'England will have her neck wrung like a chicken'

December 29, 1941

  "When I warned them that Britain would fight on alone whatever they did, their generals told their Prime Minister and his divided Cabinet, 'In three weeks England will have her neck wrung like a chicken.' Some chicken! Some neck!" — Winston Churchill, Ottawa, Dec. 30, 1941

   More from the diary of the Rev. Edmund Randolph Laine of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Stockbridge, Mass. For previous entries:

December 22-December 28, 1941

December 15-December 21, 1941

December 8-December 14, 1941

December 1-December 7, 1941

December 29, 1941

 December 29, 1941: (Monday) Cold, gray - snowed in night. Up 11:25, shaved (News - noon). Nose hurts. Bp. Lawrence phoned - 12:45. 1:25 to Bank, then to Lenox (Bank & Library) - back 2:35. Made up some accounts. 3:15 - to Library, Rec'd bill from Mr. Stansky for lighting on(?) street tree - phoned Mr. Dwight about it. Phoned Mrs. Davidson. Wrote note of thanks to Mrs. Herzog for calendar. 6 - News. Eve. - E to First Aid Class. Grown very cold - read in Davis' "First Republic." 9 - Rev. J.W. Cooper of Adams phoned. Wrote letter to Bp. Lawrence at his request - to P.O. with it. Read "Times." 10 - RaymondGram Swing. 11 - News. 

December 30, 1941

December 30, 1941: (Tuesday) Very cold, sunny. Up noon. Radio News. Shaved. 2:15 to Bank, then to Pittsfield (left watch to be fixed at Whitings', to Library) - back 4. Mrs. Dixson in soliciting for special Red Cross fund. 4:45 - Mrs. Kimberly called to arrange baptism & to give instructions about Air Raids. 5:10 - to tea with Mrs. Hiss at Mrs. Tracy's - Fr. Finn there - walked home with him - 6 D. Braman in. Miss F home, E. in P.H. [parish house] working on Laurel Hill acc'ts. 9 - Quincy Howe, read "Times." 9:30 - "Fibber McGee" 10 - Raymond Gram Swing. Had nuts & oranges. 11 - News. 11:20 - transcription of speech of WinstonChurchill at Ottawa, Can.

December 31, 1941

December 31, 1941: (Wednesday) Very cold, sunny. Up 11:30. Mrs. Kimberly phoned changing hour of baptism on Jan. 6. Had creamed corn beef for breakfast. Cleaned desk & put new blotter in pad - did some cleaning in Study & rearranged some books. Made up some acc'ts. Read "Times" & "Eagle". Picked out hymns for to-morrow. 6 - News. Eve. - E. back to Bank after supper. 7:15 - Arthur Hale. Made up yearly household accounts. 8:30 - David Braman & waited for E. - he sat in Study and talked to me till 10. E. back 10:20. 10:40 - E. & D. Braman to midnight show. 11 - News. Wrote outline of talk for Sunrise Prayer Meeting. 11:30 - shower bath.

January 1, 1942

January 1, 1942: (Thursday) Cold, gray. Up 6:30, shaved. Coffee 7:40. 8 - Sunrise Prayer Meeting at Cong. Church - C.M. took me - 18 present - spoke on (?) - back 8:05. Breakfast 9:25. Mr. (?) called while I was eating - did not see him. He called 10 - saw him (about Red Cross). Wrote outline of morning sermon. 11 - Holy Com. - service for National Day of Prayer - large cong. - read President Roosevelt'sproclamation  - spoke on "For God & Country" (27 min.) - long talk with Shaun Kelly Jr. afterward. Dinner of turkey & champagne. Very gray. Mrs. Davidson in for press notes. Miss F. home - 6:15. Read "Times" & "Eagle" in Study. E. came & read "Eagle" there too. Snowing. 6 - News. Eve. (?) to Church to look for stop watch - found it in my room. 7 - "Amos &Andy" 88 - Fanny Brice. Iceland, Singapore, London, Washington. Read about (?) war. 11 - News. 

January 2, 1942

 January 2, 1942: (Friday) Very warm, breezy, sunny. 9 - rained very hard. Up 11, shaved. Radio News. Miss Tracy called (did not see her). Miss Adams phoned. C.M. dismantled Christmas tree on lawn. 1:30 to Bank. C.M. paid church taxes. 2 - Miss Tracy called. 2:30 - to West Stockbridge to Rev'd. F.S. Eastman's - bot medals & pictures for Sunday School - back 3:45. Growing colder. To see Miss Adams about Women's Auxiliary election - back 5:15. Then to see Miss Canning about being Pres. of Aux. - back 6:15. Eve. - E. to Air Raid Watch. 7:15 - News from London, Borneo & Washington. Wrote & sent list to a Mr. Bedinger (?) Grand Central Station. Wrote letter to R. Procter (sent him Mr. de Gersdorf) (?) 9 - Quincy Howe. To Post Office. Read "Times." 11 - News.

January 3, 1942

 Jan. 3, 1942: (Saturday) Cold, sunny. Up noon. Letter from Bp. E. brot me (?) Bank. 2 - "L' Elisir D'Amore" from Met. Opera. Read "Times" & "Eagle." E. called on Miss Canning. Rested in chair in Study in twilight.l Grown very cold. 6 - News. Phoned Mrs. Barnes about Galahad Supper - Jan. 14. E. to see Miss Adelaide Miller at Miss Canning's. 4:45 - H.W. Kaltenborn. Wrote 2 letters (Bp. Lawrence & Miss Young). Worked on sermon - picked out hymns. 9:30 - Rochester Civic Orchestra. 9:45 - to Post Office - saw Fr. Finn on way back. Ate orange & 2 tangerines. 11 - News. Shower bath.

January 4, 1942

Jan. 4, 1942: (Christmas 2) Snowing, snowed in night too. Up 7:35, shaved. 9:15 - South Lee -- "Epiphany" - back 9:55. 10 - Sunday School, gave out new pins & medals - back 10:30. 11 - Stockbridge - Rev. F.S. Eastman was celebrant, preached on "Year of Our Lord" (15 mins). Turkey for lunch. Took wreath off of front door. E. read "Maltese Falcon" in Study. Read "Times." Dozed in chair while listening to "The Magic Flute." E. out with D. Braman. 5 - Met. Opera auditions. Lights went out for 10 min. 5:45 - W. L. Shirer. 6 - News. Began to read "The Maltese Falcon." 8 - Lloyd Conley called - told me of his marriage - went 8:55. 9 - Ford Hour. Had chicken sandwiches & oranges. E. brot me Schick razor.

- - -

More from the 1941-45 diary of an Episcopalian minister

The Rev. Edmund Randolph Laine, year unknown

   If I were to post a week's worth of entries each week from the 1941-45 diary of the Rev. Edmund Randolph Laine, that would take the better part of the next four years, so I'm going to space the entries out and probably take the better part of the next ten years, but I don't want to crowd out my other World War II stories.
   These transcriptions are daunting, so I hope you'll pardon the question marks where I was unable to make out Laine's handwriting. But they are also fun, considering the references and links available on the Internet. It's as if there were a history lesson on every page. Perhaps not, but in this post you'll find a link to a 2012 New York Magazine article quoting a 1941 book Laine was reading, and a link to the 2011 funeral of a prominent citizen.
  

December 15, 1941

Dec. 15: (Monday) Cold, snowing. Up 10:50, shower bath. Mrs. Kimberly phoned 10:40. Church Year Book in morning mail. Looked over it. 1 - to Pittsfield with C.M. [Carlyn Markham?] - haircut - back 3. Read "Times" & "Eagle." H(?) French in. 5 - special Trustees meeting at library - over 5:25. Saw D. Braman & E. on street - E. [Ed Forrest] bot [bought] a Christmas present in Braman's. Phoned Mrs. Davidson. 6 - News. Eve - wrote 7 letters & 1 acknowledgment. Mrs. Nettleton phoned. Mr. Stevens of Gr. Barr. phoned asking me to speak at Gr. Barr. Rotary (but I declined). Phoned Fr. Jones. 9 - Quincy Howe. To Post Office. Read in Hayes' "Generation of Materialism" 9:45 - Raymond Gram Swing. Had apple, junket & tangerine. 11 - News. Read in Hayes' book.

Reverend Laine and Ed Forrest

December 16, 1941

  Dec. 16: (Tuesday) Cold, sunny. Up 11:20, shaved. Radio News - noon - Letter from Peter Frelinghuysen about baptism of Peter III. Jack Swann(?) in to get character letter. Made it out in duplicate - E. [Ed Forrest] and Miss F. [Jessica "Aunt Jess" French] typed it. Ans. some responses. Wrote P. Frelinghuysen. Read "Times." Changed clothes. To Library and to call on Mrs. Hiss at Tracy (?) 4 - back 5:05. Read "Eagle." Ans. Mrs. Griswold's letter. 6 - News. Eve - made out cheque and date for E. to order Sun. School candy and ice cream at (?). Wrote book review. Wrote letter to Mrs. A.G. Andrews(?) 9 - Quincy Howe. Wrote ans. to Mr. Hofmayer. 9:20 - to P.O. Read in "The Germans." E. found book for me to send Bp. Soc.(?) 10 - R.G. Swing. (?) 11 - News.

December 17, 1941

Dec. 17: (Wednesday) Fairly cold, sunny. Up 11, shaved (Radio - noon - News). 2:15 - Mrs. Peter Frelinghuysen phoned from N.Y. asking me to come down & baptize Peter III to-morrow. Ans. some appeal responses. Read "Times." To Library - walked to Golf Grounds and back. E. got me timetable at Station. 5:35 - phoned Fr. Jones at St. Edmund's School. 6 - News. Eve - men began to trim church for Christmas. Wrote letter (Mrs. Rockwood) and made out baptismal certificate and wrote up press notices. 8:20 - to Post Office and in to church. Read in Muhlbach's "Goethe and Schiller." 9:35 - packed bag. 10 - Raymond Gram Swing. 10:35 - shower bath and to bed.

December 18, 1941

Dec. 18: (Thursday) Stockbridge and New York City. Fairly cold, sunny. Up 6:20, shaved. 7:20 - breakfast. Read "Times." 8:20 - left in car with C.M. for Hillsdale - arr. 9:15 train 1/2 hr. late. Reached N.Y. - 12:30 - taxi to Mrs. Frelinghuysen's ap't. 4 - 714 Park Ave. - Baptism of Peter Frelinghuysen III - then to lunch at the Rodney Procter's. Visit with the Procters. Left 4:07 from Grand Central - arr. Hillsdale 7:07. Had to wait till 7:30 for E. My own mistake - home 8:10. Had duck for dinner. (C.M. took Miss F. and sister to Pittsfield this a.m.) Went over mail. 10 - R.G. Swing. Wrote 5 letters. Tired.

December 19, 1941

Dec. 19: (Friday) Fairly cold, sunny. Miss F. woke me at 9:40. Shaved and dressed quickly. Breakfast 10:20. 11 - Meeting of Laurel Hill [Association] in Library (Jack White, Chief Air Warden, spoke) - home 12:15. Read "Times." 1:30 - to Lenox (Bank) - back 2. Had sandwiches. Mrs. Hiss phoned. 3:35 - "Guiding Light." 3:45 - "Vic and Sade." Wound clocks. Read "Eagle." Read of Germany retreat in Russia in "Times." 6 - News. Eve - to Parish House to get Sun. Sch. Record Book. 7:15 - News from Ankara, Turkey, Manila, Honolulu, London, Washington. Made up money for Sunday School, etc. Christmas presents. 9 - Quincy Howe. Read in "The Hero in America."

December 20, 1941

Dec. 20: (Saturday) Cold, sunny. Up 10:35. Ans. some appeal responses. Worked preparing Christmas cards to for mail. 2 - "Marriage of Figaro" from Met. Opera. E. to Pittsfield. Read "Eagle" and "? Church". Mrs. Geo. Fellows called. Read "Times." 6 - News. 6:15 - Eleanor Dusenbury in - gave her Christmas money for choir. 7:30 - Arthur Hale. E. to Air Raid duty at Am. Legion. (?)( 7:45 - H.V. Kaltenborn. Read in Wecter's "The Hero in America." Worked on sermon. Grown very cold. Shower bath. 11 - News.

December 21, 1941

Dec. 21:  (Advent 4) Very cold (zero), sunny. Up 7, shaved. 8 - Holy Com. (8) 9:15 - South Lee - choir again for 1st time - read Bp. Lawrence's Pastoral Letter - back 10:05. Into Sunday School - gave teachers money for Christmas presents. 11 - Stockbridge - "Haggai and the UnbuiltTemple" (20 min.). Had talk with Carlyn Markham - he gave up care of clock. Read in "Times." 2:30 - rode with E. to Monterey - home 3:35. Bitterly cold. Read in Korn's (?) "History" on Austrian Seven Weeks War (1866). Letter from C. de Gersdorff. 5 - Met. Opera Auditions. Read in "Times." 5:45 - Wm. L. Shirer. 6 - News (Hitler takes command of German armies). 7(?) - News. Eve - E. to lecture in Pittsfield. Miss F. home. Wrote 3 letters & some cards. 8:40 - to P.O. 9 - Ford Hour (Christmas music). 11 - News.

 

The Austrian Seven Weeks War

More Journal entries:

Dec. 8-15, 1941

Dec. 1-7, 1941 

Give some punch for the holidays!

December 8-14, 1941

Diary of Rev. Edmund Randolph Laine, Dec. 8, 1941

   Before I proceed with the journal of the Rev. Edmund Randolph Laine of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Stockbridge, Mass., from 1941-45, it's important to note that Dorothy Cooney once told me the often crammed and clipped and abbreviated language of the journal doesn't do justice to Rev. Laine's eloquence. So I'll interject one passage here that was not in the journal, but rather was inscribed in a book that Laine gave to Ed Forrest's friend Dave Braman after Ed was killed in World War II. (Laine raised Ed from the time he was 14. Ed, whom my father knew in combat, was killed at Heimboldshausen, Germany, on April 3, 1945.)
   The book is a small, hardcover edition of the story "England to America" by Margaret Prescott Montague. The story was first published in the Atlantic Monthly and was the winner of the very first Ohenry Prize for short story writing in 1919.

- - -

 

   To David E. Braman,

   Dear Dave,

          This classic little story of the First War of 1917-1918, was a great favorite with Eddie. I gave it to him in 1929, and he read it many times. You and I can appreciate the truth, the grace and the poignancy of this narrative, since like Chev Sherwood, Eddie passed over, fighting gallantly for his country. Little did he think as he read it, that the years to come would call him to the same manly sacrifice. You were his beloved friend, keep this cherished book of his, in proud remembrance.

           From, Edmund Randolph Laine, June 21 - 1946. Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

- - -

   As you may have noticed, the minister's handwriting, especially toward the end of crowded entries, is a little difficult to read. Even in less crowded areas, the top of a 'd,' for instance, will jut up into the line above it, causing all manner of confusion. I'm not familiar with the names of many of the people he references, and so you'll see a lot of question marks where I was unable to make out what he was writing. Nevertheless, much of the important material in the journal -- who and what he was listening to on the radio, what newspapers, books and magazines he was reading -- are fairly legible. I will do my best from here on out to annotate, hyperlink and explain what some of those references are.

December 8, 1941

Dec. 8: (Monday) (cross symbol) (war declared, circled) Cold, sunny. Up 11, shaved (Radio - News, "Pepper Young's Family") 12:30 - while eating heard Pres. Roosevelt address Congress - War message - calling for declaration of war on Japan - over 12:45. Then broadcast of speeches in House of Representatives. 1:00 - News that Senate had voted dec. of war. Roll call in House of Rep. began 1:04. 1:14 - majority vote reached in House of Rep. 1:16 - news. Read "Times." 3 - Winston Churchill speaking at Parliament in London - over 3:22. Around grounds & walked down Main St. Mrs. Dixson(?) spoke to me. Talk with C.M. [Carlton Markham?] & gave him book. Read "Eagle." Began to read (?) . 6 - News. 10 - Pres. signed Dec. of War. 9 - Quincy Howe. E. read in study. 10 - R.G. Swing. Read in (?). 11 - News.

December 9, 1941

Dec. 9: (Tuesday) Fairly cold, gray, snowing some. Up 11, shaved, shower bath. Noon - News (Planes Raid to be near N.Y.)[this may be air raid duty] Mrs. W. Pitt Palmer phoned (going to hospital for operation on eyes to-morrow). 2:15 - left in car with C.M. for Springfield. Snowing but not too cold - arr. Diocesan House 3:40. 4 - Meeting of Adult Education Com. - talk with Fr. Butler about Farrell case afterward. Started home 6 - bad going on ladder - arrived 7:40. 8 - dinner. Read "Eagle." Read "Christian Century" & "Times." 9 - Quincy Howe. 9:30 - "Fibber McGee." 10 - Pres. Roosevelt addressing the people on the War (E. listened to it) over 10:25. Had bran muffin & apricots. 11 - News. Read in "Goethe & Schiller."

December 10, 1941

 

Dec. 10: (Wednesday) Cold, sunny. Up 11:10. Shaved (Noon - News). Rec'd book "Relig. Leaders of Am." - looked over it. To Bank. 2 - to Lee (Bank), to Pittsfield (Bank & ?) - to House of Mercy, saw Mrs. Russell Wilson of S. Lee (?) back 3:45. Made up some acc'ts. To Library - back 5:20. Looked over "Relig. Leaders of Am." 6 - News. Eve. - ans. a letter. 7:15 - Arthur Hale. 9 - Quincy Howe. Miss F. home. E. to see sister in Lee. Read "Times." & in Hayes' "Generation of Materialism." 10 - R.G. Swing. Had milk, apple & bran muffin. 11 - News. Read in Ludwig's "The Germans." (Christmas Appeals issued)

December 11, 1941

Dec. 11: (Germany & Italy declare war on U.S.) (Christmas Appeals issued) (War declared on Germany & Italy) Cold, sunny. Up 11:20. Noon - (over WEAF) from Wash. from Capitol heard news of Hitler's speech declaring war on U.S. - also Italy joins in! Heard vote in Senate declaring a war. 12:34 - heard Pres. Roosevelt's War message read in House of Reps. for Dec. of War - was passed. C.M. & Miss F. worked folding Christmas Appeals. I addressed envelopes (63 issued). C.M. mailed them - 2:30. Made out application & bot [bought] defense bond from Bank - E. did the business(?) for me. Wrote Sun. press notices. Grown very cold. Read Frat. mag. Read "Eagle." 4:25 - E. in, brot my defense bond. Read "Times" & news(?). Very cold. Eve. - read in Ludwig's "German." 8:30 p.m. E. to go to Award meeting. 9 - Quincy Howe. 10 - R.G. Swing. 11 - News. 4:15 a.m. - fire[false?] alarm. R.(?) phoned me by mistake.

December 12, 1941

Dec. 12: (Friday) Very cold, sunny. Up 11:20 (Noon - News), shaved. Some Appeal responses left at door. Ans. responses. 2:15 - Rev. J.V. Butler phoned from Springfield. To Bank. Read "Times." Miss Adams in. Changed clothes. To Library - left flower cheque in Derrick's with Mrs. (?). Took short walk. Phoned Dr. Kimberly. Wound clocks. 6 - to see Dr. Kimberly - he was out hunting for lost Dealey boy - came in 6:15. Conference with him about Geo.(?) Fallon - back 6:50. Eve. - wrote 2 letters (Fr. (?) Butler(?) & Dr. (?). Miss F. home. Read in Ludwig's "The Germans." Wrote note to Mrs. Thomas in N.J. 9 - Quincy Howe. To post office. Read in "The Germans." Had lamb sandwiches. 11 - News.

December 13, 1941

Dec. 13: (Saturday) Cold, snowing. Up 12:05, shaved. Radio - News. Read "Times." Joanna Franz phoned about evening party. Phoned Mrs. Sedgwick. 3:15 - to Jr. Choir Party in Parish House - home - 4:50. Read "Eagle." Ans. some Appeal responses. Picked out hymns. E. to Pittsfield - p.m. 6 - News. E. to Air Raid duty & then to Occ. Club. Read in Ludwig's "The Germans." Raining hard. 8:25 - into Young People's party in Par. House - talked with Mrs. Franz. Read on "Esther." Worked on sermon. Ate apple. 11 - News. Shower bath.

December 14, 1941

   Dec. 14: (Advent 3) Fairly cold, rained till 10 a.m. bad under foot. Up 7:35, shaved. Breakfast 8:35. 9:15 - S. Lee - Holy Com. - back 10:05. T. Burt* opened Sun. School. Spoke to children. 11 - Stockbridge - "Esther." (19 min.) Spoke of war. Cleared - a little subn. Read in "Times." 3 p.m. - N.Y. Symph. Orch. 4:30 - E. came & read "Times" in study. 4:30: Albert Spalding. 5 - Met. Opera Auditions. 5:45 - Wm. L. Shirer. Eve. - Miss F. to the Pillings - ans. some Appeal responses. E. read in Ludwig's "The Germans" in the study. 9 - Ford Hour (Richard Crooks). Read some stories in out Vol. Dumas. 10 - News

*T. Burt almost certainly was Tommy Burt, I'm guessing 16 or 17 years old at the time. The week that Ed Forrest was killed, but still before the telegraph arrived, Reverend Laine learned that Tommy Burt was killed "on the Western front," and paid a call on his grieving parents. Tommy's brother Jimmy Burt would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle for Aachen, Germany, in October of 1944.