29th March 1941

No alerts for 7 days now. great rejoicing over the uprising in Yugoslavia, if only some of the enslaved countries could follow suit, so that some end of the war in view. Women being conscripted now. Lots of evacuees in Topsham from London, Bristol and Plymouth. No-one allowed to go to Plymouth now.Took Anne Pyne for a walk and saw two cats one rather fat, which caused Marion to ask if she were going to have kittens. Ann promptly said "I will listen and see if I hear them squeak" and putting her head down on the cat. She loves bringing us wild flowers. Asked me the other day if I noticed that she stuttered, which is a very marked characteristic of hers. Took some daffodils to cemetery for father's birthday, memorial being erected. Now that the jam and syrup ration has been reduced 1/2 lb per person per month, we are reduced to using barley sugar sweets [when one can get them to sweeten fruit puddings. Milk is to be rationed now also which will be bad for this family as we use so much, Marion is so fond of it.
I was going out this morning, an alert sounded at 11.00am but only lasted 15 minutes. Marion went to Gilly's birthday today and gave her a book. I have at last started writing a consecutive story, often I have had the urge, but it has never burst forth with such force before. This story has been inspired by the memory of my father, during my childhood in Australia.

23rd March 1941

Another night alert, Plymouth, a worse blitz this time.

22nd March 1941

Alert last night from 9-12 p.m. It was Plymouth's worst blitz yet. Saw little Jo from London, their house was blown up a few days after they left it to come down to Topsham. All she saved from her toys was one doll and two books which they brought with them.

19th March 1941

Marion's birthday, sirens sounded from 3.30 till 4 o'clock, to announce the day. Presents much appreciated, especially my gold ring with diamond, which Auntie Nell gave me when I was 15 years old and a fretsaw her Daddy gave her. In afternoon they made a doll's chair. Later Mary and Anthea came and they played tennis. At twelve, Marion says her legs are getting so long, they get in her way, Anthea's are so much more suitable being short!

17th March 1941

Last night at 9pm alert sounded, all clear at 2 am Our merchant's wife is an ARP warden, she had just undressed and got into bed when a second alert sounded, so she had to get up again. 3 more alerts were given, the last one about dawn. I woke up at each one.

15th March 1941

For a week nightly alerts, sometimes two in one night, or from 8 p.m. till 4.20. Marion and I go to bed at 9.15, she sleeps through alerts and all clear. Thank goodness, but planes and other noises wake me. Daddy goes into the garden many times, till 12 o'clock hunting Jerrys and colds, during alerts.

3rd March 1941

We went to USA Consul for replacement passports at 8.30 this morning. Our train from St David's Station, was only 20 minutes late. The ride down was lovely, sunny, and the sea view and red rocks beautiful. In Plymouth we saw a few houses destroyed and several windows blown out near the station, and returned as quick as we could by 1 p.m. train, without any incident. The night before on trip we had an alert from 8-9. then again from 10-11 and at 6.30-7 in the early morning. We heard later Plymouth had been attacked and Teignmouth, where a whole family of 5 had been killed in one house. As Consulate said, there had been 200 raids on Plymouth, we were surprised not to see more damage around the station, while some houses lay in ruins a huge new building was being constructed just near Consulate. In Exeter Mr Thomas, solicitor, took us to a Notary Public to have my signature witnessed.

2nd March 1941

Sirens sounded 3 times this week and last night we heard bombs dropping at Exmouth (killing 3 people).

22nd February 1941

For the third night in succession planes flew overhead for about 3 hours and sirens sounded. Consul wrote that Marion must go to Plymouth.

10th February 1941

I dressed Marion up in my former long white ball dress which fitted her like a glove. She is 5 feet 4 in tall in her shoes, and looked quite a grown up young lady, with fan and gloves, all complete.

8th February 1941

Had notice from US Consul Plymouth, requesting Marion and her father go to Plymouth to get the new passports that are being issued to Americans to prevent forgery. You can imagine with what pleasure I look forward to such a trip!