Friday 5th
News—Jap convoy of 8 transports and 10 warships completely destroyed off New Guinea, also some 60 aircraft. For the loss of three planes, so the story goes. … znb
Nasty accident in London during alert—people entering tube when woman in front tripped, all fell on her, people behind pushed, and 167 people or so were crushed or suffocated with 70 injured. Horrible. No panic, anyhow before tripping. zar zac zwc
… Map reading and compass work was interesting in JTC … zct
Saturday 6th
… There was a debate, with outside speakers—two RAF men proposing and two Army men opposing—that ‘In the opinion of this house, Parliamentary government is unsuited to post war needs’. Both RAF men were exceedingly good and convincing—the usual points about the whip system, the electoral system, the out of dateness of the organization, and the terrible failures of the last few years. The opposition brought forward British compromise and little else. A very good debate—I did not speak as little was left to say. The motion was carried 31–26, there being some 9 RAF visitors—the most deplorable apathy of the school is apparent [from the numbers]. … zdb zan zso zpn zop
Monday 8th
… another team jaw and another house match—in which after a hard fought battle we were defeated … and I did not over-disgrace myself. zsp
Letters from Mommy—Beveridge has offered us his house while he is in America—very nice of him. zfl
Max announced that anyone in the A block might attend a meeting on Russia in the town at 8 o’clock … I went. Also came 4 dayboys (just for the smoke) … He [the lecturer] was speaking primarily from the religious point of view, and was I think very fair. zlu zru zrl zcb
Back and food—while eating this we learnt from the ‘skiv’ Daisy that her wages for working 6.30 [am]—10.30 [pm] are £1 1sh 8d per week. The maids get the lordly sum of 19/2. … zpn zop zgk
