In war news at this time March 6th saw the Germans launch an offensive against Soviet forces in Hungary. On the 7th the Battle of Remagen took place. When German troops failed to dynamite the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine, the U.S. First Army captured the bridge and began crossing the river. The Army also took Cologne, Germany and the Germans began to evacuate Danzig.
Mr.Pickford was one of the other partners in John’s optical business, Cranmers in Minehead.
Same as usual
8th March 1945
My darling Janie,
Thanks darling for your letter dated 1st March. I’m trying to dash this letter off quickly as we have two officers coming in for a drink. The poor devils have just got out here looking very nice and pink and English (listen to your bronzed and yellow hero my love). Still, it’s up to us who have been to here to make friends with our new neighbours and possibly help them. One thing is certain and that is they won’t have to do as long as your humble servant, good luck to them. Anyway tonight we hope to get a recent close up of Blighty. Another reason why we like to talk to those who have just come over.
My Jeep is finished and is now looking very spick and span in a shiny, almost black, coat of paint, and with two huge headlights stuck out in front, it looks like a case of goitre!
John with his Jeep
I had another game of soccer on Wednesday and every bally time I tear the muscles of my right leg taking a mighty kick. I seem to have been limping for weeks. Miraculously the trouble goes off before the next game and reappears after fifteen minutes of play.
I’ve just had a yen for rifle practice and so now we have been shooting every afternoon. I’m very bad at present and only succeed in bruising my shoulder.
We have our private range just behind the camp, higher up the combe, hacked out of the jungle. It’s most convenient and no time is wasted.
Say, darling, let that back well alone until I get back. Nothing seems to do much good. Must go into the whole question very carefully. I think some X-ray pictures may help.
I’m afraid I didn’t know that Anthony had decided he wanted to take a vacation in London at the same time as ourselves but I still think it’s feasible and desirable. And then we can go back in the train together. Boy, what a journey!
We’ll have to arrange with his Nanna that she only takes him certain places so that there aren’t any premature crashes.
It would still be possible for me to meet him, sort of by myself, to see if he recognises me, as I explained last week. Of course, if that’s agreeable darling.
With the same bunch of mail I received the 1943 balance sheet from Mr.Pickford. After spending some time looking at it, Tom pointed out that I had it upside down, but he’s promised to explain it to me sometime.
Yes, it’s good news to hear that Joyce Pickford is expecting a baby. I had a letter from her a few days ago. John Pickford tells me he is flat out just now, six nights out of eight, terrific going, still the mosquito seems to be one of the safest planes. Good luck to him, he’s doing a fine job.
You know my sweet I sometimes get browned off. The work this little workshop does seems to be so useless and it’s a really good workshop darling, really it is and could do so much more important work, highly placed people have said so, still I suppose that lots of others feel like I do.
Starkey, my batman, has gone on leave and I’ve had to bring in another lad to do his job. I expect that I shall get very bad tempered about it. I like everything to happen without thinking about it. You know the sort of thing: my clothes put out, tea at the right time, always plenty of custard, plenty of drinking water. Oh, I’m dreadful, aren’t I?
Now I’ve received another lot of tobacco, Gold Block, that from Russell I suppose as again there was no name. Did your parents and Russell send separately darling? Well, anyway, I now have a marvellous stock, easily last me till I get home I hope, and four different makes for me to sample. My pipe, by the way darling, is still admired by one and all. I feel I shall have to keep it on a chain. My Staff Sergeant Motor Transport is the worst. He’s always saying that smoking is doing me no good and that I should stop and of course give him the pipe as a souvenir. His brother who is a Wing Commander has recently sent him a cherry wood pipe so now he is better placed.
Well, my darling, let’s hope Jerry chucks in soon so that I can get home to you again.
Sweetheart, I love you still and am longing to be with you.
Take great care of yourself and Anthony.
All my love is yours
And I’m your very own,
Johnnie xxxx
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