In war news at this time on the 15th October the Allied bombardment of Aachen in Germany continued, the first major battle on German soil. On the 16th the Red Army and Yugoslav partisans under the command of Josip Broz Tito liberated Belgrade and the Red Army forces were also in East Prussia. On the 18th Hitler ordered a call-up of all men from 16 to 60 for Home Guard duties and on the 21st Aachen in Germany was occupied by U.S. First Army; it was the first major German city to be captured. The 23rd to the 26th saw the Battle of Leyte Gulf: The United States Third Fleet and the United States Seventh Fleet won a decisive naval battle over the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Philippine Islands. On the 23rd October the Allies recognised General de Gaulle as the head of a provisional government of France.
B-29s were now using Tinian Island, in the Marianas, as a base for the systematic bombing of Japan and Soviet forces in cooperation with Tito’s Partizan forces, liberated Novi Sad in Yugoslavia. On the 25th Romania was fully liberated by Red Army and Romanian troops.
45 King George Road
Minehead
25th October 1944
My darling John,
Well, you will see by the date that today has been a great day- our wonderful little son is 5 years old today. Bless him. He certainly beat his record today by the number of times he said, “I do wish my Daddy was here.” I nearly blubber. He was so sincere about it. And, oh darling, your beautiful airgraph to him arrived THIS MORNING. Yes, we missed you terribly today. Anthony has his five candles on his cake. He badly wants me to send you a piece but sweetheart it would not keep long enough as it is a wartime recipe I used. We turned out the lights when the candles were lit and there we sat with your photo in the middle, looking at the cake. Oh, John, I do thank God for him. He is a grand little fellow and I do so want you to come home and guide him in the right steps. You know it’s all wrong for a boy to be brought up entirely by his mother. I do my best but he needs his Daddy’s “outlook” on things as well as mine. There is the problem of his schooling to be considered now. How I wish I could leave this to you. Still, I’ll once again do my best. Mrs.Godfrey is going to find out particulars of St.Alwins for me. I fancy either there or Hambries (in Blenheim Road, colours mauve and white) or the Convent. Everyone says the convent is the most popular but I don’t somehow care for it. Anyway I thought that if I sent him to either one or the other two, say, for a couple of terms until you come home it would be a good idea.
St.Theresa’s Convent, Townsend Road, Minehead, now Minehead First School
Goodness knows where we will send him for a Preparatory School before he goes to Taunton School. There isn’t one here.
Do you feel the father of a five year old boy darling?Oh, I say, I got Mother to buy Anthony some building bricks and send them to Anthony as if from you, supposed to come from India. He was thrilled but he almost caught me out as I told him that you as you are in the jungle you could not get me any stockings or undies. He said almost as soon as he received “your” bricks, “But Mummy, I thought you said Daddy could not buy things in the jungle!” I quickly said “Oh, but Daddy has been saving these bricks for you for a long time Darling.” He accepted that.
He is learning his alphabet and can almost count up to twenty. I can’t let him go to school knowing nothing. Did I tell you he has agreed to stay with Mother whilst I met you? Mind you, he’s not keen. He seems to have deeply rooted in him the idea that when you come home I won’t want him, in other words that he will be sold. We shall have to be very careful with him you know John. I want you to make a great fuss of him and want him with you as much as possible. Children have an uncanny knack of reading between the lines. He is so looking forward to meeting you with me you know John and it’s only since I asked him if didn’t he think he would like to stay with Mamma and see Grandpa’s station etc while I found you that he thinks he will be odd. Still, I have hinted that no doubt you will bring him a present home and that I will bring him one as well and that seems to have smoothed him over. I mean, I can’t explain to him WHY he has to stay with Mother.
Russell is coming down this weekend. Alas, I shan’t be able to go to the dance with him as there is no one to mind Anthony. Mother says she can’t manage this weekend. Oh, John, I am longing to dance with you.
I see that they are trying very hard to get the Army service overseas cut to three years as quickly as possible.
Did I tell you that Bill Cheek has been moved back to Bridgwater again? At present Mary and the baby Roger are staying with her mother.
You know I shall be terribly lonely when Anthony goes to school. I was going to get a job but with you coming home comparatively soon I don’t quite know what to do.
Sorry sweetheart I certainly have no film to send you. Can’t get any at all, haven’t been able to for years.
You know what I am looking forward to amongst other things is having you sitting in the armchair opposite me as it is now, only now it’s empty.
Well, darling I must close as it’s 10.15pm and I must have my solitary supper and away to bed.
Still, I’m not complaining, you’ll be home soon, God willing.
All my love sweetheart. Take great care of yourself for Anthony and
Your adoring wife,
Janie xxxxxxx
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