Chips Channon’s misjudgements about the course of the war and politics make good reading.
His character assessments are likewise often well wide of the mark.
“Tuesday 21st January 1941, Athens
… a most enjoyable party. Philip of Greece was there; he is extraordinarily handsome and I at once recalled my afternoon’s conversation with Princess Nicholas – so he is to be the Prince Consort and it is for that he is serving in our Navy!!? He is here on leave for a few days with his more than mad mother. He is a charmeur; but I should deplore such a marriage: he and Princess Elizabeth are too inter-related and the Mountbatten-Hesse family are famous for their ill-luck and madness. Disaster pursues them. Like Princess Nicholas I should prefer Alexander (of Yugoslavia) who is more manly.”
“Alexander was born at White Lodge, Richmond Park, United Kingdom, and was approximately 1374th in the Line of succession to the British throne. As a nephew of Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (née of Greece and Denmark), he was a first cousin of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Prince Michael of Kent, and Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy; he was also a first cousin once removed of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.” Wikipedia.
He died in Paris in 2016, aged 91.
Pedants’ Corner.
“Whitsunday, 1st June 1941, Kelvedon
Planes roaring overhead: I believe they are American.
Footnote: An interesting supposition, as America would not be in the war until the following December.”
The Eagle Squadron, made up of volunteers from the United States, had been operational in the RAF since February 1941 flying Hurricanes.
Planes of American manufacture, perhaps? There were a number of American-made planes flown by the RAF before the end of 1941. Of course I don’t know whether Channon would have recognized them, and for that matter I don’t know whether the Eagle Squadron’s planes had distinctive markings.
I wonder if Chips country house was near 601 Squadron ; they not only flew airacobras from Bell called P 39s but they flew low and loud. Not much pep at higher altitudes but proved a very popular plane in Soviet air forces in Eastern front and later Manchuria 1945.