Sat. May 16 9.25 p.m. [1942]
# DIARY RESUMED AFTER TWO WEEK LAPSE
# EXPLOSION ON BRITISH BOAT NEARBY
# NIECE EVA MARRIES SOLDIER
# ANOTHER NEPHEW – KEITH – WED
# BRITISH SUCCESS IN MADAGASCAR
What a long time since I wrote my diary, and by a strange coincidence the E.L. has just gone off again. I was pressing Jean’s pink dress and heard the familiar “click” in the pantry where the meter is. I finished the pressing and inserted 1/0 wondering if we had really used the last shilling’s worth, but there was no light when I took off the iron and put the bulb in and none in any of the others either. There have been thunder-packs this afternoon but have not heard thunder, still the electricity in the air may have had something to do with it. (At 2 a.m. discovered I had not turned the meter knob.)
Tonight between 7 and 8 o’clock a heavy explosion shook the house. We wondered what it was and Father said perhaps a mine at sea. J. Kirk called as he came off W.B. (Fa went on at 8 ) to say there were 2 boat loads of men coming ashore off a blown up boat, British. He thought we might hear rumours. Later “Mr Brown”, cook from R.A.s told us it was the patrol boat that was blown up but that it sank slowly so all the men got off and most of their clothes etc. He said they were in the infantry billets there and the only comment was “What a life”. They have been very fortunate. It is no doubt all right, yet it makes one think how easily an enemy could enter. The sinking of the boat could be staged and the men land with suit cases of H.E. [high explosive] or radio transmitting sets. The E.L. is already off making all the E.L. Radio sets useless and causing endless confusion in the darkness. With the aid of a strong force of 5th columnists who knows what could happen?
Eva and Walter were married on Ap. 27th at the chapel. E in a very nice powder-blue 2 piece, Gladys and Gra[ce] in clover dresses. All of the H[arness] family were at home for the occasion. Rene was invited and went. I did not go to Chapel as I had my old enemy. Jean did though. We are giving her tea-spoons. Think Keith is at home this week so must give him a belated w.p. [wedding present]. Shall we ever catch up with them all? Raymond may be in Madagascar which we us The British have taken over. One of the straws blown by the wind that we hope has changed in our favour at last. York has been bombed by Gers.
‘Thunder-packs’ probably meant ‘packs’ or ‘gatherings’ of thunder-clouds.
The Army (Royal Artillery) cook “Mr Brown”, based next door at ‘Corbie’, was also referred to as Cookie or Jock or Brownie. (See photograph, diary post 20 Sep. 1941.)
