In Geography this morning Mr. Benett showed us part of a film strip of the Lake District.

   In J.T.C. we did arms drill, mutual drill and L.M.G. stripping etc.

   Our 2nd XV match v Porter’s was postponed and I came home through town.

   I spent all the afternoon and evening doing homework.

   Not much has happened at all today. After dinner I cleaned my rifle and then went to an Alto practice in the Music Room.

   I came home on the S.B. and did my homework tonight. I had a bath at 7.30pm.

Korean Diary for Jan 24th–30th

24th. In a broadcast from Delhi Mr. Nehru says that naming China as an aggressor will not lead to peace.

27th. UN Political Committee adjourns without reaching a decision on China.

28th. Elements of five N. Korean divisions reported cut off by UN forces.

30th Political Committee of UN Gen. Ass. again discusses China.

   In Biology this morning we examined some earthworms. Stephen took one into English but Mr. Cooke did not appreciate its presence and it had to be precipitated from a window.

   In Chemistry we used some of the alcohol we distilled last week in some experiments. I tasted the alcohol — it was terrible!

   It was about 1.15pm when I got home. While on the 1A ’bus I saw Dad so I got off and came home with him.

   George [Harvey] got married at 3.0pm at Hall Green Church. Mam went to the service.

   Tonight I went to the Olton to see Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss in Let’s Have a Murder and The Great Plane Robbery. Both films were good.

   I got up first today as usual, took Mam and Dad a cup of tea and lit the fire.

   It rained all morning so I did not go out at all.

   After dinner, Mam, Dad and I went to the Mission where Mr. Ron Tilsley was the speaker.

   Tonight I did some homework and took Ginger for a walk all round the village. I went to bed at 10.0pm.

   For the second night in succession there was a gale and heavy rain. The 9.0pm Barometer reading on Sunday at Edgbaston Observatory was 27.567, the lowest since records were first begun in 1890. This spectacular fall was accompanied by 57 mph gusts of wind. weather

   The fencing at Birmingham R.F. Club’s ground was completely brought down. We saw it as the Special Bus went by this morning.

   Nothing happened at school. A new master, Mr. Richards took us for French. After school I went to a Joint Debate in the Girls’ School. The motion “This House deplores the presence of American soldiers in this country” was defeated by 58 votes to 41.

   Today’s principle [sic] event was the Five-Mile Walk which started at 2.15pm from the South Field.

   I was fourth after about 400 yards but just managed to keep well to the front so that I actually finished twelfth or thirteenth. As I did the distance in fifty five minutes I got both the Open (60 mins) and Intermediate (65 minutes) standards. My time last year was 56½ minutes. I should imagine that about two hundred took part. R.St.J. Glydon and J.D. Waterstreet tied for first place in the Open while N.C. Brown won the Intermediate with R.B.W. Price in second place.

   Tonight I went to Cubs as usual.

   Nothing much happened at all today. After dinner I had a game of football and after school I went to an Alto practice in Big School. I spent the evening doing homework and I also blancoed my gaiters and belt.

   In French today we have started to read Le Horla by Guy de Maupassant. In Geography we are now studying the South-Western Peninsula while in Maths we are doing some elementary calculus.

   In J.T.C. we went into the adjoining field to do L.M.G. Revision. This was followed by mutual drill. This afternoon our 2nd XV had a match v Porter’s at 1.50pm. The match started early as the pitch was required for another game afterwards. Owing to the early kick-off I was unable to get the forwards down beforehand and after some shuffling about I put Griffin and Trow as front row with me. We were up against a much better & heavier pack though and we lost by 14 pts to nil.

   Today has been quite exciting in a way since the Birmingham Weekly Post devoted its centre pages to an article on K.E.S. under the caption “Never a Dull Moment At K.E.S.” and “Societies to Suit All Tastes — Prefects’ Privileges”. The article was very well illustrated by a dozen photographs showing the Common Room, Prefects’ Room & School Captain’s Study. Then there was a general view taken from the 325 feet high University tower, a photo of the Milk Bar, Library and Fives Courts. Then there was one of Rem. [Remove] C. doing French, an U.M. [Upper Middle] Craft Class, the School going to dinner and the Head leaving Big School after prayers. It was a good article all round.

   Nothing much happened today at school. I managed to get home for 12.55pm.

   This afternoon Dad and I went to St Andrew’s to see B’ham City play Bristol City in the 5th Round of the FA Cup. An hour before the kick-off there were over 30,000 spectators. The teams were as follows:— B’ham: Merrick; Badham, Martin; Boyd, Atkins, Ferris; Stewart, Higgins, Trigg, Smith, Berry. Bristol: Sullivan; Guy, Bailey; Peacock, Roberts, Beasley (player-manager); Williams, Eisentrager, Clark, Rodgers, Rudkin. It was a disappointing match however. There were actually forty fouls throughout the game. The goals were scored by Stewart and Trigg, one in each half. The official attendance was 47,831.

   I was up first as usual this morning. It was raining hard and it continued for most of the day. I spent most of the time doing homework but also finished reading Death in Shallow Water by Miles Burton. It was not at all a bad book but it did not seem to “warm up” until half way through.

   We had a test in Physics this morning. After morning school there was a Choir Practice as usual. Dr. Willis Grant is back at school once more but the Concert which had been arranged for Thursday evening has been postponed. The new date is possibly March 15th.

   In General Geography we are discussing the possibility of industrialising an area of the Cairngorms in the Kingussil region. This quite appeals to me; I’ve often thought of starting a new colony at the South Pole!

   In the 6th round of the FA Cup. Blues were drawn at home against Manchester United.

   As usual nothing happened at all today. I came straight home after school. I spent all the afternoon doing homework and also read a few pages of my new book The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie.

   Tonight I went to Cubs as usual.

Korean Diary for Jan 31st–Feb 6th:—

Gen Assembly accepts US resolution condemning Chinese aggression by 44 votes to 7 with 9 abstentions.

2nd. Chinese Foreign Minister says UN resolution “slanders” China.

3rd. President Truman insists on the importance of a world organisation for peace.

4th. UN forces meet increased resistance.

5th. 8th Army raid enemy positions.

   The postman did not call at our house this morning but Johnny Stokes displayed one Valentine at least in Geography. Mr. Benett anxiously tore open a letter and was greatly relieved on reading the contents.

   In Physics I signed a paper which means I shall be taking the General Certificate of Education next term. I shall take English Grammar, Maths, General Science and French all being well.

   After dinner I played football. We had a test in Maths. After school I went to an alto practice.

   This evening I have done prep and blancoed gaiters and belt.

   Outside it is now extremely foggy. weather

   At school today in J.T.C. we did mutual drill and rifle revision but otherwise nothing much happened.

   This afternoon the House Rugby teams completed their 1950–1 programme. The 2nd XV played Dunt’s and I was Hooker as usual. The match started at 3.0pm on a pitch several inches deep in mud. We lost by 17 pts to 13.

   Our Record this season:

   It was raining when I set out for school, this morning. weather

   In Physics we started on Heat but nothing else happened. Kipper and I both went shooting at dinner time though we have not yet completed classification.

   School ended at 2.25pm so that we could watch the 1st XV final — Dunt’s v Williams’. This was won by Dunt’s by 3 pts to nil, G.R. Green scoring midway through the first half. The rain had stopped but even so, the game was spoilt by the conditions. Dunt’s might have won by a greater margin if they had not employed the short punt ahead & passed instead.

   I came home with Bryan Peters on the 1A ’bus. My half term averages were:— Eng 71%, Maths 72%, French 55%, Geog72% Chem 87%, Phys 76%, Bi 100%.

   As today was our half-term holiday I stayed in bed until 10.15am.

   Later in the morning I took Ginger for a walk & met Dad on his way home [from work] at Cateswell Road.

   In the afternoon we went to see Blues play Chesterfield. We got there an hour before the k.o. in order to get a Cup ticket for next week. We got our tickets all right but there was a complete sell out. Some 38,000 paid for admission but only 33,000 stayed to see Blues win 2–1. All the goals came in the second half, the scorers being Trigg, Higgins and Massart.

   Tonight I went to the Piccadilly for the first time. It is a fine cinema and it was a good programme too — Joel McCrea and Shelley Winters in Frenchie and Hell Beautiful.

   It has rained nearly all today but it stopped this evening and I took Ginger all round the village for her evening walk. Otherwise nothing happened. weather

Korean Diary for Feb 7th–13th:—

10th. UN patrols cross the Han river and enter Seoul

11th. UN patrols withdraw from Seoul.

12th. Communists launch counter-attack in Korea.

13th. UN troops make withdrawls [sic]

   For this morning I had arranged a football match at Selly Oak Park. Fourteen of us turned up and we played seven-a-side on a small pitch. My side won 13–12! It wasn’t a bad match but the pitch was in a terrible condition. Fortunately the weather kept fairly fine except for one short shower. I scored a couple of goals. “Willy” Kington got eight. I got home for about 1.30pm.

   Nothing much happened in the afternoon. This evening I had a bath before going to bed at 9.30pm. David and Marjorie came.

   This morning, the rain was falling heavily as usual. After House meetings we went to forms rooms. Nothing much happened.

   The Cross-Country race took place this afternoon. I went in for it of course and finished 33rd in just sixteen minutes. The course was over 2.4 miles and was won by R.B.W. Price with N.C. Brown in second place. I was actually second for the first two or three hundred yards but I dropped behind when I got the stitch. But I caught up several people in a 40 yard burst for the tape. The standard was 23.0 minutes. I came home with John North.

   I did not go to Cubs tonight, but I had a bath and went to bed at 9.40pm.

   Nothing much happened at school today. After dinner I played football and scored two goals in half a minute.

   In Maths Mr. Roberts talked to us for over an hour about stocks and shares. After school I went to an Alto practice in the New Music Room [in the Chief Master’s house on Bristol Road]. Only Wyatt and I turned up.

   During the evening I listened to the wireless for an hour, did homework and then pressed my uniform and blancoed my belt and gaiters.

   In Geography we are now studying the Iberian Peninsula of Spain and Portugal.

   In J.T.C., a Captain came from the War Office to talk to us about Commissions in the National Service.

   I came home through town [and saw that the Festival Ballet is at the Hippodrome this week and next, with Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin. I shall not be able to go though].

   After doing homework I read part of The Silent Company by Rémy but nothing else happened.

   We worked individually in Physics today and did an experiment to find the Specific Heat of Lead.

   At 1.25pm I had a special Alto practice in the Gym Music Room. In French we did some dictation.

   I came home on the Special. Nothing else happened all day.

   The teams for tomorrow’s 6th round tie are as follows:— [Birmingham City:] Merrick; Badham, Green; Boyd, Atkins, Ferris; Stewart, Higgins, Trigg, Smith, Berry. Manchester United: Allen; McNulty, Carey; Gibson, Chilton, Cockburn; Birkett, Pearson, Aston, Birch, Rowley.

   Man Utd. won the Cup in 1947–8 and in the last round knocked out Arsenal who won the FA Cup last season.

What an exciting day! B’ham City v Manchester United. Trigg loses the toss, kicks off. The ball goes to Boyd, he puts it out to Stewart on the right. A couple of headers and the ball is at the feet of Higgins, 20 yards out. A glorious shot into the top corner of the net and Blues are one up within 22 seconds. United are rattled and are rarely in the game then. Blues keep pressing but can’t score, though they are by far the better team. Their half-backs are brilliant, the defensive tackling terrific. It is a fierce tussle but with plenty of good football. The 50,000 crowd are always afraid United will score. But the final whistle goes and Blues are in the Semi-Final!

   I got up first this morning and made the tea. I couldn’t make a fire because we’ve been without coal for over a fortnight. I took Ginger out before breakfast. Nothing much else happened all day. I did some homework and read some of my library book The Perfect Murder Case by Christopher Bush.

Korean Diary for Feb 14th–20th

14th. S. Korean marines make landing on E. coast, 80 miles N of 38th Parallel.

18th. UN forces advance 8 miles on central front.

20th. Mr. Shinwell makes an announcement on the fighting in Korea. [Emanuel Shinwell was Secretary of State for War. Many years later when he was in the House of Lords I come to know him and we spend some time together; he signs his 1973 autobiography, I’ve Lived through It All, “With kind regards, from Manny Shinwell.”]

   As usual nothing happened at school today. There was Choir Practice as usual at 12.30. Our plan to industrialise the Cairngorms in Geography seems to be materialising. Chadwin and I are organising a National Park which is to be a bird sanctuary too.

   We are doing Algebra this week in Maths — A.P.’s and G.P.s [arithmetic and geometric progressions] which is fairly elementary work.

   Mr. Cotter took us for Gym. I managed to catch the S.B. It came home a slightly different route, turning up Park Hill Road [in Moseley]. This was because part of the normal route was under repair.

   In [the] FA Cup Semi-Final Blues will play Blackpool at Maine Road, Manchester, on March 10th.

   We had a test today in Divinity but little else happened. I came home through town.

   Granma [Smith] came during the afternoon. I spent most of the time doing prep and I also went down the village with Mam, taking Ginger with me.

   I went to Cubs this evening. With the Scout attendances dropping again, Mr. Harvey has hit on a new idea. Gerald, Cresswell and Froggatt will each be trained in one particular subject and they will then pass on their knowledge to separate classes. We also hope to get about twenty new recruits. It was very foggy when I got home at 9.15. I took Ginger out for a short walk. weather

   [It is Dad’s 44th birthday today; Fred was 35 last Saturday and their sister Edna May will be 46 on 20th August — she is my Godmother.]

   I listened to the radio this morning and learned that the M.C.C. team had won a test match in Australia for the first time since 1938. This was the last of five tests and Australia won all the previous four. cricket

   Clarice came to school with me today as she was taking the examination for K.E.H.S. [King Edward’s High School for Girls]. girls’ school

   For Field Day we went to Windmill Hill in the Bromsgrove area where we did section attacks. As far as the weather went, we could not have had a better day. We got back to school at 3.30pm and had tea in the Dining Hall at 4.0pm.

   I came home with John and Kipper.