12/12/40 THURS: Our forces in Egypt have had a great victory. They've captured Sidi Barani and 1000s of troops. Mummy had a big row all the evening. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940 This was the 1st big victory in the Western Desert campaign. 1000s of Italian prisoners were captured.

13/12/40 FRIDAY: Mummy and Toby have made up their quarrel. Lord Lothian, british ambassador to the U.S.A. has died. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Ke…

14/12/40 SATURDAY: Our troops in Egypt have captured 26,000 Italians. Marshall Petain has sacked Laval. He is replaced by M. Flanndin. Lily the maid has left. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940 -en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_… -en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_La… -en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-%C…

15/12/40 SUNDAY: Daddy came. Our troops in Egypt have reached the Libyan border. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940

16/12/40 MONDAY: The Greeks are still pressing forward in Albania. An uneventful day, And so to bed. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940

17/12/40 TUESDAY: We had a surprise visit from Daddy. I went with him to the village I have learned to ride Nina’s byke with the saddle low. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940

18/12/40 WEDNESDAY It was very very frosty this morning. Later on it all melted and it was very muddy out #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940

19/12/40 THURSDAY: Daddy came. He forgot to bring our comic. We had another fight with the kids on the main road. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940

20/12/40 FRIDAY: Mummy told me off this morning.We did not go out all day. Our forces have surrounded Bardia in Libya. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940 Bardia, in Libya, was guarded by about 45,000 Italian and Colonial troops.

21/12/40 SATURDAY: A very miserable day. I read all the afternoon. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940

22/12/40 SUNDAY: Daddy came he brought Olive with him. Viscount Halifax has been appointed ambassador to the U.S.A. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Wo…

23/12/40 MONDAY: A very cold day the water butt is frozen solid. We did not go out all day. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940

24/12/40 TUESDAY: I have finished off the blue jumper I am knitting Simon. Mummy was very cross with me again. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940

25/12/40: WEDS: Daddy came very early to-day. Grandma and Grandpa came for dinner. I have started knitting Simon’s trousers. Daddy did Chanacu (Hanukah). #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940 Our father was off duty, so he came to see us.

26/12/40 THURSDAY: The first snow fell this morning. Daddy took us for a ride in his car. Very cold out. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940

27/12/40 FRIDAY: Daddy went home this morning. I did not go out all day, all the girls have colds. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940

28/12/40 SATURDAY: Quite a nice day. I took Simon out in the pram. A heavy raid on London last night. Estelle helped me wash up this evening. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940 A heavy air raid on London. St. Paul’s Cathedral damaged. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blitz…

29/12/40 SUNDAY: Daddy came. A very windy day. Daddy came to dinner. We went to a Chanacu* party at Clara’s #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940 *Chanacu = my misspelling of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights

30/12/40 MONDAY: A very heavy raid on London last night. Showers of incendiaries. We have got a new chairwoman, thank goodness! #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940 The Germans give us some fireworks to end the year with a bang – a heavy air raid on London.

31/12/40: TUESDAY: This is the last day of 1940. This afternoon Estelle, Helen and I did scholarship papers. #SheilasDiary #LDNDiary1940 Another attempt at home schooling. Papers were reprints of grammar school entrance exams for 11-year-olds.