Diary extracts for November 1940

8th Nov 1940:

[8th] Cycled down to Weymouth to get material for new painting of air battle over Portland. Started at 9.15. Got to Wimborne 12.30, that being 30 miles. But the next 32 miles took ages. Arrived at 5 o’ clock.

[9th] Called on Vice-admiral Drummond at Portland after much difficulty with the police . . . etc.

Cycled back on the 14th

20th Nov 1940:

Eric Gill reported dead after one operation, only 58.

24th Nov 1940:

Epstein’s autobiography comes out.

Levy family [shopkeepers in Southampton] staying a few nights

30th Nov 1940:

We said ‘Hares and Rabbits’ most carefully! Crispin behaved admirably. Southampton closed to the public.

30th Nov 1940:

Southampton closed to the public.

An air-raid started at 6.15pm and went on till 1am. Flares were dropped repeatedly and machine guns and pom poms fired tracers continually at them. Southampton seemed to be blazing. Much heavier bombs were dropped, at times lifting our floors. All the doors and windows rattling continuously. Many more guns in action, one mobile one very close to us. Both gas and electricity were off. Someone went around shouting “All clear” at 1.45am.