Letter 19th November 1944
In war news at this time on November 6th Franklin Delano Roosevelt won a fourth term as U.S. president and the aircraft carrier USS Lexington was heavily damaged by kamikaze attacks. On November 9th General Patton’s troops and tanks crossed the Moselle River and threatened Metz. On November 10th V-2 rockets continued to hit Britain, at the rate of about eight a day. On November 12th after numerous bombings while anchored in a fjord at Tromsø, Norway, the German battleship Tirpitz was sunk and on the 17th the Germans gave up Tirana, Albania which was liberated by local partisans.
In this letter Mr.Palmer was the optician who covered for John in his optical business while John was away in the army. Miss Warren was the receptionist.
19th November 1944
My darling, darling John,
Yesterday I received your letter dated 9th November. You know you can write beautiful letters, excepting where you “try to be funny” but that’s not often so I forgive you. It makes me laugh though because precisely where you try to “show off” you spell the words wrongly and that lets you down with a bump dearest!!!!
Have you received my letter about Anthony going to school and asking whee to send him? I am waiting for your reply.
I have just witness to David and to Stephen. Mother had a letter from Stephen recently and he says he’s seen PLENTY of damage and the drains are awful. He also says he is speaking quite good french now. Anthony has sent David a letter similar to the one he sent you. By the way Anthony is eagerly awaiting a reply to his letter. Bless him, it took him ages to draw as he carefully considered what you would like him to draw.
Mr.Palmer has received your letter reference your to being back in the business for two years. I managed to smooth over his anxious thoughts over this. Don’t worry darling neither he nor Miss Warren will let you down. I go to the shop most days (Anthony simply refuses to go by and they do so spoil him). Mr.Palmer is very very fond of him and gives him sweets and Miss Warren draws things for him. Mr.Palmer and I have walked home together once or twice so you see how friendly we are. So don’t you worry about the business. I think darling (forgive me if I’m wrong) that you are rather inclined to underestimate my powers of persuasion over people if I care to exert my personality. I knew you would be worried about the business now but ( and I don’t boast) Miss Warren and Mr. Palmer are very fond of me and i do all I can to adhere them to us so that they will NOT let you down. Forgive me, I did not mean to mention business affairs to you after that last never-to-be-forgotten eye-full you gave me last time but I mention it this once to put your mind at rest. I have however told Mr.Palmer that if all goes well you hope to be home in about six to eight months and then you can settle things with him. He is certainly satisfied with this arrangement so don’t worry. If you don’t agree with what I’ve told him well do please realise I had to say something to explain your letter away.
My muscles or whatever I strained are OK again now. I have still got neuritis but really I ought to have seen Dr.Raby months ago. That’s one of the things I want you to talk to Dr.Raby about: will my next baby put it all wrong again? No, don’t misunderstand me sweetheart I am NOT trying to wriggle out of having any more children. Do you know last night (all of it I should think) I dreamed I was having another baby and in hospital-ugh! I think I must have had indigestion. I woke up and went to sleep and still went on dreaming. Anyhow, morning came and I was still in the throes of “having it”. It somehow brought back those nightmare days before Anthony was born. Do you remember them? I thought I was going to die and in the end I did not care. I can’t say I’m exactly eager to repeat the dose but I suppose that’s one of the things for which I was born.
The Silletts have a wonderful baby girl aged eight months and Anthony and I spend ages looking at her through the window.
Oh dearest, I must stop.
God bless you my darling. Need I tell you my love is all yours?
Your adoring wife,
Janie xxxxxxxxxx
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