Britain at War: War through the eyes of an Ascot family, 1939-46Excerpts from the diaries of Mrs Caroline Duckett. Born in 1906. Married to Mr Edward Duckett FRCO. ARCM born 1907. Music master and organist. Home – Ascot Four children: Ann, born 1934; Twins Valerie and Edward, born 1936; and John, born 1937. 1:06PM BST 21 Oct 2008

August 1939 – Holiday in Isle of Wight

25th – Rush to get home because of war scare.

31st – General mobilisation in England. Children from London being evacuated tomorrow. Have put our gas masks ready. 11pm – Came down to hear Hitler’s Terms to Poland.

September

2nd – Searchlights are silently watchful. Windsor Castle closed.

3rd – Sunday. Constant news bulletins. 11.15am. PM said we were at war with Germany. From 11-0 summertime. Listened to the King’s broadcast.

4th – News of torpedoing of Athenia. 14.00 on board most saved. Heard President Roosevelt’s message to USA.

5th – RAF dropped 6,000,000 leaflets on Germany. Gave an evacuee my pram. Lighting regulations from police station. Drove through Windsor Park – peaceful except for a mounted searchlight.

6th – Wednesday. Siren sounded but tradesmen carried on unperturbed. 8am. All clear. 9.30am. Germans doing a lot of damage in Poland. French engaging on Western Front. Some of evacuees here are returning to London – homesick. A very funny song comparing Adolf with Charlie Chaplin, by Tommy Handley.

7th – Probably the children’s last ice cream as supplies are running out. Many soldiers in Ascot-Centre on race course and Windsor. All halls are taken over and windows protected by sandbags. Most people are carrying their gas masks.

10th – Sunday. Soldiers round here singing 1914-18 songs “Tipperary” etc.

11th – Firm, clear speech by Anthony Eden. Use candles or torches upstairs. Dark curtains over windows.

18th – Monday. HMS Corageous sunk by sub. Ascot is distribution centre for troops. RHA transferred from Woolwich to here.

20th – Frequent ‘planes go over.

23rd – Saturday. Ted has been allowed 21 gallons of petrol for two months. Listened to Tommy Handley in a very funny show calling himself “Hitma” and interviewing Germans “intern tonight”. Warsaw bombarded but holding out.

27th – Wednesday. Attack on British ships by German ‘planes in North Sea. Warsaw has fallen after 22 days.

October

1st – Sunday. Vigorous speech by Winston Churchill.

2nd – Eton boys have discarded top hats. They’re a nuisance in air raid shelters.

4th – Wednesday. I have let top room 5/- a week.

7th – Saturday. The two fields at back and side of house have been ploughed up. Shall be glad when we get the weather forecasts back. Sniking of two u-boats.

14th – Saturday. Sinking of Royal Oak.

21st – Saturday. A lot of troops in Windsor now.

23rd – Ann (5 years old) showed me how they play the war game at school. One clap by teacher they squat. Second clap by teacher they lie flat on their faces in case of air raid.

28th – Saturday. We can get foreign stations on wireless set. It said Germans had bombed Watford and St Albans – in flames. In fact there was no raid at all.

December

7th – Thursday. “Lift up your hearts”. Five minutes of devotion on BBC for first time. Then physical exercise.

11th – Monday. Harriet Cohen playing Czech music. The finest political speech since war began by P. Noel-Baker MP.

15th – Reg has ARP job, £3 a week in Pinner.

16th – Saturday. Several columns of soldiers in Windsor Park when we all drove by.

17th – The Graf Spee has scuttled herself in mouth of River Plate.

18th – Dr and Mrs Ley have four evacuees at Eton.

20th – Capt. Of Graf Spee has com. suicide.

21st – We can’t get foreign stations on wireless now.

23rd – Saturday. Finns resisting Russians. Lord Haw Haw knows that there are several thousand troops at Ascot. Canadians here. Children enchanted to hear “Teddy bears’ picnic” on wireless.

24th – Sunday. Listened to Nine lessons and carols from King’s College, Cambridge.

1940

January

8th – Monday. Ted went with Eton choir to play for a wedding at Worplesdon. Bridegroom arrived from France last night. Ted saw the POW camp at Ascot, opposite Bertram Mills Circus.

18th – River is frozen at Romney Island. Deer and soldiers in Windsor Park.

19th – Friday. Sugar isn’t rationed yet. Boys skating on Leg o’ Mutton pond.

27th – Saturday. Ted played for Masons. Had a good dinner and £11 fee.

28th – Myra Hess playing Beethoven on wireless.

February

7th – Wednesday. Coal ration is to be doubled.

10th – Jim (brother) has another TV set.

15th – Rev Donald Soper took Service on wireless. 3” snow.

23rd – Some boys have gone home from school and so no fees for the music master. I heard the cheers which greeted men of “Ajax” and “Exeter” on wireless.

29th – Thursday. Finland retreating from Russians.

March

Johnnie (nursing friend) shows me the new has masks and the baby’s helmet – a terrifying contraption which has to be pumped. Stan (brother-in-law) registered for army.

7th – Thursday. The “Queen Elizabeth” is steaming up the Hudson River – on the news.

13th – Wednesday. Finns signed Peace Treaty with Russia.

17th – Sunday. Palm Sunday. Broadcast from St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

18th – Monday. Singing together with schools started with Skye Boat Song. Good Friday Ted had Lambrook Service. Then to Sunninghill for the three hours. Easter Sunday Service from Canterbury Cathedral. Thalben Ball playing at the Temple church.

25th – Solomon played Beethoven.

April

1st – Searchlights in Windsor Park when we drove through.

7th – Sunday. POW camp at Bertram Mills now. Men housed there instead of animals.

11th – Ted continued digging for victory. What had been prepared for lawn is now for vegs.

12th – Friday. Since invasion of Norway and Denmark, Ted has come down to hear 7am news

May

1st – Wednesday. Lord Haw Haw talked about our elaborate spy system in which we’ve trained boys for years. The leader being Baden-Powell. We don’t usually listen to him.

3rd – William Bowyer phoned – he’s in the army. He came to see us. Saw tin-hatted soldiers return from changing the guard at Windsor Castle. William played the violin, acc. by Ted. His leave is up on Monday.

5th – Sunday. Gala variety for the Forces incl. Gracie Fields.

9th – Royal Proclamation about calling up of men up to 36.

10th – Friday. Germany has invaded Holland and Belgium – on 7am news. The PM announced his resignation. Churchill now PM. French and British troops crossed Belgian frontier. If we have any more allies we shall have quite a concert of national anthems before 9.00 news on Sunday.

12th – the butcher said that 70’planes went over at 5am.

12th – WhitSunday. Service from Coventry Cathedral. 6.45pm prog. “Under Nazi Rule – about concentration camps – horrible conditions.

15th – Wednesday. The Dutch have lost 100,000 out of army of 400,000. Queen Wilhemina spoke about the reasons for her country ceasing fire, tho’ they are still fighting in Zealand.

17th – Friday. Many complain of the unsettled feeling. Big response to Anthony Eden’s appeal for new Civil Defence Corps.

18th – Saturday. Nurse French working at a London nursing home. Tells of ARP cars with stretchers on top. Sentries and policemen in helmets.

21st – Tuesday. Germans now occupying Arnhem and Arras.

22nd – Wednesday. Day of continuous prayer. I went to St John’s. A steady stream of people taking part.

23rd – Thursday. Allies re-took Arras. Invasion of England is imminent and we have decided to round up aliens and 5th columnists. Ann said she must take her identity card to school and Daddy superintended her signature.

24th – Friday. The King has just broadcast a spirited and moving appeal – His best.

25th – Saturday. When I bought ice cream for the children, they asked me is the war was over. Bless their hearts.

26th – Sunday. To St John’s for Holy Communion at 8am. A full church (Small hut with corrugated roof). I talked with Mrs Warwick, a widow from last war who has three sons in France, and to Mrs Brady, whose only son is in France. Wireless Forces Service to hear Bishop of Croydon speaking so well to the men.

27th – Monday. News from Western Front of increasing gravity. Evacuation of children from East coast. Aliens to be interned in Isle of Man. Ted is to play at funeral at Cranbourneof. An airman bringing his damaged ‘plane from Belgium, crashed in England. Only married a month.

28th – Tuesday. Someone listening on Paris radio has said Belgium has surrendered. Hitler has had no military reverse so far. A friend of Florrie’s (sister) blown up in Mediterranean.

29th – The terrible plight of Br. Exped. Force filtering through.

31st – Friday. All sign posts have been taken down. They were painted over yesterday. Today sawn off. I watched sheep shearing.

June

1st – Saturday. Will (brother-in-law) is an air raid warden.

2nd – Nearly all the gallant survivors are home.

3rd – The PM has given us some idea of our Flanders losses – 30,000 casualties. 350,000 evacuated from Dunkirk is a great and brave achievement.

5th – Wednesday. 9pm news. Then Cyril Fletcher reciting some very funny odd odes.

8th – Saturday – Stan (brother-in-law) joins Royal Engineers on Thursday, chemical warfare department. Aunty Ada from Dover has brought old Aunt Ada (92) away from the Dover raids. Ben (brother) has joined the RAF. We drove to Windsor. Stacks of wood in the Park to prevent ‘planes landing.

9th – Sunday. Heard one of the greatest sermons of my life. Rev Gordon Macleod of Macleod MC DD. The Iona Community . He spoke of the splendour of man – Italy has chosen a coward’s moment to enter the war. France is being so very hard pressed.

13th – Thursday. Bought four buckets and spades in BHS Slough all for 2/6d.

14th – Friday. Germans are in Paris. Large pipes being laid across the race course to prevent ‘planes landing.

15th – Saturday. Church bells are now only to be rung in an emergency.

16th – Sunday. Day of prayer for France. To St John’s 8am.

17th – Monday. France has ceased fighting – 1pm news. 9pm – Churchill “We will go on”.

18th – ‘Planes going over all day. Mercifully the children know nothing of their implications. Ann picks up some ideas from school but we tell them nothing except to come indoors when we call them.

25th – Tuesday. Sirens and air raids last night. At Lambrook boys spent the night in cellars. Mr Squarey is ARP.

28th – Friday. Concrete columns along the Course to stop ‘planes landing.

29th – Saturday. French capitulation. Germans bombed Channel Islands heavily.

30th – Sunday. Disturbed night hearing many ‘planes. Searchlights.

July

German ‘planes sound different from ours overhead – slower and more intense.

2nd – Tuesday. Mr Rankin (Lambrook master) and his LDV colleagues caught one of two parachute troops. The other escaped. Canadians on guard here – one at the kiosk in Kennel Ride, blissfully asleep by his machine. He was given tea and cakes.

3rd – Wednesday. Mrs Warburton-Lee and her 14-year-old son went to Buck. Palace to receive VC son by her husband at Narvik. ½ hour with the King. Ann could not get her ice cream at midday as the dairy had no sugar. She bought 2 pkts of sweet cigarettes instead. (Holmes dairy opp. Her school). Daylight raids over England now.

4th – Mr Sturt (local plumber) was on LDV duty last night. Bombs fell on Maidenhead Thicket and White Waltham.

6th – We watched ‘planes going over last night.

9th – Tuesday. Mrs Robbens ‘phoned – Sheila and David are going to Canada.

15th – Monday. Friends and family have offered to have the children. We think the dangers of the journey are greater at present than the dangers here.

16th – “Children’s Encyclopaedia” brings much entertainment these wet days.

20th – Saturday. Ted registered for National Service at Bracknell. School master over 30 are reserved. All to 16a (grandparents’ house in Windsor). Stan there in his uniform. Teddy hardly took his eyes off him. Barbed wire barricades ready for holding up cars.

22nd – Monday. Fine speech by Lord Halifax.

24th – Daddy gave Ann her first music lesson.

28th – BBC broadcast in 24 languages. At the beginning of the war it was nine.

31st – Wednesday. Convoys of troops with mounted guns and soldiers marching here.

August

2nd – Friday. We all watched the band from changing the guard at the castle. Saw barrage balloon over Langley.

3rd – Saturday. A message from Churchill – not to give credence to German propaganda that they don’t intend to invade Britain. Eight bomb explosions around Bagshot.

5th – Air raid frightened John.

9th – Friday. Ted, Dad and I rode to POW camp. I got off my bicycle but a voice called me to move on.

12th – national milk scheme form from Food Office. Soldiers on parade in Ascot.

13th – Tuesday. Barrage balloon up all day in the Park. A lot of Australian and New Zealand troops about.

14th – Isle of Wight bombed.

16th – Air raid warnings at 1 and 5pm.

20th – Ben (brother) goes into RAF.

23rd – German ‘planes at midnight and 2am.

25th – Sunday. Twenty searchlights on a single silver ‘plane. It flew on unperturbed. Bombs on Ascot. Brought children downstairs. Heard two more crashes. All clear 2am.

26th – Monday. Kitchen window panes shattered. Cracks in sitting room windows. Damage at Shepherd’s White corner. Shepherd’s roof shattered and all windows blown.

27th – Cycled to see damage. Craters 3ft deep. Ted, cycling hom through the Park in the dusk, was stopped by two sentries. Made dining room into a bedroom and the children slept there. Planes going over.

28th – Several droning waves of ‘planes in the night and two distant crumps.

30th – Friday. Aunty Kit told me about the time bombs fell in Black Park. Bombs at Swinley Woods near internment camp in the night.

September

1st – Many planes and explosions last night.

2nd – Ship carrying children to Canada sunk by torpedo. All saved except the purser. An ARP warden said the bombs dropped near Slough convent. One warden’s house hit as he left and an airman off duty killed. Two children evacuated the previous day were killed. Aunt Jane has come to Windsor from London out of the raids. Ted and the children counted barrage balloons in Windsor while I shopped.

3rd – Tuesday. Bombs at Sunningdale.

6th – Friday. Vickers Chertsey bombed. Eighty killed and many injured. Roger Child died. (Founder of Egham and Runnymede Scout Troop. Friend of John Christie, founder of Glyndebourne and friend of Ted). Arthur (brother-in-law) in his ARP warden’s blue overalls. He told us about the Vickers raid. He pointed out some spitfires, like silver toy ‘planes. Could hear ‘planes, bombs and AA guns till 3am.

8th – Sunday. Terrible raids on London last night.

9th – Ted and I to Ringmer to Roger’s funeral. Ted played. Ashes to be buried in the Lady Chapel, Eton. Ted watched a dogfight – enemy planes and ours – from a friend’s garden.

10th – Tuesday. Bombs fell at Stoke Poges and Farnham. To Sunningdale. Bomb damage. Huge crater in road. A lorry had direct hit and two killed. A ‘plane was brought down.

14th – butcher short of meat owing to fire in London Docks raid.

18th – Wednesday. Dr Halley has sent his children to Scotland.

19th – Dr Baker has sent his children to Canada. Mr Perry signed the milk form. We now get three pints a day at 2d. a pint. Ted told my military to drive home on sidelights only. ‘Planes around incessantly.

21st – Saturday. Explosions at Weybridge at 8.30am. Windsor full of refugees from London.

22nd – Monday. The King broadcast at 6pm.

26th – Walford Davies died today – 69.

27th – “Banger” (fellow Eton chorister with Ted) came. In RAF. He hitchhiked.

30th – Monday. Fifteen bombs at Binfield. Nine at Sunningdale. Most powerful searchlight in England at Queen Anne’s Gate, Windsor Park.

October

Training Billy, the cat, to come in at night. In an air raid at school the children get under their desks.

2nd – Wednesday. Ted played for funeral of Capt. Sterling at Sunninghill. Huge crater outside vestry. Windows blown in. Gravestones uprooted. Bomb fell on race course.

4th – Friday. Children ran in from the harden – heard machine guns. A raider tried to attack a convoy at Hawthorn Hill.

5th – Saturday. Some streets have long lines of paraffin bins – smoke screen apparatus. Captain John Christie had put a long obit to Roger in the Times. O pay 2/4d a dozen for eggs from Mrs Langdon.

6th – Evensong is to be at 3.30pm at Sunninghill during blackout. The box near the crater at S’hill church had £14 in it.

11th – Friday. Two terrific crashes woke us at 2.30am. It fell on cottages in Windsor Forest. Wellington College headmaster killed. Ted got up in night to investigate a local bang – Incendiary through roof? No. Billy (the cat) had overturned a stool.

12th – Viewed the shattered Messerschmit near W’sor P.O. Jim’s (brother) Works have been bombed several times. Sixteen factories gutted.

13th – Ann heard Princess Elizabeth on the wireless. At Lambrook, cello recital for Red Cross instead of Evensong.

14th – Nine bombs fell in Fernbank Road last night, three killed. Ted’s theory – pilots won’t risk London barrage and circle round to use up petrol and drop bombs. Miss Birley came – evacuee. Bomb fell on Cippenham farm – four killed.

19th – Miss Ducth came – evacuee, 63 years old.

25th – Sweets very scarce but heard Bishop’s (local shop) has some lollies, four for 1d. Milk choc unobtainable.

28th – Monday. We admit loss of “Empress of Britain”.

29th – Ted gave lift to a London mounted policeman. They have brought the horses out of London.

November

5th – Tuesday. Bombs fell in grounds of Royal Lodge.

10th – Terrific explosion. R.C. Elementary School at South Ascot was hit.

15th – Friday. Savage attack on Coventary last night.

17th – Eleven bombs at 5am. Hawthorn Hill, Woodley.

December

2nd – Monday. Last night’s bomb fell close to Berystede Hotel.

4th – Bombs on Eton College and Weston’s Yard. Intense raids on Coventry, Birmingham and Bristol.

11th – Wednesday. Two nights’ absence of air raids anywhere.

12th – Took gas masks to be cleaned at First Aid post in Kenned Ride. Ceaseless droning of ‘planes. Explosions v. loud.

19th – Thursday. Ted drove into Eton and saw the damage. Glad that two memorial windows not broken.

21st – Saturday. Continuous and heavy gunfire since warning at 6pm. No biscuits this year for Christmas and oranges unobtainable. Percy (uncle) says bombing in London is really terrible and hardly a block of St Thomas’s is undamaged. Cannot get decorations for Christmas tree. (Tree dug up from garden each year). Couldn’t get any eggs. Have only had four in two weeks, 3 ½ d each.

23rd – Monday. Ted went carol singing with the vicar and boys.

24th – Heard most of Festival of Nine lessons and carols from King’s Cambridge. Put up paper chains and decorations. Children very pleased. Two chickens. Ices the cake, all the imps helping. They like familiar things.

Christmas Day – opening of presents.

26th – William (Bowyer) came with his fiancée Valentine.

27th – Letter from Aunt Ada describing lift in Dover – 200 shells.

30th – Thousands of fire bombs in London.

January 1941

8th – Lord Baden Powell passed to higher service, 83. BBC has been hit twice and staff killed.

9th – After three nights’ silence, guns and ‘planes are back. To theatre (Windsor) with mother. Got 2lbs oranges – first since four at Christmas.

11th – Ted played organ for wedding of Lord Rothermers’s daughter at Cranbourne.

13th – Ann back to school and home at dinner times. Increasingly difficult to get wool. Dr Temple has protested strongly to BBC about their ban on pacifist preachers. Bombs in am – on Dorney.

29th – To Parish Room where twins and John had their diphtheria immunisation.

February

5th – ARP warden delivered a sand bag. Rabbit from fishmonger helped to eke our meat ration. Catering is very difficult.

6th – Ted and I to Playhouse to see The Dictator – Charlie Chaplin.

7th – Anti-invasion obstruction at end of Kennel Ride. Bombs in Slough, Datchet and Burnham. Looked at “Illustrated” and “Picture Post”.

18th – Thursday. The German bomber brought down last night was at Oakley Green. One killed. Others escaped. Local Home Guard out all night and two have been captured.

19th – Snow. Can only get apples. No other fruit.

20th – Bombs at Windsor. Four killed, 37 injured. We all went to Windsor and Slough by car. Large jar of malt (6/9) soapflakes 7lbs. 3/6.

March

3rd – Monday. Children love “Singing together for schools”.

4th – Surface shelters and blast walls at most of Kennel Ride houses.

5th – William Bowyer has seven days’ leave to get his 2nd Liet. Equipment. We met him in Windsor with his mother (widow of the last war) and fiancée.

8th – Saturday. To Reading by car. Bought new Echo radio £14-14. To Forbury Gardens for the children to play.

9th – Sunday. Dad and Florrie are both fire watching.

10th – Only managers and accountants being kept in banks. Rest will be called up.

11th – Tuesday. Woken by heavy ‘planes at 4am. Air raid warning. Children love their sand pit in the garden.

21st – Friday. Ted has various soldiers in his church choir from time to time. RAMC stationed here.

23rd – Sunday. Special service at Lanbrook for the Day of Prayer. I took the two girls. Miss Dutch looked after the two boys. Ted played the organ and then went onto Sunninghill Evensong.

26th – Wednesday. Ted played for a wedding at Cranbourne church.

29th – Valerie’s first ride on a bus. To Windsor. To the dentist and then to see the changing of the guard.

April

1st – Snow!

Florrie does fire watching at the Bank. Germany declared war of Yugoslavia and Greece.

6th – Palm Sunday. Wireless Service from St George’s Chapel. WH Harris at organ. China has won great military victory over Japan. Barrage of gun fire. Heard ‘plane going up to intercept endless stream of heavy aircraft going over. Heavy raids after 16 days’ dul.

8th – Ann’s 7th birthday. Opening of presents. Mother came over. I made a sandwich ribbon cake and iced it with sugar. Aunty Ann sent seven candles which caused much excitement at tea.

10th – Thursday. Bomber down at the “Crispin”. Two crew killed, one injured, one all right.

11th – Good Friday. Ted to S’Hill for three hour service.

12th – Ted played for a funeral at All Saints Ascot. Ted stopped “Telegraph” now it is 1 ½ d. We all to S’hill church. Children were charmed by the Easter flowers. Ted played for a wedding. I went to Durning library on way home. Ted took the children to the course. List of alterations to reserved occupations is out. Ted as a school master is no longer reserved. Age being raised to 35.

13th – Easter Sunday. No choc. Eggs but children loved their choc. Wafers. 10.45 service from St George’s, Windsor.

15th – Milk now rationed. I have six pints daily. Cycled to Windsor. No sweets, fruit or cake in town.

16th – Noisy night. Widespread raids. Belfast getting brunt of it. Mother came and gave me six eggs. I only get 12 a week from Mrs Langdon (who had chickens).

17th – Biggest raid so far over London last night. Germans say reprisal for Berlin raid. We all went across the course and under the subway – and adventure for the imps – and into the High Street.

19th – Gunfire heavy and ‘planes zoomed over frequently and low last night. Ted and I to theatre. Children at mother’s.

22nd – Twins started school. Valerie said “We chalked, singed and played”.

23rd – Children walked to and from school in am (nearly a mile) and bussed in pm. A soldier called in evening. Asst. organist at Wells Cathedral – Martindal Sidwell.

24th – Ted to choir practice. Then he and Sidwell played the organ.

25th – Friday. Reverses in N. Africa. Wavell being criticised. A few weeks ago he was “Winner” Wavell.

28th – two new craters in park.

29th – Ted had wedding at S’hill. John saw Canadian soldiers with gas masks and tin helmets and “blackouts” (Mackintoshes rolled) on their backs.

30th – Children tell me about seeing army lorries, policemen on horseback (London Co. evacuated here) motor bikes, soldiers, calves, and black sheep on their way to school.

May

2nd – Children have marbles to play with. They love their farm.

3rd – Ted played for a wedding of a Canadian naval officer and an Australian ambulance driver. One of the chauffeurs said he was in the last war. He lost his youngest son at Dunkirk and was bombed out of Vickers in the big raid when 103 were killed. Sidwell came and he and Ted played duets. He cycled home in moonlight and gunfire.

5th – I do the typing for Mr Forbes (Lambrook Head).

6th – Children have measles. Mrs Forbes sent jigsaws and fuzzy felts.

9th – Sidwell came and played the clarinet, Ted the flute and piccolo.

11th – Dreadful raid on London last night.

13th – Hess landed in Scotland.

15th – Part of Windsor Park has been ploughed.

16th – Sidwell now billeted here. He brought his ration card. ‘Planes droned over continuously.

18th – Sunday. Miss Dutch’s last day here.

23rd – Children listened to “War in Toytown”.

24th – HMS Hood sunk. (As I type this on 7th October 2008 the last survivor has just died).

27th – Bismarck sunk

28th – Twins and John to Mrs Bunning while we took Ann to Lambrook fete in aid of the district’s War Weapons Week. A spitfire did stunts.

30th – Sidwell brought his rifle home to clean.

June

2nd – Children very excited about the bicycle granddad brought over for Ann.

6th – Friday. A spitfire came down locally.

12th – Saw hundreds of lorries in Burnham Beeches.

13th – Friday. The dustman said he had three sons in the last war. Two were killed and he has three adopted ones in this war. One was killed at Dunkirk. One is in a camp in Germany and one in the Middle East. Vicious gunfire and explosions.

14th – Bought gabardine raincoat for Ann – 11 coupons.

16th – Monday. Ted’s 34th birthday. Letter from HM Labour and Nat. Service summoning him to the medical board on Thursday.

19th – Thursday. To Palmer Park Reading. Children on swings, roundabout and horse. Ted to medical.

20th – Twins sang “Baa baa black sheep” to the class.

21st – Ted, Ann and I to West Drayton St. Catherine’s RC Church for William’s and Valentine’s wedding. Ted was best man. William in uniform. Nan (William’s sister) matron of honour. Her husband is out on the Atlantic.

22nd – Germany has attacked Russia.

There are no more diaries until 1946, only a few extracts. Mrs Duckett wrote daily to her husband in the Middle East instead.

1942

April 30 – Ted on train with soldiers returning from embarkation leave.

8th – Ted crosses the sea to Egypt.

July – Letter to the children. “I slept in a tent. Lots of sand but no fields or trees. I saw a man on a camel.”

September 15th – John to school for the first time. Valerie is very good at looking after our rabbits.

26th November – An American soldier visited Cranbourne School. They did this throughout the country for Thanksgiving Day. The children were very excited. Valerie said we had given them one of our our churches for the day (Westminster Abbey).

1943

May 29th – Took children to a Wings for Victory fete.

December 17th – All four children busy with their French knitting, on a reel with four nails.

1944

September 17th – “Today is the last day of the blackouts” Ann wrote to her daddy in Egypt.

1945

March 9th – John has his tonsils out.

April 16th – John is learning the violin.

July 17th – I take John to Dover to recuperate. Others staying with friends.

1946

January 2nd – Two letters from Ted.

7th – Two letters from Ted. He has left camp.

The 500 POWs have been transferred as Bertram Mills wants the quarters. They were sorry to leave.

8th – Grapefruit for the first time for some years.

27th – Telegram from Ted. He’d arrived back in England.

5pm – A large car drew up. The soldier had returned.

Memories of the war from Mrs Duckett’s daughter Valerie, one of the twins:

Three German POWs painted our house. Alfie, Edwin and Kurt. I still have the verses they wrote in my autograph book. They all returned to the Russian zone, and Kurt kept in touch with us. Alfie was killed. Edwin (Kurt’s brother) died. Their camp was at Winkfield Manor.

The house bombed at Shepherd’s White corner had a V for Victory shape dug into the lawn and planted with flowers after the war.

I can remember the many evacuee children in Ascot. Many never returned to London – probably their parents had been killed. They went on living with the people who had taken them in. We were too young to be told why they didn’t return. We had a mother and son – evacuees – living with us, Mrs Hancock and John. We loved “looking after” baby John. Hazel and Leslie also lived in one of our rooms. They gave us a prayer book each when they left, which we still have.

Clapham Central School was evacuated to Cranbourne and were centred at the British Legion Hall.

We kept a lot of rabbits as pets. Years later our mother told us that we had them in case we ran out of meat – although how we could have eaten Charlie, Snowball, Brian and Butterfly I don’t know.

Uncle Jim lost an arm in a motorbike accident and so could not be called up.

My father was away for 3 ½ years in the Middle East in the RASC. He played the organ in St George’s Church in Baghdad and was presented with a silver bowl when he left, which my brother John has.

We four children were too young to understand the significance of the war. John remembers ‘planes going over for D-Day. Also when he cycled to violin lessons with our mother they would get off to let American trucks go along the narrow roads.

We used to go under the stairs in bad raids. (We had no shelter. Only the council houses had them). John said on once occasion: “Oh it’s cold, I’m shivering”. Ann said: “No, you’re not cold. You are trembling.”

Ann remembers being told by mummy about ‘uncle’ William being killed.

A fete was held in Smith’s (local butcher) field in the August bank holiday to celebrate the end of the war in 1945. It was then held annually for some years. We were told by Mr Andrews, our head master, never to pick up any bottles. One boy did and was badly injured.

My future sister-in-law used to go to the pantomimes put on by the Two Princesses at Windsor Castle.

In general, life went on as normal for us children – playing with friends in the garden, going to school etc. We never knew about the horrors of war.