61st Recce Regt RAC
BLA
Wednesday Sept 27th
Chotie Darling,
I posted a letter to you yesterday, but as I have a free day today I thought I’d start another, anyhow.
I’m in a farmhouse writing this, a big rambling place with massive oak-beamed rooms – quite pleasant. There is also the most wonderful baby you ever saw who belongs to the farmer’s wife. In keeping with the place she’s a massive woman herself, who’s reared hundreds of children – and looks like rearing hundreds more.
It’s raining steadily at the moment, which makes it a double pleasure to be indoors – as farmyards are always so depressing in rain.
My friend Winsor (‘The Duke’) has now returned, after an absence of some six or seven weeks, which makes life so much more bearable. He started off in true form last night by taking about 2 quid from me at pontoon….
I’ve been having a look at this demob. racket. It appears that I don’t come off too badly. Brinner of course is worse off, as he’s younger and has less service, so he’ll probably end up in Burma after all. How do you come off? I suppose I’ll have to marry you in the end, if only to get you out of the army….What a price to pay!
I’ve written a letter to Madelaine* to thank her for the books and general kindness shown at Oudenarde. It was written in French with the aid of a Dictionary (my written French is pretty poor stuff), and I was quite pleased with the result, though I expect it will provoke some laughter in the family.
Have just received your letter of the 22nd, which I’m tacking on to this one. It’s rather a long time in the post these days isn’t it? Though I suppose it takes longer by having to go to your home address first.
Very pleased to hear that you saw the Queen and Princess – bet you were thrilled.
Congratulations on passing the course at all – I suppose you’ll be chucking me about when I get home again….
It’s lovely and bright this morning – really September – though I think the Autumn will be a little tardy this year, in these parts at any rate. It should be rather beautiful when it does come, as nearly all the roads are lined with trees.
Mother had a letter from Monica recently telling her that her husband has returned to England from France with gastric trouble and ‘shellshock’ (now called ‘mental neurosis’ I believe, which is a kinder name), so I suppose he’s out of it for good. I’d better write her, I suppose as she sent me a card on my last birthday. Mother said she was after my address – a bad sign.
I must close here, Darling as there’s plenty of work to be done, this sunny morn.
All my love, Chotie Darling
Dicker
© Chotie Darling
On 26th September Eric Brewer, also of 'B' Squadron, had written in his diary that they “shifted to the Whellismi (sic) canal near Gerry on hill in front. Can see Germany from here. I hope to be in there soon as the plan to go to the Zuiderzee has changed because the bridges across the upper Rhine are blown so we are pushing into Germany.” They were still in the same position on the 27th but on the 28th “moved to harbour for rest before the next push which I hope will be the last push needed as Gerry cannot last much longer or I hope not.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)
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