Just when I was enjoying playing out,Mum yells at me to come inside,quick sharp.Irene,Gran,Dad and Mum all looked very serious.Some old posh bloke was on the wireless saying we were now at war with Germany. I'm the only person in my family that knows there is a great big spider that lives inside the wireless.Irene would go mad if she knew! Haha

September 4th 1939 

The kids at school are all talking about it...The Wizard of Oz has the most scary witch in it. She's got a green face. If this war doesn't last long maybe Dad will take me to the flicks to see it.Gran and Mum were crying in the kitchen when I went in but they stopped when they saw me.

Hate Tuesdays in school.We have to make wicker baskets in the afternoon.My mate Sam told me that he was going on a holiday to the country WITHOUT his Mum and Dad! What's that all about?

BAD NEWS! The spider's gone from the wireless.Let's hope he finds a nice quiet place to live-like Irene's bed! Everybody's talking about this blinkin' war.Thought it would have finished by this weekend. Dad's ear is glued to the wireless for more information about it all. Would be funny to REALLY glue Dad's ear to the wireless.

Saw a photo of Adolph Hitler in the newspaper.He doesn't look very big. My Headmaster has a moustache just like him.Maybe they're brothers.Haha.

Friday..PE in afternoon and then singing.I nearly wet myself when Sam put a piece of wax crayon under his nose and told me to call him Adolph. We both got hit with the ruler but it was worth it.If Mum finds out I'll get it all again when I get home. We got a postcard from my big brother Chris this morning.He's joined the RAF and he's my hero already.

Met Sam and played cowboys and indians.He said his Indian name was 'Little Holey Trousers' which made me laugh. We talked about who would be 'called up' to fight the Germans. My Dad was in the First war so he's probably too old.Sam was worried that his Dad would go. I tried to make him laugh with my Indian name of 'Running with the wind'.I showed him how I got that name!

Church in the morning then Sunday School.Lots more people in the church today.The praying went on longer too.My knees had little red marks on after all that. In the afternoon 'Little Holey Trousers' and 'Running with the Wind' made a tent in the yard.We both prefer being Indians now.They don't wear silly hats.

My sister Irene works in the munitions factory making bombs and bullets and things. I asked her if she'd bring a couple of bombs home for me and Sam to look at but she wouldn't.Dad was listening to Arthur Askey on the wireless and laughing. I think Arthur Askey might be the same height as Adolph Hitler.

Dad says South Africa and Canada are at war with Germany now. If Tarzan lives in South Africa maybe he could help our lads beat Hitler.Maybe get a couple of lions to eat him up for breakfast! I suppose just one would do, cos he's so small.

Gran was darning my socks when she pricked her hand with the needle. ...I'm sure I heard her say a bad word... but Mum said she didn't. Dad now has a map of the world in his shed.I hope he's not a German spy haha.

Irene has a boyfriend in the army.His name is Ron.She writes to him but won't let me read what she's written. It's not fair, she can read my letters! Mum and Dad want a talk with me tomorrow-I can't think what I've done wrong.

Mum and Dad sat me down in the front room and talked about me GOING AWAY for my own safety! They said that if the Germans dropped bombs it could be dangerous for the children so the idea was to send them all to the country where it would be safer !!! So that's what Sam was talking about. Mum did all the talking and Dad was very quiet. I didn't like the idea...  Irene did though.

Sam told me his Mum had decided not to send him away into the country.She was in floods of tears and hugged him so hard his eyes nearly popped out.I really don't want to go now , even if there are bombs dropped.It's still very quiet. I wonder when it will all start?

Saturday.Played with George Kempton as Sam was helping his Dad in the garden.George is in my class and he lives in the next street.His Mum is always fussing over him and washed his hands before tea. 'Running with the Wind' is more of a brave than George. He doesn't deserve an Indian name.

My cousin Lizzie visited us today.Even though she is a girl, she is O.K. In the afternoon she told me about 'The Wizard of Oz' film.She thought the witch was scary too. Lizzie's Dad has been called up to the army.That's all she said.

Everyone in the class is talking about who's being evacuated and who is not.When I got home I pleaded with Mum not to send me away.....it didn't work. I go next week.Most of my class are going, even George Kempton. I hope he's learned to wash his own hands.

We have found out that some of our teachers may be joining us when we are evacuated.Please,please don't let Miss Turner come with us.I believe she has as sister who has a green face that lives over the rainbow somewhere....

Irene has got Ron's photograph in a frame on her bedside cabinet. Before that she had someone called Barry in the frame but his photo was torn up and thrown down the toilet for some reason. I once told her that I'd seen Barry in town and he looked a 'little flushed' but she wasn't really listening. I thought it was hilarious.Sam did too.

Dad is putting little flags on his map in the shed.He listens to the wireless and then goes down to the shed and moves the flags around.Mum is going to meetings about becoming an ARP warden ,whatever that is.Today, Sam told me he'd seen a German Shepherd Dog taking photos in the park and whispering to a Daschund.......He's barmy!

Last night there was a loud knock at the front door and old Mrs.Miles from across the street was complaining that we'd left a gap in our blackout curtains and that Germans planes would drop bombs on us.Mum went outside to look and there was a TINY gap. Mrs.Miles is a bit nervous about this war.Mum invited her in for a cuppa but she wanted to get back home in case the sirens went.Nobody has seen or heard ANY planes ANYWHERE so I don't know why she's so worried.

Mum told me off for not taking my gas mask when I was playing out with Sam. Even grown ups can be told off or fined for not carrying theirs.Tonight I'm going to test it when Dad takes his slippers off.Haha

24th September 1939

Good news! After church Mum and Dad told me I don't have to be evacuated. She told me that we could take whatever Adolph threw at us. Went straight round and told Sam.We are now planning to dig an underground bunker for both families under Sam's vegetable plot.

Evacuation day for most kids at school...but not me! Everyone's upset, some kids and grown ups are crying.Guess what? George Kempton doesn't look upset at all.Some of the little 'uns have got teddies and dolls to take with them. They are all wearing labels and look like parcels ready to post.

26th September

1939

BAD NEWS! Miss Turner is STAYING to look after all the kids who are not being evacuated. Mum said she looks after her own Mum who is ninety eight years old. I wish my Mum would live that long.

27th September

1939

Dad read in his newspaper that the RAF had sent planes over Germany to do battle. Chris may be in one of those planes. I hope he's O.K. All of the kids left at school were put into one big class.I have to sit next to a little 'un and help him with his work.He wriggles around in his chair like a blinkin' maggot!

Gas mask drill today.What a laugh! The little'uns have the new Mickey Mouse gas masks and everytime they breathe out they blow a 'raspberry'.I nearly wet myself...but I didn't.

29th September 1939

Friday at last. Sam and I was wondering what has happened to George Kempton.Sam wondered if he was on a farm somewhere frightening the animals.I told him that George wouldn't say 'Boo to a goose'. Do you know, I think I'm funnier than Arthur Askey......I thank you!

Sam and I played in the park as it was a Saturday. Not many kids about which was good for us. We made a camp in the bushes and pretended to be English spies in Germany.I was 'Hans Dirty' and Sam was 'Claus Dismissed'.We are going to get a pair of binoculars that belong to Sam's Dad and do some real spying tomorrow. There's bound to be some German spies in our local park, isn't there?