Bethany Askew
Wharncliffe Gardens
25th September 1945
My Darling,
So you’re ‘browned off’ with me for not writing. Sorry, pet, but we were phoning so often I thought that counted. But if you want letters you shall have them.
Well, I wrote it my application for compassionate posting, then rang the colonel ad asked for an interview. He said he’d come round or send the car for me. In point of fact he did neither so I shall have to see what tomorrow brings. To Dr.Bain’s letter I have added the secondary reasons that I am unable to supervise the business and continue my studies.
Today I got Anthony his school bag. Now what do you want me to do? Save it for his birthday and send it along then with a few other little things I can collect between now and then to fill it? It’s your mother’s suggestion and I think it quite a good idea. So I now await your orders my love. It cost thirteen shillings and sevenpence and is worth about two shillings and sevenpence but it was the best of the bunch from the manufacture point of view.
Today the weather was rough and cold. I shall soon have to start putting on some more clothes. So far I haven’t.
I went for massage today and it was decided that I should see the specialist at 10.15am on Friday and I suspect that will be the end of the treatment. I haven’t felt the pain for some time and the masseuse or whatever you call the woman who tries to do me in says she can’t find anything to massage these days. She does my neck as well these days because I said it was stiff. It was, and she nearly broke it for me, but it’s much better now.
Well, who do you think has turned up at the workshop now? None other than John Westbrroke. So of course we had a long pow-wow. He’s brought back a wife with him, a French girl, the one he mentioned in his letters. He’s just the same as ever. He asked after you and Anthony.
Your mother has other distinct views that you should be with Anthony on his birthday and that she’ll stay on here, then she’ll come down after and you can come up here for a week or so. Can you work anything out on that basis my sweet? Though, as I’ve said before I’m prepared to stay here by myself and let you all be together.
Well, that’s all for now Darling.
All my love is yours and Anthony’s
And with or without letters
I’m still your own,
Johnnie xxxx
Darling,
I’ve just been to see the “old man” and he turned down the original draft and recommended that I omitted the sentence crossed through in the enclosed letter. He says they have no interest in business reasons.
I’ve sent him the re-written letter using you as my only excuse. He says he’ll forward this second letter with one from himself recommending my case and stating that in any case he is anxious to keep me as chopping and changing of instrument officers is adversely affecting the instrument workshop production.
Well, darling, this is better than I had hoped for. So now we;ve done all we can and we have got to wait for results.
Tonight I’m on duty at the barracks. It is more quiet than usual as the crowd have gone to the swimming gala. For my part I have just returned from the London Refraction Hospital where we have just had another two and a half hours of brain boiling. I’ve got three of the other opticians from this workshop going there now and John Westbrook will be joining as well.
After a lousy article in the News Chronicle about REME officers and Staff sergeants being delayed in demob I see tonight that we are to have authentic news at the end of the week from the Minister of Labour so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Of course this course goes on until the end of March next year at the present rate of progress (quite quick enough from the mental effort point of view) so it’s not much use being demobbed before then, always supposing I’m left here.
Oh darling, please get me a bank statement from the beginning of the year for our account so that I can check what I’m being paid by H.M Paymaster. I haven’t had a pay slip yet.
Well darling, all for now. I do hope you are getting on well at the business. I’m lonesome for you and although I’ve only been back a couple of weeks I want you badly. I’m getting worse and worse and I love you.
My love to you both,
Your own,
Johnnie xxxx
Wharncliffe Gardens
24th September 1945
My Darling,
How glad I was to hear your voice over the telephone last night. I really was tremendously cheered. I do feel Darling that you handled the situation vey well. It couldn’t have been done better. The situation for you of course would have been intolerable, one person doing the cash and one the books.
CP certainly told her a thing or two, something he can do in o uncertain manner if he has to. So be magnanimous in your victory. I’m sure you have been. You know, I’m rather proud of your effort. It only remains for you to prove to the others your efficiency and everything in the garden will be better than ever.
It’s lousy news about the demob of officers isn’t it darling? Snag after snag, it rally is most disappointing. And at the same time they are making it more and more difficult for the young lads to become officers and at the same time not allowing certain regulars to continue their commissioned services for a year or two.
Still, if this compassionate posting comes off all may be well as the course I’m taking will at the present rate of progress last into April 1946.
I’m hoping that in time you’ll be able to cut down the amount of work you do in the shop and be able to come and stay up here from time to time.
Dr.Bain’s letter has not come to hand so he must be giving it a great deal of thought. I’m wondering what line he’s going to take as he knows you’re staying in Minehead at the moment.
I have just arrived home and found Dr.Bain’s letter waiting for me. It’s quite well done.
He says “There is no doubt that your wife’s health has suffered in your absence. The responsibility of a somewhat difficult child without your health and advice was rather more than she was equal to. No serious damage has been done in her case but you should use every effort to remain in this country where you can supervise your household and give her the support she needs.”
Well, from his point of view it is a masterpiece. But it leaves me quite a lot of work to do. Keep your fingers crossed ny dear.
Not only do I have to go to my lecture on Wednesday but I’ve got to double back and go on duty on Wednesday evening . Then on Thursday afternoon I’m one of the official time keepers at the Sports Day at Woolwich.
I haven’t found a good school bag yet and the prices are fantastic for the junk they represent so I’m still looking.
Could you please send my “old flannels” and razor strop please darling. Oh yes, and could you cut a little bit off the inside of the sleeve off your new shirt so that I can try and get a blouse for it or would you rather leave it till you come to town.
I don’t exactly hurry back here these days but get off the train at Baker Street and walk through the park. I spent most of the weekend swatting but went out for a couple of hours on Saturday on the bike and had an hour’s stroll on Sundayover Priumrose Hill. By myself on both occasions. I felt lonely. I’ve kind of got used to having you around. Still, the end sometimes appears in sight and every day is one day nearer so “chins up” and let’s keep that big smile.
I do so love you my sweetheart and bed is so cold and empty without you.
All my love is yours and Anthony’s and I’m still your own,
Johnnie xxxx
My Darling,
Thanks for the phone call. Please excuse me sitting on your ideas. You know how self-opinionated I am, but I do think I’ve got it right.
I feel that by far the most important part of our scheme is a suitable letter from Dr.Bain.
Should he, and it’s like him if he feels like it, insist that he won’t write any letters unless you live in London, then so be it and we’ll have to make arrangements about the business.
Of course I can’t be certain that our ideas will come off but I shall do my best and I feel that I’m in the right.
Goodnight sweetheart,
I love you,
John xxxx
test
14th September 1945
My Darling Janie,
I’ve just finished writing to DR.Bain but as it is to him I have cut it down to the bate minimum. You will be able to amplify it a good deal in the course of conversation.
Tell him you are able to ring me when you please, that if the worst comes to the worst, you can come up here and live until I am demobbed but were I to go, even to Germany, we would be separated.
If he says “Why doesn’t he get his discharge?” explain to him it is almost impossible. Take Ray’s case. You can tell him that I’m doing two or three evenings a week at the Refraction Hospital taking an exhaustive Refresher Course to get me ready to take over Cranmers again and that this course will be four or five months in duration, and it’s obviously better if I take thus course before I am demobbed.
Oh, and don’t forget to mention the pills this time and your leg.
This posting was direct from the War Office and didn’t please the colonel at all because there is no one to take my place now and I’ve got three months’ experience in and am just getting to grips with the situation.
Poor old Halstead was browned off but he’ll go down fighting but he did so want to go to Nottingham with time to fight it out. He lives with his wife and I imagine the poor devils are having a pretty dismal weekend.
Re: price control, I’ve written another soothing letter and I am now awaiting a letter from John Pickford about increased overheads. He says the wages bill has gone up about £500 a year so the increase percentage in overheads is large.
Thanks a lot honey for the overcoat in perfect condition but there is one other thing I want: my razor strop hanging up beside the basin.
Oh, I forgot to tell yu that the colonel had given me permission join Friday evening to continue to have Wednesday afternoons off for the Refraction Hospital course.
You know, I am at a loose end weekends without you around as I get enough time to do my swatting at work.
I have now been invaded by your mum and dad and Freda and Auntie Lizzie. It was service time and I was by myself. All hell or something like it is let loose now so I shall close my love.
All my love is your darling and our little boy’s.
Take great care and get cracking on Dr.Bain.
I love you,
John xxxx
Wednesday 4th July 1945
I went to see the Medical Officer who suspects Fibrosis and refers me to a specialist. He considers Infra Red treatment and massage may help.
This entry refers to the injury John sustained in India when he fell from the roof of a building.
Fibrosis is the formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ or tissue in a reparative or reactive process. In response to injury, this is called scarring, and if fibrosis arises from a single cell line, this is called a fibroma.
Tuesday 3rd July 1945
On duty to lock up the workshop. Go around with the old boy who has done it for years and pretends to supervise.
My darling Janie,
Well, I’m being fairly inundated with cheerful letters from you. No, this isn’t a complaint, I like it.
There’s a snag about your visit to London. It rather looks as though we are going to get Regimental Duties on Saturday afternoon and so I may not be home until later. The Regimental side of this workshop seems to be going through an awkward stage and making things as difficult as possible for the lads. It’s a kind of periodic disease in these large establishments.
I’m now quite resigned to doing no work and getting a good deal of study done in the office, which I share with my boss. I have him in my clutches at the moment as he wants a pair of bifocal lenses out of me and I’ve straightened his spectacle frame for him.
I went to see the Medical Officer today about my back. He says it’s a spot of fibrosis and though it doesn’t matter much he is referring me to a specialist. He said something about massage and infra red heat treatment so that should keep me occupied and amused.
I’m not able to attend the Refraction Hospital yet as the builders are in but if I’m still here in September I shall do so then.
The two-month cram course is a full-time job and will start as soon as they have students so I shall have to leave that until I’m demobbed. I’m going to book as soon as they’ll let me as I feel there’s going to be a hell of a queue.
It would certainly be better for me if you came on Sunday but I felt it would make the changeover too quick at Minehead. However, come on Sunday if you think it’s ok but I shall assume you are coming Monday evening unless you tell me it’s going to be Sunday, say by telegram.
I must meet you at the station as taxis are very difficult.
Look sweetheart, if you can’t answer Girlie’s letter and not offer, then don’t answer the letter. I’ll talk to you about this next week.
Here’s a good joke:
First Girl: I shall be glad when these utility undies are finished. I like silk next to my skin. What do you like best?
Second girl: Skin!
So long my love. All my love is yours and Anthony’s.
And I’m still your own,
Johnnie xxxx