War news at this time was encouraging. On the 28th January the Russians completed the occupation of Lithuania and on the 31st crossed the Oder River into Germany and were now less than 50 miles from Berlin. The same date saw a second invasion on Luzon by Americans and the whole Burma Road now opened as the Ledo Road linkage with India was complete. On the 1st February Ecuador declared war on Germany and Japan and on the 2nd .nval docks at Singapore were destroyed by B-29 attacks. February 3rd saw the Battle of Manila begin.
45 King George Road
Minehead
4th February 1945
Phone Minehead 443
My Sweetheart,
I have out our phone number at the top in case you have lost it and as things are going now in Germany, what with the Rissians’ amazing advances, and ours, you might get hime sooner than you think and then wish you had our number so there it is: 443. You had better memorise it. The war news is certainly very cheering don’t you agree? You will soon be coming home darling.
So you want to run two cars do you Sir? And where do we garage it, let alone buy it? And golf etc? You know you do make me laugh darling. Where is the money coming from? Anthony’s education has already begun at £5-5-0 per term plus extras and as he gets older naturally his education will cost more and then Taunton School fees and then possibly college after that. My,my, it looks as though we shall finish in the Workhouse. Goodness alone knows, if we have another son, how do we educate him? Anthony still wants to be a doctor by the way and that costs an awful lot. I hope this works well and truly into that darling head of yours when you think in terms of cars etc!!!!!!!
Taunton School, Taunton
You ask me if you intend staying in this house. Well, darling, I put it to you can we afford thirty shillings plus rates weekly after this war. Personally I don’t think we can and I am hoping that perhaps we shall be lucky enough to find one a bit cheaper or that Mrs.Cranmer will agree to us still having the rest of the flat. This way you see the house only costs us about fifteen shillings weekly including rates. But if we don’t get the rent money then I rally don’t think we can afford it here in spite of it being very cosy etc. Perhaps I worry too much about Anthony’s education finances but I do so want him to have every opportunity we can give him. You know if Jan and Pru are coming to stay with us regularly this house just won’t be big enough, especially if Nathalie and Jack stay here as well.
I have been giving Anthony a lesson in how to punch. He tells me a boy in his class (kindergarten) punches him and so I have told Anthony that next time he does it to punch him back HARD and he will! Don’t worry, I won’t fight all his battles for him, although I won’t say I feel rather callous. I teach him to respect little girls but fight the boys only if they hit him first. He seems so young and unprotected when I leave him at school but he loves it there. He talks about the “Reverend Mother” and “Sister” and his teacher is very patient. They have several teachers. The one who is very patient is a Miss Chapman who lives somewhere up the Parks. She is about twenty-five and she takes their coats, shoes etc off and puts them on and teaches them some things. Then a nun plays the piano for their “band” and singing and another teaches them French and another other things. They have a prayer every day, something about “Oh, Angel of God” etc. Anthony is a bit hazy about it. He can practically count up to 50 now and already knows some French like “Good morning, Good Night, Daddy” etc. He comes home and Russell questions him on what he has done. He knows all about Noah and his ark and how he built it and why and the lions, monkeys etc., etc. they took in together with margarine and bread and Scott’s emulsion, (this is Anthony’s version) and tea and sugar and butter and jam etc and they lived in there for forty days and forty nights and then they sent out a bird to see if it was still raining and it died and then they sent out another and it lived and so they came out and that was how Jesus got rid of all the wicked people! He will also hold forth on Cain and Abel and Isaac and Esau (with all the actions).
Note: Still produced today. Scott’s Emulsion is a proprietary adulteration of cod liver oil. Cod liver oil has long been believed to have a tonic effect on the human circulatory and respiratory systems. Part of the success of Scott’s Emulsion was that it used glycerine to sweeten the powerfully bitter taste of pure cod liver oil.
St Thersa’s Minehead, now Minehead First School
Russell is still here and is thinking of taking a part-time job as a pastime. He has not heard his results yet. He is also going to help me redecorate the rooms ready for your homecoming. We are starting any day now. I have not heard any more from Maurice so have just drooped him a note. I am so glad you had a good holiday. How was Diana??!!
Diana Franklin, daughter of one of the local tea plantation owner’s
I have to go to the dentist again on Thursday. He managed to save that other tooth for a while but I can’t chew on it. I am rather anxious about Anthony’s teeth. He still sucks his fingers you know and one of his front two teeth is protruding just a bit. I have told Mr.Ducheaune an he says it will affect his permanent teeth if not caught but I can’t stop him sucking his fingers. He does not do ut at school but so great is the strain on him that as soon as he gets in he commences to suck them and gets terribly irritable and nervy if I stop him. I have now told him that a band will have to go around his tooth if he continues!!
Well darling, let’s forget our responsibilities as parents for a moment and think about ourselves. Where do you want us to spend our honeymoon?and in a hotel or private apartment or what? Oh, darling it will be wonderful to meet you again and to feel and know that I belong to you again.
Well, take great care of yourself, you will be home soon. By the way, what did you mean about Diana’s “attacks”? Oh. Anthony’s sweets have arrived and they are a great success. Thank you dearest very much.
All my love my dearest husband.
I love only you and long for you.
Your adoring wife,
Janie xxxxx
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