Today I was feeling slightly more depressed than usual. Food parcels in the store were none existent and the threat of having to spend another cold, wet and hungry winter was appearing much more menacingly. There was no real news in the papers and I wondered if our chaps were doing OK in Calabria. It was 8.30pm and we were considering what was to be the topic for discussion this evening when a very matter of fact voice said “The Armistice has been signed”. [This refers to the Armistice of Cassibile. This was an armistice signed on 3 September 1943 and made public on 8 September 1943. It was made between Italy and the Allies, and it stipulated the surrender of Italy to the Allies. For more information see here]. This was almost received with contemptuous silence. Again the same voice “It’s Pukka” [Definition: genuine, authentic]. George and I just look at each other. Peter comes dashing up to the window, “It’s definitely Pukka”. Again George and I just look at each other with our usual superior smiles, we have heard it all before. Chaps begin to stream out of the “bungalow”. Some come dashing back to tell us that the Guards are “scooped” and dancing, shouting “La Guerra e finito. Gli Inglese e Italiani amichi.” [Translation: The war is over. The English and Italian are friends.] I actually hear that “I tedeschi stanno escapare”. [Translation: The Germans are escaping.] We all gather round the compound when an announcement comes over the loudspeakers, telling us to be calm, that we do not want any accidents on what might be the last day. That the situation is not very clear but we will be kept informed. At this we all stream away again and commence our speculations as to whether Jerry can get us or no. Our feelings are not particularly hilarious. We have half expected this but at the same time have been in deadly fear of another Winter here. We are still not absolutely convinced. The band played in the bungalow until 8pm and we sang a little and ate a few biscuits with butter and jam. I went to bed feeling that my reunion with my dear wife and family was considerably nearer and thank God for bringing me thus far through a trial which has been more than hard to bear.