Advent Calendar: 24th December

24th December 1664
“Having sat up all night to past two o’clock this morning, our porter, being appointed, comes and tells us that the bellman tells him that the star is seen upon Tower Hill; so I, that had been all night setting in order all my old papers in my chamber, did leave off all, and my boy and I to Tower Hill, it being a most fine, bright moonshine night, and a great frost; but no Comet to be seen. So after running once round the Hill, I and Tom, we home and then to bed.

Rose about 9 o’clock and then to the office, where sitting all the morning. At noon to the ’Change, to the Coffee-house; and there heard Sir Richard Ford tell the whole story of our defeat at Guinny. Wherein our men are guilty of the most horrid cowardice and perfidiousness, as he says and tells it, that ever Englishmen were. Captain Raynolds, that was the only commander of any of the King’s ships there, was shot at by De Ruyter, with a bloody flag flying. He, instead of opposing (which, indeed, had been to no purpose, but only to maintain honour), did poorly go on board himself, to ask what De Ruyter would have; and so yielded to whatever Ruyter would desire. The King and Duke are highly vexed at it, it seems, and the business deserves it.

Thence home to dinner, and then abroad to buy some things, and among others to my bookseller’s, and there saw several books I spoke for, which are finely bound and good books to my great content.

So home and to my office, where late. This evening I being informed did look and saw the Comet, which is now, whether worn away or no I know not, but appears not with a tail, but only is larger and duller than any other star, and is come to rise betimes, and to make a great arch, and is gone quite to a new place in the heavens than it was before: but I hope in a clearer night something more will be seen. So home to bed.” (Samuel Pepys)

24th December 1941
“Another hard day. COS meeting in the morning. The situation beginning to become difficult. Winston has arrived in Washington, far from the war, and is looking for operations by USA and ourselves against North Africa and banking on further success of Middle East offensive towards Tripoli. On the other side Duff Cooper in Singapore by his demands is inspiring the Australians to ask for more and more from the Far East. In the middle Auchinleck struggling along with the forces at his disposal and sending optimistic personal and private messages to the PM little knowing that his activities must shortly be curtailed owing to transfer of air and sea reinforcements from the Middle East to the Far East. At 3 pm Defence Committee meeting to settle aerodrome defence and ‘scorched earth’ policy in Malay peninsula. Afterwards visits from Liddell and DMT. Had hoped to get home for Xmas, but impossible now owing to urgent necessity for COS meeting morning. So dined quietly with Barney and now off to an early bed.” (Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke)

24th December 1944
“Berlin bombed again last night, losses barely four per cent. We have been plastering the Pas de Calais excavations almost continuously. Bright , sunny day. Joan, Caroline and I heard the carols in St George’s from the organ-loft. Very beautiful, though poor Harris complained bitterly that the ‘flu had left him only one alto.” (Sir Alan Lascelles)

24th December 1985
“Marie-Lou de Zulueta tells me a charming story of Prince Charles when a small boy. One day he came barging into Boy Browning’s room, and heard him talking on the telephone to the Queen. So he asked: ‘Who is the Queen?’ Boy explained that it was his mother, but Charles simply did not believe that she could be both his mother and Queen. Next day, however, he admitted that Boy Browning had been right. ‘How do you know?’ Boy asked. “I asked the policeman.’” (Kenneth Rose)