To Kirk in evening – only one there. To bed early – tired.
DIARY Monday 11th November
Armistice signed!!!!! Peace – Hoo bally ray wotto!!!! Capture of Mons. Formated in morning and then came down and heard the joyous news! Everyone went mad! Low flying all up Tees and beach. Flew under bridge at M‘boro’ twice. Damn good show.
Foamed about in afternoon. Huge great dance in evening till 4.30 a.m.!! That’s the spirit. Fireworks and bonfire and fizz supper! Miss Jeffs is topping.
DIARY Tuesday 12th November
Up at 10.30. V.little flying. A couple of joyrides. Too dud in afternoon and so washed out. The C.O. asked why!
Welch Dance in evening. Supper at Lonsdales with Miss Jeffs in evening. Got a mascot v.nice too. Then dance till 3.15! Pretty tired but great fun! Walked home with the girl. Bed at 4. V.cold.
DIARY Wednesday 13th November
Holiday all day. Up at 11. Brekker in bed. V.cold. One set of tennis in afternoon but too cold and court too soft for any fun. Washed out after that. Tea with Bartlett at Lonsdales – 3 eggs v.good tea. Tendered back. Jolly cold. Rather a head and a bit chilly. Thought I was getting the flu. Bed at 9.30. Slept badly till 11 and then well till 9.
DIARY Thursday 14th November
Fine day. Not much aviation though – that ‘peace’ feeling still about! Washed out at 4. Pretty tired all day. Bed late – v.cold. Dinner with Rogers and his wife.
DIARY Friday 15th November
Misty all day v.little aviation. Rang up Miss Jeffs. Down to tea with her at 7.30 and then on to the Welch Dance – v.good time indeed! Not many there. Saw her home after. Some kid! Lovely night.
DIARY Saturday 16th November
Fine all day. No early flying – C.O. v.fed up with us all! Did a formation after brekker. Low strafed Jeffs house! Golf in afternoon with Miss Jeffs, Mac and Miss Burns. I was playing execrably!! Lost 4 down! Tea with Miss Jeffs and then party after supper. 7 girls and 4 men. Played blow feather and piano and danced. Left at 12. Topping evening and good fun. Effected nothing however!!
DIARY Sunday 17th November
Misty all morning. Church Parade at 9.30 for all. Good service. Too dud for flying. Barker in for lunch. Cleared a bit after. Took him up for a flip and looped and stalled turned and contour chased. Said he enjoyed it but looked v.green! To tea at farm with him after that. Miss Jeffs and Miss Walker in. Played piano and gramophone and card tricks. Walked home with Miss Jeffs, couldn’t say a word but got to the “Annie” stage! Look. I am far gone. “Good night Annie” – that’s the spirit! Long talk to Duggie.
DIARY Monday 18th November
Mistier than porridge in morning. No flying. I for live flips. Cleared up after a bit. Gibb and Alex did forced landings. Gave a lecture on formation and generally hot aired about all round. Fair days work. V cold indeed. Down town after ten – bought photo frame and ring for Mascot. Bed early v tired. Lost 3/6 at bridge – I am a luckless man!
DIARY Tuesday 19th November
Fine cold day but with a thick mist. Not much aviation for me. V thick later in afternoon. Took up SE5 and did 6 loops and some rolls. Nice bus but not as good as a Camel. Rang up Annie and Smith and I took her and Mary Callum to dancing class at the Gem. Not too bad and I danced a lot with Annie. Saw ‘em home singing and dancing. Cocoa at Callums house.
Bed, v cold.
DIARY Wednesday 20th November
Lovely day but v thick on ground. Did an hours formation at 12000 ft with Alexander, nearly killed me in a dive! Cold. Alexander landed into 2 Avros and bent all 3 machines! Up for a mad flip after lunch.
Smith and I took Annie and May to supper at the Lonsdales – v good meal and then to Cinema after. Long theological discussion! Snooker at Mays after v bon time.
DIARY Thursday 21st November
Cold day. Forced landing on Avro in morning. Lost my prop and sat in a field for 3/4 hour! Up on a Camel after lunch for a short while – all the cartridge cases fell into the officer! Awfully dangerous. Kicked up the ____ of a row when I came down.
Tennis with Houseley in afternoon. Beastly cold and we quit soon. Read and smoked after dinner.
DIARY Friday 22nd November
Cold day and a fair amount of flying. Managed to get dance tickets. Called for Annie and went to Welch Dance – awful good fun. Col. Page’s buffday – fizz. Back at 3. Danced a whole lot with Annie.
DIARY Saturday 23rd November
Thick mist v little aviation. Rolled tennis court in morning. Annie and Madge came up at 3 and had a great game with Houseley and I. We lost 6-4, 6-4.
Tea in Guest Room and then down to Supper with May Callum. I developed a sore throat and felt v dud. Good time.
DIARY Sunday 24th November
In bed till 11.30. Down for Annie at 2.20. For a five mile walk across fields v muddy but jolly good fun. Back to tea and Supper with her – Tom and May in. Learnt how to gold divine! Back at 11. V good fun.
DIARY Monday 25th November
No flying – raining on and off. Played badminton with C.O. in afternoon. Rather sore throat. Boxed with Bill and Houseley and then did some Gym. Smithy and I had Annie and May up for dinner in Guest Room. Smithy v tight but splendid fun and good meal. Gramophone. Saw them home – very nearly kissed Annie – very nearly. She is a sweet kid. Bed at 12.
DIARY Tuesday 26th November
Fine day. Some morning. Flew to Marske and took up Bristol Monoplane – Gorgeous bus – simply lovely. Looped and rolled wonderfully. Then took up Sop Triplane – v nice – loops nicely. Parade in afternoon. Did not fly. Played billiards with Houseley.
To dancing class with Annie in evening. Priceless – danced every dance with her. Saw her home and then abso: tore everything by asking to kiss her – badly told off. I am sorry about it. Fearfully fed up. Pray hard she sees me tomorrow.
DIARY Wednesday 27th November
To Byfleet by 9.30 train – good trip – v cold.
DIARY Thursday 28th November
Up town by 11.30. Bought a few things – Lunch with Gin and to see the “Box o’ Tricks”. Down by 6 train.
DIARY Friday 29th November
Loafed about all day. Brooklands in afternoon with Dad. Dinner at Swifts – v dud.
DIARY Saturday 30th November
Town with Dad and Bob. Lunch at club with Uncle H. To see B.B’s on B – good fun. Dinner at Elysée with Avison. Fair. Saw me off and kissed her!
DIARY Sunday 1st December
To Church H.C. in morning. Up by 7.30 train up to Kings Cross. Caught 10.30 train – chock full. Avison saw me off v sweet of her. Awful trip. Half an hour sleep.
DIARY Monday 2nd December
Arrived at 7am, v tired. Flew twice. Bed at 8.30.
DIARY Tuesday 3rd December
Slept till 8.30, v tired still. Up with Blake, flipped once or twice. Rang up Annie – To dancing class in evening. Too tired to do anything at all. Bed late.
DIARY Wednesday 4th December
Better! Flew a good deal. Up with Blake.
Tea with Annie at Lonsdales – made my peace – hooray. Played gramophone at her place after. To men’s dance – awful blooming show. Had pocket book with £5 pinched from my pocket simply wild.
DIARY Thursday 5th December
No sign of my perishing pocket book. Now hear that flight O.C.’s pay is washed out – I am out of luck. Not much aviation. Fooled about in afternoon. To Gym class in evening. Great fun. Learnt Jujitsu. Throat still sore. Am going to fly back Hun machines – grand.
DIARY Friday 6th December
Flew hard all day. Took up Snipe. Hockey in afternoon v the men. Jolly good game – we won 4.2. I played quite well. v stiff! To Welch dance in evening. Took Annie and danced quite well and a lot with her. Back at 12. V tired. Sat in Callums and had Oxo. Issued ultimatum!
DIARY Saturday 7th December
Joyous flip on DH9 in morning. Played tennis in afternoon with Major, Scott and Collison. Great fun. V sore! Won 3f at auction! T
o billiards at Callums in evening, great fun. Annie not there but still Smithy and I there. May is a good kid.
DIARY Sunday 8th December
To Kirk in morning – v good service. Walk along sands with Annie in afternoon. Great. To May’s in evening. Rough housed and pillow fought. Play gramophone and sung. Very merry evening. Nothing doing tho.
Bed at 11.30. Throat again.
DIARY Monday 9th December
Flipped around in morning. Cold. Formation in afternoon, rotten! Got up flying speed after tea.
To dance in evening. Good fun – v hot tho! Danced a lot with Annie. Drew heavy bomber with affinity _____! Knew I should! Talked to Annie – I sat out. What ails me? I can’t say a darned word!! The old old story I fear! Saw her home and held her hand! Lust! Bed at 3 – v tired – oh so tired – and thirsty – ye gods – guts thirst!
DIARY Tuesday 10th December
Flying in morning. Luffly day. To dancing class in evening with Annie. Great fun – danced a lot with her. Saw her home – nuffin’ doin!
DIARY Wednesday 11th December
Feeling a bit tired! Flew in morning. Fooled about. Nothing of interest. Hockey v Welch in afternoon. Great game 2-2. I played fairly well.
DIARY Thursday 12th December
Flying all day. Gorgeous day. Fixed up dance hall in afternoon. Binge in Mess. Home late. Concert in evening not bad.
DIARY Friday 13th December
Flying in morning. High wind and v bumpy but good fun. Huge dance in evening. Wondrous show. Danced even numbers with Annie. Topping. Took her to my room, saw her and May home in cab. Wotto, walked back – Bed at 4.30.
DIARY Saturday 14th December
Up at 10.15, v fit. Flew a bit in morning. Landed at Callums with Smithy in afternoon. I saw Annie to hockey field after – looking like nuffing on earf ! Smithy ______ but tush! Norraword!!
Tea at Callum’s and then flew back. Annie and May to Supper and then to Concert. Topping fun and enjoyed it hugely! Worro! Walked back – lovely night.
DIARY Sunday 15th December
Raining. To Kirk in town with Smithy. Walked back with May. Down to tea at Annie’s in afternoon. Lovely time. Sat and played gramophone – arms around her! Tush! Then sang songs and had a long and v candid talk with Annie. Saw [?] ______ Back at 11.30. Feeling too tired for words.
DIARY Monday 16th December
Fairly fine day. Flew in morning and a bit in afternoon. Phoned Annie, had dinner in Middlesboro. Then to see “The Live Wire” – jolly good show. Then sat in Grand till 11.15. Had a topping talk with her. She is a sweet girl. Caught train at 12. Walked home. By God’s Grace Annie will keep me white. V happy.
DIARY Tuesday 17th December
Flying in morning. Flew Bristol Fighter at Marske – my 16th type, v nice bus and loops rippingly. Hockey v N.E.A.F.I.S. in afternoon, we lost – I played rottenly. Dinner at Red Lion with Annie, May and Smithy. Quite fun but I too tired out! To dancing class in afternoon. Not much fun – danced a lot with Annie. Tired. Walked home, asked a question.
DIARY Wednesday 18th December
Flew a bit. One formation. Up 3 times on pup. Called for Annie, and May at 8pm in tender. To Saltburn dance. The best fun ever. Danced even No’s with Annie. Ripping – stopped at 2.30. No cab. Raked it up. Got v comfy and warm when cabby refused to go on after a time! Got lift in train to Marske crossing. Then walked – fearfully cold but still! Arm around her. Said goodbye and God speed. Received my answer, just too happy for words. I would do anything for her. Bed 4.30.
DIARY Thursday 19th December
Up at 8. Down for 9.33 train, met by Annie. Train 35 mins late! Up to Middlesboro with Annie. Awful nice of her. V cold, but feel fit. Caught train at Darlington. Packed, sat on floor till York. Then seat v uncomfy and cold as sin! Am going to take up Col. McGregor. Wrote Annie. Train arr: 1 hour late. Met by Dad and taxi. Caught 7.58 train, cold, tired and hungry! Arr: 8.
Bed at 10. Jolly cold.
DIARY Friday 20th December
V cold day. Up for brekker. Up to village with Mum in morning. Read after lunch. Then to Bramptons for tea. Cold. Am reading “Rough Road” v good. Feel v fit but tired.
DIARY Saturday 21st December
Up to town by 10.15. Bought a record for Annie. Paid £46 Cox’s drew £10, £16 left. In bed to 10 – awfully full. Down by 1.45 no lunch to notice. To dance practice at W Hall. None of us could dance! Chilly after lunch. Wrote Annie.
DIARY Sunday 22nd December
To Kirk in morning. Raining. Stayed in house in afternoon and read and wrote letters. Read aircraft book and the “Rough Road”.
DIARY Monday 23rd December
Pains within – felt rotten! Stayed in all day. Dud weather. Read and fooled about “Scrooge” in evening. Bad. Billinghurst in.
DIARY Tuesday 24th December
V cold. Quite o.k. To Woking in morning with Dad with £2.10. Came back with 4d! Letter from Annie – just ripping, oh she is the goods. Fixed up Xmas tree. Walked with Dad. “Scrooge” in evening.
DIARY Wednesday 25th December
A merry Christmas to everyone (including Annie!) Feeling v fit. To Kirk in morning v cold, presents at lunch. Lovely scarf from Mum, cigars from Dad, six silk hankies, socks and calendars. Present giving to kids after. Tea at W Hall. Sang songs with Gin after dinner. Walked home with Frederick and then Gin. Bed at 11.
DIARY Thursday 26th December
Fine frosty day – rather cold but lovely. All for a long walk in morning. Took some snaps. Read in afternoon, Dad chilly in evening. Retired to bed. I had pains and felt rather ill. Worse after supper. Bed early, felt awful _____! Was ‘orrid sick!! Slept fairly.
DIARY Friday 27th December
Much better! Up for brekker. Letter from Annie – bon. Raining, wrote to Annie. Out for a stroll. Dad in bed all day. To Bevingtons for supper. Eily arrived. To dance at village hall after supper. Great fun. Enid a lovely dancer – Miss Comerford v nice. Danced all but 2. Stopped at 1.15. Bed at 2. Slept well. Still a bit wonky within!
DIARY Saturday 28th December
Taxied back from Bevingtons. Dad up for lunch. To W Hall in morning. To see Major Landon for tea. Talked after supper and read. Eily to W Hall in taxi on a/c of rain. Long talk with Mum after supper. I am a selfish beast. Too much ego in my cosmos. Must change in New Year. Letter from Annie and Duggie.
DIARY Sunday 29th December – DADS BIRTHDAY GOD BLESS HIM
To Kirk with Mum and Eily in morning. Stayed to H.C. – only 3 there but v nice. Read in afternoon and played with kiddies. Packed after tea. Saw Eily to West Hall after supper and said goodbye all round. Awful posh those girls up there talk! Walked back. Bed. Last day of leave – rotten. God bless Dad on his 61st birthday and may he see many another.
DIARY Monday 30th December
Up by 10.15, missed Gin at Waterloo. Taxied to Kings Cross and had lunch. Met Bartlett. Gin turned up at 1. Train v full. Arrived Redcar at 10pm – just in time for a dance – heck! Annie all booked up! Had four with her. Bed at 3.30. Glad to be back.
DIARY Tuesday 31st December
Flew once in morning. High wind. I was C.O. Did nowt in afternoon. Supper at Annies and then to Welch Dance. The best ever in the world! Topping supper, bags of fizz – all full out. Auld Lang Syne and Cheers. Had 13 dances with Annie had a topping time. Sat out. Saw her home and kissed her at 4.30 am. Well jolly old 1918 began with a war and bullets and ends with Peace and a kiss. “and you find at the end of a perfect day the soul of a friend you’ve made”. A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND GOD BLESS US ALL.
Postscript
by Dr John Thackray
Guy obtained his permanent commission with the R.A.F. as a flying officer on 2 August 1918. He served in India from 1920 to 1922, taking part in the Mahsud campaign, Waziristan, with 28 Squadron, in 1921. He served as a flying instructor at RAF Cranwell from 1923 to 1927, and in 201 Flying Boat Squadron, 1928-1929. Guy was at Air Staff Headquarters, Far East Command for 1930-1934, being promoted to Squad
ron Leader in 1935. He was Chief Flying Instructor, Oxford University Air Squadron for 1934-1937, and became a Wing Commander in 1938. He was Officer Commanding 144(B) Squadron in 1938 and again in 1940-1942. Guy served in the Middle East in 1942-1945, being promoted Group Captain in 1942. He retired in 1946 and began a new career as an archaeologist with the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works. He became an Inspector of Ancient Monuments and conducted a number of digs – notably Anglo-Saxon work at Thetford, Norfolk.
Guy married Cynthia Burgoyne Lamb in 1923 and had two daughters, June Mainwaring (b.1925) and Susan Elizabeth Mainwaring (b.1928).
He lived in retirement in Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire, and died in September 1971.
Diary And Letters Of A World War I Fighter Pilot, The Page 25