Bill's Diary (Part Five) - October 1940
October 1st
It's my dear mother's birthday today. It's the first time I have not sent her a card. I hope I am home for her next birthday. Still on cinema. Weather fine and sunny.
October 2nd
Not much to say toay. Usual work. Weather fine but I think it will rain later. The lights have been put on every night since Monday night. More rumours floating about.
October 3rd
A new batch of prisoners came in today and one of my pals from my battalion was in it. I thought he had been killed. He thought I had. So we both had a surprise. He told me that young Bob Scase is still alive, also several more of the lads.
October 4th
I have had toothache this last day or so. I am going to see the dentist when he comes again. I have been working inside the cinema today, dusting the seats and lighting the fires. The weather has changed - much colder than of late.
October 5th
We finished work at 1 pm today and it was a rotten day. So I went to bed in the afternoon and had a nice nap. My mate came down to see me and we had a chat over old times. The weather has changed - rain and wind.
October 6th
We got a soap issue today, also an issue of soap powder for washing ones clothes. Went to work this afternoon down the station stacking straw. It was hard work. Weather rain and wind.
October 7th
I am on the cinema again this week, not much to do down there now. The coffee break never came up this morning and we missed it. It is raining so there isn't much work done outside, I am dusting seats and lighting fires in the afternoon.
October 8th
I stopped in today to go to the dentist but he didn't come so I lost a day's pay. I went potato picking in the afternoon, got a bowl of soup. The weather was fine.
October 9th
Had a good job this morning. I went and cleaned some German sgts boots and shoes. They gave me cigars, cigarettes, bread, jam and coffee. I am going again Friday.
October 10th
Back to the cinema. Not much to do. We are filling a trench in. Weather fine and warm. I wonder when I'm going to hear from you. There are some nice girls work in the foundry here.
October 11th
Went and cleaned the sgt's bunk out. Got some cigs and bread and jam. Back to cinema, not much to do. Weather fine and warm.
October 12th
Same as yesterday, sgt's bunks and back to cinema. Weather damp and misty. We are on the same job next week. I hope to hear from you soon.
October 13th
A day devoted to general clean-up. The weather still a bit misty. Church service this afternoon and evening. When is this war going to finish?
October 14th
Still on cinema work, helping the plumbers now. Rumour of Germany marching into Roumania. Weather was cold this morning and fine this afternoon. I have had a pain in my back this last two days.
October 15th
Usual routine. Very cold in the morning, working on an old canteen putting new pipes in. We have a fire in the stove. We get a piece of bread and have toast.
October 16th
Not much to say. Same as yesterday. Weather fine and cold. I am getting pains in my neck again.
October 17th
We got another letter card today. I wonder whether you have received my last one yet. I have not had one from home yet, but keep on hoping. Pay day today.
October 18th
Got taken off the canteen job because the lads at the cinema were caught smoking. We go back to the cinema but there is no work to do. We have to keep out of the way. Weather the same.
October 19th
Last work this week. I have run out of cigarettes. Rumour that there will be some today. I hope so. Not much work here. Not quite so cold today. My neck is worse.
October 20th
Had a hot bath - first one for a month. Weather fine and cold. No work today. Church in the evening. More rumours, one can't believe them.
October 21st
Still in the same work group. Five of the lads were put in another group. We had some nice thick soup today from German cook house. Accident on the building, three lads taken to hospital. Four to a loaf.
October 22nd
Weather was very cold this morning but got out fine later on. Got a little soup today. Not so good. Not much work to do. I wonder when I am going to hear from you.
October 23rd
Not much to say, same work. Rumour of letters and parcels at another camp. Hope to get some soon. Weather cold and fine, no rain this month yet.
October 24th
Weather dull and very cold. Rumour of a free issue of cigarettes. We got paid today. No bread for sale in canteen after the first of November. We will have to go steady on our rations.
October 25th
Great surprise today Red Cross parcels arrived - one parcel between two men. Did we enjoy it all. Foodstuffs, tea, coffee, milk. It was a treat to have some tea.
October 26th
Bread and butter for breakfast and jam very nice. Weather very cold, a little snow fell this morning. I hope to get a letter soon.
October 27th
Another day of rest for the lads. We don't get dinner until 4 pm today. We had some more of our parcel. Rumour of free cigarettes. Weather still very cold.
October 28th
Still on cinema, not much to do here now. Had a little snow this morning. It is getting colder now. We had a free issue of cigarettes when we got home from work.
October 29th
Rumour of war being over by Christmas. I hope it is so. I hope to hear from you soon. Weather very cold now. The water tanks were frozen up.
October 30th
There was snow on the ground this morning. Not so cold. Still on cinema, not much to say today.
October 31st
Weather has turned cold again, rumour of Greece and Turkey in the war. I wonder when I am going to get a letter. Pay day today.
It's my dear mother's birthday today. It's the first time I have not sent her a card. I hope I am home for her next birthday. Still on cinema. Weather fine and sunny.
October 2nd
Not much to say toay. Usual work. Weather fine but I think it will rain later. The lights have been put on every night since Monday night. More rumours floating about.
October 3rd
A new batch of prisoners came in today and one of my pals from my battalion was in it. I thought he had been killed. He thought I had. So we both had a surprise. He told me that young Bob Scase is still alive, also several more of the lads.
October 4th
I have had toothache this last day or so. I am going to see the dentist when he comes again. I have been working inside the cinema today, dusting the seats and lighting the fires. The weather has changed - much colder than of late.
October 5th
We finished work at 1 pm today and it was a rotten day. So I went to bed in the afternoon and had a nice nap. My mate came down to see me and we had a chat over old times. The weather has changed - rain and wind.
October 6th
We got a soap issue today, also an issue of soap powder for washing ones clothes. Went to work this afternoon down the station stacking straw. It was hard work. Weather rain and wind.
October 7th
I am on the cinema again this week, not much to do down there now. The coffee break never came up this morning and we missed it. It is raining so there isn't much work done outside, I am dusting seats and lighting fires in the afternoon.
October 8th
I stopped in today to go to the dentist but he didn't come so I lost a day's pay. I went potato picking in the afternoon, got a bowl of soup. The weather was fine.
October 9th
Had a good job this morning. I went and cleaned some German sgts boots and shoes. They gave me cigars, cigarettes, bread, jam and coffee. I am going again Friday.
October 10th
Back to the cinema. Not much to do. We are filling a trench in. Weather fine and warm. I wonder when I'm going to hear from you. There are some nice girls work in the foundry here.
October 11th
Went and cleaned the sgt's bunk out. Got some cigs and bread and jam. Back to cinema, not much to do. Weather fine and warm.
October 12th
Same as yesterday, sgt's bunks and back to cinema. Weather damp and misty. We are on the same job next week. I hope to hear from you soon.
October 13th
A day devoted to general clean-up. The weather still a bit misty. Church service this afternoon and evening. When is this war going to finish?
October 14th
Still on cinema work, helping the plumbers now. Rumour of Germany marching into Roumania. Weather was cold this morning and fine this afternoon. I have had a pain in my back this last two days.
October 15th
Usual routine. Very cold in the morning, working on an old canteen putting new pipes in. We have a fire in the stove. We get a piece of bread and have toast.
October 16th
Not much to say. Same as yesterday. Weather fine and cold. I am getting pains in my neck again.
October 17th
We got another letter card today. I wonder whether you have received my last one yet. I have not had one from home yet, but keep on hoping. Pay day today.
October 18th
Got taken off the canteen job because the lads at the cinema were caught smoking. We go back to the cinema but there is no work to do. We have to keep out of the way. Weather the same.
October 19th
Last work this week. I have run out of cigarettes. Rumour that there will be some today. I hope so. Not much work here. Not quite so cold today. My neck is worse.
October 20th
Had a hot bath - first one for a month. Weather fine and cold. No work today. Church in the evening. More rumours, one can't believe them.
October 21st
Still in the same work group. Five of the lads were put in another group. We had some nice thick soup today from German cook house. Accident on the building, three lads taken to hospital. Four to a loaf.
October 22nd
Weather was very cold this morning but got out fine later on. Got a little soup today. Not so good. Not much work to do. I wonder when I am going to hear from you.
October 23rd
Not much to say, same work. Rumour of letters and parcels at another camp. Hope to get some soon. Weather cold and fine, no rain this month yet.
October 24th
Weather dull and very cold. Rumour of a free issue of cigarettes. We got paid today. No bread for sale in canteen after the first of November. We will have to go steady on our rations.
October 25th
Great surprise today Red Cross parcels arrived - one parcel between two men. Did we enjoy it all. Foodstuffs, tea, coffee, milk. It was a treat to have some tea.
October 26th
Bread and butter for breakfast and jam very nice. Weather very cold, a little snow fell this morning. I hope to get a letter soon.
October 27th
Another day of rest for the lads. We don't get dinner until 4 pm today. We had some more of our parcel. Rumour of free cigarettes. Weather still very cold.
October 28th
Still on cinema, not much to do here now. Had a little snow this morning. It is getting colder now. We had a free issue of cigarettes when we got home from work.
October 29th
Rumour of war being over by Christmas. I hope it is so. I hope to hear from you soon. Weather very cold now. The water tanks were frozen up.
October 30th
There was snow on the ground this morning. Not so cold. Still on cinema, not much to say today.
October 31st
Weather has turned cold again, rumour of Greece and Turkey in the war. I wonder when I am going to get a letter. Pay day today.