A wet evening. I am alone until Jean and Mavis come from B.B [Boys’ Brigade] and L[ife] Girls party. Jean could have slept at Jessie’s but Father is on watch until 2 a.m. and I don’t like being alone.

Cook was asleep until Father went but woke then and departed to spend the rest of the evening with Cpl. Bray and wife. He has been to Sk[egness] ostensibly to see the registrar but he never went, is going on Monday now, he says. He wired to his nephew to see if he was getting leave early in Jan. as he wants him to be best man. No reply yet. He is a helpless thing, don’t think he’d do anything about the wedding if the girl could make all arrangements though he is very keen on being married the beginning of Jan. I don’t know how long notice has to be given but he wants a spec[ial] licence now, though he wants to be married in church. He has bought a pair of brown shoes for 15/0 and no coupons at Sk. Don’t know how he managed it. He begged a bottle of dye to black them. After debating whether brown or black looked best he asked us all our opinion and decided on blacking them, then started debating all over again, so I said “You are blacking them, so don’t argue it all backwards and forwards again.” He had got blk laces. He gave it up then and went to sleep. Have had wireless on. Gert and Daisy were on Music Hall. A long time since I heard them. Needless to say Cookie left his shoes here. I wouldn’t be surprised if Father blacks them for him yet.

Rene came after tea for a while. It poured with rain then and still rained a little when she went. T[om] came to meet her, got all the way but would not stop. Mary has heard from Ray. Don’t know where letter was written but he had not had a letter from home since May, when he wrote that. I felt quite upset and sincerely hope he is getting them long before now. It is worse even, for the boys so far from home than it is for us. I could wait patiently, if I was sure Ron was getting our letters. Rene went to Amy’s yesterday. She brought us both some “pig cheer”. It is a very nice change. I did not buy any meat from Peter T[aylor] for the weekend.

My asthma is very troublesome again nights and mornings and I get very depressed. The weather is so dull and damp and I can’t get out much, walking seems to make me worse. I wonder if I went a walk every day if I should improve but it seems such an effort and we always seem to be at it all day, though I don’t get much done. Have written a few Xmas letters, must finish tomorrow, have posted some odds and ends for Emily’s not Xmas things. I really can’t afford presents this year. We are making Emmie 2 kapok down cushions.

Can came to-day and immunised pigs against “Purples” 2/6 each but it is worth it. As we haven’t claimed from Club one is still in benefit. The Pig one of course. Father says it is mending and the little ones are growing. Haven’t heard from Mrs Denman, do hope rabbits have arrived. She has let “Brookdene”. Father took the bridegroom and best man from Mr Cousins’, also Mrs C. to Church to-day, to be married to Edith Bell, then took the bri. and groo. to Skegness. A good thing it kept fine until after then. They are staying the night at Sk. and going to Birmingham tomorrow as the groom’s father who lives there is ill. A lot of infantry have come to Chapel. The R.A’s think they might be sent to Scotland in about 3 weeks time and perhaps abroad after that. I think that is why Brownie is in such a “pother”. I don’t think he is very strong, he is so short of wind.

Rene made Xmas cakes on Wed, they baked beautifully. We made 3. No currants, only raisins and sultanas but we had real butter and potted eggs. My potted eggs have been most useful. I got my bed-room curtains washed and up again. Also I washed pictures upstairs on Fri and took down cobwebs here and there. Rene had done the usual weekly clean. Have put double feather-bed back on bed-stead in big room for Mav[is] and Jean tonight. It has been by the hot tank to keep aired. It will be ready for Emmie now and I can get Jean’s room straight in case T and Rene have to stay the night at Christmas.

The village Boys’ Brigade captain was Jim Hall (of Halls’ Stores) and the bandleader was Frank Raynor. Regular meetings were at ‘Pamaco’ on Landseer Avenue. Joint social events with the Girls’ Life Brigade were usually at the Central Hall, where some of the GLB meetings were held. (See Village Map.)

Corporal Bray and his wife were friends of Royal Artillery cook, ‘Jock’ Brown, and his girlfriend.

Gert and Daisy were talkative characters created in 1930 by music hall singers, Elsie and Doris Waters. They were believed to have been related to Grace Hill (see 1 Mar. 1942).

‘Can’ was previously mentioned as selling a pig and thought to refer to Mr Capron (see 25 Dec. 1941). As a pig breeder it is likely that he would have been equipped to carry out the routine injections for ‘purples’. (However the name could possibly have referred to Mr Kochan, the veterinarian.)

The Pig Club ‘benefit’ referred to eligibility for a share of surplus funds due to be divided amongst members (see 16 Dec. 1940).

Edith Bell, who married a soldier, was the vicar’s daughter (see 11 Dec. 1940).

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?

Only 8.30. Father and Jean have departed and the breakfast things are actually off the table. It is not often we are so early. I am heating soft water for washing up. It is so much easier on the hands and soap too. It is not light enough to take down the blk-out tho’ it is time for it. It must be very dull this morning. We got washed yesterday, and a few things dry. The rest can be finished off indoors unless it dries well outside. The green table-cloth is washed and partly dry. I have spread it over the table to finish. Have been up and taken down the blk-out upstairs but it is still rather too dark to take it down in the kitchen as I should have to have a light. Father killed two young rabbits, does, yesterday, for Mrs Denman. They were the last except for the one we are keeping. They were not cold when some boys came to buy one. We have had them all this time and not had a chance so as they were cross bred, tho’ as big as the true-bred, we thought we would keep the true-bred bucks. Sara only had 2 does, hoping to sell some of them as well. We may yet. Anyhow they are useful for food for us. I put them in a small attaché case that had once held a T[able] Tennis set and Rene posted them yesterday. Must write and tell Mrs D, hadn’t time yesterday. I wrote to Edie last night so we have got it off to-day. Sent her a card, I am sending very few this year. Calendars are a big price 1/6 up. Boiled Xmas puds 4 hours yesterday. We are going to make Xmas Cake this week, Rene and I altogether.

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?

Jean has gone to school, she has to have lights now in the morning. Batteries are not very good to get either. “The Sprogg” is busily washing his white? chest and paws. He is a lazy little fellow so I put butter on his chest and paws to see if he would wash it off. It seems to be having the desired effect. Jean is 5^th in term marks, only 5 marks less than top. Hope she does as well in exams. Mavis and Ken are top of their respective classes. George, as usual, is top of Jean’s [class] IV.A. The wireless is going well. Went to Skegness last Tuesday. Rene is to carry on as she is, they don’t think she will be called up. I wrote to Emily last night, also to Edie. She sent me the usual P.O. for 5/0 and Jean 2/6 and a book which I shall read first as E. has some peculiar views sometimes and has had various new beliefs. She sent me a wee booklet of prayers which are really very good, so good I copied one out for Ron. Then I wrote a good long letter to Ron and sent him Rene’s wedding snaps tho’ the reprints are even worse than the first lot developed. They are dire, but Cook says the film was probably thin, or did he say negative?

Father is not up yet as he did not come off duty until 2.a.m. and is on again at 2.p.m. It has been pouring with rain again but was fair when Jean went so hope I can wash. We are not doing any big ones until after Xmas, but must wash my bed-room curtains. Emmie is coming from Xmas Eve to Sunday. We are so pleased tho’ it isn’t long. There was a concert at C[entral] Hall on Saturday night for Xmas Fund for R.A. [Royal Artillery] a good show, £12 clear so very good. Mrs. Hall was congratulated on doing what the war hasn’t done in Chapel. There was a long queue at the door. No entry except by ticket. Jean, Rene and Tom went, and Aunt Eff and Grandma.

Eff had pig killed last week but Wilkinson forgot scales so did not weigh it. She sent me sausage and chine fry and scraps and on Sat about 1 lb of pork pie meat as she had so much. The weather is not very good for keeping, so I made a raised pie yesterday (Sunday) which I would not usually do, but on Sat. afternoon I polished all the staircase and was too whacked to do pie as well. If I had done pie I should not have cleaned staircase on Sunday tho’ I don’t know that pie making was any less heinous. It baked beautifully but I put it in a tin as it would not seem to stand alone. Don’t know if it is the brown flour or if it was not cold enough. It must be light by now so will unblack and get washpot on.

The schoolchildren mentioned were niece Mavis Simpson, nephew Ken Raynor and George Ranson the son of niece Ciss (see 11 Dec. 1941).

Edie, here was May’s stepmother (see 16 Dec. 1940).

Herbert Wilkinson was a butcher in Hogsthorpe.

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?

All the frost went out of the ground and the thick ice in the soft water butts thawed on Fri. My flowers in water in bucket seem alright, I let them thaw out. They are in the hall now. The growing ones in the shed were nearly all caught. I have pulled the buds that were nearest out and shall have to wait and see how the others go on. Mrs Brown sent me a lovely bunch of bronzy yellow chrysants to-day ready for Xmas. I do hope they last. I wrote to Frank Adams, Ron and Vic last night.

Father went to fetch Mrs G Dawson from Sk[egness] station today then took the “dead” wireless back to Evison’s and brought the £10 set. It really is worth the extra money tho’ I hate taking it from my savings. Do hope it is a success. Rene and I have washed today. Most of them are dry. It has been milder and breezy tho’ it did not dry much until afternoon. Father got Rene a new tyre and tube at Ev[isons] 8/3 I think. Tomorrow she has to go for another interview at the Labour Office. I want to go to Sk. too and do some shopping.

Rene on bicycle with Mr A’s dog Bill

 

Mrs Ena Dawson, living in London, was visiting her husband George’s parents, William and Florence Dawson, whose family farm, ‘The Willows’, was off Ancaster Avenue (see Village Map). George had been at school with Rene in the 1920s.

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?

It is a big frost again this morning but the air seems damp not crisp as it was Wed and Thurs so I think there is a change coming. 3 rime frosts then rain, Mr Coote used to say. Wind is S.W. tho’ there is not much. Rene came yesterday and we did a small wash, had to hang clothes up in kit[chen] last night but most were dry this morning. Father went to Anderby for his aeroplane recog[nition] Test last night. He and Mad[dison] and Par[ish]. Out of 31 planes Father only made one mistake and the others none. Very good. As they passed that they will probably have to take another Test later. It is not easy for men over 50. He has taken this morning’s watch for Mad. as he is having his peas thrashed at Kirk’s. Father fetched bags for Kirk from Mby [Mumby] Rd St. on Wed. and Joe owes for a watch 7/6 so Father said he would have some tic beans for pig. Hope he gets them. He won’t get money I guess. Phoebe came in yesterday as she was going to get a bucket of water (soft) from Ashley’s. She is a strapping girl and looks so well. Being a W.R.N. suits her.

Phoebe Kirk, Wren at HMS Royal Arthur

Rene has to go for another interview on Monday. I wonder what will come of it. Pontings sent Jean’s money back as they can’t get the gloves she ordered. We must try to get her some in Sk[egness] on Tue. if we go. The cheque for pig has not come yet, wish it would. We have not got wireless back yet either. My chrysants in pots in shed were ice plants yesterday. I have pulled all the buds I could. Am afraid the late ones will not survive. The cut flowers were frozen in bucket. I have brought them in. Don’t know if it will have killed them.

Jack Coote, the father of Frank, was probably meant here (see 1 Mar. 1942).

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?

Yesterday we had a short letter from Ron, much sooner than I had expected. I think he is on board ship and must have written it before they sailed as he says he thinks the mess table on which he is writing will be his bed for a time, so he has evidently not had a night there. There was no date on his letter, a most unusual omission for him. He writes cheerfully and says he is in good spirits. Bless him for a brave white lie. “Contentment is the only good in life whose counterfeit can greater goodness show.” I hope he soon gets letters from home and Emmie, they will be a help. I expect he will have got settled down a bit by now tho’. It was less than 3 weeks since his last letter and so nice to have, as if he had got to a turn on the road and looked round for one last wave of his hand. He seems so near this morning even tho’ I know he is further away each day. Let’s hope he feels us all near him too. I have written to him and also to Emmie in case her letter hasn’t arrived.

Amy and Ken came yesterday. Ken as usual sat by the room fire and read all day, and only went outside to take Father’s tea to the Bx. so that he could have a look round. He is thinner but has grown a big boy now in long flannels. Aunt J[et] sent Rene her silver sugar-tongs and hoped there would soon be lump sugar to use them on. Amy brought me 6 eggs a great treat, new laid ones.

Yesterday Beveridge’s Plan for after the war came out. £2 a week pensions and £2 for out of work and a great many more schemes. If it is put into action I think everything will be dear. If an employer has to pay 2/3 a week insurance for each man and the man 4/3, higher wages and dearer goods must follow. It will not affect us older ones so much (the Benefits) as starting a complete year 1945 it will take 20 years to get into full running order. Women must work until 60 if able. I will preserve the paper to refer to later, have not read it all yet. We may win the war and go bankrupt in peace yet for all I know.

It was a big frost yesterday with ice and is again today, but yesterday was clear and cold and I was feeling better. We must wash a few oddments to-day. Rene had to do her monthly Red + collecting Mon. and yesterday she sold flags for Prisoners of War parcels. Arthur Barton would have given more if he had been sure the Gerrys wouldn’t get the parcels! Father on watch 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. now that Hallgarth has to take turns with the rest instead of just morning watch.

Sir William Beveridge’s Plan, for social security benefits funded by national insurance, began to be implemented in 1945 by the Labour government elected after the war ended. This formed the basis of the modern ‘Welfare State’.

Arthur Barton was a respected elderly farmer at ‘Bell Bank’, Trunch Lane (see Village Map).

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?

A wintry day for Dec. 1^st, the darkest month. It has been several showers, one at dinner time very heavy. Rene got home just in time. She had been washing, had got some dry and left some out. It dried during afternoon so hope she found them all dry. We picked most of the chrys[anth] buds yesterday. I have a bucket-full in shed, hope some of them will keep until Xmas, less than a month away. I have a lot in vases and bowls indoors, they have never been so lovely as this year. The weather has been open so long and we have had no gales to lash them to pieces. Had a “fry” and some “scraps” from Mary’s, their pig weighs 26 st. Father fetched ours from Holmes today, that is the little one and Eff’s. [Aside: From Holmes we got 2 black little pigs £1 each.] Father killed 2 young rabbits today as Amy and Ken are coming and Wed. is rather awkward for meat. I shall stew them I think. They are nearly 4 months old. Have made a plum pie from plums bottled at home. I expect I shall make Ken his favourite rice pudding. Then with potatoes and turnip and swede we shall have quite a pre-war dinner. Rene will be selling “flags” for parcels for our war prisoners. Cookie has a cold. I keep telling him not to leave it here, perhaps it’s taken effect as he just looked in for his ink and departed for bed, or he may be taking care of his reputation! as Father is on watch.

I wish Jean would come, she went to Colleen’s for tea and it is very ground dark. Father lent her his torch. Aunt J[essie] was fetching Mavis at 8.30. So will see Jean and Flora on to the road. It is a little after that now so she should be here very soon. She has still some home-work to do. Rene has let her have her plaid dress. I shortened it this afternoon, it looks very nice. She is also bringing her 2 pairs pyjamas, must make her some return. It is very nice for some things being so comfortably fixed, tho’ I expect it is a doubtful blessing to Jean or at least she will think it so as she gets a bit tired of “second-hand” things. If all is well she will be able to earn her own in 2 years time. Still the others have been useful and some of them very good too. Kirks horse knocked another hole in asbestos garage today. It is past a joke. Hallgarth has got a star to wear on his [Coastguard] uniform at least one on each sleeve. He is very fussy and got them sewn on at once. Have just been to the gate to look for Jean. Mr Hall came along from garage and said he had rung thro’ just before he left home and they were still at party. He will bring her home, he is fetching them if they have not got to his shop before him. It is not too dark after being out a bit but I could not find the gate catch when I went out. Think I will have a bit more supper when Jean comes. I get faint in the night if I am awake a lot.

Holmes was probably the farmer at ‘Charity Farm’ in Hogsthorpe. The farm was so-named as it helped to finance ‘Goodwin’s Charity’ which provided grants, e.g. for tools or clothing, to school-leavers starting working life.

The asbestos garage was where Will kept his car, behind one of the nearby houses owned by Ashleys, adjoining Kirks’ land (see 11 Apr. 1942).

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?

Cpl. [corporal] returned last Mon. under arrest as he had been away over 3 weeks and classed as deserter. Father not got cycle yet. Cpl lost the ticket for it. It is at Sk[egness] station. Cpt [Captain] Liddwell keeps promising to get it. Father getting out of patience as he cannot get it. Police say they can’t as it was not stolen.

We had letters from Ron until Sat. Nov. 14^th, the last one written on 12^th and postmarked Leeds. Emmie had one same day and same postmark. It would be tantalising for him if he passed through Leeds so near to Yeadon. It is so terribly hard to be out of touch with him, but can’t expect a letter yet. I am trying not to listen for postman until Xmas and even then we may not hear. Father thought perhaps he had not gone right away at first, but I seemed to know he had slipped from our grasp as those elvers slipped thro’ my fingers years ago. Well we must keep our courage up and hope he will return some day.

We have driven Rommel out of Egypt thro’ Libya and shall soon be joining General Alexander’s Amer[ican] Army in Tunisia if all is well, in the attempt to drive Ger. out and so free the Med. The French Fleet scuttled itself sooner than fall into Ger. hands at Toulon. Ger. occupies all France now. Russians have trapped a lot of Gers round Stal[ingrad] and are doing well. We have been dropping 8000 lb. bombs on Italian towns. It is wicked which-ever side it is on. Oh Freedom what awful deeds are done in thy name! Roy has got his L.A.C. [Leading Aircraftman]. Bill Hallgarth is home on leave again from Ireland. Robinson’s had a letter from Malcolm this week and his address in Iraq.

On the 17^th our pig had to go be slaughtered. It had purples. It is very disappointing. It weighed 20 st. and would have been so useful at Xmas. Don’t know what we shall get for it yet. Have got another for £9, a gilt that has had one litter. Supposed to make best bacon. We have also got a young one and Eff has too. She is having the big one killed in a few days. Harriet came today and brought Rene a very nice tablecloth and she brought me a 7 lb jar of home rendered lard. Said she was so sorry about the pig. Jean said “Didn’t I throw my arms round her and give her a kiss.” I felt like it but she would probably have collapsed! But I think it was exceedingly kind of her. Walter and Eva have been home, W. on embarkation leave. Poor Eva, they have not been married a year. Jean’s blouse which she made partly at school turned out very nicely, she proved very handy at it tho’ not fond of needlework, especially mending. She had a nasty bilious attack on Sat. but feeling better today and has been to school. Father was on patrol last week and got a codling. It was fresh and good, a great treat. Tom [Rene’s husband] got one on Friday, a bit larger. Rene brought us 2 steaks. It was excellent too. Fresh fish is a luxury.

Shall have to go to bed soon it is 9.45. Father is on watch until 2 a.m. Jean is putting her hair in rags after washing it. I am going to have a cup of Horlicks. Hope it sends me to sleep, my asthma is rather troublesome and I have slept badly. I have to put thoughts of Ron too, away very resolutely. I must not worry about him. Emmie wrote again last week, very cheerfully but she had not been very well. Expect she would be very upset by his going. She sent me some tablets which Mrs Pearson (Jeff’s mother) had told her cured asthma. I was a little disappointed but not surprised to find they were Anestans. They do ease me but have had them before and was not cured. Still as I said to Rene, if they, doctors, don’t cure Mr Churchill it is hardly likely they will me. He is able to afford the best advice and medicines. At the moment I am taking Dr M’s medicine which relieves me as well as any. He always said that he could not promise to cure me, tho’ I might get better of it. Nearly 12 years since it started. I think it’s chronic now but must try to overset it if I can. Rene and Tom brought down kapok down that Father found on beach. They have a lot too. I must make an effort to get a quilt made.

Captain Lidwell was probably an officer of locally billeted soldiers.

Note the reference to slippery elvers (young eels) – see May Hill’s ‘Reflection’ on her childhood experience.

The defeat, in November 1942, of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel’s forces by the British 8^th Army, under General Montgomery, in the Second Battle of El Alamein, was decisive in turning the tide of the war in North Africa.

Sir Harold RLG Alexander was a British General whose command included an American Army.

The potentially fatal pig disease swine erysipelas was known as ‘purples’ owing to the characteristic diamond-shaped skin lesions.

Rags were used for hair-curling: Curlers were in short supply.

Mrs Pearson, mother of Ron’s RAF friend, Jeff (see 25 Jan. 1942), lived in Gainsborough.

‘Anestan’ – a brand-name drug containing ephedrine.

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?

Armistice Day. I remember the first one 24 years ago. A grey day like this is starting, but thick fog too most of the day. Father was on a farm at Sibsey and Rene and I at Sibsey N. at Grandma Thorpe’s. We had eggs for tea to celebrate. I remember they were small pullet eggs very dear but fresh. Can’t buy them in the shops lately. They are reserved for invalids and expectant mothers, and Eff’s hens are not laying just now. I have had a few potted ones tho’, and the dried eggs are very useful. Father had had a hard day thrashing at the farm he was on as the men were all wild to get to Boston to celebrate and the farmer would not stop thrashing. I remember we were not wildly elated, but dimly as thro’ the mist we saw the end approach.

May and Will with Rene as a young schoolgirl c.1920

Yesterday, Nov. 10 was a grey day. The weather was grey and we had a letter from Ron with just an address to write to at the A.P.O. [Army Post Office]. No name of place. He said we had better start to use it at once but I sent yesterday’s letter to Pet[erborough] with instructions to forward it if he had gone. He will like to have it if he hasn’t. We thought Emmie might have been able to tell us something after he had been there as he could not, but she has not written so perhaps only knows what we do. I wish I had gone, but I was afraid I might be ill there and be a nuisance. Ron writes cheerfully almost as if it was a relief to know definitely that he was going, so we must keep our chins up too. But at times I feel as if I must see him just once more before he goes. It is just 2 years since he first went in the R.A.F. Nov.12. We ought not to grumble, a lot of the boys have to go sooner than that. But it is so hard to think that he will never come smiling up saying “How are you Mother?” perhaps for years and it may be never. God comfort us all, boys and those left behind. Jean has not said much but know she is feeling it as much as any of us. I wonder how Emmie is, we must one of us write. I have written to him again. Shall post it when I see if we hear from him to-day, he will write when he can.

Rose died on Nov. 2^nd Mon. She was buried last Friday. It was a beautiful sunny day and there were a lot of people there. Jack did not come and the others just went off and never invited anyone for tea. They, at least Percy, did ask Father as he was driving them, but he did not stay. I waited at Grandma’s until he came to take us home. Rene and I went to funeral and Jean stayed with Grandma. She was away from school with a cold and a gumboil. She is better this week. There were lovely chrysanths at the funeral. I have never seen so many colours and varieties and sizes. Ours were yellow and a kind of dusty pink, just a spray. Ciss was not present. She went to the Louth infirmary on the 4^th. I wrote to her on the Friday night as I thought she would like to know who was there. I missed Miss Lister, knowing she would be certain to be there if able, but Tony had been taken to Alford Hospital with appendicitis turning to peritonitis. He is slightly improved but still has to have operation for appendix.

Well, it is very dull but must put off the light. We have to be careful. Dinah Kirk pulled a tea-pot of hot tea over on herself on Monday night and was scalded. She was a little easier last night. They think she either overbalanced or fainted as she was sitting on the edge of table while Phoebe and Miss Mudd were having supper. Her mother and father had to be fetched from the usual place. Father’s cycle still missing. He lent it to a young cpl. [corporal] last Sat week Oct 31^st for him to go to Sk[egness] on a day pass. He said he was returning Sun. morning but neither he nor the cycle has returned.

Most of the first paragraph is a recollection of Armistice Day in 1918 when Rene was 5 years old and the family lived at ‘Rosedale’ near the Chapel (see Village Map). Rene is perhaps a little older in the photograph probably taken around 1920.

Sibsey, near Boston, is marked on the East Lincolnshire Map.

Grandma Thorpe is believed to have been May’s mother’s father’s second wife.

Percy Ranson, husband of Rose Hill’s daughter Ciss was meant here (see 22 Mar. 1942).

Tony Lister, from London, was staying with his aunt, Miss Lister (see 27 Jan. 1942).

It is thought that Dinah Kirk’s (see 19 Jan. 1942) scalding incident arose from, or triggered, the first of the epileptic fits from which she suffered.

Miss Mudd was a visiting family-friend who had previously stayed as a holidaymaker. The ‘usual place’ was the ‘Vine Hotel’ (see 5 Nov. 1941), regularly frequented by Dinah’s father, occasionally accompanied by her mother.

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?

Have been to bed and just got up again. Wish I were not so nervous. Had just settled down to go to sleep when I heard heavy gun-fire in the distance and got up. Jean was asleep and was cross at being awakened, she is not nervous now I am pleased to say. She has not dressed, but curled up on couch and gone to sleep. I have dressed as otherwise I feel so cold. It pours with rain, fire was nearly out but is beginning to flicker again so hope it burns up. Perhaps I ought not to have mended it, but I feel so shivery and may want a cup of tea before going back to bed, tho’ tea like coal is not too plentiful, in fact if it were not Father’s week for tea and sug[ar] ration for W.Bx I should be on the rocks before next month’s rationing came in. In any case shall have to be careful. We are heavy tea drinkers. Must start to give Jean more cocoa this cold weather but she does not take sugar with tea and will want sweeteners in cocoa. I get sweetened milk for Father’s porridge, it lasts a week, perhaps Jean could use some in cocoa. Rene has cut up most of her cake and sent it out. A queer custom. Mrs Mid[dleton] has given them a pair of beautiful vases expensive too but am afraid Rene has bad taste to prefer a lovely modern jar tho’ less valuable given her by the Hillsdons.

Occasional gun-fire and continual bumping of the tide. Almost wish I had stopped in bed. Skegness had her most severe raid last Sat night Oct’. 24^th about 9.45. One 2,000 lb. bomb and a lot of cases of incendiaries caused a lot of damage to property and some casualties. Only 1 civilian but Services lists are not published. There were at least 2 funerals of more than one RAF. Poor boys and poor other boys who are there for training, some young and nervous they will be afraid when the siren goes. It sounded on Sat (yesterday) morning but the “all clear” soon went. Have heard the raiders were at Canterbury again yesterday. We brought down 9 so judge there were a lot. Expect Ron has been to Yeadon Thur. to Sat. He was due back 8.a.m. today if he got off. (Fire has burned up beautifully, I ought to go to bed but will stay up a bit longer.) Don’t know if it was EMBK [embarkation] leave or not. I did not go. He does not seem able to tell us anything now in his letters and they don’t seem very cheerful to me. Perhaps he will be able to tell Emmie and she let us know. Miss West caught Jean coming out of Chapel this morning, she gave her 10/0 for Ron to buy a saucepan or something. Very nice and unexpected. I have put it in his letter.

We had half of Rene’s rabbit today. They killed one of those T[om] had from us and it was too big for them. When they want another rabbit dinner they can have one of our young ones. They are ready in about a month or 6 weeks from now. Have let Frank’s have a bag of potatoes as I think we still have as many as we shall want. 7/0 bag. Chrysanths coming on well, another week of calm unfrosty weather would see the best of them out. Those I brought in are coming out well. Have a few later ones in shed, and one that is just coming into bloom. I think it is one of my own, a pure white, but not quite sure yet. (Kettle singing and bright little fire, everything quiet, shall soon go to bed.)

Rose still lingers unless she has passed away to-day. Ciss expects to go to M. Ward this week. Percy Tyler died last week, only Flossie and her father left now. First Aid lectures started again now. Rene went Friday. Well it did not cure her last year but I am pleased she is keeping it up. They came down between showers this afternoon for the vases from Mrs M[id]. Father called for them on Fri as they were rather fragile to cycle with from Addlethorpe tho’ they [Rene and Tom] were cycling with them to-day. Hope they got home in fair weather, they intended going to chapel but don’t think they would venture as they got wet thro’ last Sun. night. Father fetched John Walker from Sk. station last night 10.15.and took him back to catch 6.44. Willoughby to-night. [Mr] Paul did 3 hours 8 to 11 for him last night. Cook (old misery) brought some liver in after dinner which I cooked for his supper. He goes without meals and gets all fussed up until he doesn’t know what he ails. Thinks he hasn’t time to get anything.

Reportedly, on October 24^th 1942, a large bomb fell on Park Avenue and Scarborough Avenue and others were dropped, with 12 deaths, 61 injured, 10 houses demolished and 300 damaged. (See ‘Skegness at War’, Marjorie C Wilkinson, Cupit Press, Horncastle 2007, p 13.) However, no civilian deaths on that date were listed on the Skegness War Memorial Roll of Honour.

Miss Nellie West, a colourful local ‘character’ and accomplished singer, Mrs Hipkin’s sister, lived at ‘Little Hanby’ near the Vicarage. They were believed to have been related to Lord Addison (see 21 Jan. 1942) and may have been connected with the family previously at Wests’ farm, later Hallgarths’, opposite (see Village Map).

‘M. Ward’ refers to Louth Infirmary Maternity Ward where Ciss had a child which was stillborn.

Percy Tyler was Flossie’s elder brother. Their father was Will Tyler. The family lived in half of ‘Ashleigh Villa’ near Tylers Bridge. Flossie had attended the village school at the same time as Rene.

John Walker was probably the Royal Artillery captain (later, major) who had moved to the area earlier in the wartime.

Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?