Random Memoranda
 [Page 3] [Probably in England, 1942] sparking plugs = valve = radio tube battery - elec. accumalator street cars = trams; trucks = lorries; radios = wireless; top of car = hood; our hood = bonnet; Fenders = wings; wrench = spanner; gas = petro;l garters = sock; suspenders suspenders = braces;. queue = line up; to book = to buy; orchestra seats = stalls; cinema = movies; aisle = gangway; drug store = chemist; hardware = ironmonger; dry goods = drapers;. mail a letter = post a letter in pillar box; legal holiday = bank holiday; conductor = guard
[Page 4] pound - lb. pronounced elb or (elberino) [Probably in England, 1942]; checks = draft.; 5c + 10c store = 3p + 6p; dime store = bazaar; chain stores = multiple shops;
expressions. family jewels = nuts. "pulling my leg". "you've had it"
Air Raid warden - any expectant mothers down their?
Don't know only been down here few mins. R.A.F. to Yank pilot.
{Mot} there goes the S of B. (bandit at 4 etc) (Home Tel No. Ocean 0506W Jinis Tel No. Ocean 0301 or Ocean 1133)
[England?, 1942] chasing anything that's hot + hollow.
[Page 5] {fannia} = not what we mean. {knockedup} = go visit. to Telephone; constipated = pregnate.; vest is a waist coat; diversion = detour; to pass one = overtake; flickers = movies.; vacation = a holiday; a fort nite = week end;. overshoes = overboots.; shoes G.I. = boots low shoes = slippers; rubber = French letter; browned off = disgusted; laying in the grass or chaffing = you know; chippee = one who gives it away; flashlite = torch.; hostel = hotel.; pub = bar.; spirits = hard drink; shandy= beer + soda
[Page 6] leomade (soda) = assis;. nurses = sister.; bitters = ale.; stout = (malt beer). pale;. bicycle = wheel. (tyre); motorcycle = {tu} cycle; barracks = billet; abolutions = showers;. loud speaker system = {Tanoy}.; 1 shilling = bob; K.P. = messing ;orderly guard duty = watch;. one pound = a quid; a guinea = 1 lb 1 shilling; 2 pence = tu pense; a toast at drinking = cheer;s Thank you = Ta.; a bulb = globe; warm water = tepid; Hi babe = lo love;. tea + crumpits = toast in squares. buttered
[Page 7] When Capt. Eiland. Lt Neuman and another pilot were talking over their radios and were addressing each other by, "Big John". "{Ugg} and "Cat house". The W.A.A.F. radio operator said "I say" are Big John etc our friends?
" convenience stations = ladies + gents;. mattresses = bisquits; candy = sweets.; men's tailor = clothier; sweet shop = candystore; freight car = goods wagon
[Page 9] Comparing America with the rest of the world I have seen, the plains are broader. the forests " bigger the rivers " longer the mountains are higher the rain is heavier the wind is stronger the lightning is vivider the thunder is louder the moon looks larger the stars are brighter the cold is intenser the air is fresher the sky is bluer the heavens are higher America is the old world on a grander brighter, costlier scale I think this climate etc. works on man. the American is greater physically
[Page 10] and intellectually. Am I a gambler? Will I or Have I become a gypsy or a nomad? I'll always remember this about traveling It has no end. Once you have taken to it you've a pass to the world. Any road, which. or where. It may twist and turn and change its name, its air, its heat and cold. but always it goes on till you reach tide water or mountain snowdrifts. You can never tell what adventures may lie ahead. turn to the right and you meet up with money. happiness. romance. Turn to the left and death rises in front of you. Where is there another gamble like that? That's my present
[Page 11] Slang expressions that stick with us a short time. browned off. you've had it. comme ci comme ca beaucoup. blow it. pre-flight. on the beam. I figure-. I'm not about to. oui. bon jour bon soir. beaucoup good bona sera bona gourno comestai? BENE. I SUPPOSE YOU KNOW I'M NOT ABOUT TO.
[Page 12] world. wheels + dust. engines and wings. ships + water. To get the full out of it you've got to travel for the love of the change it holds. not because you want to get somewhere. North or South or West. Our only tie is to the machines that carry us anywhere or nowhere. {(idell Romance} ({Iambay} Gold)
[Page 15] IN THESE MORBID DAYS WE ARE ONLY MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT: War is a concentrated dose of life. = men at their worst and best. nobility and beastiality, heroism + cowardice honesty + duplicity, love + hate. forgiveness + revenge. joy and sorrow. All the events in a few months of war that might occur in 70 years of quite life.
"THE MOMENT A MAN TAKES TO A PIPE . HE BECOMES A PHILOSOPHER . IT'S THE POOR MANS' FRIEND . IT CALMS THE MIND, SOOTHES THE TEMPER, MAKES A MAN PATIENT UNDER DIFFICULTIES. IT HAS MADE MORE GOOD HUSBANDS KIND MASTERS, INDULGENT FATHERS THAN ANY OTHER BLESSED THING ON THIS UNIVERSAL EARTH...." FROM AN OLD ENGLISH ESSAY.
[Page 16] 1066 873 637 505 525 520 Ruths' Birthday Mar Jinis birthday - Nov 1 19th The big boy in the 27th in the foxhole at Biskra, "I never went to church but please Lord move this one over a little." are you man or mouse drop a piece cheese on floor + see. Capt. Moore says Right dress blank. Everyone waits for the command of execution - no command so he says awright common rt, dress. The queers in Hollywood. = "oh you big husky clean soldier" Pershing Sq in L.A. the kid got propositioned 5 times in one block. went to the cop. cop said "If you don't like our people you can leave."
[Page 17] ARAB chino = orange; saha = thank you; Salutation = Salam alaikum; Take me to American or English + be rewarded = {Dulnee} ilal amerikaniyeen ou al inglez wa tahud feloos.; American =. Amerikanee; Friend = Sadeck; Water = Moya; Food = Akl; Money = Feloos {Arabic numbers}. = 1 to 10 REVISE THE ALPHABET. PUT U + I CLOSER TOGETHER
[Page 18] Tenderloin steak = under cut roast beef = joint bisquits = crackers game of checkers = draughts Eng gals. - at the drop of hat and won't let you wear a hat for fear you won't drop it. Jerry Brown - "What are we going to do with our children [Something crossed out] Heres how - Did I say how? I meant when? I know how. GOD MADE YOU BEAUTIFUL GOD MADE YOU GOOD. GOD MADE YOU. GOD I WISH I COULD. - HERES TO HELL MAY THE STAY THERE BE
[Page 19] AS MERRY AS THE WAY THERE. HERE'S TO GOOD WHISKEY. SO AMBER SO PURE CLEAR. TIS NOT SO SWEET AS A WOMAN'S LIPS BUT A DAMN SIGHT MORE SINCERE If all be true that I do think they'e are five good reasons we should drink. good wine. - a friend.- or being dry (or least we should be by and by). Or any other reason why. MAY YOU LIVE AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO MAY YOU WANT TO AS LONG AS YOU LIVE. IF I'M ASLEEP + YOU WANT TO - WAKE ME IF I'M AWAKE + DON'T WANT TO - MAKE ME GOD I HOPE I WANT TO AS LONG AS I LIVE.
Attached Paper Sheet [Contains the diary entries for August 1 through August 11th, 1944 which are incorporated into the main structure of this transcribed version]
Poem Solitary
When the war is over
With all the battles won
I'll come flying home again
To put away my gun.
To sit beside the fire
And spin a lusty tale,
To know the old desire
As we drink October ale,
But when the fire's dying
And the room is growing cold,
I'll drink alone remembering,
The tales I haven't told. |
WWII Notebook Journal of Sgt. David S. Gray 
