| Admin/Biog History | In May 1943 Nicolson was stationed in Cairo working as an instructor for the Allied Aerial Photographic Interpretation Unit. He sporadically toured the region lecturing to different troops. Nicolson remained in this role until being invalided home after a serious road accident in March 1945. |
| Description | In which Nicolson resumes writing his diary after what he describes as a break since October 1939. At the beginning of the journal he records that 'certain modifications will be introduced: I shall not feel bound to enter every day, I shall [not] fuss over events which are insignificant, I shall try and be even more honest'. He laments that the lack of privacy means he is only able to write sporadically.
Nicolson is stationed in Cairo interpreting military air photographs and lecturing for the Allied Aerial Photographic Interpretation Unit; goes on a lecture tour of the region speaking at Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Bethsheba, Gaza, Mafraq and Tiberias; visits some of the well known tourist sights and compares Islamic and European architecture. Socialises with, amongst others, Peter Pratt and Tony Bridge. Writes about his attraction to Pratt.
Also describes the everyday experiences of army life and being at war and life in the desert; describes the relationships he has with his fellow men including those working directly alongside him: Gillon, Haycock and Barrie. Writes about military plans for the invasion of Sicily and Greece.
Of particular note:
May
-29th: writes about his relationship with Peter Pratt
-30th: dines with Leigh Ashton and Christopher Norris
-31st: dines with Victor Cazalet and Lady Russell
June
-2nd-3rd: records his thoughts after saying goodbye 'as far as I was concerned for ever' to Peter Pratt
-5th: writes about plans to invade Sicily [A digital copy of this entry can be found below]
-6th, 7th & 10th: spends the evening with Tony Bridge; writes about his sexuality & his friendship with Bridge
-12th: begins work as an instructor in the Allied Aerial Photographic Interpretation Unit
-15th: visits Ibn Tulun
-24th: records his thoughts after spending an evening with Peter Pratt
-26th & 28th: visits various mosques
July
-2nd: visits the El Hakim mosque; dines with Henry Coster
-3rd: dines with David Wallace; writes about his friends from Oxford and their respective roles/fortunes in the war; travels to Ismailia and stays with Peter Pratt [A digital copy of this entry can be found below]
-4th-9th: undertakes a lecture tour of the region
-6th: reports that Victor Cazalet has died
-17th & 18th: Roland [Pym?] arrives and recounts some of his wartime experiences
-20th: learns he is responsible for the interpretation of all photographs in the 9th Army
August
-4th: completes a week long lecture course in Beirut; writes about Michael Gillon and Andrew Wardrop
-15th: inspects a submarine; begins a friendship with a parachutist called Richard Harris [A digital copy of this entry can be found below]
-25th: writes about Harris undertaking a 'systematic mass observation of the sex history of his section'
-26th: visits Sir Daniel Lascelles
September
-17th: returns from 3 weeks in Cyprus visiting Famagusta, Kyrenia, Saint Hilarion castle, and Nicosia; records that Tom Boase has been made Middle East representative of the British Council
October
-15th & 22nd: records his compulsion to write a diary: 'curious my need to put in words what I have done, seen, thought. I haven't properly lived it until I've written it'; describes living in an olive grove for two weeks; writes about the effect of being poisoned by a scratch to his hand which leads to a week in hospital
May 1944
-16th: summarises what he has learnt from being at war: 'the only happiness in life is the creation of something' and that he is 'more content now than ever before'
-22nd: concludes: 'now stop all this philosophising and get down to a few statements of fact: I eat, I bathe, I smoke 30 cigarettes a day. I inhale. I drink very little without much pleasure. It is hot. Richard is in Khartoum'
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| Image Caption | Journal entry for 5-6 June 1943 concerning plans to invade Sicily, 1943 |
| Journal entry for 3 July concerning the respective fortunes of his friends, 1943 |
| Journal entry for 15 August concerning the inspection of a submarine, 1943 |