13th May 1941

An alert lasting 1/2 an hour at 3.30 I kept as quiet as a mouse intending not to wake the others. This morning I find they both heard it and kept quiet on my account. Mrs Truman banged on fence early this morning to tell us astonishing news that Rudolph Hess's deputy had landed in Glasgow by parachute on Saturday! It was given out over the radio.

12th May 1941

Last night was the worst we have had yet. First alert was over at 10pm At 11.30 came another followed at 12 by bombs an AA gunfire which shook our kitchen door for almost an hour. We lay in shelter. We went back to bed at 1.30 3am another alert lasting an hour with heavy AA gunfire. Went to shelter again and back to bed at 4.30am At 4.45am sirens again and final all clear at 6am. During the last hour though we slept, being tired out.

11th May 1941

No sirens last night, almost unbelievable. Heard this morning that 33 planes had been shot down and there had been a raid over London last night. Beryl and her adventures nearing completion. Marion says she will be sorry when it is finished. 8.15 sirens just went.

10th May 1941

Punctually at 11 sirens. half an hour later a bomber roared full speed across the house. We all drew ourselves taut in bed, expecting to hear a crash. however some minutes elapsed then came about six heavy bangs. A farmhouse was hit near the airport. As the last lot of bombs fell, Marion sat up in bed and said "What a noise to make in the night' Then she went off to sleep again. Next morning she remembered nothing about the bombs.

9th May 1941

Sirens again at eleven thirty till dawn. At 1.30 bombs fell when the second lot crashed, Marion who had been asleep sat up and said "Whatever is the matter is it wild cats?" Recently a farmer saw a German bomber crash and parachutists leave the plane. He and some others set off to hunt them. They arrested a an who turned out to be a firewatcher who was himself searching for the Germans. Just as they had all sorted themselves out a man walked up to them and said "I come to bomb. I finish now" and he was one of the Germans!

8th May 1941

Sirens but no bombs to be heard only planes. managed to sleep rather well. An alert from 2.45 to 3.30. Anthea here two nights ago when bombs fell near here, their father had come up and pulled her out of bed as she was so fast asleep, pushed her into the hall and threw her dressing gown after.

7th May 1941

Sirens as usual last night but no bombs to be heard. Frost last nigh. Sweet peas coming up also Godetia and Marigolds. It is great incentive to a write to have a little daughter to be interested in her work. Marion does love hearing each new adventure Beryl has. On Monday 5th Haile Selassie Emperor of Abyssinia was reinstated, after exactly 5 years exile from his kingdom. At 9.30pm we listened to the Abyssinian National anthem being played on that occasion.

6th May 1941

night not so bad sirens at 10.30 and about nine bombs dropped on Honiton, but planes roared or whined as they limped home till almost dawn, I dozed for a little while and woke at the sound of all clear. Left Marion asleep but noise made her restless. One longs for the light of day and wonders if one will ever see it again. This morning Royal Drawing Society sent results of 1941 Children's Exhibition and Marion was again First class commended.

5th May 1941

A ghastly night. At 10.30 sirens wailed then followed a non stop roar of planes till 2 am There was just one continuous whirr, with some bombers flying quite low over the house. Twice about 8 bombs were dropped on airport then came machine gunning. 4 other times sticks of bombs fell at intervals at distances of from 2 - 4 miles Then the engine of a plane gave out, for a minute it started up again, silence once more, followed by a lot of shouting. Daddy who had gone to bed twice already got up and saw the flames of the crashed plane. Kept Marion in bed all through it and she slept intermittently, as we had been for two long walks that day. One lot of bombs fell at St Thomas's Station Exeter another at Exton and a thatched roof cottage was set on fire

4th May 1941

Sunday. hardly had we gone to bed last night than the sirens sounded again The all clear did not come til 4am. Sunshine today. At 1.30pm sirens once again, lasted about 1/2 an hour. 16 planes shot down last night

3rd may 1941

Put the clocks back an hour today Visited Mrs Mitchell. Marion thinks Beryl's adventures very exciting.

2nd May 1941

Sirens at 9.30pm all clear at 11pm 12.30 sirens wailed again just as Bertie had got into bed. All clear 1/2 an hour later

1st May 1941

A quiet night. Marion having much amusement out of Beryl's adventures, urging me to write more every minute of the day.