"We've brought a hun down in a field at Shoreham, and poor little Lancing has had a good old dose of bombs – it's never silent here either at night or day, however everyone seems to walk in the streets just as usual"
My brother and I inherited a box of some 450 letters written by our parents during 1940 to 1944. After enlisting in February 1940 dad was sent to Laindon in Essex for training in the 17th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment whilst our mother was living with her parents in Brighton. During this time they were in frequent contact with each other by letter as they were very much in love.
The letter reproduced here was sent by our Mum one month before they were married September 1940 and two weeks later our dad was sent overseas to Malta serving with the 59th L.A.A. battery which was one of the first such units to arrive in Malta. He remained in Malta until April 1944. As with many others serving, he did not see his new bride again until 1944. Some of his letters home refer to the pointlessness of war with no winners and how senseless it all was.
The attached photograph is of their wedding on 16 September 1940 taken at St Marks Church, Eastern Road, Brighton.
Transcript:
13/8/40
My very very own darling boy –
I received your Sunday letter to-day and the money – I am terribly worried about you darling as I hear they had a very bad air raid up the estuary yesterday and not having had a letter from you I don't know whether you're safe or not.
We had a warning yesterday morning, one this morning at 6.30, the sky was simply filled with huns and their smoke screens – sorry, the smoke screens came first, there was gunfire as well, then there was another one about 4.20 this afternoon – many planes were over then.
We've brought a hun down in a field at Shoreham, and poor little Lancing has had a good old dose of bombs – it's never silent here either at night or day, however everyone seems to walk in the streets just as usual, the wardens etc. Take no notice whatsoever, I simply can't understand it – anyway, I hang out of the window and stand on the pavements to have a look, but it's no joke being here, at least it hasn't been this last week.
Darling, I do wish you were here with me to look after me – oh! I love you so much you don't know how much – I need you so much to hug me close to you.
I have a dreadful feeling that all leave will be cancelled again and then you won't be able to come home to me, and we would have had such a lovely time together wouldn't we sweetheart? Never mind we must just go on hoping for the best, it will be marvellous if your 7-days or even 48hrs comes off.
Mrs. Balding is doing my work for me, but I don't know whether she's going to do it for one or two weeks yet – two I hope.
Darling, we'll have to go for picnics by bus, as I don't think we can get any petrol for the little egg – still sweetheart – why don't you find out from there – someone is bound to know more about it, and also find out about your getting out of uniform?
Mother sends her love to you and is looking forward to having you for the week, she says it will be just like old times, oh! darling I do hope it comes off.
My tummy did want stroking a bit at the beginning of the week, but is feeling tons better and is quite all right again, or at least will be soon.
I worked very hard at the canteen last night, but about 10.30 I could stand up no longer so came home – I had another invitation to be taken home last night but declined it – another man said to one of the helpers – "Oh! there's my little girl" so you see I get on very well round there.
Oh! before I forget to tell you – mother said that I'm not to hesitate to go out with any of the men when they ask me – I'm to go because she knows that you go out with the local Ats or Wafs or whatever girls are there and so I'm to enjoy myself as well and not to pine for you – that's what mother said and that's absolutely true.
Well my darling boy I will close now, and will write again tomorrow; do take great care of yourself sweetheart, and do try your very hardest to come home to your very own little girl – will you darling?
With tons and tons of love and kisses from your very own and everloving little girl and little wife to be, Jean Ann.
P.S. I love your letters – you don't write nonsense at all – I like them like that.
xxxxxxxxxxxx [unclear]
Back to list
