Troop Movements
by Ian Curtress
He was a nice
young man, a journalist wanting to write stories
about the war on the Home Front, so to speak.
I am
interested in the group of women who gave comfort
to the troops at home.
Oh you mean
the Chelsea Five. A notorious group of stalwarts
led by the indestructible Diane. Fifty two and a
goer.
Kept two “entertaining” diaries, one
for British squaddies and one for the Yanks.
Had her own way of teaching close combat.
And you
had the hots for her?
Well I had
certain yearnings but she always seemed to have a
full dance card.
Wasn’t
she once a vicar?
Oh yes but
Unfrocked.
When was
that?
Christmas Eve
1942 behind the scouts hut.
Is it true
the American Generals visited her when they
arrived in the UK?
Yes. She was
listed in the “must see” GI Handbook
She often went on manoeuvres with them.
After her hunting days there was nothing you
could teach her about foxholes
It is thought that D.Day was code named after
Diane.
Didn’t
she have an underground network?
Oh yes Central
line, Shepards Bush and all stops to Bethnall
Green
What
happened to her after the war?
I understand
she was conscripted by MI something or other
Went under cover (that was a first) because of
her ability to get information from suspects.
Resigned after being seen driving a new BMW
It was said she signed the Official Secrets Act
in invisible ink.
Did she
ever settle down?
Well I heard
from one of her team after the war .
She married a GI and was in the States.
Bought a Condominium.
Most appropriate.
I’m still
not sure if he worked that one out. But a nice
young man.
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