The news is just foul; we got 15,000 men from Crete, with very considerable losses, the Huns had complete air superiority. This whole war is just awful. zwe zlb zwc zam zwg
Friday 6th
… The [JTC exercise] plan didn’t work according to schedule, so it was good fun. Only about 12 men of our platoon reached the chemi-lab. zct
I lay down behind some cinders at the top of the B-P path, a small evacuee asked why I was—”so I won’t be shot”. He soon collected all his friends, all of whom asked the ‘College boy’ if he was going to be shot. Smith ma[jor] (temporary section leader) was also asked. He said “Because I’ll be shot by a machine gun if I don’t”. Terrible excitement, and warnings not to give the ‘College boys’ away. … zct zev zgk
Saturday 7th
A warm, sunny day. After chemistry, RJC and I photographed Trinder (the lab boy). He bust some flasks, and with Nitric acid and zinc got some goodish fumes of smoke. I also photographed him pouring some liquid into a measuring cylinder. Hope they come out. … zwr zph zsa zfr
After tea I developed films, successful. 2 of gull chick emerging from egg, two of buzzard’s nest, one of young greenfinch in hand. There was a good Camera club meeting in the evening on Photoflood use—several people did things. zph zwl zcb
Sunday 8th
… After lunch I cleaned [my] bicycle and khaki blancoed my JTC belt and read. [Blanco was a cleaning paste used on belts and straps]… zcy zmc zct
The first House bathe at 4 o’clock in the Gannel, lovely. I lost my temper with Cruickshank, he’s always so boring and funny ha ha that I got tired of it. All the same I shouldn’t have lost it. zol zfr zag zem zop
Monday 9th
… Had to see Max … standard jaw—Hah! no community spirit! self centred! Hah! object to criticism! Hah, selfish! Have done nothing for the House! If there’s no improvement you’ll have no free time Hah! ztc zsd zmb
