LornaL

By LornaL

October 16th 1939

Monday Oct 16th

I started work for the WVS on ration cards – very dull and unheroic in these stirring times, but necessary. Besides, “they also serve...“*. 

The whole of Britain is buzzing this evening like a hive of angry bees. Fritz being a methodical soul, and having nothing else to do on a Monday, carried out a daylight raid on the Forth of Firth and Rosyth. Was very warmly received and lost four planes over the transaction. It is too soon to say whether he hit anything, but no civilians were hurt, or civilian property damaged.

No news about the Royal Oak**.

The Nazi Buffoon factory is now claiming to have sunk the Royal Oak and the Repulse. They’re too modest. Doubtless we shall learn from them tomorrow that Rosyth and Edinburgh are a heap of smoking ruins and that the Forth Bridge has been totally destroyed!

How long it seems since August when we were still at peace.

*"They also serve who only stand and wait" is the last line of Milton's sonnet When I consider how my light is spent, published in 1673. It has been used elsewhere in a number of contexts. Here Lorna is citing it as a patriotic motto.

**See the diary entry for 14th October.

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