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The Freda Laycock Memorial Web Site |
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This site is dedicated to the memory of Freda Laycock Sign the Guestbook View the Guestbook Message Board
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Freda's Diaries - March/April 1943 Freda kept a diary for a two year period during the war - 1943 and 1945. Here we reproduce her daily record of those times. March 1st Breakfast at Badembee. Left 9.30, shopping in Makeni, tea at Binholi left 4.30. Car broke down 5pm. 8pm lorry came up, mended car, back at 9.30. Dinner and bed. March 2nd Washed hair, girls class - 1st aid. Siesta. Sewing and talking in the evening, Ione gave us snaps. March 3rd Girls class, sewing later. Pa Birch, 2 cinema boys came to lunch. Boys stayed to tea. Walk later, saw girls combing their hair. Bandage class for girls in evening. March 4th Teaching girls bed making. YMCA men came to lunch. Lt. G.called and 4 army boys in evening for drink. March 5th Bathed Frances for girls. Dr Madden came for lunch and clinic. Out to field ambulance for dinner, a jolly crowd of men. Saw Southern Cross! March 6th Up 4 am, by ambulance to train. Karoma* missed train. Joined it at Maburka. Engine de- railed at 12.30. Had chop on train, made tea at engine. Boiled eggs at side of line. Went for a walk to engine and down road. Writing letters on the line side. Engine arrived 8pm. Went to club at Bowie for tea. Met by Jack, John, Geoff at 5pm. *Karoma was a native helper of mums whom she talked of quite a lot. He wrote
to her whilst she was in Sierra Leone requesting help at times - see letters
section. Mail waiting for us. 13 letters, 7 papers. Unpacking am. Duty at 1pm. On Ward 27. Not very busy but dead tired. Geoff rang up at 5pm. March 8th Half day today. Geoff came for tea. Went to see Julia at 5 she is boarded home. Small mail arrived 6 letters, 6 papers. March 9th I was moved to Ward 6, another half day. Went to beach, Dr Maddon was there. Win stayed to go for a walk with Geoff. 5 more letters arrived, letter writing in evening. March 10th 10 -1. Letter writing. Called to see Julia for half an hour after tea. Patients on Ward 6 are very lively. March 11th Half day. Admitted American Ac. App. Win and I walked to town shopping. Bought red vyella, took it to be made up. Spent up. Julia went on board at 5pm. March 12th 10 -1 Washed hair am not too busy on ward. March 13th Half day. Quite a busy morning. Will, Stella Edwards ,Win, Geoff, Jack and I rode to Kor??t. Walked to Leicester Peak. Picnic, had a fire. Back at 8pm. Unit dance in evening. March 14th Morning in bed. Went to service, Malaki was the preacher. Very busy half day on duty. March 15th Half day, sewing in afternoon. Walk after tea. Sewing again in evening.Geoff rang Win suggested walk on Wed, Jack to come too. March 16th On duty Ward 6. Went to prepare Ward 28 for survivors, 100 expected. Should have been 10-1 , had 2- 5 instead, no half day. Back to Ward 6. March 17th Half day. Sewing and writing all day. March 18th 16 survivors arrived early am. I did not see them or look after them. 10-1. Shopping bought 2 pouffes and wallet. Went to dentist, impression for bottom teeth. Busy day on Ward. March 19th Half day. Sewing most of day. 10 - 1. Busy on Ward. Went to R.E. dance in evening. About 9 couples there Foster, Mac, Hutch, Welch, Hayward and I. March 21st 6am duty on Extension Ward 26 - skins. Hectic morning. Had photo taken. Jack and Geoff came to tea, took us to service. March 22nd Changed off duty. Another half day. Friends came to tea, sat on gun turret chatting to them. Making a nightie. March 23rd 10-1 Lt. Evans came to see me on the ward and down to the mess for tea. Win and I had a walk to the gun turret and sat there chatting. A lovely moonlight night. March 24th Half day, went to beach, had tea with Geoff. March 25th 10-1 went to town shopping. Called at dentists. March 26th Win off duty with me now, went for a walk to brook, walked up brook,
bananas, limes and figs growing. March 27th 10-1 not out today, short walk to gun turret, early to bed.
Half day. Busy did not go to morning service. 4pm service, Phil Jones spoke. March 29th 10-1 Shopping bought dress length March 30th Half day. bathing at Lumley. Mail arrived. March 31st 10-1 more mail April 1st Played tennis with Grace, ? and Jean Waugh. Had invitation to Military Ball Tower Hill. Small mail again today. April 2nd Colonel's inspection. Saw Major Gollam ( dentist) in afternoon April 3rd Half day. Geoff, Will, Win and I went bathing off Lumley. Took our tea, had a glorious day. I lost 2 shoe heels. April 5th Half day. Sewing. Called to see the Kennedys in the evening. April 6th 10-1 Moved skins to Ward 28 and 29. April 7th Half day. Bathing at Lumley. April 8th 10-1 Shopping. Bought 8 straw baskets for 18 shillings April 9th Half day Tennis with Grace ? and Ceizar. April 10th 10-1 very tired. Did not go down to Kennedys, Win went alone April 11th Jack and Geoff came up to tea. Went to Cathedral. Tea at Kennedys. Service at Sailor's Institute April12th Shopping in town. April13th Day off Win, Geoff and I had taxi to beach,
lunch and tea there. Jack joined April 14th 10-1 April15th Half day. Beach at 6pm with Mrs Kennedy. Grace Davies was with us. April 16th 10-1, gramophone recital in evening April 17th Picnic at Gloucester. Will, Win, Jack, Geoff, Miss Davies. Made fire ? had kettle. Dance in hall later "our Sgts dance enjoyed it very much." April 18th 10-1 Service at 11.45 Malacki spoke. Letter writing later. April 19th Half day Geoff came up to tennis April 20th 10-1 April 21st Half day bathing April 22nd 10-1 Shopping in town. To Mrs
Boston's for fitting. Bought material for grey skirt. April 23rd (Good Friday) Half day Service in morning. Back with Win etc. Usual beach ambulance April 24th Half day, Jack and Geoff up for tea. April 25th Went to service in Cathedral. Chop at Kennedys. Service at Sailors Institute. Wilkinson gave Win and I snaps of up country April 26th 10-1 No transport to town April 27th Half day went to beach April 28th 10-1 April 29th Tennis with Malacki,? And Sharma!
Walked down with Win and Geoff. Jack admitted to hospital. Saw him in April 30th Jack gave us snaps and had collected my
necklet*. !0-1 mail again. 12 |