Wartime Diary of a Customs Officer

Wartime Diary of a Customs Officer: Ch 1 - Intro, Aug - Oct 1939

PO = Preventive Officer APO = Assistant PO When the war started, Dad was married to Kay with 2 daughters,...

Wartime Diary of a Customs Officer: Ch 2 - Nov - Dec 1939

22 WED No message arrived from Kay as to what time she would be at Euston, but Mum phoned from Dad's...

Wartime Diary of a Customs Officer: Ch 3 - Jan - Apr 1940

Mum offered to look after Beryl again and off Kay and I went to Raynes Park cinema. 13 Sat Great commotion,...

Wartime Diary of a Customs Officer: Ch 4 - May - Jul 1940

22 Sat Kay did not go down to discuss sending Betty to Canada with Mum, as we heard from Roy, who came...

Wartime Diary of a Customs Officer: Ch 5 - Aug - Sep 1940

There was a second air raid at 5 pm and screaming bombs were dropped on South Wimbledon and New Morden...

Wartime Diary of a Customs Officer: Ch 6 - Oct 1940

At home, many raids, Kay and Betty braved them, Beryl and I went to sleep in the Anderson... Home by the...

Wartime Diary of a Customs Officer: Ch7 - Nov 1940

3 roads holed, one causing bus diversion, and temporary stoppage of gas supply: house in Cannon Hill, 50...

Wartime Diary of a Customs Officer: Ch8 -Dec 1940

Another pleasant walk with Kay and Beryl in pram, to Raynes Park. 21 Sat Walked into Wimbledon with Kay,...

Wartime diary of a customs officer, Ch 9 - Jan & Feb 1941

I, on reaching home Found Dad ill in bed with attack of pleurisy, Jack in bed with general debility, Mum...

Wartime diary of a customs officer Pt 10 - March & April 1941

Mum and Roy — “Rialto”, Jack ice skating, Dad, Home Guard, I, alone. Dad in garden, Jack...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch 11 - May - July 1941.

Beautiful naval motor launch, 100 ft. heavily armed alongside "Harpy". Dad spent another £1 on...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch12 - Aug and Sept.

19 TUE At 9.30 am, Mum phoned me up at the "Harpy" from our neighbour's opposite, to say...

Wartime diary of a custom officer: Ch 13 - Oct. 1941

Two neighbours chatted loudly to Mum; Dad ransacked house for a missing vacuum flask; Jack had pal home and...

Wartime diary of a custom officer: Ch 14 - Nov 1941

House empty when I returned home, Mum and Roy Christmas shopping at Kingston. Dad at his usual Saturday...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch15 - Dec 1941

We went our divers ways in afternoon: Dad was already out at whist drive; Mum and Jack went shopping to...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch 16 - Jan 1942

Dad had paid for Mum and Roy to see the “Puss in Boots” pantomime at Wimbledon, where they were...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch 17 - Feb 1942

15 SUN With Jack still abed, Roy at church, Mum in kitchenette cooking and Dad in garden, I had a clear...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch 18 - Mar 1942

Found all out when I reached home; saw to my own dinner, but Mum, Dad and Roy returned before I had...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch 19 - Apr 1942

Returning to "Harpy", was told Mum had phoned to say Kay and kiddies were on way home and would be...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch 20 - May and June 1942

Half day allowed in spite of circumstances, and I looked after Beryl and John whilst Kay and Betty went to...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch21 - Jul to Sep 1942

Kay out seeing Vera's show, children in charge, Betty packed bag for fire watching, but on returning to...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch 22 - Oct and Nov 1942

5 MON Kay registers for firewatching at Council Office, Morden Hall this morning and arranged her priority...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch 23 - Dec 1942

Learned Kay had stayed up card playing, etc, until 6 am at Mum's, and consequently was entirely...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch 24 - Jan and Feb 1943

23 SAT My Sunday “off duty” was to be marred by a night's fire watching, but was...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch 25 - Mar and Apr 1943

Home early enough to permit Kay to go shopping in Morden with Betty and Beryl. 20 SAT Home in time to...

Wartime diary of a customs officer: Ch 26 - May and June 1943

1 SAT Knowing Kay's difficulties in getting in week-end shopping, and of the special shopping needed on...