22 Sat. Isabelle’s Birthday. She & Winnifred drove to the school with the pony. Were out most of the morning. Woodworks were here after dinner, also Mr Andries, & Doris came up for a few minutes. Did homework. Sang again tonight.
23 Sun. The girls were outside quite a bit. I wrote an essay this morn for Miss Cardwell. Took a few pictures. Tried desperately to study Literature, but Miss Farrell came over about 3.30, so I couldn’t do it. The girls had made ice-cream. Miss F. Stayed for supper. Got word today that Frank McGugan was killed on Friday. I feel wretched tonight. Didn’t get to bed til after 10.
From Aunt Wilma: Frank was the eldest of the 4 McGugan boys. He was a pilot, gunned down in the second WW. He was the only one that did not survive. Pilot was last to evacuate. The whole community was devastated, as they always were when any sadness occurred. I was too young to know Frank. Knew all the other boys.
24 Mon. Mom brought Winnifred, Doris & I to town. The brakes broke, so she & Shirley had to stay in. Had dinner here. We had singing again today. Basketball games & dance at Collegiate tonight. We did hardly any homework, went to the show. Guadalcanal Diary (Preston Foster.) It was swell. Bed at 10.40.
“Exchange with Joan Allen: Me – Who is Winnifred Woollett? It looks like it says “”Beth’s Cousin””.
Winnifred was Grandma’s older sister, Aunt Nora’s, daughter. Raised in London and then married and lived in Dorchester just east of London. She passed away young in the late 70’s.
Both she and her brother were active during the war. Harry her brother lost his hearing from firing ammunition while in the navy. He passed in the early 2000’s .”
25 Tues. Saw at 1 1/2 hr. film at school after recess. It as very good. Presented by the Tree Company. Singing until 20 to five. I went down town, got my dress from Simpsons brought it home, tried it on and took it back again. Doris got supper. Mrs. S. came over & asked us to keep Patsy, which we did. Didn’t get to bed until eleven.
26 Wed. Went to the Legion after school to practice singing. It was terrible. Got home at 5.10. Supper was late as usual. Doris went over to Mrs. Johnson’s after. Cut her toe on a nail Mrs C. put in the doorstop. Homework. Bed at 10.30.
27 Thurs. We got our tickets after four for the Festival tonight. School-Board bought them. Had supper, did a little homework then Margaret Douglas went to the Legion with us. WCI Girls Chorus was last item. Went over swell! We got 183 points. Mom, Mrs. S. & the girls brought our plants to the room. We got to bed at midnight.
28 Fri. Rather sleepy. Mom, Shirley, Isabelle & Mrs. Stutt came in for us. It was the first day we were packed at noon, and they had gone to the show, so were late. Leila was here tonight, so I gave her a lesson & she stayed all night.
(scroll to the end of this post for a picture of the original diary entries in Mom’s handwriting)
These are the diaries of a seventeen-year-old teenager from a farm near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Her name is Lorraine. She eventually was a church organist in Colgate. In 1944 she was the piano player for a dance band in Weyburn. In these days before school busses she, and her sisters, each had to move from the farm into town to attend school for Grades 11 & 12. This is the darkest time in World War II. Weyburn hosted an airbase for BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan). In other words, the town is filled with eligible young airmen from all over the world …
