Sunday 27th March 1938

John came for the day. We went on the Pier, laughing loudly, and met Pat and her mother by arrangement. Pat thought John was mad; I don’t know what her mother’s impressions were! In the afternoon, John and I went to Canvey Island. We walked on the seawall and had tea at Ozonia.

I’m wondering what to do with my TA discharge. Must be in something. What? Shall I rejoin the 193rd? Distance is still too great for RNVR to be a practical proposition. Must not make too many changes. But –

John recommends the Signals. Secretly of course, that is my first choice! And an anti-aircraft battery seems a little “pansified” somehow. Home service only, in all probability! Fred Butler confirms this. Apparently the War Minister said something about it, in a recent broadcast. Asked young men to join the Territorial Army but not AA units. Fred Butler also considers that Signals are much more “pukka”.