Betty Ross was 17 living in Cambridge at the start of World War II and started a diary four years later in early 1943. Cambridge Museum has transcribed some of the diary starting with the first entry.
Betty Ross at a Military Ball fundraiser in 1941. Photo: Cambridge Museum
“Whoever reads this. Do so at your own risk!! And please no comments on bad spelling etc.”
Mar 1943
“A Farewell Dance in town hall, 10 chaps. I wore my blue net evening frock. Beverley & Pam Rishworth on door with me. Joan & Rosamond Graham relieved us after a while. Six Yanks in Guard of Honour. They didn’t dance though, worse luck …”
March 1943:
“One of the Yanks asked Joan did her eyes bother her – but she knew the answer. You should say ‘No”. They say – ‘They do me!’ Cute, what! … They sure were a great lot.”
Aug/Sep 1943:
“We are all very annoyed with Pop. We were listening in to a concert relayed from a camp and were enjoying it. He … switches onto stinking old Parliament, stuttering old Pete Fraser etc sending over some awful piffle.”
19 Sep 1943:
“I had a fit of the blues that afternoon, things certainly are not much just now. The war looks as though it’ll just go on & on & there’s nothing doing in the village, it’s enough to make one fed up. Oh, for a camp!!”
26 Oct 1943:
“Yesterday butter rationing came into force, so we decided that while we had a bit in the house we’d do some baking for the boys overseas. Did some peanut brownies, coconut buttons, and Queen cakes.”
See: The 40s – in Betty’s words
Doing Your Bit exhibition featuring Betty Ross
