Bill's Diary (Part Six) - November 1940
November 1st
The canteen bread has stopped. We will have to tighten our belts that's all. Got a pair of socks off one of the girls. No cigarettes left.
November 2nd
Last day at the cinema, a good job finished. We heard we are going out bricklaying next week. Weather a lot warmer today and cigarettes four per man.
November 3rd
Usual Sunday routine. Weather cold but fine.
November 4th
Still working at cinema. Weather very cold. Not very many German soldiers round here now, more rumours.
November 5th
Not much to say. Weather has returned to rain. I hope to get a letter soon. We got no cigarettes today but got a shirt and pants.
November 6th
We got our cigarettes today. I often wonder how you are feeling about me. I dream a lot of home.
November 7th
I don't think the cinema job will last much longer. I got a scarf off one of the girls. She is a good girl she brings me a sandwich every day. Weather wet.
November 8th
Still on cinema, weather wet and cold. I got an egg sandwich today, very nice. She is bringing me some sugar on Monday.
November 9th
Not much to say. Weather just the same. Not much to do. Got some more sandwiches today.
November 10th
Today is a general clean up all round. Laid in bed until 9 am. Weather cold and a bit showery.
November 11th
The cinema job has finished. We are down the station this week, but it isn't too bad. We finish at 12 every day.
November 12th
We are loading lorries with wood, not a very hard job. The wind was very strong this morning and cold. I think there is some rain about.
November 13th
Not much to say today. We unload a truck of cement. Finished that we marched back to camp.
November 14th
Same as yesterday. More rumours, weather cold.
November 15th
Had my old complaint today. The doctor never came so I lost a day for nothing.
November 16th
Went to work today, nothing much to do. Finished at noon, bread ration getting smaller - six to a loaf. Weather is wet and miserable. Sent a card home on the 12th
November 17th
General clean up all round. Weather is fine but a bit chilly. Not much more to say. I hope I get better soon.
November 18th
Got a rotten job this week out on the moors filling holes. Weather is rotten with rain and wind. We got in a lorry and it's a hell of a ride. It isn't safe but we have to go.
November 19th
Went sick today but never saw the doctor. Weather is foggy. More rumours about. I think I will go to work tomorrow. We had a bath today.
November 20th
Same old job. Weather foggy and cold. Not much more to say.
November 21st
Go out to range again, another hell of a ride. We are promised some fags. Pay day today. Some sweets up tonight. We get another postcard.
November 22nd
We are on the range again, not so cold today. We got two fags last night. Rumour of free issue of fags and two bottles of beer.
November 23rd
We finish the range today. We got twenty six fags and two bottles of beer today. Weather fair.
November 24th
We are moving into a new camp tomorrow. I hope it is better than this one. Not much to do today.
November 25th
We are deloused and all our clothes are fumigated. We have a nice hot bath and move into the new camp.
November 26th
The new camp is a good place, nice and warm and a new bed, a stool for each man and eighteen men in a room. We are in another group today.
November 27th
The work group we are in this week is alright. We got a quarter of a loaf at midday. The weather has been cold.
November 28th
We get a surprise today ten cigarettes, three little cheeses and three packets of Ovasport. The Ovasport makes a very nice drink. I went sick today. Weather cold.
November 29th
Went to work today. We have nearly finished the roof. It is very cold. We get our break at midday. I wonder when I'm going to get a letter.
November 30th
Same as yesterday, not much more to say. The weather is frosty. We keep a good fire going in the room.
The canteen bread has stopped. We will have to tighten our belts that's all. Got a pair of socks off one of the girls. No cigarettes left.
November 2nd
Last day at the cinema, a good job finished. We heard we are going out bricklaying next week. Weather a lot warmer today and cigarettes four per man.
November 3rd
Usual Sunday routine. Weather cold but fine.
November 4th
Still working at cinema. Weather very cold. Not very many German soldiers round here now, more rumours.
November 5th
Not much to say. Weather has returned to rain. I hope to get a letter soon. We got no cigarettes today but got a shirt and pants.
November 6th
We got our cigarettes today. I often wonder how you are feeling about me. I dream a lot of home.
November 7th
I don't think the cinema job will last much longer. I got a scarf off one of the girls. She is a good girl she brings me a sandwich every day. Weather wet.
November 8th
Still on cinema, weather wet and cold. I got an egg sandwich today, very nice. She is bringing me some sugar on Monday.
November 9th
Not much to say. Weather just the same. Not much to do. Got some more sandwiches today.
November 10th
Today is a general clean up all round. Laid in bed until 9 am. Weather cold and a bit showery.
November 11th
The cinema job has finished. We are down the station this week, but it isn't too bad. We finish at 12 every day.
November 12th
We are loading lorries with wood, not a very hard job. The wind was very strong this morning and cold. I think there is some rain about.
November 13th
Not much to say today. We unload a truck of cement. Finished that we marched back to camp.
November 14th
Same as yesterday. More rumours, weather cold.
November 15th
Had my old complaint today. The doctor never came so I lost a day for nothing.
November 16th
Went to work today, nothing much to do. Finished at noon, bread ration getting smaller - six to a loaf. Weather is wet and miserable. Sent a card home on the 12th
November 17th
General clean up all round. Weather is fine but a bit chilly. Not much more to say. I hope I get better soon.
November 18th
Got a rotten job this week out on the moors filling holes. Weather is rotten with rain and wind. We got in a lorry and it's a hell of a ride. It isn't safe but we have to go.
November 19th
Went sick today but never saw the doctor. Weather is foggy. More rumours about. I think I will go to work tomorrow. We had a bath today.
November 20th
Same old job. Weather foggy and cold. Not much more to say.
November 21st
Go out to range again, another hell of a ride. We are promised some fags. Pay day today. Some sweets up tonight. We get another postcard.
November 22nd
We are on the range again, not so cold today. We got two fags last night. Rumour of free issue of fags and two bottles of beer.
November 23rd
We finish the range today. We got twenty six fags and two bottles of beer today. Weather fair.
November 24th
We are moving into a new camp tomorrow. I hope it is better than this one. Not much to do today.
November 25th
We are deloused and all our clothes are fumigated. We have a nice hot bath and move into the new camp.
November 26th
The new camp is a good place, nice and warm and a new bed, a stool for each man and eighteen men in a room. We are in another group today.
November 27th
The work group we are in this week is alright. We got a quarter of a loaf at midday. The weather has been cold.
November 28th
We get a surprise today ten cigarettes, three little cheeses and three packets of Ovasport. The Ovasport makes a very nice drink. I went sick today. Weather cold.
November 29th
Went to work today. We have nearly finished the roof. It is very cold. We get our break at midday. I wonder when I'm going to get a letter.
November 30th
Same as yesterday, not much more to say. The weather is frosty. We keep a good fire going in the room.