page 120 — August 1941

“Crikey! There must be a war on.” zam zgk

Sunday 24^th

… I typed part of an ‘airgraph’ letter to John, hard and slow work. Churchill spoke at 9 o’clock—not as good as usual I thought, and so mean to the Russians. The Americans are vile! The Russians are holding the Germans all along the line. Losses according to Moscow—Russians 700,000 men, Germans 2,000,000. Probable, but how awful! zfl zpl zwc zru zlb

[See note (a)]

Monday 25^th

… Good news, we and Russia have entered Iran (ex-Persia) and the Russians are holding the Germans. zru zwf

Tuesday 26^th

… The Russians have evacuated Novgorod—Leningrad sector. Germans claim Dneiperpetrovsk (??), the ‘City of Steel’. Little resistance in Iran, both we and the Russians are advancing. zru zlb zwf

Wednesday 27^th

… I got some beautiful new shoes. … After elevenses I went out and cooked lunch in my house—thick potato soup and cocoa—Mommy came. At 3.30 I went rabbiting with Tinker—missed once. … zpv zfd zwl zpt

News: Darlan [French admiral collaborating with the Germans] shot and badly wounded by young French man who slightly wounded another French traitor (Déat). Poor devil now (meaning the young Frenchman). zwe

[See note (b)]

Saturday 30^th

A lovely day. I spent most of the morning cementing up part of the wall on the south side of the drawing room above the window, where the rain comes in. … zwr zdc