When I opened my dad's last tiny daily diary (he wrote his memoirs up from them as he went along) this loose leaf fell out and I've taken my information below from it for today's post):
"At Reims, breakfast was grand, creamed oats, 2 eggs, white bread, butter and jam. Tea. Feeling OK but stomach is slightly unsettled still. Left camp at 9 a.m. and travelled about 30 kilometres to airfield. Awaited planes until 1.30 p.m., when we boarded and left at 1.45 p.m.
Good journey in Lancaster to England. I was sick only once 10 mins before we landed at somewhere near Oxford (Westcott). Here we received cigs, tea and cakes. Boarded lorry and travelled for about 90 mins, via High Wycombe.
The camp is in the country near St Giles. Sent telegram and filled in forms. Received £5 advanced pay. Bought up 28 days' rations and 240 cigs, 1lb choc, bag of sweets, 6 matches also 1 bottle of 'Nufix' £1-4s-11d
Had supper in NAAFI of tea, spam, beans and chips. Good bed and good sleep."
A small and belated September update for 2024, where I am still, after many years' membership, on 365 Project, also now posting elsewhere but wanting...
I like the shot you've used here. Goes well with the feeling of today's diary entry I think, the flower representing the better times he is seeing in his daily entry, being back in England and " he only threw up once". :-)
Lovely to see the actual pages written & thank you dad for having such exemplary writing that's so easy to read. You can tell by his handwriting that your dad is very attentive to detail & methodical. It must have been very emotional arriving back in his home country & the same soil as his family after all those years.
Beautifully presented and what a lot he got for his money then! Bet everyone was so pleased to know he was safe, I assume that's what his telegram was about. Thank you for sharing these precious memories.
