D +240 Thursday 1.2.45
Usual routine: still warmer - little snow left now, but much mud etc. Rumoured that we are moving Sat. Still having bother with the language. Am constantly being pressed to have food in my "house" - but have to refuse, even at the risk of being rude. They will not take no for an answer! Leave drawing nearer. Scheduled to go on 13th. but may go on 11th due to Cpl. Spencer's trouble. S.S.M. goes tomorrow.
D +241 Friday 2.2.45
Much hard work today for tank crews - removing replaced tracks etc. Am orderly sgt. for the day and have been chasing fatigue men all day. Definitely moving tomorrow: much bustling about - especially among officers.
Bath parade this afternoon. S.S.M. left for England this morning. Dicky Hall acting S.S.M. today. Saw Mr. C. this evening. Promised to call again tomorrow - for photo enlargement and Barry's present. Weather much warmer: very little snow about now.
D +242 Saturday 3.2.45
Normal routine during the day - said au revoir to Mr. C, also Mr. Slaats. Recd. "Souvenir" from the Garenfeld family. Tanks ready to move 5.30pm - an all night journey to Nijmegen. Route via Best, 'S Hertogenbosch, Grave, Nijmegen, Malden. Bit of a nightmare journey owing to speed. No lights allowed: much secrecy concerning this move. My driver succeeded in destroying two wooden cable pylons!
Grave Bridge - intact: a marvellous job; can't understand why its capture wasn't given more publicity - likewise dual rail and road bridge just S. of Nijmegen. From N., proceeded about 3 miles SE to Malden for harbour. Arrived about 4.0am. Spent remainder of night sitting in cookhouse - drinking tea -!
D +243 Sunday 4.2.45
Civvy billets - but I think we have rather commandeered the accommodation than asked permission. Little work today: we have to remain out of sight as much as possible for secrecy. All unit signs, clothing signs, cap badges etc removed. Something very big is brewing - very big.
D +244 Monday 5.2.45
Usual routine: no definite news yet - but it can't be long now - too many conferences, maps etc.
D +245 Tuesday 6.2.45
Departed for Helmond, beyond Eindhoven, 2.30pm. (Note: Helmond lies East of Eindhoven, and is hence before Eindhoven coming from Nijmegen, but beyond if approaching via 'S Hertogenbosch, which was presumably the route taken.) Arrived 6.30. About 50 miles: hell of a journey owing to road traffic: indescribable amount of stuff pouring towards Nijmegen.
Did our night training in the forest: a horrible business. Departed for Malden 10.30pm - arrived 8.30am. Terrible journey owing to priority traffic: one hold up lasted 5 hours!
D +246 Wednesday 7.2.45
Some information today: not long now for the "big thing". My leave! Am due to go in three or four days - but have to go through with the attack - feel wretched about it....
I do so want to see Jess and Barry....
(Note: The diary entries become scrappy, staccato, less legible, and even a little confused, at this point, with corrections to dates and times. It has the appearance of having been written in great haste or under pressure. This is almost certainly the reason, as will be clear from reading the next few days' entries. Such was the haste, that my father abandoned the D-day count that has preceded every date entry so far. The changed appearance of the diary - impossible to capture in this transcription - speaks more eloquently than the actual text about what the next few days were like.)