Mrs. Gunn's Diary: Jan. 22, 1942

She signs up for civil defense and shares concerns about submarine warfare

Intent on doing her bit, Mrs. Gunn today registered for “Civilian Defense” and a first-aid course. “Of course if Bob [her toddler] were older I could do more but I feel my first duty is at home, she confided. Meanwhile, a trip to the grocery store reminded her that sacrifices were being asked of everyone. The price of tuna fish had risen from 33 cents to 53 cents and sugar was being rationed at two pounds per customer.

According to a report in today’s Washington Times-Herald, the sugar rationing was not imposed by the government, but by individual grocers trying to stave off panic buying.

A report of German submarines sinking ships along the east coast had caught her attention. Paid subscribers can read on about the submarine threat and a particularly successful U-boat captain. To upgrade, click below.

Seven survivors of the Standard Oil Company’s tanker boat Allan Jackson that was sunk by a German submarine off the coast of North Carolina were pictured in the Jan. 20, 1942 edition of the Washington Times Herald, accessed via newspapers.com. Four crewmen were known to be dead and six were seriously injured. Nineteen others were unaccounted for.