Battle of Britain Diary Part I

My aunt Dora Church, nee Gearing died aged 84 in 1997 and amongst her possessions we found a diary spanning 3 months of the Battle of Britain. It begins:

June 10th
We are all sad at hearing the death of Cobber Kain, beloved hero of the Air War honours. Jolly, daring, died in an accident age 22 years.

Babe's birthday. Diddy White gave her a necklace and brooch. The new news is grave. Germans pushing hard for Paris. Our RAF bombing vital points, doing gallant things. God knows what we should do without them.

Yesterday, Sunday, we spent in blazing sunshine watching cricket at Ashtead, everything was quiet and lovely. But soon a storm came up, everything darkened and the thunder grumbled in the distance, coming nearer and nearer as the minutes flew by. How like the war situation, so quiet here and yet the guns of France grumble in the distance. How soon will it break upon us here. We wait with expectation but with confidence and knowing that like the boys in France we are going to be in the thick of it too. I think we are only afraid of being afraid. But being English thank God, we will be ready to line and fight as the boys are doing out there. Boys like Cobber make us ready to face anything. We shall see.

The brothers are soon to be called up. Jack I think this month. I'm glad he is ready and waiting to go. Not to kill and murder but to do duty and defend. Whatever that demands of him shall be done I know.

The weather is strange, overcast and dull but warm and wierd as if that too is in keeping with the situation. But it will brighten I know.

We have had our good days and our bad too. The Graf Spee was our day and the welcoming of the boys in London was a day we shall always remember. We were sad when the Courageous went down. Brian Pellow was saved with many others. Lots were lost though.

The King of the Belgians surrendered and left our men in shocking danger. We never expected to see one home, but with the help of the Navy and the RAF we got off hundreds of thousands but lost 30 thousand. It was victory out of defeat. Many bitter things we said of that king. For myself, I say he judged his people's courage by his own, but he was wrong. The people of Belgium were brave and fine, many are still fighting for the government which has split with the king. Others, loyal always to their king have obeyed his orders and given in. I grieve deeply for that country, not because Hitler took it, but because the hearts of the people are torn to shreds for the love of freedom, of their country, of their king. They would sooner have died free people with their king. But this act of that king that they loved and trusted has left them, not so angry or beaten by the Germans, as hurt and bewildered, stunned. This to me is a terrible tragedy, one I cannot see an end to. These are sad days.

Our king and queen are working like slaves for us, visiting hospitals, factories and a thousand other things. The king made his finest speech the other week, he was wonderful. We love him, his bravery is worth much to us. He asked for a day of prayer. The response was grand. All for the king. I loved the people for their response. How the king must have loved them for it. Ern went in the evening. We went to help Evelene move from her house in Leatherhead to Nell's house in Epsom, so although we didn't go to church for our king, we did the other thing he asked us to do, join the help one another spirit and work well for victory. Yes, our king and queen we love and I know they love us too. With them and for them we shall win this evil war, for we are Democracy which stands for God and the right. We must fight the wrong to win for the right and we shall.

5 o'clock news says we are sending more troops to France and must not be too optimistic as the battle is terrific. Tanks are getting near Rouen. King of Norway landed in England today. American President speech tonight. Italy will not say whether they will fight or not.

6 o'clock news Musso's first words of his speech were "We declare war on France and England". Let him do his damnedest, he will have to.

The storm has broken, its raining here. Other storms have broken it seems. Jack Cololing has been called up.

War was declared by the Emperor King of Italy - the toad. HMS Glorious and her escorts were sunk today, at least it was reported today. Canada's defence minister was killed today in a plane accident. Duff Cooper made a nasty smack about the Italians being a bigger damn nuisance than they are worth as allies, they are such rotten fighters.

The diary continues in a separate story.

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