Same as usual
16th March 1945
My Darling Janie,
Thank you for your letter dated 8th March.
We have another officer staying with us at the moment. He’s on a course. He’s a very nice little man indeed and is keen as mustard. He’s a school master in civvy life and so is able to take things in quickly. Moreover, he’s just done an Infantry course and is very useful for instructing my chaps in their usual training. With he and Tom Moffatt get about a letter a day from their wives. Sweetheart, that isn’t a nasty hint. The wives just haven’t got anything else to do. No, I’m getting one each week from you and that’s grand. I’m now in the happy state of having practically done my time (I hope). In any case, I think I have, which is the same thing from a “hope” point of view and so I say to myself (hopefully) “Well, any time now” and it’s a grand feeling and anyone I speak to, should say “Oh, of course,, you’ll be going any time.” (Unless they say “Oh, you specialists don’t stand a chance.” But in any case they look at me with envy and I feel a hell of a veteran, and that’s a nice feeling as well.
For nearly two years I was being overpaid on basic pay and underpaid in allowances and as a result was sightly in my favour, I kept mum (bad type, this husband of yours darling). Anyway, it has now all come to light and so I owe the authorities 760 Rupees, about £60 so I shan’t get any pay for three months, starting from March. It’s too much to expect to leave India before I’m paid up. Of course nothing happens to your money. Say, I suppose that it is coming in regularly? Or hadn’t you noticed? If not, check it. I’d sooner make corrections at this end an not the other. 400 Rupees a month (about £30) since August 1942. Try and remember to answer this as my last two monetary queries have met with the usual nil response.
I played in an Inter-Section football game on Thursday and instead of feeling damaged I felt better after the game than before. What with new chaps (footballers) coming into the section I’ve lost my place in the team, wguch of course I expected.
I can see that our little man needs sunshine and days on the beach. That would put him right I’m sure. Children need the sunshine more than adults. By the way I’ve had very little catarrh since I’ve been overseas. Of course it always follows a chill in the head as it used to but without any effort on my part goes off. What I used to do at home was to draw a normal saline solution (one teaspoon of salt to a pint of water) up my nose, and also gargle the solution. See if you can get Anthony to do this. It’s very simple after a bit but the first once or twice was lousy but there’s no doubt it cured it.
Don’t be too hard on Diana sweetheart. She does work in an office from 8am to 5pm and there again there is a very great shortage of women for the dances and so on that are held in the various army establishments. Why, even Nathalie feels duty bound to go out twice a week to such affairs. However, let’s leave it at that.
Diana Franklin, daughter of local tea plantation owner, and friend of John’s
I do hope that you also enjoy Maurice’s stay my love. I’m sure he will.
Maurice Askew, John’s younger brother, who had recently been widowed.
It’s very interesting to know that you are re decorating the homestead for my benefit. To be sure it is going to be very strange for me to have a house and garden of our own and you can’t guess how much I’m looking forward to it. I’m wondering how I shall take to gardening. Being a normal sort of chap I think I shall like it, but we shall have to indulge in original layouts. I want trees and flowering shrubs and nice grass with just odd beds of flowers so that good maintenance doesn’t take too much time.
Just imagine Russell is getting forty five shillings fir just a part-time job, about the same as my lower paid chaps for campaigning overseas.
Russell Barker, Janie’s younger brother
You know lots of young chaps are earning wages that make Russell’s look like petty cash. He is going to get a shock when he is called up. Must be rotten for Russell waiting so long for hs results. But it’s good for you, my sweet.
Well, that is all for now my sweetheart. Not too long now and before you know it I’Il back with you.
All my love is yours sweetheart and our little boy’s.
Take care and your one and only will be along to show you he’s your one and only,
Johnnie xxx
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