Monday 29th
Letter from Mommy—Martin came [home] for 1 day—tired but glad to be so useful … zfl
Battle of Mersah Matruh in Libya. zlb zwf
Tuesday 30th
Speech day. … Last night we had another very interesting Soper woffle, which altered many of my views slightly. … I wandered round the exhibitions—Physics, Biology, Chemi. At 12.0 I reported to S with other prize-winners in the tennis court. I was lent a book for the occasion as mine hadn’t come. … zlu zrl zpn zcl
After tea I biked down by the Gannel, along past the viaduct a short way, then I returned and watched waves past splash point—a very fine occupation. zol
News. Mersah Matruh fallen, [Germans] claim 6,000 [prisoners], [General] Ritchie sacked, [we have] retreated past Fuca. Alexandria when? Not very encouraging. zlb zwf zwc
July
Wednesday 1st
A very fine day. Message writing in JTC. zwr zct zsg
News, [Germans] 100 miles from Alexandria—bad. John has sent cable: ‘Relieved—but not coming home’. Fleet mail office, Alexandria, [is his] address. … zwf zfl zsl
Thursday 2nd
News. Battle in progress at bottle neck, 65 miles from Alexandria, so far we’re holding our positions. Sebastapol fallen, but fighting continues nearby. That is war, and brave. A blow, however, as it’ll enable a switch of troops up further North. The Hun lost a good many in the attempt, however… zlb zwf zru zwc
I wrote off for two pamphlets issued by the Malvern conference of the churches—re: postwar and nicely Socialist, I believe. zrc zpn
