My mum and her sisters kept a diary during the war; a few years ago I shared the entries they made. In the early years of the war, my grandmother and her daughters, my mum and her sisters, were very kind and hospitable to the young soldiers stationed near their village of Harston. Alan, the oldest in the family was int RAF, and although grandpa had enlisted despite being fifty, he was at home and he too was glad to welcome these lads. My mum and aunties kept a diary which they called ‘Ships that pass in the night’, recording the visits of these young men who were soon to be posted away.

9th – 26th June 1940
Noel Francis Bone  L/C   Aged 22 years
2nd London Div. Royal Corps of Signals
Home: – London
Stationed: – Pinehurst, Harston

On the evening of 9th June 1940, a few hours after Tony met with his accident…