Page 5 - Stan Frank Diaries

2nd Feb
Gym 0900 hrs. The PTIs organised a game of murder ball - it couldn’t be more aptly named.
The general idea is to arrange extra work for the M.O.

4th Feb
Church parade. Note to self. Don’t stand next to McGuiness he’s still sweating on Best AT.

7th Feb
Watched 9 Div doing rifle drill. Looked cool. Wish we had guns.
Church was boring. We sang Onward Christian Soldiers - what else?
The Padre gave a sermon on the subject ‘Love thy neighbour’ . He should be more
neighbourly and not hold so many f*cking Church services. Also, he’s never encountered one
of Geordie Robson’s farts.

9th Feb
Major Dundee was tonight’s film at the cinema. Got caught sneaking out before the National
Anthem. Made to sweep up the fag butts and put away the chairs.
Wrote home to say I was broke.

12th Feb
Mum sent me a 7/6 Postal Order. Went to the NAAFI and pigged out on Flings, Nelson
squares and a packet of Park Drive. She asked if I’d grown much since I arrived. I’m not sure
what she expected as I’ve only been here 5 weeks - it just feels like 5 months. She said that
my uncle Bert shot up when he joined the army. Anyway, he’s not my real uncle.

Feb 14th
First time we were allowed out of camp. Walked up to the Brams to get the bus to
Wokingham. Had to pass the REME Depot which houses the Junior Leaders. You could spot
a JL a mile off - their knuckles drag on the ground.
No one woke in Wokingham. It should be called Sleepingham. Couldn’t get served in the
pubs. Even the Publicans don’t like Jeeps.
Stopped at Smokey Joe’s on the way back for a bacon banjo and a game of pinball.

17th Feb
Double map treading today. We were all given Ordinance Survey maps of the Brecon
Beacons. Taff Evans wondered why he’d never seen a contour line, even though he’d lived in
Wales all his life. I think Taff is retarded.
My sister wrote to ask if I had shot any Russians yet.

18th Feb
Had the inter-room (bullshit) competition. We worked in shifts all night bumping the floor.
We slept under our beds so as to not disturb our kit layouts. Came third.
Had a letter from home. Mum says she is marrying Uncle Ron.

20th Feb
Doug Dawsom bought himself out. I would too but don’t have twenty quid. Sgt. Pittendreigh
told us we could have walked out for free in the first three days. NOW he tells us!