Wednesday 16th
… Henry and I left for Petworth quite early, leaving the accumulator [battery] to be charged at Rapley’s. In Petworth I changed his Ration card for Emergency coupons, and also bought some canker lotion for Tinker’s ears. We then had some nice cakes and coffee at ‘The Hobby Horse’ (6d) (he paid). After he had bought some handkerchiefs (and after we’d seen the Black Market Indian) we biked back by Duncton. … zrg zdc zrn zpt zfd zsh zcr zdq
We can’t hear the news as both accumulators are down. Stalingrad fights on, with occasional withdrawals. Bloodiest battle ever. We’ve done some raid on Tobruk and have lost there 2 Tribal Class destroyers. So far it seems to have been rather a flop, though we’ve not heard much about it. zdq zru zlb zwc zwf znb
Thursday 17th
Mommy and Nora left for London at about 10.15, Nora is to be interviewed for a job there. … zfl zhk
I painted a beehive, and then we went for a walk. … Grey day, with yellow sun on the Solent and Chichester harbour. Two mushrooms of black smoke in Worthing and the sound of a raid warning suggested bombs. Back for tea. zdc zwr zar
Mommy and Nora arrived back at 2 o’clock … She’s [Nora] got an LCC evacuated children job in Kent, starting on Tuesday. Poor Mommy will be all alone. zfl zhk zev
Friday 18th
… I went with Mommy in the car to the station to meet Daddy, who was carrying a petrol tin containing a present (illegal) from Melody [my brother John’s fiancée] for us. zfl zrn zcr zmo
After supper we went down to Francis’ to hear the news, our batteries being down, Daddy having seen headlines of sensational counter attacks. Unfortunately this proved to be an exaggeration, and there is fighting in the suburbs [of Stalingrad]. zfl zfr zdq zru zlb
