KEN Smith's Diary brings us much interest and fun, as dohis archive photographs and commentary. The picture of the children from Govan setting out on their digging mission in 1942 (“With no park to play in, children Dig for Victory”, The Herald, April 1) is excellent.

Mr Smith lists the livestock that was kept as part of the war effort then. It is quite likely that they did keep chickens in Govan, but I wonder if they kept hens too?

I notice hens are rarely mentioned these days with the term being anglicised to chickens. In the world I grew up in, hens laid eggs and chickens were reared for eating. At least hens are still mentioned on our egg boxes.

Duncan Miller,

38 Middlemuir Road,

Lenzie.