Lorry collision - January 1941

“ Rye Cottage”, Marine Parade West, Lee-on-Solent, Hants.

My Darling,

            Just a few lines to let you know how I'm getting on and to give you the new address.  Did you get my P.S.?

            I wrote about a week ago, telling you of my demotion etc - I also wrote home but they don't appear to have got it.  I don't know whether you did.

            I'm afraid I've been laid up for some time as I had a bit of an accident and nearly managed to lose my left eye.  I was blind in it for three days - but the MO says it's OK now – I only hope he's right.  I was running pretty fast (Olympic Games Standard!) in the Black-Out early one morning, when I collided with a lorry.  I thought I was tough, but I rather think the lorry had it all the way.  I got a slight concussion and a deep cut under my eye - but it's all right now. 

            In case you didn't get my last letter, I'm now a L/Cpl having been busted by the Colonel (bless him).  Pete is now a full Corporal in ‘D’ Coy my original Company.  Eric has also been made up again.  The fortunes of war....

             However who cares?  I've still got my Tootsie (I hope..) and that's all I have to worry about.

             Well Darling I'm afraid I'll have to close here as this wretched NAAFI is closing.

                                     Still loving you every bit Cho Dear,

                                                                        your devoted

                                                                                    Dicker

© Chotie Darling

The Reconnaissance Corps was established on 14th January 1941.

Following Dunkirk the Bartholomew Committee was set up to review and learn from the defeat of the British Expeditionary Force. It recommended a new organisation for infantry divisions that included a reconnaissance unit. The light ‘cavalry’ regiments that had carried out reconnaissance for the infantry were now in the Royal Armoured Corps, so the new specialised Reconnaissance Corps would provide one unit per army corps, with specialised training at Lochmaben and Annan in Dumfries & Galloway and at Scarborough, North Yorkshire (from ‘Only the Enemy in Front’ by Richard Doherty).

 

Dick was to serve with the Reconnaissance Corps for three years including fighting in France, the Low Countries and Germany.