"Never mind, my sweet, this won't last for ever and we have quite a lot to look forward to, haven't we, when the war is over"
This letter was sent from my father to my mother before they were married. He was somewhere in France at the time of writing 28/8/1944. My mother kept all the letters he wrote to her and we discovered them while helping to sort out her flat a few years ago.
They were married during the war and not long afterwards he was posted to India where he remained for two years.
After he returned, they settled in Dorset and had two daughters. They have both passed away now but enjoyed a long and happy life together.
Transcript:
Monday 28/8/44
Just a few lines sweetheart, tonight before I go to bed, we have been on the move today, where we are I don't know! I wouldn't be able to tell you even if I was allowed to. Its quite nice countryside here, we are quite a way from the nearest village though, just like we usually are.
Darling, I must thank you for sending the writing pads on, no I wont lecture you this time, as it is apparently useless, in any case you seem to take little notice of it. I've not received them yet, but will let you know when they do arrive.
Floss, what is Bills regt? I mean you never know, I might be near him at sometime, and well it would be a pity if he were so near and we missed each other.
And Darling I'm going to ask another favour, when I was down at the 39th RHU I was with a bloke from Cumberland, and was showing me a bit of shorthand, and I got rather interested, but somehow I lost the copy of the shorthand alphabet he gave me, so I wonder if you would mind making out one for me, thats if you had the time to spare one night? would you sweetheart "Ta" I knew you would.
How is Fireman Green progressing. any promotion yet? or are you still awaiting uniform? still never mind my sweet, this wont last for ever, and we have quite a bit to look forward to haven't we (sorry there darling, but theres blokes keep on talking to me, and your know what its like try and concentrate on two subjects at once) when the wars over.
Have been getting bags of apples this last few days, we were near an orchard, and the French farmer didn't seem to mind us taking a few, theres also bags of cyder about "Ceeder" as they call it. I think you'd like that wouldn't you, you and your Scrump.
But for all these things darling, I know where I'd sooner be, theres a certain little girl, I think she knows who I mean and she's worth, more than all the blooming country of France. When this wars over they can keep all their foreign countrys, I could tell them what to do them, but perhaps it would be a trifle cruel, so I won't say anything.
Back to list
