A Story of War

I fall down in the world! I take Trat to Meerut and we have a reasonable party, though she has a cold and engages in a long session in Viennese with Bart, who later steals her away from dinner for a dance – much to my disgust. The next day I arrange to take her…

I go over to Heemsteede to see Trat but she is out, so I leave a message that I shall be back on Saturday and drive home – 50 minutes jeeping. Next night I take Sue Newall to a party at MRES and then on to a dance at Schreveningen Casino, but she is still…

I take Louise out again to dinner at the Brevet Club, where I meet Morley-Mower, who is, or was rather, Allan Haig’s sister-in-law. We then go on to Chez Marcelle and dance around in the usual fashion, and so home. Next day I come over on the Dutch Military Air Service as no one has…

I ask for a 72 (hours leave) in London but W/C Pippet says he cannot allow it, but if I get over on my own steam then it’s OK by him. So I arrange to be flown over and back by Auster. I came over on Monday, over Walchem and Calais to Dover, where we…

I have a most enjoyable day’s sailing with an old retired sea captain and he navigates me round the Kaag. I then have a party at Meerut with Hymans the Dutch press officer, and get off with some French actress he has with him. Yesterday I have a game of squash and then take Hans…

George and I move into our new office in 33 De Plaats and I take out some new dame called Sue Newall, who comes from Nebraska and works in the US Embassy, and get extremely tight one night at Warmond. I drive back half asleep and next day I give her dinner and take her…

I get a new officer, one F/O Colyer-Commerford, who seems a bit odd. I take him out to Meerut and he gets tight and is found running round in circles in the garden shouting “Dunford Wood”. I stuff him in the back of someone’s car and have them drop him at the Terminus (Hotel). I…

I go to a shocking party in Amsterdam with one Van Lighter. Two ENSA girls are supposed to be there, coming from Apeldoorn, but they do not turn up until midnight, during which time we have had nothing to drink since 9pm – I leave, very bored, and get home to bed at 4am, having…

I go round next day and discover that Lily was at her mother’s next door, but is not allowed out, as she must look after her child, her mother having gone on strike over it. The Jap war finished a few days ago and Basil Langton-Dodds invited George and I to party in Varmont. George…

I get messages from Bill that he is calling on his way from Kiel to Wimbledon, and he calls up from Apeldoorn but never arrives. Henri organises a party in Amsterdam on Saturday. We all collect at Ellen’s and hang around, and finally set off, arriving at someone’s flat about 10pm. I take one (one-eyed)…