The Quartermaster - Thursday 24th and Friday 25th April 1941

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

IMMEDIATE

Southampton

Thursday.

24 APRIL 1941

Darling Tootsie,

                                         Well, Sweetheart to get it over quickly, I can't get my seven days this week at any rate. 

                Lieutenant Thomas, the Company Commander, came to me this morning and casually said, “Oh, Corporal Williams, do you think you could take over the Quartermaster’s job for a week?  I literally shuddered (!), and said “not b----y likely!” but unfortunately he wouldn't take no for an answer, and consequently here I am for 9 days altogether.

                 I've been at it all day and have just finished.  It's now after eleven!  What a game!  As far as I can see I shall be at it every night like this.  The C.Q.M.S.* never finished before eight or nine, and I know nothing about the job.  However, it may be the chance of a lifetime.  We shall see.

                  I seem to be getting all the rotten luck lately - but if you still love me a little I don't give a damn. That's all I care about anyway.  I can't write any more darling as I'm nearly asleep.

                                                                       Bye bye, Darling

                                                                        Don't lose hope,

                                                                                    Your loving

                                                                                                Dicker

                                                                                               XXXXXX

PS Thanks for letter received this morning.

 

 

“D” COMPANY

No....................

25 APR 1941

70^th BN. THE DORSET

RKWilliams  Capt.     Commanding D Coy

                        70^th Bn. The Dorsetshire Regt. 

 

                URGENT!

Southampton

        CONFIDENTIAL!                                                          Friday

25 APR 1941

My Darling,

                           I wasn't able to post your letter yesterday, so I'm writing a few more wads whilst I've got a chance.

                           I've just seen some good news in Battalion Part II Orders.  I've been selected to attend the 4th Division Intelligence Course at HQ 4^th Div. wherever that may be.  There are two of us going – 2^nd Lieutenant Walters (that hot bloke who we saw going into the flicks at Soton).

                           It's a marvellous chance.  It's only a week's course, but should be very good.  It's on the 18th of May, and lasts until the 24th.  The only thing is, I don't know where it is. However, I shall be able to get my Seven Days before going.

                            Well Darling once again bye bye for the moment.

                                                                       Lots of love

                                                                                     Dicker

 

* C.Q.M.S – Company Quartermaster Sergeant, the non commissioned officer in charge of supplies for a company. (Hence the stamps on the letter.....)

 

© Chotie Darling

 

24th to 30th April 1941 – Allied forces evacuated from Greece and on 27th April Athens was captured by Germany.

 

On 27^th April 1941 Winston Churchill broadcast on the BBC his famous speech ending, in reference to increasing support from America, with the quote from a poem by Arthur Hugh Clough - ‘Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth’ : 

    “For while the tired waves, vainly breaking,

    Seem here, no painful inch to gain,

    Far back, through creeks and inlets making,

    Comes silent, flooding in, the main.

    And not by eastern windows only,

    When daylight comes, comes in the light,

    In front, the sun climbs slow, how slowly,

    But westward, look, the land is bright."

and said “When we face with a steady eye the difficulties which lie before us, we may derive new confidence from remembering those we have already overcome. Nothing that is happening now is comparable in gravity with the dangers through which we passed last year.” 

 

 

28^th April 1941 – a Fairey Battle, one of the special duty fighter-bombers based at Christchurch aerodrome, crashed into the sea off Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth. The soldier who swam out from the headland to rescue the pilot was later given the George medal for heroism.  

29^th April 1941 – two French pilots escaped in a stolen German aircraft and landed at Christchurch aerodrome. (From ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004 Tel. 01963 32583).

 

 

At the beginning of the war the 50^th (Northumbrian) Division, characterised by its TT insignia to represent the Tyne and Tees rivers, was a motorised Territorial Army Division. Re-organised as infantry it fought with the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium.

The 4^th Battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers served with 50^th Division as a motor cycle reconnaissance battalion but by 30^th April 1941 they had become 50^th Recce and part of the Reconnaissance Corps.

From November 1941 they served in Cyprus, Palestine, Syria and Egypt before meeting their nemesis in the Battle of the Gazala line, May 1942.

Their role as Recce unit for 50^th Division was later taken on by 61^st Recce – the unit Dick fought with in NW Europe.

(From ‘Only the Enemy in Front Every other beggar behind…’ The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946’ by Richard Doherty, Tom Donovan Publishing Ltd 1994, WW2 Talk Forum and The Garrison.)