"I shall write a love letter next time, but I am still waiting for yours, little girl"
I inherited many letters like this one from my Dad to my Mum when she died in 2010. They were obviously very precious to my Mum and survived when she bombed out of her home in Wandsworth London.
The letters, amongst other items such as newspaper cuttings of the time, were in a metal box and I never dared read them for fear of prying as I knew that they they would be so personal…. until now! The letters are very poignant and I was so shocked to discover that at twenty something my Cockney no nonsense Dad could write such heartfelt and beautiful love letters to my Mum.
They show how much he relied on her letters and items she could send him like combs, hair oil, cigarettes and lighters. Like so many servicemen, the War robbed him of his youth and changed him forever. He never wanted to speak about his experiences in the Army.
Transcript:
No 2343271 Driver M.A.Williams
My Darling wife Grace,
I trust that this letter will find you in the pink dearest. I am very well myself but have been pretty busy of late. I have just sent my Dad a razor and four hankies dear. I bought them at Tripoli Grace. I had to put the price of them on the packet outside so they can tax it if they think that it should be dearest. Well I supose you may think that I have forgotten you Grace and Freda. Well the shops have not got much of anything just yet in them for girls, they have silk stockings in, but the price of them are 16/- a pair and I told them to stick them on the wall. I think they are too dear don't you, and they are not half as good as what I paid for in Cairo for you Grace. But if I see anything later on I will send it too you and Freda. Cairo is the best place for getting what you want dear. But you know that I shan't forget you Grace, love. I want my monies worth first.
We can say now one or two things that we could not say before dearest one. I was at Alamine [Alamein] when it started Grace and saw the guns open up like you did on the Pictures Grace. It is something that I shall never forget. Old jerry must have got a batering that night. There was plenty of bombing by us and him, and most of the way up. I have never seen so many lorries on fire on the road as I did then, and 9 out of 10 were his, as you know he laid I don't know how many mines, on both sides of the road about every yard or so and you had to be more than carefull I can tell you, but we manage ok dear. The R.A.F. I must say did a very good job. One night two jerry bombers came round machine gunning us all over the place and dropping planes when one of them came as low as 100 feet off the ground, when our gunners opened up straight at him, though he was droping bombs and machine gunning at the time, and they shot him down in flames, that same night they got two more and we where all very pleased to see it, as [unclear], and that was the end of them for the night Grace and so to bed.
I went to Derna that is along the coast, it is a nice sea side place but of course very small. Then from there on to Bengazie [Benghazi] what of course is a big place but the R.A.F had done its work there alright Grace dearest. Well I expect it all seems very easy to you but it a hard fight just the same. I went from there on wards and at Christmas time I was at a place call Marbl Ach [Marble Arch]. It's more than a name than a place but where it is there is an Ach built on the road, it is near the sea and I had a swim though I can't swim, don't laugh Grace.
I had been to Bengazie [Benghazi] before in the push of Nov 18th, 1941 but as you know we came back to Alamine [Alamein] so I have seen a good bit of the desert Grace. Do you remember seeing a big sand storm on the Pictures, just like a rolling fog, well I was in that Grace too dear. I have seen plenty of jerry prisoners and [unclear], marching back along the road on their own. There was plenty of booby traps all the way up, but we left well alone Grace as I have seen some nasty sights.
You may now be able to understand Grace why I can't write so often at times to you and I can't say why dearest. I have had plenty of near ones, and I thank God for keeping me safe Grace. But as long as you are well and safe I can live through almost anything. I have not had any leave yet Grace. But I just had time to pop in and out of Tripoli. I am still a batman to the O/C and am doing O.K. better in fact than my last action.
But there is always one thing on my mind and this is you dearest. I miss you so very much dear, and I very much long to see you, but I do hope that I shall see you soon now Grace. I should love a photo of you Grace if you can get one done. Well Grace close now darling. Will you give my love to all at home for me and I hope they are all well Grace. You are ever in my thoughts and I love you deeply Grace my one and only sweetheart Grace. May God bless you and keep you safe dearest one.
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