Battle of Britain Diary Part 6

The 6th part of my aunt Dora's diaries.

Friday 13 September 1940
On Wednesday we put up our biggest anti aircraft barrage of the war. It certainly kept the planes from London. Babe and I were at the Rembrandt seeing "The Night train from Munich". The noise outside was certainly in keeping with the picture. When the programme was over we started to walk home with shells bursting all over the place. We reached Mongers Lane and a bus took us to Epsom. We walked up from there. Quite the noisiest night ever. But music to the ear of the British people. Buckingham Palace was bombed, a time bomb exploded and shattered nearly all the windows.

King and Queen caught in a raid, went into public shelter. Queen in tears at people's sorrows and bravery.

ARP and Firemen too wonderful and brave for words ever to express. Tussauds waxworks hit. Burlington Arcade ruined. Bomb near Babe's garage. Still waiting for the invasion which seems really on top of us at last. Churchill warned us to be ready on Wednesday evening in a good, solemn, sound speech. Air raid warning on still. One at 8.15 then all clear, another one now at 9.45. Sound of bombs heard in Ashtead direction.

Palace deliberately bombed today. 5 dropped. King and queen in there. Not hurt. Chapel wrecked. Man on near building saw plane drop them. Stood horrified. the plane was shot down in West London.

Tuesday 17th September
Palace bombed again over the weekend. Went to cricket again Sat and Sunday. Sirens all the time. Started my new job on Monday, love it.

All very thrilled at hearing 187 planes down on Sunday, also that a Lt Davies with aid of his men removed bomb from St Paul's. It was a world feat. London is wild with praise for them. It was an 8 feet long one and weighed a ton. It would have wrecked the building.

On Sunday night we had a good fight at 2.30 in the morning, a salvo of bombs fell in the farm field around the RAC way. The noise was terrible. Old Mrs White and family had to move out owing to timebombs being dropped on Guest House opposite them. The road and railway to Sutton barred against people and traffic for part of day. At 9.30 last night bombs fell over the common way, I think in the mental hospital grounds. The swish and crash plainly heard.

Tuesday today, going to pictures. Kit on holiday or rather a week off. Sirens already today. Hitler's invasion draws nearer. Reports say thousands of German bodies lying in French bays and beaches, an attempted invasion I think, bombed and shelled back. Weather is windy and fine, very cloudy though.

September 27th
Many heavy raids today. I think many planes are down. These last days have been hectic. The Germans torpedoed a ship carrying children to Canada. Many drowned and died of cold. 600 miles from shore, but today news came through that a flying boat had spotted another lifeboat full of people and 6 more of the children, very weak and hungry. A terrible crime in the eyes of the world. The king spoke too last week, or rather this week, a fine speech and a brave one.

The bomb was taken from St Paul's. the grandstand at Epsom was dive bombed yesterday. I saw the bomber. Not a lot of damage.

Today came news that a pact has been signed between Italy, Japan and Germany. It was expected. I wonder what America will say to that. Many timebombs on the common and round the RAC way. AA guns firing like mad all night and day times now.

Berlin has been bombed night after night so has London also and German boats and Italian it was reported yesterday on the wireless. General de Gaulle left Dakar because he would not fight Frenchmen but we all have to fight for that port. It must not fall to the enemy. We shall see what happens.

Am getting on fine with my two Mrs Clarks, they are nice people. Went to tennis with Josie yesterday. Good fun. Getting frost now in the mornings, still lovely weather. Bert has been called up. It is on the Armour mechanic corps, enjoying it very much.

October 2nd
On Sunday night we had bombs dropped all over the place, some fell in Shippam's garden and broke the White Horse windows and lots of other all around, then some on the town breaking all the High Street windows and smashing a shed behind Waghams. 6 people were injured when one fell in a garden opposite G Garrett's shop in the house up the drive.

Ashtead had a land mine on their street causing shocking damage and deaths. Many fell on Downs, RAC.

Last night a large house in Cheam Road burnt out, saw blaze plainly. Had to duck for bombs which fell near. First George Medal given. St Paul's man honoured. Harewood of Battle of River Plate knighted.

October 6th
Still many terrible raids. London getting plenty. Westminster Abbey has been damaged. People sleeping in the underground railways. More bombs dropped on RAC and around us. Still not hurt or damaged thank Heaven. Most fell in open fields.

N C Harrison is now much better after his burns in the plane which he put out and helped to bring the plane home. Still bombing channel ports, Berlins and German towns. Grand job too. Finished middle of cloth yesterday. Knitting vests.

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