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Overview
Richard Brown kept a personal diary throughout the whole of the Second World War. He used it to record the course of the conflict as he perceived it, gleaned from the newspapers, the wireless and hearsay. As well as describing the development of the war, Brown captured a vivid image of life in wartime Britain, with rationing, blackout restrictions, interrupted sleep, the prospect of evacuation and the enormous burden placed on civilians coping with a full-time job as well as war work. Richard Brown was a well-informed man who made his own judgements. His attitude to the war is fascinating, as he never doubts ultimate victory, despite being impatient and critical of the conduct of the war. His observations range from the pithy to the humorous and scathing. Above all, his diaries reflect the moral and social attitudes of the period, and the desire to be fully involved in the war effort. They also totally refute the argument that the British public were kept in the dark.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780752472324 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | The History Press |
| Publication date: | 10/21/2011 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 336 |
| File size: | 1 MB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Mr Brown's War
A Diary From the Home Front
By Helen D. Millgate
The History Press
Copyright © 2011 Helen D. MillgateAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-7524-7232-4
CHAPTER 1
The War Diaries of Richard Brown, 1939–46
1939
Although war was actually declared on 3 September 1939 after the German invasion of Poland, preparations had been mounting since the Munich Crisis a year before. However, as Prime Minister Chamberlain's voice drifted from wirelesses bringing the news that the country had feared, activity reached fever pitch. The armed forces were mobilised and the Civil Defence organisation put onto a war footing. On 1 September 1.5 million schoolchildren, mothers with small children and accompanying teachers were evacuated from the big cities to safe areas. Unfortunately the efficiency of the transport operation was not always matched in the reception areas where countless muddles and mismatches added to the anxieties of youngsters torn from their homes.
Richard Brown was already an ARP warden when war broke out, as were hundreds of thousands of his fellow countrymen, and his readiness was to be tested that very first night albeit by a false alarm. From the outset he was clearly determined to record the detail not only of foreign operations in all the theatres of war but also of the dramatic changes on the Home Front. Coping with the blackout, patrolling the streets looking for illegally shining lights, fitting gas masks, all quickly became part of the daily routine. By 12 November he and most of the country had 'slipped very easily into war habits' in spite of early teething troubles although he felt very strongly that some of his fellow wardens were not taking their duties seriously enough.
Beyond the shores of Britain action began slowly in the first tentative and tense days of hostilities. A British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was dispatched to Northern France in much the same way as in 1914 but this time France was presumed to be protected from Germany by the Maginot Line so the BEF was assigned to the Franco-Belgian border. Nothing happened. The only fighting was in Poland where on 17 September, as the Poles were desperately trying to repel the Germans in the west, the Red Army crossed their eastern front and Poland was lost. Then the Russians turned on Finland but were fiercely resisted with much courage and skill. Slowly, very slowly, plans were formulated to come to Finland's aid.
Impatience at home at the slow start was tempered by the widespread opinion that it would all be over soon. Meanwhile in Ipswich, lulled by the lack of air activity, many evacuees were already drifting homeward. Fewer people bothered to carry their gas masks. This was still a 'phoney war' but Mr Brown was convinced it would not remain so. From the outset he estimated that hostilities would last 'five to six years'.
Only at sea did the action begin in earnest as the German U-boat packs wreaked havoc on Allied shipping. Naval losses are recorded throughout the diary with astonishing accuracy, as is illustrated by the account of the sinking of the Royal Oak. However, in spite of the losses there was something to be glad about. The country was cheered and enlivened by the dramatic events in the South Atlantic in December. Captain Hans Langsdorff of the German cruiser Graf Spee, trapped in Montevideo harbour, chose to scuttle the ship rather than face internment. He then shot himself. The gallant captain's suicide was regretted but it was a forcible demonstration of the effective long arm of the Royal Navy.
Friday 15 September
I don't know how far this good resolution will keep good, but, there being no harm in trying, let's try and keep it for the duration.
The war being nearly a fortnight old I had better hark back a bit.
On the Sunday morning 3 September tension was pretty great but it wasn't till we heard a grave voice tell us to wait for an important announcement at 11.15 that the full gravity struck us. Hitler had been given until 11.00 a.m. to clear out of Poland and, as I hadn't expected him to do that, there was only one way out; but somehow, when the time came, it came as a mild shock. Chamberlain sounded quite annoyed and, at the same time, sorrowful and I noted that he referred to 'Hitler' and not the usual diplomatic 'Herr Hitler'.
George and I worked like the Devil then on the dug-out. Fortunately we were fitting the doors and when that was done the place was at least habitable. We are now patting our own backs over that dug-out, and we certainly have the laugh over those who said it wasn't necessary. Poor old Ven is quite contrite over his lack of foresight and continual 'don't think it will come to anything'.
That night we had our first air-raid warning, at 2.35 Monday morning. I was pleased that I was on duty at the post at the time, with Ungless, and it was pleasing to see how quickly the wardens turned up, 100 per cent strong. Fortunately it was a false alarm and the all-clear soon followed, but I was a little proud that I had been on duty for the first alarm. Next warning came the next Wednesday morning at 6.45. I dressed quite rapidly, I thought, trousers and waistcoat over pyjamas, and was tenth at the post. Soon after reaching my beat we heard planes and gunfire, the first guns I had heard fired to kill, but am afraid I wasn't too impressed. Analysing my feelings I found I was immensely interested in wondering if they were coming over the town. It was misty at the time and it was possible that the mist had saved us. However, the official news said it was not the enemy but our own planes.
It's queer to note the effect this war has on different folks. Ma, bless her old heart, isn't upset in the least. Aldy's tummy is a bit rebellious again and I'm sure it is the cause of Wilson's bilious bother. Ven takes it in his stride and Dora, I was pleased to note, takes things quite well. She has procedure mapped out in case of a raid and, though quick, doesn't fluster.
I can honestly say I am merely very interested. Didn't do much work the first day, possibly due to the lack of sleep, but more probably suppressed excitement. On the day war was declared I had a peculiar feeling of intense patriotism, a determination to do whatever I could to help (swank) and in the evening when the King spoke to us am afraid I stood up to attention when they played 'The King'. Queer how we get moved out of our usual feelings at times, because though I am patriotic I wouldn't usually have stood at attention with only myself for company.
In the land-fighting poor little Poland is sticking it manfully. She is continually falling back but is giving a good account of herself. Warsaw is nearly surrounded and it seems my estimate of three months before being swamped will be an overestimate. Now the news seems to suggest that Russia will hit Poland in the back. She is talking of Poland oppressing her minorities, and she is certainly mobilising. If she starts in this little war what will be the end of it? Why are they chumming up with the Germans who have always called them the scum of the earth? Am afraid it means no good to us and probably Russia is after the Baltic States and Poland, as before the last war.
By the way I have estimated this affair will last five to six years. What a hell of a time. Five times 365 days each of which might produce some sort of frightfulness in the way of air raid or bad news. Anyway who cares?
Monday 18 September
Well, well. Yesterday Russia marched into Poland on the thinnest of excuses. She said it was to protect her White Russian nationals because the Polish government does not now exist. The Poles are still resisting the Germans and making a few successes but, poor devils, they are no match really. I wonder what it means. Russia says she will remain neutral but will take over the Poland she used to have and leave Danzig and the corridor to Germany. Will she come into the war more actively, I wonder? If so and she tackles the French frontier with Germany, and then Italy and Spain decide not to remain neutral any longer, we look like being up against it. Even so things are not hopeless by any means.
Some sub sank the Courageous today. Reports say they think the attendant destroyers sunk the sub, but I guess not or they would be more definite about it. Plucky devil to tackle a thing like an aircraft-carrier. Haven't seen any reliable news yet though.
Thursday 21 September
More exciting news tonight. The Roumanian Premier has been assassinated by a group of young men, probably Iron Guard Fascists. Results may be anything. Russia is still the ambiguous quantity but she has occupied the Polish border with Roumania, possibly intending to cut off any chance Germany may have of stealing Roumania with her oil and grain. That point seems to suggest that Russia and Germany are not so friendly as might be. We listened tonight to Roosevelt addressing Congress on the repeal of the Neutrality Act. From the enthusiasm of Congress I guess it will be repealed. Marvellous wireless. We heard it all with no fading at all.
Muriel came down for an hour or so today and has gone back to Rotherhithe, St Olave's Hospital. What a place! If the raids start in earnest she will see some excitement and casualties too. Had a peculiar feeling of comradeship with her when shaking hands at saying goodbye. After all we are both working together now, though my share is so small in comparison.
Wednesday 27 September
Warsaw has surrendered, poor devils. Half of it in ruins. Wonder if that allows Hitler to concentrate on the Western Front. There was some fear that Russia was going to invade Roumania, but whether for own gain or to prevent Germany doing so wasn't clear. Now we may see. Ribbentrop, the Estonian Minister and Turkish are now at Moscow, for what purpose can't be told. Russia is also annoyed with Estonia for letting a Polish sub leave an Estonian port after internment, and seems inclined to make trouble out of it.
The War Budget came out today. Drastic but this war must be paid for somehow. Income tax is 7s 6d in the £1, beer up 1d, sugar up 1d, baccy up 1½d, spirits up 10s a gallon. I expected petrol to go up still more. It is rationed now and therefore the yield is reduced. But it wasn't mentioned this time.
Sunday 1 October
Last day of old duties. Now we start doing 4 hours at post per fortnight, on patrol from 8 to 11 p.m. Post duty to be as company for full-timers who do 24 hours per day.
Quite a bit to report today. Thursday morning it became known that Russia and Germany are to request peace now that the Polish question is 'liquidated'. If we refuse it will prove conclusively that France and Britain started the war and have no desire for peace!!! Clever, as usual with Hitler, but can't say I want peace under those conditions. If it were agreed upon it would only crop up again a few months hence when Hitler will undoubtedly discover an ill-treated minority in France or England and it will all come again but more favourably for him. Wonder what Dad would think to my warlike wishes? All the same I think it best for future peace of the world, and us particularly, to keep on and dust Hitler's pants if we can. Apparently the official terms will come from Hitler next Tuesday. Till then we can, at any rate, expect no air raids over here. I should have added that the statement said if we refuse the peace suggestions, Germany and Russia will collaborate further to decide what steps they will take. At first it seemed to mean that Russia will declare war on us, but am not so sure now.
Reports say that Germany is massing on the Belgian frontier. She has also solemnly assured Belgium and Holland that she will respect their neutrality which, from previous experience, means that she has every intention of invading them. Apparently Holland and Belgium think the same for the Dutch are reported to have already partly flooded their land and the Belgians are manning the frontier. By the same token I guess our peculiar silence and inaction is due to the fact that we are probably mobilising on the Franco-Belgian frontier, waiting to support if necessary, leaving the French at the German frontier.
The Express this morning is cussing the British Ministry of Information for not releasing news. All pictures published are, so far, German. Ours are censored for some peculiar reason. Apparently it's making America suspicious and I don't blame them. It's all very silly and mysterious. Russia has also agreed with Estonia that in return for munitions Estonia is to allow her to establish naval bases and aerodromes. The thin end of the wedge? Latvia next? The Bremen is known to be at Murmansk. Pity. Still she must have had a cold journey. All the same, I'm annoyed, a little.
Last Friday night was National Registration Day, 29 September. All returns to include those who spent the night at the house. I cheated 'cos I spent 4 hours of it, 12 to 4, here at the post. Was on with Thrower and had a very interesting 4-hour chat. He showed me sides of his character which I certainly had not suspected. Fancy him liking Scott's poetry. Good bloke!
I must, if I can, start the finishing off of the dug-out. Now things are quiet (now, I suppose, the siren will blow) we ought to get things moving. Must see if I can get it painted and distempered this week. Poor old George is queerish this week with a cold on his chest, so must see what I can do.
We get a varied type of Bobby here on patrol calls. All of them are reserves or war reserves. Good lads but, in my conceited judgement, a little suet-puddingish.
Sunday 8 October
Coo! A whole week. And in that week a fair amount of 'nerves' and little progress. Hitler made big proposals in a speech at the Reichstag on Friday. There was a lot of splutter about his famous Polish victory, and a queer sort of résumé of what war might mean and a suggestion of a world conference. So now we must wait till Tuesday or Wednesday when Chamberlain makes a reply. And then do we start the war in earnest? When we do presumably we wardens will have a little more to do. At the present, for the last week I have been going to bed quite confident of a good night's sleep. Will it be so for much longer, I wonder?
They are doing things well at Reavell's. The dug-outs are finished, fire-watchers' posts and control centre nearly so, and instructions have been issued to everyone on how to get to the dug-outs. Wardens will be given a job in dealing with gas, and seeing that the offices and works are properly evacuated. Can't see anyone wanting to stay unless raid warnings get frequent and are false alarms. Did my first night's light patrol under the new scheme last night, and of course it rained. Still I did one round and then went home to hear the news and dry off. On the second round, about 10.15, it started raining again so I packed up, reported, and got home by 11.00.
Tuesday 17 October
Well, well, well. We move at last. To give events in correct order, last Friday certainly was unlucky for Germany. On that day we sank three submarines, the news coming on the radio something like this 'Here is an important Admiralty announcement, and you may care to listen carefully for it is good news. The Admiralty announces that two subs (later increased to three) have been sunk today. That is all', and then the blighters went and torpedoed the Royal Oak, with loss of about 800 men out of 1,200. We heard today (today Tuesday notice) that it was sunk while at anchor and Hamburg boasts that the sub which did it made its way into Scapa Flow harbour and then got away again. We may hear one day what the facts were.
Yesterday, Monday, there was an air raid over Rosyth Dockyard; fifteen men killed, twenty-five injured but no civilians. All casualties on ships. TheSouthampton had a 'glancing blow' which did no damage to the boats but splinters hit a few men. Fighters brought down three planes and AA one more which I think is lousy on the part of the AA, there being twelve to fourteen planes.
This morning coming home the placard said 'Air-Raid warning over Hull' and I expected something in this direction but not as soon as it came. We were having dinner at 1.30 when the sirens went and less than a minute after they finished I heard what I think were bombs followed by AA fire. A hectic rush to the post to report, then back and a tedious wait in the street, with two faint salvos of AA at intervals until the all-clear came at 2.05. That's about all it was. The ladies went down the dug-out because of the firing but I had to make Ma go down. Shan't bother any more as I hear she was a bit of a nuisance with rather misplaced remarks.
There was a rather unusual silence in the office for the first part of the afternoon as though most of us were a little thoughtful. Conditions were certainly favourable with clouds at all elevations. Wonder what's coming tonight? Went the length of Leopold Road last night trying to find evacuees with babies under four for respirators, but there weren't any. We are going to have baby masks issued next Thursday, from 12 till 2. Dora says she will be there at five past twelve 'cos you never know.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Mr Brown's War by Helen D. Millgate. Copyright © 2011 Helen D. Millgate. Excerpted by permission of The History Press.
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Table of Contents
Contents
Abbreviations,Acknowledgements,
Conversion Table,
Introduction,
The War Diaries of Richard Brown, 1939–46,
1939,
1940,
1941,
1942,
1943,
1944,
1945–6,
Select Bibliography,