Category Archives: War-time

Fired the Sten gun for the first time today. No kick, no vibration, very little noise, and reasonable accuracy. Out of about 2500 rounds fired, 2 stoppages, in each case due to a dud cartridge – treatment, simply to work … Continue reading →

[Hugh Slater is very despondent about the war. He says that at the rate at which the Russians have been retreating it is not possible that Timoshenko has really got his army away intact, as reported. He also says that … Continue reading →

General dismay over the Government of India’s rash act in publishing the documents seized in the police raid on Congress headquarters. [1] [As usual the crucial document is capable of more than one interpretation and the resulting squabble will simply … Continue reading →

The Turkish radio (among others) also says Churchill is in Moscow.

D[avid] A[stor] says Churchill is in Moscow. [1] He also says there isn’t going to be any second front. However, if a second front is intended, the Government must do all it can to spread the contrary impression beforehand, [and … Continue reading →

Today I have read less newspapers than usual, but the ones I have seen have gone cold on the Second Front, except for the News Chronicle. [the Evening News published an anti-Second Front article (by General Brownrigg [1]) on its … Continue reading →

Yesterday and today, on the Home Guard manoeuvres, passing various small camps of soldiers in the woods, radiolocation [= radar] stations etc. Struck by the appearance of the soldiers, their magnificent health and the brutalized look in their faces. All … Continue reading →

I now make entries in this diary much more seldom than I used to, for the reason that I literally have not any spare time. And yet I am doing nothing that is not futility and have less and less … Continue reading →