World War Two letters
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.
Battery referred to in this letter is a unit of artillery, mortars, rocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers, surface to surface missiles, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles etc, so grouped to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems.
As usual
19th November 1944
My darling Janie,
Herewith the usual weekly or rather bi-weekly Sunday letter, no, even that doesn’t make sense.
Nothing special in the news. My First Officer leased from one of the Batteries is a grand bloke and will be good to experiment on as he’s looking forward to it.
Some of John’s fellow soldiers
While I think of it sweetheart you have made no mention of my request to put forward my name so that I can join the Old Tauntonians properly.
I hope you haven’t forgotten but if so please get in touch with Mr.Williams at Taunton School and have matters put in hand so that I shall receive the magazines and so on. I said when I left that I wouldn’t join until I had achieved something and perhaps in a small way I have now. Anyway I now have a small boy and an incipient Tauntonian so fill in the forms will you sweetheart- life member or something.
Taunton School, Taunton, attended by John and later by Anthony
You know sweetheart I’m doing an awful lot of talking this evening and very little writing and now it’s nearly 10pm and this is all I’ve done. But as there is just no news it makes it a bit difficult.
Oh yes, there is! Funny how one forgets the obvious. I’ve had a fireplace built at one end of this tent and it looks topping. It also has a wooden mantelpiece. The lad who made it wanted to paint it but I like the plain brick much better. We burn logs on it and really it makes all the difference in comfort and in appearance it’s super. I have bought a bedside rug from the Officers’ Shop and use it as a hearth rug. A camp chair, together with a reading lamp the electrician made, sets off a very homely picture. As Tom said “I wonder how my wife thinks I live with all this stuff in the papers these days when in point of fact I’ve never been so comfortable since war was declared!” The older a campaigner I get, the more trouble I take to make things comfortable for all of us.
Don’t however imagine for a single moment that that forward troops can do all the things I do. For them it’s really tough and now they have stopped sweating to shiver up in the mountains. I think that undoubtedly these are the toughest fighting conditions in the world and the way they are shoving on is magnificent. All this time I’ve been overseas I’ve never been far from trouble and yet never in any danger. I’ll show you all of it on a map one day sweet. Goodness you are going to find me a terrible bore after this war. You know the sort pf thing: “When I was in Burma…”
Isn’t the European war going well? This looks like the real thing if it is it will make all the difference to my repatriation. I’m not worrying about this month’s leave. It will only interfere with me getting home for good which is now more important.
Oh, to be with you again sweet, to live in our home with you and Anthony. At first I’m sure it will feel too good to be true. Those walks together or going to the beach or to the movies or to someone else’s house or even a dance (I can see I shan’t be able to get away with anything now) and then always back to our own fireside, to those intimate little fireside meals, tea and supper by reading lamp and firelight and perhaps the radio.
Till those beautiful days are with me again, all my love is yours and our Anthony’s my sweetheart.
Take care of your dear selves and I’ll soon be with you again.
All your own,
Johnnie xxxxxx
In war news at this time November 6th saw Franklin Delano Roosevelt win a fourth term as U.S. president. On this date also
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 threaten Metz. November 10th saw V-2 rockets continue to hit Britain, at the rate of about eight a day and on the 12th after numerous bombings while anchored in a fjord at Tromsø, Norway, the German battleship Tirpitz was sunk.
45 King George Road
Minehead
15th November 1944
My own darling John,
Forgive me for not writing for seven days but one way and another I did not manage it. I felt I could not concentrate on a “love” letter with poor Maurice so tragically bereaved. Forgive me darling but this has given me a nasty shock. Add to this about ten days ago I had to do some digging in the garden, having no one to ask for help and I think I must have either strained my heart or its muscles. It’s rather worried me. Don’t let Mother know about it. Anyway I have gone very very carefully since and it’s getting better. I don’t want a recurrence of that trouble I had two years ago. Now don’t worry sweetheart. When you come home I will be thoroughly overhauled shall I, just to be quite fit for our next baby. Only I must have you with me.
I wrote to Maurice and asked him to come down for a few days but your dad rang up and said “as much as Maurice would love to come he did not want to leave Grace’s parents alone before he had to go back to camp.” Anyway I am writing again to assure him of a very warm welcome any time he cares to come. Your dad goes away next Saturday. I can’t very well tell you any details for obvious reasons. Isn’t there a line about Minnie from Trinidad? You remember? I think planes fly from there to where your dad is going. I hope so. I have tried to hint.
Girlie has given her resignation to the school at Bournemouth as she does not like it down there and is asking to be transferred to where Raymond is. History does not state what happens if there aren’t any vacancies up there. Russell now plays hockey for the college. You know he is a dear brother John. I love him tremendously. I hate to think of when he goes away. I shall miss him tremendously as he often pops down and takes me dancing. I am very very proud of my brother. Now don’t be a silly goose. Of course, I’m proud of you- just as much. I love you both dearly, only in a different way. Goodness, what is this letter trying to be?
Russell Barker
Maurice goes back to camp tomorrow morning. How long did my cable take to reach you? I see Don Shrives is home on leave again. Miss Warren’s fiancee is down for the weekend as Miss Warren does not approve of his spectacles so Mr.Palmer tested him yesterday. Her fiance works on a farm. Miss Warren told me she will not leave for the duration. Don’t you worry darling, neither she nor Mr.Palmer will leave you in the lurch. I have made enquiries as to this from them. You know you don’t credit me with much common sense do you where the business is concerned. You seem to forget that I have been in business myself.
Anthony did receive your cable a day or two after his birthday. How did you manage to send it? There seems to be some misunderstanding between us about Anthony. I did NOT mean that I thought you would not fuss him. What I meant is that I don’t want you to be so strict with him. Oh, I know you won’t approve of all he does but sweetheart blame me, not Anthony. He really is a good boy but he has these sudden outbursts. He will suddenly order you to do something and say “Do it at once I tell you!” Well, what I am afraid of is that you will come down on him like a ton of bricks and that would in all probability undo all my months of hard endeavour to stop him stuttering. Forgive me sweetheart I’m only trying too make sure you realise that his stuttering is due to nerves. I remember how strict you used to be with him, how you made me let him cry at night. But darling those sane tactics simply won’t work now. I’m afraid you will refuse to let him have his bedroom door wide open at night to let me keep answering him when he calls out at night as he still sometimes does. That is the kind of thing I mean. I have told him that you will sometimes put him to bed and he is thrilled. He wants you badly John, more that even he realises. He needs your society. Still, enough about that. I expect you are very cross with me now aren’t you?
John with Anthony before the war
Oh, my dearest darling John, I do so love you. Did you hear them play “Love is the sweetest thing” on the radio the other day? I love you, want you and NEED you sweetheart and please God, in a few months’ time, I shall feel and know I am married.
All my love darling John. God bless and keep you always.
Your very own adoring wife,
Janie xxxxxxxxxx
PS Grace did not die in hospital (they were all full up) but in their apartment. Maurice is going to try for his A.S.C. and is also going to apply for a transfer. Your dad does not leave until the 24th November now.
Note: A.S.C.appears to mean The Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) was a corps of the British Army responsible for land, coastal and lake transport, air despatch, barracks administration, the Army Fire Service, staffing headquarters’ units, supply of food, water, fuel and domestic materials such as clothing, furniture and stationery and the supply of technical and military equipment. It became a “Forming Corps” of the Royal Logistic Corps.
As usual
9th November 1944
My darling Janie,
Another air letter to let you know that I’m quite OK. The weather is beginning to get colder and I now wear overalls first thing in the morning and then in the evenings one feels that a fire might be a good thing.
I went to dinner at Harry’s place last evening and also met another mutual acquaintance there who was with us “up the way”.
When we left at about 11.30 pm it was of course pitch black and the lights on my jeep packed in and so I had to trail along behind Stewart’s Jeep. When we got off the main road we went along side by side and so I used his headlights to get home. I should have been going to his place tonight but as your letter was already one day delayed I called it off.
This chap Stewart back in 1942 had to walk 250 miles from Miptkkina to Ledo when cut off by the Japs and it took about a month. That was during my first short spell at Dinapur. Harry has, as you know, been on holiday and with his usual luck met all sorts of mutual acquaintances including a certain Katherine I may have told you about who was very sweet on him and he on her for quite a time and I was encouraging it but it, or rather Harry, cooled off. What the meeting has done I don’t know but she was asking after me. I have been detailed to write to her. I think she has a soft spot for me because I was on her side, sort of thing.
Anyway, he brought me back, as ordered, a lovely present for you but as I have used up all my “duty free” labels for this year I can’t send it just yet. But you mustn’t be greedy as there are about three on the way at the moment.
Tom Moffatt had some more photos of his wife and son and they look at me from all angles of the room and I sometimes wonder after three years of pleading and promising I am still without anything I can put in a frame and show to other people. Normally you satisfy my merest whim and yet over this one thing that I should treasure so much I remain disappointed and I must admit hurt. Still, I suppose it won’t be long before I see you again and then I won’t need one so I won’t grumble any more. But I hope that one day I shall have an explanation. I expect you don’t realise what it means to me.
I had a letter from Janet Shrives yesterday. I expect you know I sent her a card. I also sent some tea. Say, I hope you have received the four or five cartons I have sent you from various places.
Tea picking
I still think constantly of those first hours and days together when things will seem too good to be true and almost too sweet to bear, when you take me to the place of our honeymoon and we are together and alone for the first time.
All my love is yours and Anthony’s. God bless you darling and bring me back to you.
Your,
Johnnie xxxxx
On this day US planes bombed Singapore.
As usual
5th November 1944
My Darling Wife,
Guy Fawkes Night and it’s Anthony’s fifth and I don’t suppose that he’s ever seen fireworks. I wonder if we shall be able to have some rockets this time next year. Here’s hoping.
Four of the lads and myself made an attempt to climb one of the local mountains, nearly 2000ft high. Of course, you must remember we start at a height well over that of Dunkery Beacon. Of course, it being rather out in the wilds you consider yourself lucky if you find a path, then they just go as far as the village and then conk out. Funnily enough they don’t seem to reach the bottom of the hill but merely connect the hill villages to the lower slopes of the mountain where they grow their rice. Well, having left camp about 11am and motored to the foot of the hill then fought our way through elephant grass well over our heads we happened on a path. Well, for the first hour the going was hard till we got into the woods, jungle if you like, but it was just delightful, not unlike Watersmeet, but on a larger scale. Just as we were getting rather thirsty I noticed a pomelo on the ground (a wild grapefruit and rather more tart) and we found we were under a tree of the same so sat down and quenched the said thirst. I suppose we got to within 1500 feet of the top but that would have been the worst part as it was terribly steep and thickly matted jungle. I reckon it would take two days to do the job properly.
Pomelo fruit
The pomelo, Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis, also called pomello, pummelo, pommelo, pamplemousse, jabong (Hawaii), or shaddock, is a natural (non-hybrid) citrus fruit, similar in appearance to a large grapefruit, native to South and Southeast Asia.
The pomelo is one of the four original citrus species from which the rest of cultivated citrus hybridised.
Staff Sergeant Kellaway who comes with me on such tours is also a parson’s son and his father is minister of the Methodist chapel at Bury to which I went for church parade. He runs a large Bentley sports car. So you can see he’s fairly well off. I have another sergeant who runs a Lagonda and my batman has a car like Miss Misa’s car so you see I’m surrounded by wealth.
I’ve been a captain nearly a year now but still have received no pay for it. But won’t it be a nice big lump when it does. The high debt that I had at the beginning of last year is now nearly settled. I spend so little that I have easily managed on the balance I had in the bank at that time for I have not received any pay over that period. Of course your allotment was not interfered with. When the captain cash does come through I shall not increase your allotment but send home lumps of cash as bank accumulates.
All my love sweetheart to you and Anthony.
Till then I’m still your own,
Johnnie xxxxxxxxxxxx
In war news at this time on November 1st British forces occupied Salonika, Greece, and distributed food in Athens, which was experiencing famine. On the same day “Operation Infatuate”, an Allied attempt to free the approaches to Antwerp began; amphibious landings took place on Walcheren Island. On November 2nd Canadian troops took Zeebrugge in Belgium; Belgium was now entirely liberated. On the 4th the remaining Axis forces withdrew from the Greek mainland. German occupation forces would remain in several Greek islands until capitulation. On this date also British General John Dill died in Washington, D.C., and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, the only foreigner to be so honored at the time.
This letter refers to John’s younger brother Maurice’s wife Grace (nee Jones) who died of diabetes on 4th November 1944. Maurice later re-married Isabelle and they had four daughters: Dorothy, Christine, Grace and Madeline.
45 King George Road
Minehead
4th November 1944
My own darling John,
This will come as a shock to you as it did to me. Grace died suddenly this morning. I found the telegram from Girlie waiting for me when I came in from the pictures this afternoon. All it Said was “Grace died suddenly this morning. Cremation Golders Green. Madeline.” Thsat’s all I can tell you at present. I have just rung through to Mother and she did not know anything bout it but they said there is a telegram there for your dad and my Dad was trying to find him as it has been there since this afternoon. They can’t find him anywhere. I rang Mother up so that I could get in touch with your dad to see what he thought about my going up to the funeral but as he was not in Mother is going to see him about it and is ringing me in the morning. I have also asked Mother to order a wreath from you and me. All being well if I do go up Mother will come down and mind Anthony for me. I shall endeavour (if I go) to get there and back in a day. Poor old Maurice I bet he is cut up. I am going to suggest he comes down here for a few days. Perhaps he would welcome a change of surroundings. I expect you will want to write. If you have not got his address, it’s: c/o Mrs.Jones, 88, Girton Avenue, Queensbury, Middlesex.. I am going to endeavour to send you a cable on Monday about Grace but this letter is just in case I don’t.
I will keep this open until after I have heard from London in the morning.
I have an awful headache and I feel sick. I suppose it’s the shock. Miss Pettier made me some tea and I am going to bed in a minute.
When you do write to maurice John darling, do just emphasis to him that he can look upon here as his home for as long as the wishes. I mean, your dad is going away and I expect Mrs.Jones’ place will bring back so many memories for him and he will feel rather lonely there poor fellow with no real home to go to on his leaves. Anyway, you know what I mean.
I will leave this now. I don’t particularly want ti go to the Cremation service. The cremation service at your mother’s funeral upset me terribly. But I don’t want Maurice to think we don’t care and I know had you been able to you would go. Anyway, if Girlie goes I shall probably go.
(Sunday morning). Have just had phone call from Mother. Apparently early last week Grace had a chill. Maurice called the doctor in and as she was a diabetic and there was no one to look after her he said hospital was the best place. She had only been in there about two days when she went into a coma. She regained consciousness before she died and on Saturday morning at 2am she died. Her mother got there at 7am. They are bringing Grace down to Paddington tomorrow morning. Your father is terribly upset. He is taking services at Westbourne Park all day today. Maurice is probably going to tea at my mother’s today. The funeral is probably tomorrow at Golders Green in which case I can’t go but anyway I am ringing my mother up tomorrow morning to find out the particulars. Mother is getting a wreath from you and me and one for herself and is taking them up to Mrs.Jones for us. Mother said everything is at sixes and sevens.
Well, all for now my darling darling John. All my love is yours. What a good husband I have hot. Mother does not think Girlie will attend the funeral. Maurice got in touch with Raymond and he with Girlie and she with your dad and me.
Take great care of yourself my darling sweetheart.
Always your adoring wife,
Janie xxxxxxxx
PS I will write you a real letter very soon.
Anthony says the top kisses are for your servant who makes you cocoa!!! Perhaps you will pass them on….
In war news at this time the 1st November saw British forces occupy Salonika, Greece, and distribute food in Athens, which was experiencing famine; and “Operation Infatuate”, an Allied attempt to free the approaches to Antwerp began: amphibious landings took place on Walcheren Island.
45 King George Road
Minehead
1st November 1944
My darling John,
I have received another lovely letter from you on Monday. I am so glad to hear you are well and happy. I wonder what is in those two extra parcels you have sent us! Do tell me, there’s a dear, what Anthony’s is. I do hope you will receive my parcels (2) by Christmas. I have my doubts though as they were posted rather late. I was trying to get you a diary so sweetheart if they don’t turn up until after Christmas, well, you will forgive me won’t you? By the way in them you will find a present each for Jan and Pru. I thought that you could either send them or take them when you go on leave. For Jan I got two rather nice books. Anthony badly wanted them. For Pru I got a lovely bunny made in bright yellow velvet. It cost me twenty two shillings and six but that was the only thing I could get worth sending. I got it at Floyds and he said to me “Go on mrs.Askew, you can afford that.” It has lovely long ears. I do hope she will like it. Let’s see, she will be a year old on the 19th November won’t she?
Jan and Pru Kilburn with their mother Nathalie, wife and children of local tea plantation owner Jack Kilburn
That son of yours is going around telling everyone now that he is going to have a brother and a sister!! and they understand him! Mrs.Clark (Beach School) adores Anthony. She declares he is far too advanced (mentally) for his age and warns me to be careful and see he does not overdo learning at school. She has a grandson aged eight months but it’s all “Anthony” when we meet. Everyone says Anthony is the image of Russell to look at. Talking of school, or were we? Anyway we simply MUST talk about school for a bit. Look here, everyone seems to consider St.Theresa’s school the best for small children. The fees are four guineas per term (more as they grow older). It is by far the largest school in the county.
St.Theresa’s Convent, Townsend Road, Minehead, now Minehead First School
They don’t teach them religion. That is, they have Scripture but there is a special Catechism class for Roman Catholics. I think the nuns take some of the lessons and they call them “Mother so-and-so”. Well, there is Hamberies. The headmistress is about sixty. Only about twenty pupils go there and people don’t think much of it. St.Alwins I don’t know much aboit. But Mrs.Godfrey knows one of the teachers there and is going to get the low-down on it. Well, there you have the three schools. What do you think? PLEASE do answer this. I mean, this is as much your concern as mine. I really don’t know what to do. If St.Theresa’s wasn’t run by Roman Catholics everything would be OK but still it does seem a modern school and lots of little boys go there. I want your opinion. Then if it is to be St.Thersa’s Convent, well, I shall have yo to back me up against my mother and your dad. It’s the nearest to home, you see.
Mrs.Ball (her husband used to be a hairdresser in bailey’s, a blond man) tells her that one of their officers is packing up to come home because he has done over three years abroad. How does this affect you? I saw your friend Janet Shrives recently. She showed me an air graph card you had sent. I had to verify your address for her so I expect you will hear from her about same time as this. She asked me when you were coming home. I told her I DID NOT KNOW. If you’ve told her differently it’s just too bad!! Deirdre is a sweet little girl but extremely tiny. Anthony towers over her head and shoulders above her.
I managed to get Anthony a pair of shoes (black). I wanted brown. After a few days’ wear on one shoe he has won down to the stitching! They are size 10 and none too big. He does look a big boy in them and his grey turnover top socks.
Oh, yes, so you are anticipating spending six months in London. Oh, darling that will be marvellous but what about your son’s education during that period and also where shall we stay in town? Strange you should ask me where we were going for our honeymoon as I was going to ask you in this letter. We have got to go to London afterwards to collect Anthony. Also, where will you disembark I wonder?
Darling, don’t jump at me when I only wondered if you could possibly bring me home a pair of silk stockings for our honeymoon. I haven’t a pair. Still, you will have to get used to me without stockings as I have been for the last three years. I prefer to go without rather than wear the awful artificial muck on sale here. But don’t worry about it. It doesn’t matter. The only reason I asked you was because John P. managed to bring Joyce home stockings, among other things. As long as you come home safely that’s all that really matters. Still, you will have to get used to seeing my varicose veins in my legs showing or else I shall have to wear my slacks.
Anthony wants to learn how to swim. I told him he must wait for you.
All my love, God bless you and bring you, the best husband ever, safe home to us my darling. Anthony and I adore you and I really long to feel married again,
Janie xxxxxxxx
In war news at this time 25th October saw Romania fully liberated by Red Army and Romanian troops and on the 27th the Battle of Hürtgen Forest was developing and would continue through October and November and have its last attacks in December.
In thus letter Mr.Palmer was the optician doing locus work in John’s optical business while he was on active service overseas. Rosie Warren was the receptionist.
As ususual
28th October 1944
Darling,
I received the loveliest letter from you this evening and could not wait to answer it. You know your letters are only taking eight days now so that means that I hear of things you were doing and thinking just over a week ago and it makes you seem much closer sweetheart.
Nothing much has happened in the last three days. All goes well, though things do get a bit exasperating at times. You know, things won’t go right, things get broken that shouldn’t, oh silly little things. Today all has been well after a somewhat sticky week and then to crown it this evening I have this grand letter from you.
Tom returned from leave last night and he had bought for me a topping pair of grey flannel slacks and a couple of pairs of sports shirts. I popped them on and looked all civilian again. It was grand. Of course I got them for when I go on leave to Margherita which as i Have said I hope to do just after Christmas. I should like to go for Christmas but one can’t run away from the boys at that time. Besides it always takes quite a bit of organisation and I don’t trust anyone else.
Your news about Mr.Palmer getting married is a bit of a shock. Why, I only wrote to him a week ago to say that I didn’t consider I’d be back in the business for two years, intending t convey that at least he could depend on a good job for that period. Seems to me that the boot’s on the other foot and he will want to be released as soon as possible, Rosie Warren too. All this matrimonial business is getting a little difficult. It’s going to be a hell of a test of their loyalty to me if they stay.
Tom had a letter from his wife telling him a friend of hers (in common with others) was making a trousseau for their second honeymoon on her husband’s return. She had described a lovely nightie she had made for the occasion. In his reply he said that it was a waste of energy, of coupons and material-she wasn’t going to need a nightie! To which she replied it was in case there was a fire!
Do you see sweetheart, thousands of others like ourselves are thinking about our second honeymoons in, we hope, the not too distant future, together it would seem with the more intimate details.
About the watch darling, I don’t want you to sell the other. It’s a good second line in case the other one goes wrong, also I know my mother would have preferred I keep it. Yes, I’m a bit particular to design so I’ll try and send you a picture of the sort of thing I want.
All my love us yours and Anthony’s. God bless you both.
I’m still the same old,
Johnnie xxxxxxx
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.
In this letter Raymond is John’s brother-in-law, Raymond Creswell, coincidentally also an optician. Rosie Warren was the receptionist at John’s optical business, Cranmers Opticians
As usual
25th October 1944
Janie my darling,
Just your usual mid-weekly letter to tell you I love you and things like that.
You know I forgot to tell you last week’s sensation. It still is a sensation as far as I’m concerned. You see we had been making improvements to the Motor Transport workshop and I was up on the roof of this home made structure. It’s about 18 feet height the front and 10 feet at the back. well, I wanted to get down so I dropped between two rafters intending to grasp the one in front of me and swing on it and drop to the ground. Unfortunately it turned in my hands and I dropped 12 feet on to my bottom. Of course it knocked all the wind out of me and I felt a bit sore but apart from that I have suffered no ill effects.
Phyllis James wrote to me the other day about some of my men that she is taking for their leave and she mentioned that her sister Evelyn had been in touch with you as regards digs in Minehead. She was also asking about Anthony as she always does and if he liked his new school. I’d told her I expected he might go in September and she’s interested as her son Paul is coming back from Darjeeling from his first term at school.
I’m starting to do a bit of studying from the optical periodicals that I get from Miss Warren. I’ve also written to Raymond for the latest standard textbooks. I told him to send them all to you. I’m hoping of course that I shall be able to get some intensive study in between the time that I’m re-patriated and demobilised so as to cut to a minimum wasted time on leaving the army. If I’m stationed near London that will be perfect as I shall be able to spend a certain amount of time at reg London Refraction Hospital. While I think of it, will you send a £10 donation to the Refraction Hospital fund at Christmas to assist in the re-building? I should have done it ages ago.
Rosie Warren told me the “nuptial news” and says she’ll try and wait till I get back. I hope to goodness she does. Perhaps you don’t realise how much that girl does and how loyal she is to me. She lets me know all that goes on.
And so sweetheart, five years ago tonight our wee baby was just on the brink. How brave you were even though so frightened. I shall never forget that night as long as I live and the beautiful days of realised ambition that followed the advent of the little son you gave me into this world. Not a very nice world it’s true but maybe it won’t be so bad in the future. Do you remember darling that he wasn’t at all handsome at first but how wonderful after a week or so..
Then again the vivid memory of a year later when we lived at Bury how he used to look forward for me to play with him on my return in the evening, sitting there on the floor.
Happy days sweetheart, now so long ago. But there are others now fast approaching.
All my love to you both,
God bless you.
Your own adoring,
John xxxxxxxx
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