Friday 3rd
Grey, damp day. Astounding news, Rommel has withdrawn some way westwards. I hope we keep him there. zwr zlb zwf
School cert. timetable went up—not too bad. … zex
Sunday 5th
.… we … rushed off to the meeting place [with the Benenden girls]—by Trenance. However, half way along the bottom of the Gannel they met us at a trot, having cut a singing recital and being pursued by monitors … After hiding over a wall until all monitors had vanished, we walked up the Gannel, crossed the footbridge and up the longish track. The conversation was less facetious than in the train. … zso zmb zse
They had to be back for a 4.25 callover, but weren’t—all their watches were 10 mins slow [was their excuse]!—we hope they don’t get in a row, their school play was cancelled through the noise made in the train due partly to us … zso zmb zse zsd
Monday 6th
… Egypt now going well—we’ve captured important ridge S. of Alamein, and 600 Germans gave themselves up to us—they’d had enough. The battle is pretty vital, and seems to be swinging over to us. … zwf zlb zwc
Tuesday 7th
A long letter came for W, self, S and H [from 4 of the girls] … The watch trick worked for tea, but they all had to go and see various housemistresses, and they had to admit that they’d been out with us. They failed to see why not (good for them!). zso zse zmb zsd
Anyhow they all went to the headmistress, who is pretty sensible. She agreed that they could not have left us in the lurch, but thought their conduct was ‘housemaidish’. They are off Trenance, 3 day gating, and sundry other punishments. Most unfortunate. We had a conference and zso zse zmb zsd
