24 March, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

24 March, 1944          1715

Dearest sweetheart –

Another beautiful Spring day, darling, and what I wouldn’t give to be with you these days! It’s so beautiful and mild here, dear, that it’s very hard to concentrate on anything except you and me and the future. I walk to and from the Dispensary – a distance of perhaps 3/4 miles – merely to get the exercise and see the view. As you leave the Castle – there’s a large driveway to the right which skirts the pond.

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

This photo shows the "new" castle and its driveway skirting the
pond in the foreground, the "old" castle remains across the pond,
and the town of Sherborne beyond.

After a while you pass out the main gate and walk along a road which leads down a hill to the town.

Sherborne Castle - Restored Main Gate

While on the hill you overlook a good bit of the countryside, darling, and it’s a pretty picture to see. It’s really prettier than most of New England – with the possible exception of some parts of Vermont. It’s a good deal like Upstate New York and Tennessee.

A view of the countryside around the castle

I’ve just returned from a busy afternoon, dear, and one I didn’t enjoy. You remember I once wrote you I was going to prefer charges on one of my men. Well – I never followed it through and let it drop. I must prefer charges now on another one of my men, because I’ve warned him about different things before, but he has persisted in getting into trouble. Now I’m going to have him court-martialed. Maybe if he’s fined some money and confined for a few months – he’ll really learn. This will be the first charge I’ve followed through since I’ve been with the outfit – but I think it will help some of the other boys toe the mark, too. This particular fellow was supposed to be on duty and came in 2 hours late – and drunk – really a disgrace to the medical detachment. Nevertheless I spoke with him, warned him and told him to go back to quarters and sleep it off. In the evening he asked my sergeant for a pass and was told to see me – Instead – he went off and didn’t show up until early morning. He must be disciplined or all the men will get ideas. He’s now under arrest awaiting trial.

Other than that, Sweetheart, I’m fine – but terribly lonesome. No mail from you today. No Air-mail seems to have come through – for some time now – to all the fellows. Every now and then they do that. I got an announcement of a marriage of a girl – non Jewish – that I once knew, just a good friend. She married a Lt. In the Navy – and in Oregon, for some reason or other. The announcement was mailed from Boston. Also I got a Salem News Letter from the Salem Police. I don’t know why I didn’t get one before – but apparently I’m now on their list. I haven’t read it yet – but it’s a one page printed affair and I suppose I’ll get one weekly now.

But, darling, it’s you I want to hear from more than anything else and my day isn’t a complete one – unless I have heard from you. You know, I’m sure, how I feel and particularly the past couple of weeks have been so long and stretched out. There must be some mail on the way for me from your folks and mine, too, and that’s what I’m anxiously awaiting. The upshot of it is that I love you and now that everyone knows it – especially you and I – I’m impatient – but no doubt you too, are – so I guess I’m not much help – am I, dear? Well anyway, you know how I feel – don’t you?

That’s all for now, darling. Take good care of yourself for me, have your Dad give you a terrific hug for me and best regards to the family. All my love for now, dear.

Greg

P.S. Happy Passover

Love,

G.

23 March, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

23 March, 1944        1725

My dearest sweetheart –

Gosh I love you, darling, and my being away from you seems like terrible punishment. I desire so much to be with you, close to you – all the time – that I know I will never be satisfied, content or relaxed, mentally or physically, until that day when our wishes are really fulfilled. In that connection, dearest, I guess I don’t tell you often enough just how much you mean to me. By that I mean I want you to know how much you really hold me. I want you to be sure you understand that no one ever can possibly mean anything to me except you. You must always tell yourself that, darling, and if it makes you more happy – then I’m glad. It’s just that I’ve come to feel that you are mine alone, waiting for me and wanting me only; you must feel that way about me and get the same satisfaction I get. Do you, darling?

Well – we’re getting settled here – and things are really comfortable. Today I did a lot of inspecting, running around – etc. In the p.m. I bought some heavy celluloid and spent a few hours making a permanent type mapboard. I really don’t know why – because up to now I’ve always merely asked where I was supposed to go – and managed to get there – while others with elaborate maps and colored pencils, got lost. Nonetheless – it looks nice if you have one – and it’s something to fool around with anyway.

I’ve just returned to the Castle and am waiting for supper. We eat at 1800 now and it gives me a little time more. I found some mail for me – but none from you, darling. I got one from my father, Part I from Stan (I had received Part II of a V-mail a few days ago), also a second V-mail from Stan, a letter from Bea, one from Barbara Tucker and one from a Major M.C. friend of mine – stationed in Hawaii. He practiced in Peabody and when he went into the Army, I took over his practice part time (or did I tell you already?)

My father’s letter didn’t contain any information about a ring, dammit, but he hadn’t received my letter about it I guess. He told me he hoped to have you over the house – some part of Passover – if not for the Seder and again reminded me how much my mother and he loved you, dear. You really fit with them, darling, and I’m glad.

Part I of Stan’s letter told me about his breakup with Shirley. He made it sound casual and said they were still good friends. He gave no reason. He also said he was going out with about 8-10 different girls now and was having fun. His other letter was to ask me if I could get a Zippo lighter for Y.D. Markson. He heard they were easy to get in the PX’s here and were unattainable in the States. Why Markson should want a Zippo is beyond me. The fact is – they’re not easy to get – as you know. They allow 7% of an outfit to get them and I waited 4 mos for the one I have. I just wrote Lawrence the other day that I’d send him the one I got – but I’ll tell him I can’t and send it to Stan, instead. The Lord knows he did enough for me in the past and if he can do Markson a favor – it won’t do him any harm. I’ll write him later.

I enjoyed Bea’s letter – tremendously, sweetheart – and it was swell of her to write so friendly and warm a letter to me. I know I’m really going to like her a lot. I’ll write her soon too. Barbara T’s letter was news about Mrs. Tucker and Salem – and there you are, darling.

I’m going to eat now, dear, so I’ll stop. I’m still sitting tight waiting for important news and I do hope it comes soon and is what I want to hear. It must be! Until later, Sweetheart, my sincerest love is yours and will be so forever. I love you, darling, and mean to tell you that over and over again – Do you mind? So long for now, dear

Yours – for always

Greg.

Regards to everyone

Love G

* TIDBIT *

about The Secret Kept about Company "C"

Greg took up lodging at the "new" Sherborne Castle on the 21st of March, 1944. Just a day earlier, an incident occurred which was kept secret for many years. He may never have known of it. Here the story is told by Joe Izzillo, a member of the 294th Combat Engineers, Company "B".

We did all of our training with mines and bridges on the property formerly owned by Sir Walter Raleigh, and now owned by the Digby family. Raleigh's castle was in ruins and on a large lake and that is where we did our training, building and blowing up static and floating bridges and working with mines. The Digby family were living in the relatively new castle at the time. One of the daughters, Pamela Digby later married Randolph Churchill, Winston's son. Later, they were divorced and she had a series of lovers and, at one time, became America's ambassador to France. Late in life she married Averill Harriman. She dissipated his fortune and after he died, she was sued by his children.

On the grounds of the Digby estate was the 228th Station Hospital, which consisted of a bunch of Quonset huts. The winter of 1943 was brutal. One day I woke up in my foxhole covered with frost and I realized that I had lost most of my hearing. This was not surprising since we were constantly working with explosives. I was taken to the 228th for treatment.

On March 20, 1944, I was lying in bed when there was a huge explosion and I was blown off my bed. The other patients and I raced outside and we saw the carnage. Company "C" had just finished an exercise with mine laying and then picked up the anti-tank mines and placed them alongside a truck to be taken to a safe area until the next exercise. The truck accidentally back up over some mines and about 90 mines exploded. The truck disappeared and 29 men were torn apart and their bodies were scattered through the trees. It was horrendous. Naturally, we were warned by security to keep quiet or we would end up being taken to Leavenworth Penitentiary in Kansas. The story was put out that two German saboteurs had set off an explosion. I understand that this was done because placing a hospital near explosives was a violation of the Geneva Convention.

It was many years after the war that a local reporter, using the Freedom of Information Act, wrote the true story.

The 228th American Hospital was built in Haydon Park in 1943 and treated over 22,000 patients both Allied and POW before it was disbanded in 1945 when its equipment and medical supplies were donated to local hospitals. Here is a picture of the Entrance Gate of the 228th Station Hospital in March of 1944:

Entrance to the 228th Station Hospital,
Sherborne, Dorset, UK

22 March, 1944 (2nd letter)

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

22 March, 1944     1930

Dearest darling –

First and foremost – I received your letter this p.m. of March 9 in which you accept my proposal, sweetheart, and although I knew you would – it made me very happy to read it. I’m surprised your folks hadn’t heard from me by that date – but they certainly must have by this time and I hope to hear from them soon. So they’re going up to 20% tax on jewels, are they? Well, darling – I don’t care as long as I can manage to get a ring you like on the correct finger. I don’t know what’s been happening back in Newton these past few weeks, dear, because the mail has been spotty – but I know I’m going around as if I were already engaged and I just hope everything is going along towards that goal.

I wrote you a V mail earlier today, sweetheart, in which I told you our official APO number is 578 and not 230, although anything you wrote with 230 will get to me – as will the 527’s of course. As I wrote you – it should be obvious that we’ve moved. You’ve probably gathered as much already. Whenever we move – we don’t know what the next set-up will be. In all the moves we’ve made – including those in the States – we have never been more amazed on arrival than we were when we got here. We are occupying a 17,000 acre estate that goes with a Castle. The officers are living in the Castle. Charlie Wright and I are sharing a room together – although the Lord knows there are enough rooms for everybody. There are actually 90 rooms in this Castle and believe it or not – in recent years it was fixed for central heating, although most of the rooms have enormous fireplaces. But let me start at the beginning – and this is all authentic, darling. This castle is one of the finest in this part of England. It is 400 years old – and believe it or not – was built or at least lived in by Sir Walter Raleigh when he was in Queen Elizabeths’ favor. She is supposed to have visited him here. When he was beheaded – the Earl of Bristol took over the Castle. He was the Lord Digby and the present Lord Digby owns the estate. It has been rented to the British gov’t for the duration and how we happened to get here – is beyond me.

There’s a large pond or lake behind the castle. It has courts, towers, a tremendous dining room – just like you’d expect in a Castle. (We have our meals there.) There are supposed to be 200 deer on the grounds and all in all it’s certainly the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived in. All along the corridors and stairways – there are beautiful oil paintings. One wing has all the furniture in it and it’s the most exquisite furniture I’ve ever seen, with gold leaf and fine handwork. The nearby town is extremely old and its Cathedral is 700 years old. I say again – it’s the most amazing set-up you could imagine. The post-card I’m enclosing gives the back view of the castle. I bought it in the town this morning. I’ll try to take some snaps of the place. Incidentally, darling, I tried having some snaps taken some time ago – when I was in London on my first visit and I had trouble getting the roll developed. When I finally did – they told me the roll was spoiled. But I have another plan now and will try again.

Well – Sweetheart – that’s all the raving now – but really it’s all that I say it is. Still I’m more interested in our own Castle that we’re building – darling – and I just am waiting for the day we can start on it. I’ll write tomorrow, dear. Charlie sends his regards. Best to your folks – for now

All my love

Greg

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

Postcard of the castle
with "Sherborne" crossed out for censors.
The postcard was sent in an envelope with the letter.
Greg writes, "My room is on the second floor and
overlooks the pond you see in the foreground."

* TIDBIT *

about Sherborne Castle

Sherborne Castle across the "pond" in 2007

The following was copied exactly from the Sherborne Castle web site, maintained by John K. Wingfield Digby, whose family has owned the castle since 1617.

Sherborne has had a castle since the 12th Century. Roger Bishop of Salisbury built a castle to the east of the Town to administer the western part of his large diocese. In early Tudor times the Bishops built a small Hunting Lodge in the deer park attached to the Old Castle from which to observe the chase. Sir Walter Raleigh acquired the Old Castle in 1592. At first he tried to modernize it, but then he built a new house in 1594 in the deer park. It was on the site of the Hunting Lodge which he incorporated into the foundations. His house was rectangular and four stories high, with large square-headed windows filled with diamond pane glass. In 1600 he added hexagonal turrets to the four corners of his house, topped with heraldic beasts. The house was rendered from the outset, in the latest fashion.

In 1617 the diplomat Sir John Digby acquired Sherborne Castle and he added four wings to Raleigh’s building, giving the house its present H-shape. He copied the style adopted by Raleigh, of square-headed windows, and balustraded roofs with heraldic beasts, and added hexagonal turrets at the end of each wing, so the house looks of one piece.

In the Civil War the Digbys fought for the Royalist cause and the Old Castle was garrisoned and suffered two sieges. After the second siege in 1645 Col Fairfax and his Parliamentarian army systematically demolished the Old Castle. Thus the name ‘Sherborne Castle’ came to be applied to the new house in the park. In the 18th century later generations of the Digby family modernized the Tudor house, adding Georgian sash windows, paneled doors and white marble fireplaces and filling the house with fine furniture. In 1787 an extension was added to the west side of the house which provided more bedrooms and improved staff accommodation and kitchens.

The Victorian period saw only one major re-modelling, in the Solarium (Raleigh’s Parlour), reflecting the respect the Wingfield Digby owners held for the antiquity and historical associations of the house. In the First World War the Castle was used as a Red Cross Hospital and it was requisitioned by the Army in the Second World War.

22 March, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

22 March, 1944      830

Darling –

By now you must know we’ve moved. This is a busy day but I wanted to let you know that our number is 578 (five, seven, eight) and not 230. If you used the latter already – it will reach us though.

Wilma, dear – I’ll write you a letter later in the day and tell you as much as I can about our new set-up. I just wanted to get this off so that you can get my new APO as soon as possible.

Everything is fine, darling, and if I thought I had a good set-up before – listen to this – we are now occupying a tremendous Castle – as living quarters for the officers! It defies the imagination – actually – but I’ll write in more detail tonite.

For now –

All my love

Greg
Regards!

21 March, 1944

No letter today. Just this:

* TIDBIT *

about the 1944 Eruption of Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius last erupted between March 18-23, 1944. At the time of the eruption, the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) 340th Bombardment Group was based at Pompeii Airfield near Terzigno, Italy, just a few kilometers from the eastern base of the mountain. The tephra and hot ash damaged the fabric control surfaces, the engines, the Plexiglass windshields and the gun turrets of the 340th's B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. Estimates ranged from 78 to 88 aircraft destroyed.

Dr. Leander K. Powers served in Italy during World War II and his diary provides an interesting chronology of the March 1944 eruption:

Saturday, March 17, 1944
"While we were just finishing supper, someone called to say there were huge red streams of lava flowing down the sides of Mount Vesuvius. It was a sight to behold. Never had we seen such at night — usually a faint red glow at the most. As we watched the streams, like giant fingers flowing down the sides, we could see a glow in the sky. All during the night and Sunday there were quakes of the earth with tremendous roars - similar to thunder - from Vesuvius. The windows rattled, and the entire building vibrated."

Sunday, March 18, 1944
"On Sunday night, the roars became more frequent and grumbled like a lion’s roar. Streams of fire were shooting thousands of feet into the air, and the countryside was lit up for miles around. Oft times the entire top of the mountain looked as if it were a blazing inferno. It’s really uncanny, yet amazing to look at this phenomenon. The vibrations of the building were truly uncomfortable."

Monday, March 19, 1944
"I learned that a stream of lava was flowing down the side toward Naples, so we rode over to see it. It was the most phenomenal thing I have ever witnessed. A huge mass of fiery coals some 20 feet high and 200 yards wide destroying everything in its path. There were many people evacuating their homes, which we saw destroyed as the lava pressed on. At night, the sky and countryside was bright for miles around. Flames were shooting into the sky for thousands of feet."

Tuesday, March 20, 1944
"Tuesday night, the entire town vibrated, and there was a roar almost unexplainable. Lava rocks could be seen all over the mountainside."

Wednesday, March 21, 1944
"Wednesday morning, we could see smoke boiling from the crater for miles into the sky. This continued all the afternoon. We heard that the road to Salerno was covered with cinders and traffic was greatly impeded."

Dana Craig from the 486th Bombardment Squadron of the 340th Bombardment Group experienced the eruption of Mount Vesuvius first-hand:

"I'm assuming that your March 22nd date for the eruption is right. On the day prior, Vesuvius was belching smoke. It was an overcast sky with the threat of rain. About midnight, I went out of my billet to answer the call of nature. While outside, in a mild drizzle, I was hit on the head by what I thought was a small rock. Suspecting some sort of joke, I went inside for a flashlight. When I returned, the light revealed a layer of damp cinders on the ground. We knew at that time that Vesuvius was erupting. We began to feel the earth shake as though a bomb had gone off. After each quake, a few minutes would pass before the debris blown out of the crater would start to hit the ground. About daylight, the rear of our building started to cave in. We then began to see the larger rocks coming down. By this time everyone was wearing his steel helmet and heavy sheepskin jacket for protection from the falling material. I can't recall ever having breakfast that morning. It wasn't very long before we were loaded into trucks and evacuated to Naples."

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

These B-25s from the 447th Squadron
of the 321st Bombardment Group
passed very near the erupting volcano
on their way to bomb targets.


Three different perspectives
of Mount Vesuvius erupting in March of 1944
(Photos from NARA in College Park, MD)

20 March, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 527 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

20 March, 1944        1830

Dearest sweetheart –

Today has been a helluva long busy day – as was anticipated – with a busier one due tomorrow. As a matter of fact, darling, I won’t be able to write tomorrow but I will the day after, and I’ll be able to write a letter less mysteriously – not that there is anything particularly different – but I realize I’ve been sounding a little bit obscure. If so, dear, it’s because I’m trying to stay within the censorship rules.

Anyway – this morning we went up to battalion for another one of those meetings. We got back at noon and have been tearing around ever since. Our lights are out of order and it’s fast getting dark – so I’m writing more swiftly than usual, dear. Gosh darling, I love you so much and miss you so these days! I’m awaiting eagerly hearing from you and your folks in reply to my letters of over a week or so ago. The damn delay in time is so aggravating – and yet there isn’t a thing we can do about it – but wait. I haven’t heard from you now for 5 days, the longest stretch in some time. I should be getting a fairly recent letter soon. The last letter I got was written March 4th, but there are several before that that are still missing.

Last night George and I went into town – presumably to go to a movie – but the shows were terrible. On Sunday – all the theaters have a special program, one day only – and they show pictures that are years old, like “The Garden of Allah”, and George Brent in “Till We Meet Again.” I saw them both some time ago. So instead we went over to the Red Cross Club – for officers which opened in this town – quite recently. You know – most places have R.C. Clubs – only for enlisted men. It’s a relief to have a place to come to – just to lounge around. They serve meals and snacks all day – until 2400; there’s a large lounging room, with a Victrola and fairly new records; a ping-pong table and a lot of papers from the U.S. We stayed around until about 2230 and headed back for camp – really a couple of playboys.

It’s strange, sweetheart, how not hearing from you for several days makes me wonder what you’re doing and thinking. Despite the fact that letters get here about 2 weeks after they’re written, when you keep getting them – you feel you’re up to date. It’s just that I love to know just what your days are like – from day to day, and I feel cheated when I don’t hear. So I usually end up re-reading your older letters. Today I rounded up a stack of your letters and decided to put them into my trunk. You know, dearest, you’d be surprised what a dent they make in the space – but I don’t want to destroy them – because I love every one of them.

It’s getting very dark out now sweetheart and this kerosene lamp is blinking terribly – so I’ll stop here – not before reminding you, darling, that I’m very very much in love with you – or did I say that? It’s true, though, dear – wonderfully true – and I’m lucky to feel the way I do.

Send my best regards to your folks, sweetheart. I hope all is well at home and I hope to hear from you all – soon.

All my love is yours – dear

Greg.

19 March, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 527 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

19 March, 1944       1100

Dearest darling Wilma –

If you’ve already noticed the new A.P.O. – don’t be alarmed. It’s just another change, with no particular significance, dear. The Army is always changing things around probably to confuse the enemy. I guess they end up confusing the home folk. Anyway, darling, at the present time we’re still in the exact position as we’ve been
right along and until you hear otherwise – that’s where we’ll be. Anyway – at the present – 230 is the APO for us. As before dear, your previous letters addressed 527 will reach me without delay.

You remember, Sweetheart, I wrote you yesterday that is was going to be a busy day. It was – and so is today – even though it is a beautiful Sunday morning. Gosh this is getting to be a more and more beautiful country with each passing day, sweetheart. I was always more or less susceptible to Spring – but I’ve never been in love, darling, and gee – it’s a hard combination to take – with you so far away. We’ve had a remarkable run of clean, fresh air. And the countryside is as picturesque as anything I’ve seen in the States. The whole trouble is that you can’t be here with me to complete the empty feeling I get when I look out to the horizon – when I’m standing by myself. It’s then that I feel like walking side by side with you, talking with you, planning with you and embracing you – and the fact that you are not here is compensated only by the thought that you must be thinking the same things, feeling the way I do and wishing you were with me too. I knew that Spring would be hard to take – even before I realized how swiftly our love was developing. But we’ll have other Springs, darling, when we’ll walk along together and think back to these days – and I know it will make us appreciate each other all the more.

Well, darling, I didn’t mean to sound blue at all. Just let us say sentimental – I guess there’s no doubt that I am that.

I finally got a letter from Stan, yesterday. Unfortunately is was a two part V-mail – and as usual part II came and page I did not. But what he did write was friendly and the first sentence of page II is “I know she’ll be waiting”. I know he was referring to you, darling, and it makes me feel so happy that you are waiting for me. The rest of page II tells about his traveling around in his work and that’s all. I’ll probably get page one soon and then I’ll answer. I also got a letter from an M.D. friend of mine in an AA outfit now in Italy. He writes that when they’re up front – there’s some interest in things – but when they pull them back to the rear – it’s just as if they were back in Africa or England – that’s how far away the war can seem when you’re only a few miles behind the front lines. I thought it an interesting observation.

Darling I enjoyed your clipping about ‘A Kiss Across the Seas’ and was glad to note that you were keeping the actual figures. You erred only – in assuming you still owed me 5199. The up to date figure is now 5972 – so please, dearest, change it in your account book.

Well, Sweetheart, I’ve got to go have lunch now and then get started on my work. I love you and miss you every moment of the day, darling; yet despite that feeling of distance – I am satisfied and happy in knowing that you love me too. It makes problems here seem easy to take in stride and in general is the best up-lift in the world. There ought to be more love around; then everyone would be happy. Anyway – I’m glad that we have it – because I can see I’ve missed a lot up to now. So long, then, until tomorrow, darling, and you have

My sincerest love,

Greg

Regards to all

Love,

G.

* TIDBIT *

about London Weather, January-March, 1944

Although described as "very dry and cold with below average sunshine," Greg no doubt noticed that the amount of sun doubled from February to March and there was much less rain than the previous months. 


January - Dull, mild and rather dry.

Mean Temperature	6.6°C   (43.9°F)
Monthly Highest	12.9°C  (55.2°F)	Total Rain	39 mm
Monthly Lowest	-1.2°C   (29.8°F)	Total Sun	31 hrs

There was a cloudy, mild and changeable start to this snow-free January. During the second week it became fine with frosty nights, but after a sunny day on the 14th, the following 2 days were very foggy with visibilities of less than 10m.  The maximum temperatures on the 15th and 16th were only 2°C. During the third week it became milder and the weather remained unsettled until the end of the month. On the 23rd over 8mm of rain was recorded.

February - Dry and rather cold with below average sunshine.

Mean Temperature	3.9°C   (39.0°F)
Monthly Highest	13.1°C  (55.6°F)	Total Rain	17 mm
Monthly Lowest	-3.0°C   (26.6°F)	Total Sun	55 hrs

There was some mild weather early in the month and on the 2nd the temperature rose above 13°C. Thereafter, although a few mild days occurred, it was generally rather cold, often breezy and fairly cloudy. On the 16th, nearly 10mm of rain wa measured, and during the latter half of the month there was occasional sleet or snow. However, amounts were small and there were several more dry days. On the 19th, the maximum temperature only reached 2.5°C.

March - Very dry and cold with below average sunshine.

Mean Temperature	5.5°C   (41.9°F)
Monthly Highest	20.0°C  (68.0°F)	Total Rain	2 mm
Monthly Lowest	-2.8°C   (27.0°F)	Total Sun	101 hrs

This was a quiet month dominated by areas of high pressure, although weak fronts gave a little rain, and there were also a few wintry showers. Nevertheless, measurable rain only fell on 5 days, with the wettest days, the 14th and 30th, only having 0.5mm each. The coldest weather, with several frosty nights, occurred early in the month, and on the 4th the maximum temperature was only 3.8°C. During the last week it was warm for a while with a high of 20°C on the 26th.