An extract from Mrs Milburn’s diary
In the dark and cold of this morning I went to the service at 9 am. The church was brilliantly lit by the time we arrived and, although there was little decoration, a lovely variegated holly cross hung on the pulpit and the white alter flowers shone in the light of the candles. It was after ten when I got home to breakfast, and then I was busy the whole morning preparing for our guests. Ethel and Harry Spencer came first, leaving Paddy the spaniel in the Austin BUE 966, which was once ours. Then John and Peggy arrived and before long we were eating a very good turkey and accompanying sausages and filling in corners with celery and homegrown potatoes, bread sauce and gravy. There were twin plum puddings and mince pies which Ethel brought, and then some little glasses of trifley peaches.
It is marvellous to think of such a feast in these war days. The puddings be it said were last year’s as was the box of crystallised fruit. However as this was untouched, it may keep till next year. Next year – one wonders! After lunch we listened to our beloved King’s speech to the Commonwealth of Nations – how bravely he overcomes the difficulties of public speaking – and then teatime came and our guests left soon after.
The great joy of the day is the telegram that came with the day’s post. It came via the British Legion and said that Alan is well, but has not heard from us since the 13th May. We wired the British Legion, Geneva: ‘Please inform Lieut. A J Milburn, Oflag 1XA, No 3604, glad to hear he is well, all well at home. Have written. Hoping to hear from him soon. Milburn.’
Evidently, Alan soon began to think about getting in touch with us when he got to a prison camp, and that makes us feel he has really recovered and that his spirits are good. We do thank God this is so. A happy Christmas Day indeed!
Mrs Milburn lived in Balsall Common, Solihull, (in Warwickshire in those days), a few yards from where we lived before we came to Lynton. She kept a diary through the war years that was found after her death in 1961. It ran to half a million words and her grandson-in-law published it in 1979. Her son Alan was a prisoner of war for the full duration of the war.
Supplied by John Alldritt