Monday 13th May 1940

Cold and shivery today! I crept about looking like a corpse and was hardly cheered when blokes kept saying, “Good Lord, you look pretty queer, Steve!”

Drill order today, which nearly finished me off. I don't think I've got any tropical disease, such as sand fly fever or dysentery. From the symptoms, upon which I am not sufficiently an introvert to wish to dwell, it seems I've got a dose of good old English influenza. With a great effort of will I've just made my bed and washed; now I'll turn in, should be asleep by 9 p.m.