Sunday 8 October 1939
Twelve people at Communion, thirty-eight at Matins. Dad quite pleased, says quite good turn-out for 18th Sunday after Trinity, especially under present circumstances. Had been talking about not holding Harvest Home festival, now might reconsider.
Mother a good bit better today.
Read in Sunday Times British women who have married aliens have lost citizenship, therefore barred from war work. Seems quite unfair – ought not to cease to be British because of marriage to foreign gentleman. (As well, what about women refugees who want to help war effort? Obviously not citizens, so what are they to do? Seems quite unfair as well.) At any rate Nat'l Council of Women of G.B. seeking new law to change this. (So that they can keep nationality, not only do war work.)
Later – Vespers less successful than Communion or Matins, only eight people. Much the same last week. D thinks problem is black-out, but also people wanting to be at home for news on wireless at 6.00. Says really quite extraordinary how quickly people have got used to all this journalism on wireless and even grown to like. Quite true! Says as well, next Sunday will take wireless set to church, people can arrive before six, listen to news, then Vespers. Not certain whether he is joking or not.
Monday 9 October 1939
Steady rain. Mrs R-J telephoned, warned me not to expect further instructions from Women's Legion. Times listed names & service records of seven R.A.F. officers killed on active service recently, also reports Army company in Staffs gave collar badges worn by serving soldiers to members of A.T.S. company helping them – really quite nice story, but makes me wish that I were there, actually doing something to help war effort, rather than here, doing nothing at all. Mother had nervous headache and was a bit sick as well. Wanted to telephone Dr Whittaker but M said not to. Seemed better in early p.m. Drove Dad on parish visits, learned at least one more evacuee was fetched home yesterday. Listened to wireless programme this eve, 'Falstaff Goes to War' (bits from Shakespeare play, or more than one) – enjoyed this, felt a bit better, but still rather miserable day on the whole.
•••••
The Vicarage
No. 2, Church Lane
Leavenham, Hampshire
9th October 1939
My dear Samantha,
As I suspect that you are aware, your Aunt Aemelia is attempting to enlist me – and the entire family, it appears – in a campaign to persuade your dear parents to allow you to engage in war service sooner, rather than later. I must tell you that I feel very much of two minds about this. I am not eager, to say the least, to create a rift in our family; I am equally unenthusiastic about seeing you exposed to any aspect of warfare, which past observations have taught me is capable of corrupting anything and everything that it touches. In particular, I am anxious about what you will make of the present war, or more especially what it will make of you, if your part in it should separate you from the loving guidance of your parents.
Well, I apologise for the last bit of that paragraph, which I fear smells rather strongly of Mr Pecksniff. Having got all of that off of my chest, let me add that I am not insensible to your (and your aunt's) feeling that you are 'on the shelf', as it were, in Lyminster, and tend to agree with her that the service that you will undoubtedly be called upon, in one way or another, to provide during this conflict may have the benefit of widening your vista. As well, I gather that the Women's Legion may be on its way to obsolescence. Your aunt has told me about the Mechanised Transport Training Corps and all things being equal it sounds as if that would be a very good place for you. As far as making things equal is concerned, I will do my best to write to your father this week. Let me repeat that I am concerned about the danger of igniting a family quarrel – something to which we have been regrettably prone in the past, as you are likely to have learnt by now – and thus must choose my words with particular care.
It is growing quite late, so I must close this letter. Please be patient, and look for whatever opportunities to serve may come your way where you are.
Your affectionate uncle,
Aubrey Stewart
Tuesday 10 October 1939
More rain, but brightened a bit after lunch. Times has thrilling story of Englishman who escaped from Poland early last month w great difficulty via Rumania. (In fact written by him, but name not given. Why do newspapers do this? Most puzzling.) Tale actually a bit frightening at points – even so, would be most thrilled to have adventure of that sort!
Times has as well two lists – first, entire staff of Ministry of Information w their salaries and previous occupations. Quite fascinated by this. Drawn from all sorts of places – other parts of H.M.G., universities, newspapers, trade. However does not say what each of them does there. Some being paid rather a good deal of money, others nothing at all!
Other list terribly sad – all those lost in torpedoing of Athenia, w ages and nationalities. Many children and refugees killed.
•••••
Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George
Canons' House, Victoria Street
Manchester
10th October 1939
Dear Iain,
Thank you for your very thoughtful letter of last month, and please accept my humble apologies for not having replied more quickly. There has been a great deal for me to do here, as I am sure that you can imagine. My commission arrived yesterday and I am to report for duty on Saturday. I will admit to being somewhat anxious about my fitness to serve at my age, but was much encouraged by what I read in The Times yesterday about the Archbishop of Canterbury's sermon on Sunday, particularly his Grace's comment that 'it would be blindness to the everlasting difference between good and evil' to shrink from confronting our nation's enemies. And I am increasingly convinced that all of us who are able, men and women, young and old, will have something to contribute to this effort – even myself.
Of course this will mean a great deal of disruption to the normal pattern of life – particularly, I suppose, to family life. I have very few regrets about casting my lot in Manchester, but one of them is that I have not had much chance to watch my niece grow up. You, as the only one of the Stewart brothers to have continued the family line, must surely be very concerned at the moment about what role Samantha might play in this conflict. If I were going to offer advice, I suppose I would urge you to consider what practical skills she may have. (Do I remember correctly that Aemelia taught her how to drive a car a year or two ago? I do wish that I'd learned to do that!) And of course it may very well be that the best use for 'the work of her hands' will be found away from home.
There remain matters here demanding my attention, so I must close this letter now; I will write again as soon as I can. I hope that Emma is doing well. Please give both her and Samantha my very fondest regards.
Your affectionate brother,
Desmond Stewart
The Vicarage
Grantham Lane
Downton, North Yorkshire
11th October 1939
My dear Iain,
As you may have guessed, Aemelia has asked me to write to you regarding Samantha and her immediate future. I know from past experience what it's like to be on the receiving end of one of our sister's crusades, so you have my complete sympathy as far as that's concerned!
As a bachelor, of course, I can only imagine the anxiety you must be feeling now regarding your daughter. I would be less than honest, however, were I to pretend to disagree with Amy on this point. If Sam wishes to offer what services she can to the war effort, I believe that she should be free to do so (within reason, naturally), and since she is not yet of age I can only hope that you will not stand in her way.
My memories of the last war are of course those of one too young to take up arms, but one thing that I do recall clearly is the role that women played in fighting the good fight. Our own mother organised a female ambulance brigade, as you doubtless recall; those women wore khaki. There were British nurses on the front lines in Crimea. Boadicea led the Iceni against the Romans. If you don't care for those examples, then consider Jael and Sisera. My point, I suppose, is that what Amy has in mind for Sam is hardly an innovation.
In any event, please extend my best wishes to both Samantha and Emma. I hope that you are all keeping cheerful despite everything.
Your fond brother,
Timothy Stewart
•••••
Wednesday 11 October 1939
Have just re-read diary from birthday through yesterday. Tend rather to flit about from topic to topic & wondering whether I do this in conversation as well. Must make greater effort at coherence.
Dad rather alarmed to receive envelope from War Office in morning post. Turned out to be circular warning clergy not to give out any information re troop movements, location of units etc. Said not to print in parish circular, but D wonders whether ought to stop mentioning things like this in pulpit. Says will bring it up at Rural Deanery meeting on Friday. Pointed out (self, not D) that Fri will be 13th. Think D thought this amusing, replied only 'Wartime.'
Later – D now in foul mood. Just learned parish choir disbanded until farther notice, probably for duration – not enough men to sing. As well, afternoon post brings Chichester Diocesan Leaflet for October. Bp Wood writes that 'the war is a judgement against ourselves'. (D read this aloud in mocking voice.) Asked D whether he suspects Bp of being German sympathiser. Said no, just not as clever as he believes that he is & too idealistic for anyone's good. Idealistic. adj. Aiming for perfection in an unrealistic way.
Later still – Plot thickens a bit. Mother got letter from Laura B. in afternoon post. Hasn't offered to let me read it – no reason why ought to, of course – but think that she showed it to Dad while I was doing dishes after supper & distinctly heard her say that 'we need to discuss what sort of war service Samantha will perform,' & 'What Laura is doing,' & 'pretty soon there will be no young people left in this village or the next, they will all have gone to the war.' (A bit odd, as didn't want me to go to school with young people in this village or the next, so why worry if I am the only one left?) As well, something about 'probably not much opportunity here,' & 'accommodations for women in service,' etc. Couldn't make out what Dad said, & the very instant that I came back to parlour they both fell silent. Meanwhile, encouraging letter to self from Uncle A – obviously meant to be so, at least. Advises patience.
Thursday 12 October 1939
Times reports British Expeditionary Force of 158,000 now in France & Allies gaining strength there, but Scandinavia now in great danger. As well, Women's Land Army not recruiting at present – farmers don't want Land Girls, claim can't do heavy work. Really rather discouraging.
Later – Quite sensational news – West Sussex Gazette reports woman murdered in forecourt of Littlehampton police station on Tuesday! Very few details – man charged, apparently pleaded guilty, but no explanation of motive, etc. W.S.G. also offering sewing patterns for gas mask box cover & safety tabard, latter to be made up in white fabric and worn out-of-doors during blackout. Very practical, but have to say tabard not terribly stylish.
•••••
The Vicarage
Leavenham, Hampshire
12 October 1939
Dear Iain,
You can undoubtedly guess the subject of this letter, to say nothing of my reasons for having put off writing it until now.
You and I both know that Aemelia thinks that Sam ought to do some sort of war service other than the Women's Legion; that it would be better if she were to begin such service sooner rather than later, when she may become subject to conscription; that the best option would be for her to join a new civil defence organisation, the Mechanised Transport Training Corps; and that the family ought to unite in providing Sam with material support until such time as the aforementioned body is able to do so. When Aemelia first presented these ideas to me I was very uneasy indeed, but after devoting a great deal of thought and prayer to the matter I have come to believe that she is correct on all points. Please allow me to explain my reasoning.
To begin with, I am increasingly convinced that this war will be a long struggle. You will not find me in the 'over by Christmas' camp. That being the case, it follows that every pair of hands will be needed in order to prosecute the war in the most effective manner possible. This in turn makes it all the more likely that His Majesty's Government will at some point, perhaps soon, find it necessary to conscript women. Would it not be better to avoid this by securing a place for Samantha in a setting in which her abilities will be put to good use and her virtue respected? The organisation Aemelia is proposing that Samantha should join is, as I mentioned above, strictly for the civil defence, and therefore not subject to military law (which is designed to govern men, not women). Moreover it seems to be made up entirely of women, even at the very highest levels, which is an advantage in that no member of the male sex who is unrelated to Samantha, and who may not have her best interests at heart, will be in a position of authority over her. I trust that I make myself clear. Wait for conscription and we will likely have far less control over that aspect of the situation.
There remains the matter of what Samantha will live on during her time of service. It is to be hoped, of course, that this new group will in due course find a reliable source of support for its members; but until that occurs I would like to propose that each of our households – you and Emma, Aemelia and Michael, Timothy, and myself (we probably ought to leave Desmond out of this) – each contribute 6s. 6p. per week. £1 5s. 4p. ought to be quite enough to see a girl of her age through an average week!
As Samantha's father, the final decision in this matter must of course rest with you, particularly as she is still a minor. I hope, however that you will see that it would be better to act now than to wait for Providence, Divine or otherwise, to take its course.
Please give my very best regards to both Samantha and Emma. Whatever action you take, I remain,
Your affectionate and dutiful brother,
Aubrey Stewart
Friday 13 October 1939
Murder on front page of Littlehampton Gazette w large headline, but not much new information. Married Littlehampton woman, 29, fatally stabbed by London man, 33, not her husband. Nothing at all about motive. As well, Littlehampton sailor amongst those killed on HMS Royal Oak. Only 19 years old.
At any rate will drive Dad to Littlehampton this afternoon for Rural Deanery meeting. Nice day for it – Mother feeling better after past few days, so has decided to come along.
Author's notes:
For a true story of a radio being played in church (albeit not until 1940), see Norman Longmate, How We Lived Then: A History of Everyday Life During the Second World War, pp. 359-96.
Desmond Stewart is paraphrasing an account in The Times of the Archbishop's sermon at Westminster Abbey on October 1st, 1939. In his third paragraph he invokes (though he does not actually quote) a phrase that appears several times in Proverbs 31.
Timothy Stewart refers to the incident described in Judges 4 along with examples from both modern and ancient British history.
In a November 1939 issue of The Fortnightly Review Bishop Bell published "The Church's Function in Wartime," in which he stated that "[the Church] must … encourage the resumption of friendly relations with the enemy nation." In this story I am imagining that during the previous month Bishop Wood, as author of the article, has had it printed up as a pamphlet and distributed to his clergy.
Despite the unpopularity of his opinions with both the Churchill Government and much of the British populace, Bell was apparently considered as the next Archbishop of Canterbury in 1944, and posthumously he became a revered figure in the Church of England, which formally commemorates him each year on October 3rd. A new controversy broke out in 1995, when a woman came forward to accuse him of having repeatedly molested her when she was a child in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The present Bishop of Chichester, Martin Warner, issued a formal apology in 2015, and the Diocese paid the woman a sum in compensation; but in 2016 the Church commissioned an independent review of its investigation into the allegations, found itself guilty of "a rush to judgement," and apologized to Bell's relatives for its handling of the case. In 2019, however, Warner stated that he does not believe that Bell has been definitively exonerated.