Very cold and raw to-day with mist hanging about all day in spite of a fresh E. wind. Clothes only about half dry. Jean’s cold developed more on chest than head, not been to school, seems very seedy. Rene and Father much better tho’ not too great yet. Hope I keep clear of it. Form from Air. Min. this morning. Ron is making an allowance of 10/6 a week, payable to me, to save for him. Signed the form and Father brought book from P.O. this afternoon. First payment due Mar. 5th Thursday. Must be drawn within 3 months of that date so I won’t have to trot down for it every week. Must consult Ron as to how it is to be banked. Perhaps he will put it in his own P.O. Sav[ings] Bk. I don’t really want it in mine, and don’t think I can hold two. Father could have a P.O book tho’ and put it in for him.
Father said tonight what a queer thing it is that if anyone is murdered in England, they go out with cars and guns and even armoured cars and soldiers as well as police, to seek for the one man who did it, yet in the fighting area the more “kills” a man makes, the better they think of him. At home he may have a reason to hate a man but must not kill but if he is in one of the Services he is taught to slay those who have done him no harm, and against whom he has no personal feeling.
D.M. corr. Ax. Clifford says: In Libya the German prisoners are saying the war will end this year, no one winning but by negotiation. Say that Gers and Eng. should not fight being of the same race and why should they have anything to do with Italians and spat when Japs were mentioned. It may of course be what they are told to say but Intell. Offic. says many Ger. prisoners talk so. How we wish there could be peace for all without loss of honour. What good is all this bloodshed going to do. See we are tightening up sporting events, betting etc, not before time. I see also in paper that Ger. R.A.F. are not allowed to associate with It. R.A.F. except on official duties. They do not agree.
Hope we have a letter from Ron tomorrow to let us know he is safely back in Camp. Looked out after Father went on watch at 8. pm and the moon had risen over the bank and it was a beautiful night. Wind practically gone.
Alexander Clifford was a respected war correspondent for the Daily Mail.
Have you read an introduction to May Hill & family (includes photographs) and explored ‘The Casualties Were Small’?
