A Story of War

March 12th 1946 – Wedding Day!

Bill Robinson and I are staying at Hambledon preparing for a wedding, my own, at which he is best man. We spend the morning polishing Sam Brownes and swords. Old Hume sends two table napkin rings. John and Betts (JDW: Angela’s elder brother and his wife) give a sort of party in our honour on…
March 2nd 1946

I spend a couple of days in town with A. and then come down to St Ives. We go to Cinderella and see her friend Peggy Murdoch in her dressing rooms where the fairy godma displays a lot of brown powdered flesh. Next day we go down to Kew Gardens, where I have a sudden…
February 25th 1946

I arrive for another weekend at Stockenchurch after an evening’s drinking with Tony Keable-Elliott down in the London Bridge area where the scotch is ¼ a shot. I go riding with A. but don’t seem able to grip with any great strength. We ride through some woods and I have to take up a couple…
February 22nd 1946

I spend the weekend at Stockenchurch, helping organise the wedding at 14.30 hrs on March 12th. A. has flu and toothache but goes back to work Monday morning, driven by me. I also meet Tony, and lots of old hags, and get a lift up to the Wings Club with some M.A.R. type on Tuesday.…
February 18th 1946

I take A. over to Penzance on Friday to try and get her an engagement ring, but the shops are shut, and we come home, and Ma produces a bottle of champagne and a signet ring left me by Lady F.B., which A. likes and wears in lieu of the proper thing. We go to…
February 10th 1946

I take Angela down to St Ives, where Ma has arranged for her a small flat near the Quarterdeck. Ma seems to get on with her extremely well with her as day succeeds day. I get a bad attack of stage funk on the train, and retire to bed the first night in a state…
February 7th 1946

I go to Baffy’s lunch at Chandos, where Bernard Fergusson is holding forth and one Anne Balfour, her niece. Then down to Mongewell Park where I meet Angela for the dance. Her parents come over, but I didn’t feel too good about things, and retire to bed somewhat confused. Saturday she brings me over to…
February 2nd 1946

We go out to dinner in “The Lamb” in Wallingford on Monday and Tuesday, and I leave for town on Wednesday. I go to the Air Ministry and find out that my application for a permanent commission in the RAF has not been considered, so I decide to return to the Indian Army. I have…
January 28th 1946

I go up to town with Gus and then meet Angela at Paddington station. We drop her bag and go to Quaglinos, where we have a damn good evening. Saturday to see “Sigh No More”, and I get a table at Bagatelle for dinner, after a couple in my favourite bar the “Mayfair”. I don’t…
January 25th 1946

We have quite a successful evening and consequently I get no sleep until 3am through thinking of this and that. I had arranged to meet Barbara Paul in London this weekend, but I think it would be far better to meet Angela, so I ring up Barbara and say I am awfully sorry but I…