Wed 24 Sept 1941: Wimbledon's massive new guns

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. 'If the Germans do come again Wimbledon will have something to say on the matter.'

Very mild; dismal morning but lovely sunny afternoon. Shopping in morning as it is early closing to-day. Then to Wimbledon Common with my 37 ins model. It immediately finished up a flight by going down in a trench with water in it which filled the tail with water and upset the trim. However, it gradually dried out and I eventually obtained some magnificent flights after taking off one strand* of rubber. Saw the new, immense anti-aircraft guns on the Common on the massive concrete foundations which have taken months of excavation and building. If the Germans do come again Wimbledon will have something to say on the matter. I don't know the bore of the guns but it looked like six inches. To Aunt Liza's to take meat for Fluffy. Had a chat to Chas.

*Note: the strand of rubber would have been one of the thick multi-stranded lengths, bound at each end, which stretched inside the length of the fuselage and which when twisted many times provided the power.
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Tues 23 Sept 1941: biscuits & chocolate

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Mild, dismal morning but sun coming out during the afternoon. Finished second side of new fuselage and started uniting the two sides. To Wimbledon along railway. Took biscuits and chocolate to the Child children who in the evening paid us a visit. Had not seen them since they went away after their home was destroyed last November.
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Mon 22 Sept 1941: feeding Fluffy

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Very mild, a lovely sunny afternoon: perceptible warm in the sun. Twins(?) furniture van called early to take Mrs.Child's furniture which has been stored here since the bombing to her new address in Chatsworth Avenue. They are moving in to-day. Shopping in afternoon. To see Aunt Liza who is unwell. I shall have to feed Fluffy for a time. I took some roses to Mrs Hippel. Also completed building two sides of a new 23 ins fuselage. Repairs to black-out blind.
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Sun 21 Sept 1941:fire-watching duties; pail of coal

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Mild, nice sunny afternoon. Went to register for fire watching duties. I don't know what good I shall be but it is compulsory. Took a pailful of coal to Miss Sweeting(?) - Mrs Child's sister who is preparing the house in Chatsworth Avenue; Mrs.Child is moving in tomorrow. Walk in evening. Passing Hippel's house In Amity Grove, she was standing at the gate so had a little chat. Dear Gladys called wearing a Chas.P.Kilham rose. She is moving from Richmond Rd. where she had lived all her life to Grand Drive.
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Sat 20 Sept 1941: Uncle Henry visits three times

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Mild, lovely sunny afternoon. Did some shopping locally. Ciss came back from Wilstead this afternoon. Letter from Mrs.Child making arrangements for Monday. She is moving from Farncombe to Chatsworth Avenue, Merton Park. Her sister also called. Uncle Henry called three times; gave him some wander plugs. Started on a new fuselage for the 37 ins model.
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Fri 19 Sept 1941: model looks beautiful

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Cold morning and night. Mild, very dull day. To do much shopping in morning. Then in afternoon cycled to Colins, Merton, to buy yellow tissue and bals cement. Finished re-covering 37 ins wing after modifying the under surface. Water-tightened and doped it, looks beautiful. Should be an improvement.
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Thur 18 Sept 1941: yellow tissue

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Morning frost but mild day with some hazy but pleasant sunshine. In morning to buy something for dinner. In afternoon to do shopping locally. Walk along Bushey Road in evening. Having altered the section of 37 ins wing, commenced re-covering with yellow tissue.
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Wed 17 Sept 1941: Fred plays; sister's holiday

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Sharp morning frost; mild, hazy day, with some pleasant sunshine. Shopping locally, also cycled to Collins's Merton Road to buy aero-elastic. Called on Mrs.Spooner. Flew 34 ins model with new fuselage on Wimbledon Common in afternoon with fair results but definitely not satisfied. Altered Eiffel 400 under curve of 37 ins wing. Ciss went to Dolly Coopers, Wilstead*, for a holiday.

*Note: 'Willow Dene', Ivy Lane, Wilstead, Bedforshire
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Tues 16 Sept 1941: Harold has "two pips" up

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Mild, some sunshine with a little warmth in it: not unpleasant. Some shopping locally thence to Wimbledon where I bought more provisions and a pair of fine rubber soled shoes. I was served by two charming young ladies. Another surprise visit from Harold Conrade in battle dress this time - officers, with two "pips up". He has now got a commission and is a full-blown lieutenant and will be stationed in London and will now live at his Mitcham home.
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Mon 15 Sept 1941: the tale of Mrs Child's table

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"...roses and a shilling. You can always please them..."

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Cold, very dull and overcast. Uncle Tom and Aunt Nellie called in morning. Packed them up with home grown beans, marrow and tomatoes. Also a bunch of roses and a shilling. You can always please them by giving them things.  They also took some grounsel and planting for the dicky birds. Mrs.Child called. She came to see the Council about her house in Chatsworth Avenue: she will be moving in next Monday. In afternoon I went round and she and her sister showed me the house and helped them get a large table into the dining room which was too large to go through the room door. We had to take it out the front door, down the alley way a few houses along and in through the french doors at the back. Mrs.Child had her lunch here. Did some shopping.
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On this day

• Leningrad now completely besieged.

Star of David must be worn by all Jews over six years-of-age in Greater Reich. Illustration: yellow badge Star of David called "Judenstern". Part of the exhibition in the Jewish Museum Westphalia, Dorsten, Germany. The wording is the German word for Jew (Jude), written in mock-Hebrew script. Daniel Ullrich, via Wikipedia.
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Sun 14 Sep 1941: nice girl from Portsmouth

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Mild, very dull and overcast, slight rain in evening. Olive Costella called; she is on holiday from Portsmouth: nice girl! Walked in evening along Coombe Lane. The roses are very nice just now and better in colour than earlier when their colours were mostly very washy. Wrote letter to Harold Conrade.
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On this day: from 12-22 there is a series of relief operations to Tobruk in North Africa. Sea transports bring in some 6,300 men of the 70th British Division, replacing almost as many Australians.
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Sat 13 Sep 1941: fun on Common with model

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Very mild, dull, humid, calm; not unpleasant. To Raynes Park shops on foot, thence to Colins, Merton Road to buy dark blue tissue and balsa blocks, also to buy cats' meat in Wimbledon on my cycle to do the journey quickly. Covered new fuselage with dark blue tissue and doped it - a good job. To Wimbledon Common in evening and got very graceful flights in dead calm with my 37 ins model: very pleased with it.
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On this day

• Iran expels Axis diplomats.

In Norway, the Quisling regime has banned the Boy Scouts, et al,  requiring boys to join the Nasjonal Samling (National Gathering) fascist party's youth wing. The NS party was banned in 1945 and the leader Vidkun Quisling executed for treason. The name quisling became and remains synonymous with anyone co-operating with an occupying force.  

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Fri 12 Sept 1941: model looking nice

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Mild, dull, hazy. To do shopping in morning. Miss Dickson to do house cleaning as usual. Finished building new fuselage; only needs covering now, looks very nice. I have used a spruce dowel in place of the usual back motor hook - lighter in weight.
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Thursday 11 Sept 1941: model aircraft

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Very mild, some nice genial sun; pleasant. Built second side on new 22 ins fuselage in morning; started uniting the two sides later. Local shopping also to Wimbledon along railway to buy herrings for the cats.

Illustration: undated postcard inherited from Fred's collection of St Mary's, Wimbledon. Probably early years of C19th.
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Wed 10 Sept 1941

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Very mild, very dull mostly but a little hazy sunshine in afternoon. Saw a boy with a model aero.but could not get much out of it although I tried for him. Visited Alf in evening. Built one side of 22 ins fuselage
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Tues 9 Sept 1941: unhappy sister

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Very mild, very hazy; calm and pleasant. To local shops. Bought stewing steak and sausages - among other things. Took a bunch of roses to Mrs.Hippel. Ciss came home from work* in a dreadful frame of mind. She makes things bad for herself and everyone else.

Note: Fred's sister worked at Holloways, a builders - I believe this was in Vauxhall.
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Mon 8 Sept 1941: Mrs Child returns with Peter

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Very mild, hazy and calm; quite pleasant. Did all my shopping by means of my cycle. To Raynes Park shops also to Wimbledon and bought balsa cement at Collins in Merton Road. Cut up some lengths of 1/8 x 1/8 ins balsa with a view to making a new fuselage. Berlin was raided by hundreds of our planes last night. Dear Mrs Child paid a flying visit with little Peter. She had been to Merton Council offices to see if they could get her a house. She has decided to come back from Farncombe as she cannot get accommodation there. She has got a house in Chatsworth Avenue and I hope they will be kept safe.
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Sun 7 Sep 1941: first Sunday cycle ever

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Very mild, some pleasant sunshine. Cycled to see Pontifexes at Worcester Park. They were pleased to see me and made me stay to tea. Had some home made butter. Their rose trees were very fine. Quite a change and this is the first time I have cycled on Sunday having been riding since 1907.
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Sat 6 Sept 1941: Eyles had JAM!

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Very mild, dismal all day. To butchers in morning also to Eyles to get the groceries - the first order from them: got some jam! To see Mr. and Mrs. Hippel in Amity Grove; they seemed very pleased to see me. Cycled to Wimbledon to buy cats' meat.
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Fri 5 Sept 1941: tall & graceful Annie

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Rather warm, dull and hazy. To the shops, getting all I wanted locally. I followed dear Annie Chapman along Coombe Lane; we were both doing shopping and carrying baskets; I did not overtake her but saw her from behind and had a longer view of her than for years. She is so tall and graceful. The cleaner woman smashed my medium sized fuselage accidentally. Finished cane chassis and landing wheels for my large model - looks nice. Cycled to Worcester Park in evening.
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Thur 4 Sept 1941: meat shop with roses

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Warm; some genial sunshine: cool morning and evening. Did shopping in Raynes Park; the cats meat shop in Amity Grove was embellished with two bowls of roses to-day. Ate two home grown tomatoes. Aunt Liza called in evening also Madge and Margaret.
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Wed 3 Sept 1941: enjoyed cycling around

Cheam Hill, Worcester Park, 1905. Card sent to Fred's sister

Rather warm; some warm sunshine; lovely. To butchers and Eyles our new grocers in morning. Cycled to Worcester Park in afternoon.to Pontifex's but found them gone out. Continued ride around the new delightful district of Stoneleigh, thence to Ewell, through the square at Epsom and then home via Epsom Common, really Old Malden, Worcester Park. Ewell is a very interesting old town with many picturesque buildings and quaint roads and narrow turnings. I enjoyed the ride very much.

Tues 2 Sept 1941: pilchards & braces

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Rather warm; some genial sunshine: cloudy later. To Wimbledon along rail path to buy pilchards. To Wimbledon a second time by cycle on this occasion to buy two pairs of socks and a pair of braces at Hewitts. Also other shopping locally.
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Mon 1 Sep 1941: grocer closes, ration book change

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Between very mild and rather warm, some pleasant sunshine in morning. Cycled to Wimbledon in afternoon to buy cats' meat thence to Food Office at Morden to get ration books altered as Mr. Pomeroy our grocer has gone out of business and we want to transfer to Eyles. Returned via Lower Morden. While there took the opportunity to visit the graves at Morden Cemetery of Aunt Frances, Cousin Frank and Mr. Wheals.
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On this day: German artillery is within range of Leningrad.
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Sunday 31 August 1941: sunny day flying models

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Between very mild and rather warm; lovely sunny day: nicest day for a long while. Had an afternoon and evening on the Common with my 37 ins model. Got superb results and only just succeeded in keeping it on the Common; once it came down very near the swamps. Alb, Lily andDad to tea but did not see them as I was out.
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Saturday 30 August 1941: flew 34in wingspan model

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Very mild, cloudy but a little sun with some warmth in it during the morning. To buy potatoes in the morning. Re-set hinges on coal cupboard as it had dropped and scrapped the floor when it was opened. Flew 34 ins model on Common in evening; first time I have flown it this year. Obtained excellent results - great height and good glide but sometimes troubled by air-pockets which temporarily upset it, but it soon recovered and settled down again.
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Friday 29 August 1941: houses beyond repair

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Very mild, fearful clouds and thunder showers a few periods of weak sunshine, very rough. Did shopping in morning, also along rail-path; saw men hoisting new electric signals into position on the gantry. Along Worple Road in evening to see how repairs to damaged houses are progressing, some houses ruined beyond repair have been taken right down including (?)Dr. Roses house. Maud called in evening gave her some roses.
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Thursday 27 August 1941: Len, Emily, Jack...

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Very mild, some weak sunshine; showers. To butchers in afternoon; met Len Garrod. Emily and also Jack - a soldier home on leave. Also along the rail path in evening to see the big engine at Merton Hall Road.
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On this day: a German submarine, U.570 surfaces below a Hudson bomber from Coastal Command and surrenders. It later enters British service as HMS Graph.
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Wednesday 27 August 1941: Alf,Joy,Frank,Barbara...

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Very mild, some cool sunshine; boisterous west wind. To do shopping in morning; met Ethel Killick she has a holiday, Cycled against fierce head wind along Arterial Road but was glad to turn back. Met Uncle Alf, Aunt Hannah, Cousin Joy, and her Frank and little Barbara who is a most handsome and bonny little girl. Along rail path in evening; saw loco. Lord Nelson at Merton Hall Road bridge.
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Tuesday 26 August 1941: pay rent

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Very mild, some periods of bright sunshine but little warmth in it. To Post Office to send money order to Mr. Payne the landlord also other shopping. Harold Conrade and Rose called in evening, they told me that Joan Conrade was married last Thursday.
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Monday 25th August 1941: gifts

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Between very mild and rather warm, cloudy, humid. Swarms of mosquitoes this year. Uncle Tom called in morning. Gave him bunch of flowers, packet of tea, one shilling and a few other things. He gave me a book and a pair of drivers goggles: handy for cycling. To Wimbledon in afternoon, saw Gladys there. Alan Spooner called in evening. Did a bit of weeding in the garden.
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Sunday 24 August 1941: burned on lips by bombing

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Very mild, some gentle sunshine: not unpleasant. Went for a short walk in afternoon and on returning found a Rudge-Whitworth road racer cycle in the front garden and wondered who was the visitor. Was agreeably surprised to find it was Harold Conrade home from Ireland on leave for a few days. He was burned on the lips during a bombing raid on Belfast. He has now recovered but is scarred. Was indeed pleased to see him. In evening walked through Mostoyne Gardens and home through Poplar Road, Tybenham Road, Leafield Rd and Alward Rd. The peoples gardens looked surprisingly well for so unkind a summer. Dinky caught a mouse and ate it too.
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Saturday 23 August 1941: herrings for Dorothy

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Very mild, dismal, heavy downpour all day without respite. In afternoon to do shopping locally in the rain. Met *Dorothy Longhurst by the railway arch, she was on her way here to spend evening with us. She had tea and I cooked some herrings which she obviously enjoyed. Showed her some photographs; a happy time. She has a lovely smile.

*Note: we've met Dorothy before. She came to tea a few months back and Fred played the gramophone. And last year she called one day to buy some marmalade. 'A lovely girl.'
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Friday 22 August 1941: the week-end joint

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Very mild, some few hours of weak sunshine; windy. Did the usual Friday morning shopping including buying the week-end joint of meat. Saw Dear Mother's grave in evening; some more of those very large marigolds on it. Met Len Garrod on police duty in evening.
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Thursday 21 August 1941: figs and herrings

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Very mild, some nice sun with some warmth in it but showers at night, windy. More work on new undercarriage. To Wimbledon to buy figs and herrings. Flew 34 ins model on Common in evening with fair results under very damp and windy conditions.
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Wednesday 20 August 1941: poorer parts of Kingston

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Mild, some feeble sunshine and thundery showers. The usual shopping - in Raynes Park only. In afternoon cycles nearly to Tolworth, thence to Norbiton and Kingston, returning along Coombe Lane. Some bomb damage at many points and where blocks of houses were demolished in the poorer parts of Kingston and Norbiton. Started making new undercarriage with some struts for 37 ins model plane.
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Tuesday 19 August 1941: wild poppies

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Very mild, sunshine of the gentle sort but torrential rain setting in again in late afternoon. To post some letter in Raynes Park also to get something for dinner. Then along rail path to Wimbledon doing shopping in Broadway, Merton Road to Collins to buy sheet balsa & clear dope and home Merton way. Saw wild poppies in bloom beside Fosters Works.
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Monday 18 August 1941: repaired bombed bath

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Very mild, deluge through the early morning till after daylight; less wind and some weak sunshine during the day. Repaired the large bath which was gashed by a bomb splinter last November: quite a big soldering job but managed it successfully. Paid Raynes Park tradesmen, posted letter and thence to Wimbledon. Staked and tied up the marigolds in the garden; they are a special selection of my own and are very fine.
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