. (Horrible, but must face facts.) Decided to register Wick (closer), but M wanted change of scene today. Consider this good sign, however too far for her to walk, so w petrol rationing will not be able to go very often in future.
Tip-top 'Mrs Miniver' letter in Times today. (Know that she is not real person, of course, but would dearly like to meet her all the same!) She returns to London in search of war job – wants job driving large car for important man who tells her to 'step on it' – then she sees disguised straight-8 gaining on them! Exactly sort of war job I should like! Best not to mention this to D and M. Wonder whether am being a bit selfish, wanting excitement, not only to serve. (As well, Mrs M suspects that this sort of man does own driving. Really too bad.)
Later – Raining. M now lying down w headache. Occurred to me she was planning this morning for us to register w grocer etc. – not just D and herself. Will I still be in Lyminster when food rationing begins? Will be January by then. But feel rather guilty about wanting to leave when she is unwell.
R.A.F. Tabley Wood, Ches.
7th October 1939
Dear Mrs Stewart,
I have been meaning to write to you for quite some time, to enquire after your health & to say how sorry I am that I wasn't able to join you for Sam's birthday, but the war & my transfer 'oop norf' have left me with very little free time. I do hope that you are well & that everyone at Lyminster is keeping in good spirits.
This is a new part of the country for me. It's quite lovely here & whenever I've gone into the village (Great Paxton) people have been very charming & kind. Not that there have been many chances for visiting! I am convinced more than ever that I made the right decision by joining the forces. It is much more interesting than teaching sciences – of course that's vital work, but it grew stale for me.
At the same time, nothing's wasted. I have to say that I'm still using much of the knowledge that I gained in my former work, and in the preparation for it. Some of the girls who are joining up now are as young as 18 & many are away from their homes for the first time, and it is important that they feel secure & confident that they will be able to perform their war service without risking either their virtue or their womanliness (for lack of a better word). Instilling that confidence is a good part of my job here. So is providing that security.
Recently I heard from an old schoolfellow who, like me, joined the A.T.S. last year (but unlike me, she's still there!). She says it's much the same at her end, and from what I'm hearing 'along the vine' all of the women's uniformed services are making the same effort. I think that this war, however long or short it proves to be, is going to be ground-breaking for women in many respects, and that one of them will be the essential role that we will play, working directly with the fighting men.
I must close this letter, as we are expecting another group of new recruits to arrive tomorrow morning & preparations must be made. Please give my very best wishes to your husband & especially to Sam. What an exciting time this must be for her!
Affectionately yours,
Senior Section Leader Laura Braithwaite – 12441
•••••
'It's a pity about the rain,' Sam remarks as her father returns to the parlour from upstairs.
'I quite agree,' Dad replies. 'It so often has a deleterious effect on your poor mother. A change in the barometric pressure is often what seems to set off one of her headaches.'
Sam nods. She's observed this herself. Dad joins her in the sitting room and, to Sam's mild surprise, begins leafing through Radio Times.
'The Brighton Evening Telegram is here,' she tells him, proffering it.
'Yes?' he says, although he doesn't take it from her and doesn't sound much interested.
He looks awfully tired, Sam thinks.
'It says here that the Bishop says that there are now 146,512 more people in the diocese – as a result of the evacuation, you see,' she explains.
Dad looks up. 'I strongly suspect that that figure is too small,' he announces after considering this for a moment. 'Bishop Wood thinks only of his own... wing, I suppose that one might say. He means Anglicans, of course, and possibly Nonconformists and no doubt any members of the Confessing Church, in Germany, who have come to Britain as refugees. But I rather doubt that he means Roman Catholics, and he most certainly doesn't mean Jews.'
He goes back to Radio Times as he speaks, and then tells Sam, 'There's going to be an orchestral concert on the wireless at a quarter past – five minutes from now. How would you like to listen to that?' He hands the magazine to his daughter.
'Won't we disturb Mother?' she asks.
'No, apparently not. She told me that she wouldn't mind as long as we don't turn the volume up too far. She's feeling somewhat better, I think – not quite well enough to come downstairs, perhaps, but I left her sitting up a bit and reading The Sphere.'
'It's a bit surprising – isn't it, really? – that they're still playing music by Germans,' Sam ventures after a moment's silence.
'Some people would say that we're at war with the present German government, not with the German people. The Bishop would say that, I'm quite sure.'
'What do you think, Dad?'
'I'm not entirely sure of what I think,' Dad admits, 'much less of what I ought to think. But in any event the piece that they're going to play is by Johann Strauss, who died many years before Mr Hitler came to power, and who in point of fact was an Austrian, not a German – although I don't suppose that that makes a difference anymore.' He is silent for a moment. Then, as he turns to switch the wireless on, he asks, 'Did you notice that The Times was only fourteen pages, today? The government have been warning about a paper shortage. This may be the first evidence.'
Later, Sam will write in her diary that she suspects that Dad doesn't care for Bishop Wood – it's something that she's never considered before today – and as well that their ability to have such a calm, civil conversation during which he doesn't admonish her about anything is surely a good sign.
Author's note:
The Bishop Wood whom we meet in "Plan of Attack" is based on George Bell (1883-1958), who served as Bishop of Chichester from 1929 until his death. (The Church of England's Diocese of Chichester comprises the entire County of Sussex, both East and West, including the real-life village of Lyminster.) Bell's extremely selective comprehension of Nazism, which he seems to have understood solely as an anti-Christian ideology (as indeed it was), and his unwillingness to believe that the traditional leaders of the German populace — which is to say its hereditary aristocracy: when the blue-blooded Field Marshall Erich von Manstein was tried for war crimes in 1949, Bell became his vocal defender — could embrace such ideas led him repeatedly to condemn the Allies' conduct during both the war and its aftermath.
I should note that I have had to learn about Bell and his views from secondary sources. He was a prolific writer, but his works are almost impossible to find in the U.S.