Extracts from diaries of WJ Powell 1939-1942

1939

Notes:
Seating capacity of The Albert Hall. Balcony 175. Ground floor 326. Total 501. Stage 24' 6"" wide. 18' 0" deep back to front. 24' 6" proscenium. Opening 17' 0"" height to the fly framing. Footlights, Top lights, floodlights.
Mon 17 Jul 1939 - Hay Cemetery: Father died Jun 25 1905. 25 years RO Hay and District, 78. Mother Jun 18 1895, Age 47, Anna Pugh Powell. Rosa Annie Jarvis, Apr 16, 1895, age 29. Walter Henry died in Candia, Crete. Nov 9, 1898, age 24. Edith Emily Apr 17, 1894 11 months. At Llandrindod Wells: Mother, Clara Elizabeth Weatherley Powell, Mar 20 1932 70 years. Clifford, Aug 24 1921, 27. Percy, Jul 23 1917, 20. Married at Alpha, Builth Wells, Aug 2 1893.
Diary:
Fri 28 Apr 1939. Hitler's speech to Reichstag. Noon.
Thu 24 Aug 1939 German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact signed Moscow. Lord Halifax broadcast 9:30pm. Parliament assemblies.
Mon 28 Aug 1939. Message to Hitler. Parliament meets 2:45.
Fri 1 Sep War declared at 5:30am. Evacuation from Berlin commences. 8 Polish towns bombed. RMB form.
Sun 3 Sep 1939, Evacuation Committee 3 o'clock Town Hall. 11am War declared on Germany by England and France 5pm. Prime Minister 11:15. HM the King 6 o'clock. Hon Arthur Greenwood, Sir Archibald Sinclair 9:00pm.
Tue 5 Sep 1939 Evacuee children through to Builth. Official War Cabinet forecast 3 years as probable length of the war.
Note 8am, Goering: "It is up to Chamberlain to sue for peace."
Tue 12 Sep 1939 Letter Mr RJ Oliver re evacuees. 99 notices, issued Lodge defence defer [?]
Thu 14 Sep 1939 Met Miss Jones Principal Church Evangelical College, Cheltenham re Hall.
Sat 16 Sep 1939 met Miss E Winifred Jones, Principal, St. Mary's College, Cheltenham. 31 St. Georges Rd. and Mr Greening, Secretary re Albert Hall. Let 1940/1941.
Sun 17 Sep 1939. Russia invaded Poland.
Thu 19 Sep 1939, Hitler broadcast from Danzig 5o'clock.
Sat 30 Sep 1939. Tenancy of Saint Mary's College Cheltenham from 29 Sep.
Thu 12 Oct 1939. Mr Chamberlain's reply to Hitler.
Fri 13 Oct 1939, Saint Mary's College started at Hall.
Fri 20 Dec 1942 John McClelland arrived 4.2

1940
Addresses:
John McClelland, 6 Hankey Drive, Bootle St Monica's off no 12 Came 20/12/1940.

Diary:
Sat 17 Feb 1940 NAAFI concert (sailors).
20 Feb 1940 Officers' Concert 7:30 for 8:15pm.
Mon 8 Apr 1940 King's broadcast to GCM.
Tue 9 Apr 1940 Norway and Denmark invaded by Germany College returned Hall. [?] Mrs Bradley passed away.
Sun 19 May 1940 Prime Minister World broadcast.
Thu 23 May 1940 In Boulogne.
Sat 25 May 1940 NAAFI concert Cheltenham College.
Mon 27 May 1940. Lodge Ex 7pm. At Aberystwyth afternoon, Gwynedd, Elvet, Walter. WJ 8.12. King Leopold capitulated.
Thu 30 May evacuation of BEF from Belgium.
Sat 1 Jun 1940. BEF 4/5s force evacuated.
Mon 10 Jun 1940. NAAFI Concert 8 o'clock. Mrs Kennedy M Lee look over The Croft
Fri 14 Jun 1940 Mr Thomas, Barclays re note [?] KRW. Germans enter Paris
Sun 16 Jun 1940 The Minister Psalms 42. AJP to Tenby. France capitulated Marshall Petain Premier.
Sat 22 Jun 1940 France signed Armistice terms with Germany.
Thu 4 Jul 1940 Naval action against French Fleet. Over the hill at Cairn.
Mon 29 Jul 1940. John came from Swindon. Grand piano to Albert Hall from Sorrento.
Fri 2 Aug 1940 at Llangunllo bomb craters.
Thu 15 Aug 1940. Met Mr Keeling at Hall re Blackout. Withdrawn.
Sat 17 Aug 1940 Walter to Pontypool. Gwyn to Hereford. Fine day. Purchased lawn mower. Repair NZ stone.
Sun 15 Sep 1940. The minister. M Matt 6.34 "Take no thought for the morrow." 184 planes down over London.
Wed 2 Oct 1940 The Croft sold Mr Ernest Lloyd.
Thu 3 Oct 1947, Llanigon Church, 11:00am Walter's wedding. 3pm Walter and Gwyn left for Barmouth. At Penybont 6 o'clock re Minister Self and the Reverend TJ.
Sat 5 Oct 1940. Walter and Gwyn at Llandudno.
Mon 7 Oct 1940 Wrote Principal Jones. LB 6 8 3 play. S. WJ 9.4. Walter and Gwyn returned home.
Tue 29 Oct 1940 M, meeting Watton. Bracken. 1:30 to 4:20. John Bufton ‘missing'.
Wed 30 Oct Letter to Elvet re John Bufton.
Thu 31 Oct 1940 John Bufton lost at sea. Rehearsal Captain Vicars Harris, afternoon at B/J.
Sat 2 Nov 1940 Full dress rehearsal. [Afternoon?] Wounded. Funeral John Bufton.
Wed 20 Nov 1940 Lodge notices. Deacons met Major Clarkson at Gwalia.
Fri 22 Nov 1940 Flowers W/proof Mr Holden. Son born at Chapel House. Saw Mr Liddell re. Surrender of Hall.
Sat 23 Nov 1940 Army took over Hall. St Mary's College leaving
Notes:
Letter from [?] Bro [Hon Brother?] M. Thornton. PA G and C past District Grand Secretary of Egypt and the Sudan Motherland Lodge. 15 of Mar 1940. Son in Royal Artillery at Gwalia Hotel. Member Old Shirburnian Lodge.
Addresses:
Nurse OME, Upper Southern Hospital, Dartford, Kent.

1941
Letters:
Dear Will and All, In the hope that you may receive and enjoy for Xmas and the New Year – the Butter and Cheese [_] sent you – with all love and best wishes Cheerio from Radnor Wellington Street Hamilton NZ Love Perc 1/11/41 [In handwriting]
20/12/1941 7 ½ per word 9/- 4½ [Telegram] Bynon-Powell 38 Wellington Street, Hamilton, New Zealand Love and best wishes from home Will
Addresses:
Flight Lieut KP Bufton, Headquarters, RAF Station, Kaldadarner, Iceland [?]
Glyn from Edith 12 May received 8 Jul 1941: 29609 Pte GCB Powell, 17 Platoon ‘D' Company, 24 Battalion, 2 NZ E Forces Middle East Forces
1/7/1941 "It falls into that long dismal catalogue of the fruitlessness of experience, and the confirmed unteachability of mankind." Prime Minister
1317836 Jones No 10/8 Flight No 4 Squadron Bentrick Close, Prince Albert Road, Regents Park, London NW 8

Diary:
Mon 23 Jun 1941: Sun Germany invaded Russia PM spoke 9:00pm Hay cut at Pencraig AJP and Aunty
Sat 12 of Jul 1941: to Hay; Builth 1:10 [pm?] Three Cocks 1:40 Walked down arrived Hay 3:45. Period Ticket 4/3 Agreements for War Alliance signed with Russia
Wed 6 of Aug 1941: Abbey Cwm Hir, Bwlchsarnau, Mrs White and Len came
Thu 17 of Aug 1941: Elvet left midday Mary and Len married at Llanigon Church 11:00am funeral Miss Thomas Fronheulog at Llanelwedd 3.30
Fri 8 Aug 1941: Mrs White returned home 10 train
Mon 25 Aug 1941: Broadcast Mr Churchill
Tue 16 Sep 1941: Posted cards to Glyn and to New Zealand for Xmas
Tue 7 of Oct 1941: Sept Quarter no marriages last entry book 3 entry 1 Bombs, New Radnor First Guild Tea 4:00 o'clock. Letter HO and Co re. Hall
Sun 2 Nov 1941: minister Com [Evening ?] Walter at Aber[_] fire brigade At Hay, M and Will not well Gwyn and John at Maesygarn Chris on embarkation leave
Fri 21 of Nov 1941: news Harry Bufton safe in Spain County School head appointment
Wed 10 of Dec 1941: Renown and Prince of Wales sunk 32,000 / 35,000 Singapore
Tue 16 of Dec 1941: on 15 Edna left for service in East wrote to Hay Maggie and [Marion?] To Edna Cliff's New Testament Nov 1915 from R.M.M.
Sat 20 Dec 1941: cable New Zealand 9/ 4 ½ posted cards Cable New Zealand 20 of Dec 1941 9/ 5 7 ½ per word love and best wishes from home
Thu 25 of Dec 1941: very fine day [Even song?] our church received butter and cheese from New Zealand posted 1 of Nov 1941
Tue 30 of Dec 1941: 8pm broadcast Mr Churchill from Canada sunny and frosty W NW AJP [_]
Notes:
Nurse Pierson-Jones [Peirson-Jones], Watmore Lane, Winnersh, Berks.
Mrs MG Skidelsky-Dizan

1942
Notes:
Glyn. 29609. Pte GCB Powell, 17 Platoon, D Company, 24 Battalion, 2 NZ E Forces, Middle East Forces.
Prisoner of war: 10 Jul 1942. Powell GCB Private NZ E F British prisoner. Croce Rossa. Italiana. 6 Via Pugliea Rome Italy.

Diary:
• Fri 13 Feb 1942 Met Capt Thompson re Albert Hall "49 parallel"".
• Sat 21 Feb 1942 Longest cold spell of the century. Only comparable was Feb 1917.
• Thu 14 May 1942 My letter of 12/11/1941 to prisoner of war Glyn came back.
• Fri 15 May 1942 Stevinsky's [Skvinsky's?] furniture left.
• Mon 29 Jun 1942 8:00pm meeting Adjutant Capt Vicars Harris re. plays on Sun.
• Wed 22 Jul 1942 Form sent to Red Cross re Glyn.
• Mon 27 Jul 1942 Martin flew the Atlantic home.
• Wed 5 Aug 1942 "British Restaurant" opened.
• Thu 6 Aug 1942 Received letter from Glyn dated 25/4/1942 POW Italy.
• Thu 13 Aug 1942 Wrote Glyn. To Italy.
• Sat 15 Aug 1942 Dorothy Higham at ?/? Evacuee girl.
• Mon 24 Aug 1942 Posted letter card to Glyn Received card from Glyn posted 8/8/1942 PO [Postal Order?] 30/ [30 shillings] to NZ Govt Offices for Parcel to Glyn.
• Tue 23 Aug 1942 Cable. Heard from Glyn, quite well. Sending parcel. Rate 7 1/2 pence per word.
• Tue 1 Sep 1942 Cable received from NZ re. Glyn.
• Sat 5 Sep 1942 Posted Xmas cards to NZ, Italy, India, Australia.
• Tue 20 Oct 1942 Wrote to Glyn.
• Wed 21 Oct 1942 Trafalgar Day. General Smuts speech. Beat the Bounds. At Cemetery.
• Mon 16 Nov 1942 Wrote to Glyn and Edna Walter week's holiday Fine and dry.
• Thu 10 Dec 1942 Chris home 10 days leave.
• Sat 12 Dec 1942 Walter and Gwyn home to meet Chris.
• Mon 28 Dec 1942 Chris returned from leave. At Builth saw Aunty Hannah Olive and Frank.

Notes:
4 Sep 6 Christmas cards for overseas. 2 shillings 9 pence.
Powell, Glyn Coulthard Bynon Pte 29609. PG65 PM3450 Italy. Christmas card 5/9/1942.
Mrs Jean Pierson Jones [Peirson Jones], Yuonga, New Grove Rd, Healsville, Victoria, Australia.
Sister Edna Eadie, British Military, Sisters' Mess, 14 General Hospital, Barcilly, UP India.
Mrs MG Skidelsky. Dizan.