16th September 1939

Until today, the village hasn't really been touched by the war. But this afternoon a cart with a tired looking mare drawing it came to stop at our village. It was full of soldiers going off to Falmouth, a large harbour town, to be shipped to France. The soldiers were all singing loudly, brimming with enthusiasm. The whole village came to watch as the soldiers leapt out of the cart and marched into Mrs Wood's shop. They all bought some sweets, and then ate them very quickly. I could tell they wouldn't be eating sweets for a long time.

One young man, he must have been just 17, didn't eat any of his sweets. He didn't have the same light, carefree air the other soldiers had. Although he was singing along too, he was quieter, more reserved. My guess was that he was more worried than the others about what was going to happen, how he was going to cope. He looked quite frightened. He glanced around at all of us quickly, jerking his head. He saw me staring at him, and caught my eye. I blushed and looked away, embarrassed. Mother always tells me it's rude to stare.

After they had all finished their sweets, except the worried man, they jumped back into their cart and the tired mare trotted off. Then I wished I had given her some water and hay whilst the soldiers were eating. No one had bothered to help her, even though at that moment she was the most tired of all of us. The soldiers waved at us from the back of their cart and smiled. I wondered whether they would still be smiling when they next returned, if they ever returned.

Claire.
20th September 1939

The village is really the same as it was 17 days ago, before war broke out. Everyone felt that war would change the routine and feel of our lives, but it really hasn't. Everything has carried on as normal.

Claire.
10th October 1939

I know I haven't written for a while but I didn't have any reason to write. It's like the war has put the village to sleep. No one visits anyone and no one meets people. Everyone is too tense for the moment to come where we will have to leave our loved ones. For it will surely come, and we all know it.

Claire.