Monday 5th
… Mr. Ramage [Biology master] was disgustingly gloomy about scholarship prospects—a seven-term course he said, and gave lists of people who tried earlier and failed. … I’ll have a shot I think. Work ahead! … zex zca zsw
Sikorski [head of Polish Government in exile] killed in air crash—personally I think a small loss—perhaps that is too biased and callous, because he did what was right by his standards, I suppose. zpn zac
Wednesday 7th
… HRH Duchess of Gloucester visited St. Runions [military hospital] after lunch—I did not go and gape—several did, cutting first period. … zgk
A doctor Dicks (or Dick) was in for lunch—I think a prospective parent, he had a diminutive son with him. He is a very ardent Social Medicine fan, who was examined (kindly) by Daddy at Cambridge. A nice man from the few minutes I spoke to him. … zmw zfl
News. Big German offensive on three Russian fronts, heavy losses, small headway. zru zlb zwc
Friday 9th
In Biology I showed the exam data to Mr. Ramage, who has just about convinced me that I would hardly have a forlorn hope in March. I wrote to Mommy and Daddy, and also sent off an application for a place at the Queenswood Conference [another inter-schools conference at Hatfield]. zex zca zic zfl
If I don’t take a scholarship, it’ll mean a comfortable 1st MB, and then I could start off hard on the medical course. If I then did well enough … might be granted an exhibition—I don’t know. zex zca zmw
Saturday 10th
Grey wetness all day. News good—at 3 o’clock today British, Canadian and American troops landed on Sicily. A good Russian commentary after the 9 o’clock news (Alex Werth)—the Kursk battles are the biggest mechanised battles ever yet. So far little ground, great cost. A good quotation from an old Russian peasant woman: “More sweat in the zwr zlb zru zwg zpg zhk zrd
