page 39 — May 1940

Friday 10^th

1^st Austria 2^nd Czecho-Slovakia 3^rd Memel etc. 4^th Poland 5^th Denmark 6^th S. and Central Norway 7^th Holland 8^th Belgium 9^th Luxemburg!!! And we have landed troops in Iceland—’protective arrest’. Chamberlain not yet resigned [In fact he resigned on this day]. We are going to the help of Holland and Belgium. Parachute troops used not very successfully. Open towns bombed! … So WHAT???!!? We look more like losing the war every day. Why don’t we do something? Why won’t America come in? It wouldn’t pay. zwg zpn

We are going to have extensive ARP [Air Raid Protection] Practice, one at night. zar

Nothing further to report from Norway. zwe

Saturday 11^th

Quite a nice day, lessons were all right on the whole. In the afternoon there was a Dayboys vs. Boarders [cricket] match. … After tea I played tennis, good fun. zsp

Monday 13^th

… In double MT we had to make little things for being shot at by the Corps. Beastly fag. … zcf zct

Tuesday 14^th

… In the afternoon I played cricket. I was on Birtles’ side. Birtles used to play for Yorkshire, and also soccer professionally. … zsp

[See note (a)]

Wednesday 15^th

Very boring day. Bad news. In view of increased German pressure Holland’s main army has recapitulated! However we are doing quite well elsewhere. … zlb

In Geography Mr. Bagnall Oakley told us about the war. ztc zwg

[See note (b)]