Chotie Darling

A rather quiet Christmas - 27th December 1942

As usual 

Sunday

My Darling,

                                                Many, many thanks for the parcel received yesterday, - and for such a happy choice of present.  I don’t suppose I’ll have a chance of getting the Token exchanged until my leave, as I so rarely see a shop open – but it’s certainly something to look forward to.

            I wish I could have got you something but it’s pretty hopeless in this place I’m afraid – but I think it would probably be wiser to wait until you get in the ATS when you may find something more practical at any rate.

            Don’t forget to let me know if you see anything for Margaret and Ted. Once again it’s hopeless here.  Even if this place had been a metropolis I’m afraid I could have achieved little as we had no time off for shopping etc -  as I rarely get out ‘till seven or so everything’s shut anyway.

            ‘Spect you’re getting excited over your imminent entry into the Armed Forces of the Realm, though you seem to have overcome the medical with ease.  Hope it wasn’t too exacting for you.

            Well, Chotie, I seem to have had a rather quiet Xmas.  We (the unit) entertained about fifty Aussies & Canadians over the holidays.  Quite good fun.  I’ve had little beer – apart from eight pints with Xmas dinner.

            Told you I saw ‘Eagle Squadron’* I suppose.  Wasn’t it LUVLY!!  I nearly cried.

(I’m in a canteen eating Spam at the moment).  More parenthesis…Having just
failed to finish Picture P.** crossword.  You’ll probably find Spam all over the envelope.

            Have just finished Deeping’s ‘Kitty’*** – quite good.  That’s the 30^th of his I’ve read. Recommend it. 

            Well, Darling must close here.  ‘Fraid I missed you rather a lot over Xmas.  Maybe it will be over next Xmas. Maybe…  All my love

                                                                                    Dicker

PS  Had a Xmas card from Eric & Eve!!!!  Put me off my beer…

 

*Pilots from the Royal Australian Air Force and members of the Canadian Reconnaissance regiment.

**a film about American pilots who volunteered for the RAF before Pearl Harbour.

***Picture Post – a popular photojournalist magazine.

**** a novel by Warwick Deeping

 

 © Chotie Darling

 

28^th December 1942 – sterilization 'experiments' begin at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps in Nazi occupied Poland. (From WW2-net Timelines and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum.)

 

Section Training continued for 43^rd Recce and on 28^th December there was a Regimental Cross-Country run.  Training on the 29^th featured driving instruction. (From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

31^st December 1942 - Battle of the Barents Sea. The British Navy successfully intercepts German warships attempting to destroy a large supply convoy, JW-51B, to Russia.  However, German U-boats now had 'milch cow' submarines enabling them to refuel and re-arm at sea and could penetrate as far as the Indian Ocean.  (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

During 1942 Allied merchant shipping lost 1,323 ships, equalling 7,047,744 gross tons (almost three times the losses of 1941) to U-boats world-wide. 87 U-boats were sunk in 1942 (only 35 in 1941). (From WW2-net Timelines and History Learning Site.)

 

War in Dorset excerpts will not be continued on this blog since Chotie was no longer resident in the county from January 1943, having joined the ATS (see recent post Chotie enrolls in the ATS )

 

On 1^st January 1943 Dick filled out the form for recommendation as a
candidate for the Officer Cadet Training Unit

 

Copy of Record:

RECOMMENDATION FORM FOR CANDIDATES FOR OFFICER CADET TRAINING UNITS

PART 1.  (To be completed by the Candidate.)

1. Surname     WILLIAMS                     
2. Army Number          5731671
3. Christian Names       RICHARD KELNER
4. Rank           Trooper
5. Date of Promotion    -
6. Unit             43^rd Reconnaissance Regt. Recce. Corps
7. Date of joining present unit   10-7-42
8. Date of enlistment    21-6-40
9. Date of birth*          28-7-21
10. Place of birth*          Orpington, Kent
11. Civil Identity No.
12. Religion       Congregational
13. Nationality at birth    British
14. Name and nationality at birth of father           Dudley Kelner Beresford Williams                        British
15.  Name and nationality at birth of mother                      Alice Maude Shrubsall                            British
16. Married or single      Single
17. Nationality at birth of wife     -
18. Number of childres               -
19. Next of kin and Permanent Address of next of kin       Father  “St Margarets” Sea Lane Pagham  Sussex
20. School or other Educational Establishment (with dates)           

Sidcup County School 1931-35

Simon Langton School 1936-38

21. Educational certificates (with dates)   Matriculation (Lond.) 1938

22. Languages (state if written or spoken)     French written and spoken Small knowledge of German and Spanish

23. Civil occupation    None

24. Name of last employer          -

25. Arm or Corps in which a Commission is desired.  Three choices to be given in order of priority, one to be non-technical.

(i)           Recce Corps

(ii)          R.A.S.C.

(iii)         Dorset Regt.

26. Technical qualifications, if any, for each of above choices:-

(i)           Driver Mechanic Group D Class II

(ii)          “                 “           “           “

(iii)         –

27. Have you ever been convicted by the Civil Power or by Court Martial?†   No

If so, state date and circumstances    -

28. Have you previously been admitted to the R.M.A., R.M.C. or to an Officer Cadet Training Unit? No

If so give particulars

                   -

29. Have you at any time held a commission in any branch of H.M. Forces? 
If so, give full particulars No

30.  General remarks      -

I certify that to the best of my knowledge the above particulars are correct and complete.

Signature    RKWilliams

Date           1-1-‘43 

*This must be supported by a birth certificate.

†Commanding Officers will use their discretion in deciding whether a man who appears otherwise suitable should be rejected on account of conviction by the Civil Power or by a Court Martial.  For example, no serious notice need be taken of conviction on account of youthful indiscretions or minor motoring offences, but where the cause of conviction indicates a lack of the high moral qualities which are required of an officer, consideration must be given as to whether the facts disclosed point to the total unsuitability of the candidate for commissioned rank.  Due regard must however be paid to the fact that bravery and distinguished service in the field may be an overriding consideration in spite of past records.

 

On 1^st January 1943 43^rd Recce had a half day. The next day the Commanding Officer inspected vehicle maintenance. On Sunday 3^rd there was Church Parade.

 

2^nd January 1943 – Australian and US troops finally win victory in Papua New Guinea taking the Buna bridgehead.  With this, and the battles of Guadalcanal and Midway, the Allies could now believe the Japanese were not invincible. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

Which Christmas? - Tuesday 22nd December

PPS.  Good book “Tambour Terrace” Eleanor Dunbar Hall

As before

Tuesday

My Darling,

                                    Sorry I haven’t been able to reply to your last before now, but I’ve been away on a scheme for the last few days.  This culminated in a route march which finished me off – I was wearing new boots, so today finds me on the sick list.  There’s a run on this afternoon and being excused running for five days I’m able to write to my Chotie.

                    Thanks for the letter and cake.  You must thank Margaret for me – when next you see her. 

                    I had a letter or rather a note from our mutual friend Lightfoot*, last week.  Apparently he’s in Colchester (Essex).

            Brinner has also moved to Essex – rather in the wilds, I gather.  I’ve despatched a letter to Diller – shake her I expect – as I’m not sending any cards.

            Let me know as soon as you see anything in the cheese-dish line – I hardly remember what they look like. 

            Hope your medical** went off all right.  Let me have the dope as soon as possible. Also the Dance.

            Went to a whist drive last week.  No luck of course.  I should have been well in, but went down 12-1 which finished everything.  Really stupid girl for a partner…Ginger.

                        Look like the Fighting French in our berets.  Remember that photo you had of cadets?

                        No news of course.  Devilish dull here – though we don’t get much time anyhow.

                        (With Doug’s letter came a Pkstone Cong***. Magazine.  Know who sent it?  Sure I don’t)

                        Roll on Christmas … (Incidentally which Christmas is the war going to end by now?)

                        Must close here.

                                        All my love Darling

                                                                        Dicker

PS.  Will send you something if I should ever see anything.

*Doug Lightfoot

**On 17^th December 1942 Chotie was enrolled into the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) at Southampton.

*** Parkstone Congregational Church (now Parkstone United Reformed Church), opposite Chotie’s home on the corner of Chapel Road and Commercial Road, Parkstone, Poole Dorset. Chotie met Dick at the church Youth Club when she was fourteen.  Her family left the house in the 1960s and it was knocked down and replaced with a tyre shop.

© Chotie Darling

 

On 24^th December the Canadian Reconnaissance regiment also arrived as guests of 43^rd Recce over Christmas, leaving on the 27^th. On Christmas Day there was an Officers v. Sergeants Soccer Match. (From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

24th December 1942 - Darlan, now the French leader in North Africa, is assassinated by the French monarchist Fernand Bonnier. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

Eric Postles was still training with 61^st Recce in Northern Ireland:

 "At Christmas the troop paid into a kitty and we had a meal at Black’s Café in Portrush.”   (Extracts from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

Chotie enrols in the ATS

On 17th December 1942 Chotie was enroled

into the Auxiliary Territorial Service at Southampton

20^th December 1942 – the new Oboe navigational radar system (developed by the Telecommunications Research Establishment) becomes operational, greatly increasing the accuracy of RAF bombing within its 270 miles range. (See Oboe and H2S.)

21^st December 1942 - British troops advance into the Arakan in Burma from Calcutta. The Japanese blocked their advance down the coast of the Maya Peninsula and then withdrew, returning with re-inforcements and a counter-attack.  By March 1943 the Japanese were threatening the rear of the British position and the Allies had to retreat back to India having suffered 3,000 casualties.  (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

Berets - Sunday 13th December 1942

Same Address 

Sunday

My Darling,

                                    Just a few brief lines to let you know that I arrived back safely, though somewhat late.  I managed to miss all connections and didn’t get to bed before one o'clock the forthcoming morning.  I hope you also arrived home safely – though in better time than I did.

            Well, my Dear, how went the nuptials*?  Don’t forget to tell me all about it in your next letter. I trust everything went off all right, and the happy pair duly spliced.

            Great excitement this morning, as we were issued with berets – similar to Canadian Officer balmorals – light khaki.  Really rather good.  The boys took it calmly, though as one wag said bitterly – “all we want now is a skirt…” 

            I’ve been lumberjackin’ all the morning – just to loosen up after my leave.  I certainly needed to.

            I went down to the ‘Hippodrome’ last night, & also the local.  Not very thrilling after being with you for a week.  Got fed up and went to bed before nine.

            No news, so will close here.

            All my love, Darling and thanks for a very happy leave.

                                                                        Dicker

                                                                        xxxx

 

*Chotie’s elder sister Margaret married Ted Lewis on 12^th December 1942.

 
Ted and Margaret Lewis, married on Saturday 12th December at Parkstone Congregational Church, Poole, Dorset.

Chotie was bridesmaid.

Family wedding group outside Chotie's home, the Hollies.  Chotie is next to her sister Margaret, the bride.  Her mother is on the left end of the photo and her father next to her.

 © Chotie Darling

 

 

43^rd Recce took part in another 43^rd Division Skeleton Exercise on 14^th December in Canterbury/Dover and there was a Regimental Skeleton Exercise on the 16^th.  Pilots from the Royal Australian Air Force arrived as guests of the Regiment on 20^th December – see Dick’s letter of 27th. Section Training started on 21^st December and continued on most days for the rest of the month. The “HQ” Squadron Company Route March of 21^st December is mentioned in Dick’s next letter.

(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

16^th December 1942 – Himmler orders that all gypsies (Roma) are to be sent to concentration camps. The Nazi genocide of the Roma claimed 220,000 to 500,000 lives (possibly more than a million).

Operation Little Saturn, the second Soviet offensive, begins at Stalingrad attacking the weakly held Italian front.  Although the elite Alpini troops stood firm it put an end to the hope of Operation Winter Storm to rescue Germany's Sixth Army, now 'kettled' at Stalingrad. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012) 

 

17^th December 1942 – Britain and the USA vow to avenge Nazi war crimes against the Jewish people.  By the end of 1942 word had leaked out to the Allied Command of German atrocities and close to four million Jews had been killed in the extermination camps.

Leave next Wednesday - Thursday 26th November 1942

Same Address

Thursday

My Darling,

                                    Just a few lines to let you know that my leave definitely comes off on the second inst. ie next Wednesday.  This is of course subject to cancellation for a hundred and one reasons, but if all goes well, as I expect it will, I can’t see why it should not come off.

            Will you write as soon as you can fix up anything definite – I’m supposing, as usual, that you are able to… 

            I’m very busy at the moment, or would write more.  In any case there’s no real news – nothing at all with which to pad this missive.

            I got really wet through this morning – still am in fact (it’s now dinner-time) so will have to find something to change into.

            Sorry this is so short Darling, but I thought I’d write as soon as my name appeared on detail for leave.

                                                            all my love precious,

                                                                                    Dicker

P.S.  Write as soon as possible…

 © Chotie Darling

 

27^th November 1942 – German troops occupy the French Naval base of Toulon. The Vichy Admiral de Laborde (who had refused to deliver the French Fleet into Allied hands) gave orders to scuttle the French fleet and they succeeded in destroying 77 warships, preventing them from falling into German or Italian hands. Four submarines managed to escape. (See Operation Lila.)

 

29th November 1942 – Churchill warns Italy that the bombing of Italian cities will continue until Italy abandons the war, encouraging them to revolt against Mussolini. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

By the end of November the Japanese on Papua New Guinea, without reinforcements or supplies, had given up trying to take Port Moresby and retreated to their bridgeheads at Buna and Gona where desperate fighting with Australian and American forces continued.

 

43^rd Recce’s List of Officers for 30^th November 1942 includes the following for Regimental Headquarters:

Commanding Officer – Lt.Col.A.W.E.Crawford

Second-in-Command – Major H.G.Mason*

Adjutant – Capt.J.Day

Technical Officer - Capt.G.D.A.Hunter

I.O. (presumably Intelligence Officer) – Lieut.C.E.J.Leaphard**

 

Dick’s Headquarters Squadron included the following:

Squadron Commander – Major A.O.Swayne

Second-in-Comd. – Capt.C.G.Nuttall

O.C.A.Tk.Tp (Officer in Command of the Anti-tank Troop) – Capt.F.R.Henn

O.C. Mortar Troop (Dick’s Troop) – Lieut.S.J.Moreland

Signal Officer – Lieut.W.H.Moreland

Asst. Mortar Tp.Comd – Lieut.D.E.R.Scarr***

Adm.Officer – Lieut.T.A.Parry

2 i/c A.Tk.Tp – Lieut.D.Rigby

M.T.O. – Lieut.W.R.Falconer

Quartermaster – Major B.V.J.Vigrass

(From the papers of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

*Major Herbert George Mason had served with the Glosters since 1927. In 1943 he was posted to the Allied Military Government in Italy and rejoined the Glosters T.A. in 1947.

**Lieut.C.E.J.Leaphard – transferred to and saw action with No 6 Commando (see Small Scale Raiding Force).

***Liet.D.E.R.Scarr – the National Army Museum hold an account of his service with the Recce from 1941-46 (inventory number 10561).

(From WW2 Unit Histories and National Army Museum.)

 

Dick was in the Mortar Troop under Lieutenants S.J.Moreland and D.E.R. Scarr with probably about 44 NCOs and other troopers.  Mortar Troop initially served a pair of 3 inch mortars, carried by 15cwt trucks but by the end of 1942 their strength was increased to six 3 inch weapons, now each transported by an adapted Universal carrier with 15cwt trucks carrying extra ammunition. (See WW2 Battalion Organisation.)

In December 1942 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment were still in Dover. Individual training took place on most days up to and including the 19^th December.  The Regiment took part in the 43^rd’s Divisional Skeleton Exercise Wyvern on 4^th, 5^th and 6^th December.

(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

 The War in Dorset - December 1942

In December 1942 the 3^rd Special Services Brigade was formed from No 5 Commando and Royal Marines.  Billeted in Bournemouth, with an HQ at the Broughty Ferry Hotel in Boscombe, they practiced night landing exercises at Shell Bay and Brownsea Island and shooting on the Canford Heath ranges. The novelist Evelyn Waugh was then Staff Officer for Combined Operations and often monitored their exercises.

On 4^th December Barnes Neville Wallis unsuccessfully tested two spherical bombs, flown in from RAF Warmwell, on the Fleet lagoon. They failed to bounce and exploded on impact. He was again unsuccessful on 15^th December. By the seventh attempt in early January his team had achieved a skim across the water and on 24^th January the bomb bounced 13 times and jumped over a barn intended to simulate the wall of a dam. Trials in Dorset, codenamed ‘Upkeep’, continued into March and then moved to choppier waters in Kent. The bouncing bombs were used in May 1943 to destroy dams in the Ruhr area of Germany releasing industrial water supplies but drowning 1,294 people including several hundred Russian prisoners of war.

On 13^th December over 100 houses at Chiswell, Portland were flooded by a natural incursion of the sea breaching the Chesil beach.  Gas, road and rail links were put out of action.

The Armoured Fighting Vehicle School at Lulworth Camp came under air attack on 14^th December.

A single Dornier bomber dropped 5 bombs near Poole Quay on 16^th December. Two people were killed, twenty-six injured and several buildings destroyed as well as a Naval Patrol vessel.  Another bomber in Bridport killed 3 people and hit a bank leaving £1,000 in bank notes spread over the street.

On 21^st December the Free French navy gunboat Chasseur capsized and sank off Durlston Head near Swanage.

Church bells rang for Christmas for the first time since the beginning of the war, following the El Alamein celebration in November.

On 31^st December 1942 another Dornier raider attacked Poole Quay (destroying Bradford’s Store, which had just been repaired following the earlier bomb damage) but crashed into the Harbour while taking evasive action from Lewis gun fire.

(From  ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980  and Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004)

 

In December 1942 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment were still in Dover. Individual training took place on most days up to and including the 19^th December.  The Regiment took part in the 43^rd’s Divisional Skeleton Exercise Wyvern on 4^th, 5^th and 6^th December. (From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

2^nd December 1942 – the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is achieved by a team of scientists in America working under the name of “Manhattan Engineering District”. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

Dick was on leave from Wednesday 2^nd to c.9^th December 1942.

Chotie and Dicker were together for a week during Dicker’s leave

 

3rd December 1942 - the British First Army's advance on Tunis from Algeria is pushed back by German Panzer forces (from ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012).

4^th December 1942 – the first US Air Force raid on Naples, flying from North Africa, kills nearly one thousand people.  Naples was the most bombed Italian city of the war. 

 

7th December 1942 – ten Royal Marines set off in canoes from a submarine near the east Coast of France for Operation Frankton. Paddling 70 miles up the River Gironde they successfully laid charges to destroy enemy shipping in Bordeaux Harbour.  Two men survived, two were presumed drowned and six were captured and executed under Hitler’s Commando Order.  They became known as the ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ after their canoes codenamed cockles. (See Combined Operations WW2 website and update on Wikipedia.)

8th December 1942 – German troops occupy the Vichy French port of Bizerte in Tunisia, capturing French destroyers and submarines. (From WW2-net Timelines.) 

9th December 1942 - Australian troops take the Japanese bridgehead at Gona in Papua New Guinea.

 

11th December 1942 - Montgomery's Eighth Army attacks Rommel's forces at the Battle of El Agheila in Libya.  The German Panzerarmee Africa resume their withdrawal west towards Tunisia.

12th December 1942 – Germany counter attacks with Operation Winter Storm at Stalingrad, as their Army Group Don attempts to rescue the besieged and starving 6th Army. This had been defeated by the Soviets by 23rd December. (See The Battle for Stalingrad website.)

 

Rough-hew them how we will - Tuesday 17th November 1942

Address as usual

Tuesday

My Darling,

                                    Once again I find I’m able to reply to yours just received instanta, but I’d better not make a habit of it ...

                  Well, my Dear, you seem to have some news this time – whether good, bad or indifferent I leave you to judge, though from your letters I see a sort of aloof indifference.  As my literary hero said “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends – rough hew them how we will.”*

            I was pleased to see that you’re sticking out for a specialised job – for which I think you are very wise.  The main criticism offered against this procedure is that you tend to get into a rut; but a comfortable rut is preferable to wandering de place en place as most of us appear to do.

            I was, needless to say, even more pleased to hear that you will not be going before Xmas.  By all laws and statutes I should get my leave a fortnight today, ie the 2^nd of December – but you know what leave can be, or you soon will...

            En passant, I think you are in error as regards the leave; most blokes find that the feminine services are able to get leave when their ‘soldier hero’ gets his.  Naturally this is not always the case but I think you’ll find that in general practice it can be wangled.

            Sorry to hear that Diller’s given me the bird.  Maybe I’ll write her one of these fine days.  You might tell her that I’m giving the matter considerable thought.

            Well, there’s no news from this end.  I managed to get Saturday and Sunday – quite a change, and saw “The Saint’s Vacation” and, at last – “Reap the Wild Wind”.  Neither was particularly outstanding.  Always grumble, don’t I?

            Well, I suppose I must close here, not having anything else to hold your attention.

                                    Hope to see you soon, Darling

                                                all my love

                                                        Dicker

*Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ – Act 5, Scene 2.

**a film based on one of the Simon Templar a.k.a. “The Saint” novels by Leslie Charteris. The film was reset in the Second World War with Nazis as the villains.

***a swashbuckling adventure film set in the 1840s along the Florida coast.

© Chotie Darling

17^th November 2012 – first clashes between US and German forces, in the Western Desert. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

19th November 1942 – launch of Operation Uranus, the Russian offensive to encircle and destroy Axis forces (German, Romanian, Hungarian and Italian) at Stalingrad. The encirclement of almost 300,000 men was completed on 22^nd November. (See 23rd August 1942 and WW2-net Timelines.)

Operation Freshman, a British commando assault on the heavy water plant at Telemark in Norway (potentially critical for the Germans to develop an atomic bomb), ends in disaster.  The captured commandos are executed under Hitler’s ‘Commando Order’.

20th November 1942 – the advance of the Allies’ 8th Army reaches Benghazi in Libya, an essential supply port for the campaign. (From WW2-net Timelines.

 

22^nd November 1942 – Eisenhower accepts French Admiral Darlan (Head of the Vichy French Armed Forces) as Head of the French Administration in North Africa in return for co-operation with the Allies despite opposition from General de Gaulle, leader of the Free French in Britain, and the French Resistance. Darlan was assassinated on 24^th December 1942. He was replaced as leader of French Africa by General Giraud on 27th December. (From WW2 People’s War, WW2 History of US Army in the Med and Darlan.)

23rd November 1942 - the US Eighth Air Force attacks U-boat pens at St Nazaire but their daylight 'precision bombing' tactics are failing with fewer than 3% of bombs falling within a thousand feet of the target.  (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

The Recce Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Stopford inspected 43^rd Recce’s  ‘Carrier Drill’ and Battle Drill’ on Monday 23^rd November and the next day 43^rd Recce demonstrated shooting from A.R.C.s on Deal Vehicle Range for a visit from the Commander in Chief of Home Forces, General Sir Bernard Paget. (From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

24th November 1942 - Hitler orders the forces at Stalingrad, some 290,000 men, to hold out there and not attempt retreat through the Soviet encirclement.  A new Army Group Don is formed to breakthrough and relieve the Sixth Army.

 

25th November 1942 – Soviet forces begin Operation Mars, an attack on the central front near Rhez.  Unknown to them it was a diversionary offensive to facilitate Operation Uranus  and the Germans had deliberately been given information on the advance – more than 70,000 Red Army soldiers were killed in a month of fighting.

Left wing Greek resistance forces (EDES – the Greek National Republican League and the communist EAM-ELAS), supported by British SOE (the Special Operations Executive) succeed in blowing-up the Gorgopotamos Bridge in central Greece.  This cut the railway line to northern Greece for four months, one of the most successful sabotage missions of the war.  

(From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012

Chapter 7 - The beginning of the end

 

Chotie Darling

Dedicated to the memory of my mother and all those who hold the forever young of war in their hearts.

 

Part 2        Reconnaissance      

 

Chapter 7            43rd Reconnaissance – the beginning of the end

 

Dick continued in the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment, in the Mortar Troop of HQ Squadron, until March 1943.

In November 1943 43rd Recce were stationed at Dover.

 

Tuesday 10th November 1942

Same Address

Tuesday

My Darling,

                             It's not often I'm able to reply to your letters as soon as I receive them, but this is an exception - so here goes.

                             Prepare for a shock.  I went to the old place and met Monica* on Sunday last.  Quite honestly, I didn't go with the intention of seeing her - I went really to see the old school** and finding myself with more time than I expected to have, I caught the bus on.  Even then I hardly thought of going to see her, but having met several people there, I thought I'd better call in, as I feared she would have been rather hurt had I not done so.

                            However, in the end I did call, - and needless to say, her husband was there.  Monica met me with surprise rather than pleasure, I fancy - her husband with pointed displeasure.

                             I offer two reasons from Monica’s frigidness (sorry, frigidity!) (a) she is in the eighth month of pregnancy, which may have caused her some embarrassment, and (b) she may have resented my calling when her husband was there.  Well,
anyhow I left after an hour or so, and was much relieved to do so. 

                              Paul (Monica's brother) came in - he's improved vastly, but Monica has definitely taken a turn for the worse.  I'm taking into account her expected childbirth, but she looked nearer thirty than twenty to me.  She has not married well.  I had expected to find her husband a man of more intelligence than I could give him credit for, at first meeting.

                            However, this is now a closed Chapter, so I will say no more on the subject. 

                            I was rather surprised to hear of your expected "change of employment"**.   I should give the matter considerable thought before making any decisions.  I realise fully that is a rather trite phrase, nevertheless, learn mark and inwardly digest.  Whatever service you decide to go into, or what service you get thrown into (!), I advise stating definitely what 'job' you wish to do.  By this I mean, don't sign-on for 'General Duties'.  I hate to think of what you might be doing at the end.

                        Well, my Dear, and how are you these days?  I seem to ramble on and on without ever getting anywhere.   

                        I ran a five-mile cross-country yesterday and had a fifteen mile route march today.  I got a couple of bob for the cross country but nothing alas for the route march.  However I got most of the afternoon off, so can't grumble.

                        (I'm listening to the Brain's Trust at the moment which may account for this rambling...)

                        The news is brightening up it seems.  The importance of command in Libya cannot be over emphasised as it means command in the Mediterranean which will we hope lead to the elimination of Italy as an Axis Power.  Also, of course, Turkey, who is at the moment just sitting on the fence, may throw in her weight on our side when she sees which way the tide is turning.

                        I may get my next leave in Early December, but of course this is looking rather far ahead.  We shall have to see what happens.  I hope something turns up as I can't envisage the prospect of leave without you being there.

                        Well, My Darling, I can't think of anything else, so will close here.

                        Have read a few books lately:  "Ladybrook" by Eleanor Farjeon I rather enjoyed,  Robert Burke's "The Book of the Inn", a collection of what every famous writer has said about pubs.

                                         Must close here

                                                    All my love

                                                                Dicker

PS. Love you very, very much, Chotie Darling. XXXX

 

*Dick's ex-girlfriend

**Dick attended Sidcup County School (now Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School) from 1931-35 and the Simon Langton School, Canterbury 1936-38.

** *Chotie joined the Army Territorial Service in January 1943. She had intended to join the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS, known as the Wrens) because the uniform was more attractive but Army recruitment persuaded her that she’d be working on something very important and top secret (radar).

© Chotie Darling

 

11^th November 1942 – German forces advance into Vichy France “to protect France” against the Allies in Operation Anton (a breach of their 1940 Armistice Agreement).  In Vichy French North Africa Admiral Darlan orders a ceasefire with the Allies.

 At Stalingrad the German commander Frederick Paulus obeys Hitler’s disastrous order, committing all his panzer forces into a final battle to take the city and leaving the flank of the Sixth Army vulnerable.

 

12th November 1942 – the second naval battle of Guadalcanal. Over three days America lost two light cruisers but sank two Japanese bettleships, three destroyers and seven transports carrying 6,000 troops to re-inforce those on the Island.  By the beginning of December the US Navy controlled all the sea around Guadalcanal.

13th November 1942 - the Allies retake Tobruk, the strategic port on the coast of Libya

 

15th November 1942- celebration of victory at El Alamein. Church bells ring out for the first time since July 1940 (when an order was given that they must not be rung except as an air raid warning)

 

Missing Someone - Thursday 6th November 1942

The War in Dorset - November 1942

A flight from RAF Hurn on 3^rd November took General Dwight D. Eisenhower and top-ranking American officers to Gibraltar for the commencement of Operation Torch. The pilot was Major Paul Tibbets, who later flew the plane (Enola Gay) that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in August 1945.  RAF Hurn (now Bournemouth Airport) was a main base for the movement of troops to the Western Desert via Gibraltar for the Allied Landings of Operation Torch.

On 25^th November a Lancaster bomber crashed at Sturminster Newton, North Dorse, killing the crew of seven.

North Poole suffered incessant machine gun noise in November 1942 while the munitions factory at Creekmoor tested its guns.

(From Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg,  Dorset Publishing Company 2004)

 

On 1^st November 43^rd Recce commenced a period of intense individual training scheduled to continue until 15^th December.  Officers were set examinations every Wednesday. During the month the regiment received armoured cars and 6pr Anti-Tank Guns.

(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

5^th November 1942

Thursday

My Darling Chotie,

                                                                                                Many thanks for letter.  I expect you’ve given me up by now, for not having written before, but as usual I didn’t receive your letter until I got back from another scheme.

            I was very sorry to hear about Reinelt, as I’d always looked on him as being my oldest friend in Poole – for our friendship seemed to prosper despite various differences of opinion in diverse subjects.  I need scarce say that had it not been for him I should never have met you.  As you say, we can only hope that he is safe – somewhere.

            Eric (White), I know, will be shaken by the loss of Boody – a rather remarkable fellow. He was hit by Bill’s death, so this comes as a double loss.  I can’t say I really knew either.  I’m afraid we will all miss someone before this wretched show is over.  War has always been an ugly business, with none of the glamour it is customary to connect with it.

            However, it is of no avail to become morbid.

            The weather here has been really wretched – nothing but rain, and if I don’t get pneumonia it won’t be for want of trying.

            I met that subaltern again last week who introduced me to ‘Lolita’ a strip-tease artist who was appearing at the ‘Hip’* last week.  We had supper at the Café Royal which has left me broke all the week.  She was French, and not Spanish, as billed.

            Have you heard anymore re joining the colours?  I expect to hear any minute that you’re in the Wrens or ATS or something.  Nous allons voi**, we shall see, as the French have it.

            I’ve just had a letter from home – also one from Brinner – he’ll strain himself soon if he’s not careful.

            I’ve seen quite a few well-known personages lately – tell you about them when I get on leave.

                        Must close now

                                             All my love Precious

                                                                        Dicker

P.S.     Excuse pencil – run out of ink.

 

*The Hippodrome theatre, Dover – bombed in September 1944

** French – “We shall see”.

© Chotie Darling

 

5th November 1942 – Madagascar, which threatened Allied convoy routes off south-east Africa, is captured from Vichy France by British marines (who’d landed in May) and handed to General de Gaulle for the Free French to govern. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

8th November 1942 - Operation Torch begins with the landing of Eisenhower’s Allied troops in Morocco and Algeria.  A Western Task Force led by Major General George S. Patton met Vichy French resistance at Casablanca.  Two other task forces landed at Oran and Algiers, the latter including 56^th Recce ‘Chavasse’s Light Horse’ – the first Recce Regiment to see action in a true reconnaissance role. They were also responsible for the survival of No 6 Commando (the SSRF) in February 1943.  46^th, 1^st, 4^th and 44^th Recce also saw action in the Western Desert.

(From WW2-net Timelines and ‘The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II’ by Richard Doherty, Osprey Publishing 2007.)

 

 

9^th November – as the Vichy French fight US troops at Oran in Algeria and in Morocco, Eisenhower’s deputy, General Mark Clarke tries to negotiate a ceasefire with Admiral Darlan and General Giraud in Algiers.  German troops begin landing in Vichy French Tunisia and by 25th November had deployed 25,000 men.

Hitler establishes Erik Scavenius as Prime Minister of Denmark following King Christian X’s refusal of anti-Jewish legislation in Denmark.

(From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

10^th November – British recapture Sidi Barrani in Egypt.

 

Churchill’s speech at the Mansion House in London celebrated the “glorious and decisive victory” at El Alamein:

“Now this is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning.”

(From The Churchill Society.)

Church Army tea - Sunday 25th October?

                                                                                            Sunday

My darling Chotie,

                                                    Please excuse my writing in pencil but I came in a hurry and forgot my pen.  I’m writing this in a Methodist Church Army Show, a hellish place to find oneself on a Sunday evening…However in a hour or so the Ritz will be open…

            I’ve been on the range all yesterday and today – marking in the butts (too technical for you?) means you signal the shots from the target end.  Very boring.  We manage to alleviate part of the boredom by betting on our own target.  After two days I’m where I started !  Not over profitable.  I’m on again Monday and Tuesday.

            Met a farmer on Friday.  Charming.  Quite the style with orange waistcoat etc, and a moustache like Marshall Budenny*.  Very interesting.  We talked for over two hours, mostly on farming topics.  Needless to say he was born and bred here, (man and boy for nigh on forty year etc…).  Altogether a very nice bloke, by which I mean he stood me a couple of pints…

            Needless to say I haven’t yet heard from that rat du Rose.  If you see him, tell him from me, he’s a SNAKE! 

            Fancy you liking Maggie Mitchell’s tale of ‘Ye Olde South’***!   Very surprising.  It’s on here.  Queues about a mile long for each performance.  There’s certainly a sucker born every minute…

            I went into a Church Army place this afternoon and found to my horror that they were issuing free teas.  Now when you get your tea gratis they expect you to stay to a temperance service afterwards.  There was a crowd of effeminate-looking service men seated round a table with various civilian was Led-in-the-blood-of-the-Lambers****, so I beat a hasty Dunkirk out of the place…

           Well, my Precious – will close here and see if I can’t find a drop of something warm somewhere.

                                                                                    All my love,

                                                                                                Dicker

P.S. Will write again tomorrow or Tuesday.

*Marshall Budenny – a Soviet military commander with a moustache wider than his face. 

**du Rose – one of Dick’s close companions in the Dorset Regiment. (See Enter du Rose.)

*** ‘Gone with the Wind’, from the book by Margaret Mitchell giving an idyllic portrayal of the USA’s deep South during the Civil War era, despite the reliance on slavery. It went on general release in 1941 and has been hailed as one of the greatest American films of all time.

****Possibly a mischievous reference to the Salvation Army?  

© Chotie Darling

 

25th October 1942 – the last German offensive in the Caucasus begins (between the Caspian and Black Seas, now in Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan).  (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

28th October 1942 – the first six hundred inmates arrive at the concentration camp of Auschwitz Monowitz or Auschwitz III, established to source forced labour for the Buna synthetic rubber factory operated by I.G.Farben. The labourers included 1,200 British Prisoners of War working in appalling conditions. However, conditions were infinitely worse for the Jewish prisoners. Of 3,800 inmates present in December 1942 only 1,500 were alive by February 1943.

(From 'Hell's Cartel - IG Farben and the Making of Hitler's War Machine' by Diarmuid Jeffreys, Metropolitan Books 2008, History Learning Site and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.)

Autumn propaganda - Monday 12th October 1942

Address as before

 Monday

My Darlingest,

                                                            I have just arrived back from a four day scheme, so I'm writing you at the first opportunity.  Don't be surprised if you don't get a letter for some days, for I spend a fairish time away on these stunts, during which I can't write, as all letters have to be posted in the Regiment box.  It's rather a nuisance but I'm afraid it can't be helped.

            I’m in bed at the moment, just about dead - have only had about 6 - 8 hrs sleep in four days.

            Did quite a few miles - and saw several new places.  The countryside looks really wonderful - especially the farms here.  It's quite surprising to find so many period farmhouses - the timbered, rambling Tudor and Elizabethan and the severe, formal Georgian, Eric's pet grudge, (can't we ever make him appreciate this style?) - follow one another in rapid succession. 

            The haystacks here appear a real work of art. They are always round with a conical top and are usually finished off at the top with a spriggly, plaited bit, each a different design, apparently the “signature” of the farmer who built them.

            Everything is rapidly becoming that beautiful tone of golden - especially the horse chestnut trees, always among the first.  (Just ignore me, Darling,- I'm trying to get over some autumn propaganda...)

            Met a very decent subaltern* a few nights ago - in a pub of course.  He was in the 70th Buffs (East Kents') originally, and joined up the same day as I did.

            He said, “Don't ever take a commission - stay in the ranks!”  He's had one night off in the last month. 

            He used to live at Chislehurst next to the house (mansion...) where Napoleon III** spent his last days.  He also lived at Orpington*** (a mile or so from Chislehurst) the same time as we did. He was studying art, pre-war, at the Royal Academy.

            The Squadron-Commander was also there with his wife (?),- tall, dark very Hedy Lamarish - overcheck suit with brown velvet lapels, Paisley silk scarf wound round her hair, which was done ‘up’, and light brown pigskin bag.  That's all I can remember - not bad for me, eh!

            Managed to read Warwick Deeping’s “No hero-this,” whilst on the scheme.  Quite good.  Try it.

            Well, Chotie Dear, no news so will close here.

                                                             all my love, Precious

                                                                             Dicker

P.S.  I wrote Eric, (did I tell you?).  You might tell him I'm impatiently waiting for a reply.  I told him in the letter, but I don't suppose he took any notice of that.

 

*Possibly Ronnie Jury who became a close friend of Dick's in Belgium and went on to teach at the Slade School of Fine Art.

**Napoleon Bonaparte’s heir who was elected President of France in 1848 and quickly seized power as dictator and Emperor. He was the last monarch of France. Captured at the Battle of Sedan during the Franco-Prussian War he was exiled to England and died at Camden Place, Chislehurst in South-East London.

*** Orpington in Kent - where Dick was born.

 © Chotie Darling

 

43^rd Recce - on 14^th October Lieutenant Colonel McIntyre gave a lecture on ‘The First Battle of Burma’.(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

18^th October 1942 –Hitler’s 'Commando Order' instructs German troops to shoot all captured Allied commandos. (See War in Dorset - October 1942 and WW2-net Timelines.)

19th October 1942 – with Rommel on sick leave in Germany, Allied forces in Egypt prepare to attack from the northern sector of the El Alamein line with an elaborate but unsuccessful feint on the south and the bombing and strafing of Luftwaffe airfields. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

21st October 1942 – Eisenhower’s deputy, Lt-General Mark Clark, is landed secretly in Algiers to meet with French Vichy leaders in North Africa, trying to persuade them not to oppose the imminent American landings. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

22^nd October 1942 – the call-up age for British men was reduced to 18 by Royal Proclamation requiring all men to register at their local Employment Exchange at 17 years 6 months. . (From WW2-net Timelines and World War 2 Talk ).

23^rd October – beginning of the second battle of El Alamein, with Montgomery’s Allied Forces attacking the German lines in the north.  General Stumme, Rommel’s cover, became lost on the battlefield and died of a heart attack.  Rommel returned on 25^th October to find that, although the line had held, half his panzers had been destroyed and the tanker bringing vital fuel and ammunition supplies had been sunk. (From WW2-net Timelines and ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

44th Recce played a critical role clearing minefields before the offensive and 51st Recce  were involved in the assault. (From ‘The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II’ by Richard Doherty, Osprey Publishing 2007)

The RAF bombed the Italian cities of Genoa and Turin on the night of 23rd October.

The Winter Routine - Friday 2nd October 1942

On 4^th October 1942 Operation Basalt, a commando raid by the Small Scale Raiding Force on Sark in the Channel Islands captured One German soldier. Unfortunately others were killed with their hands tied – a breach of wartime convention that led to Hitler’s ‘Commando order’ for the killing of all Allied commandos taken prisoner. (See Combined Operations WW2 website.) 

HMS Turtle was established in Hamworthy on 7^th October 1942 as a naval shore base (now A Royal Marine base).

Churchill’s speech in Edinburgh on 12^th October 1942 ‘Keep right on to the end of the road’ made direct reference to the exploits of the commandos:

“The British Commando raids at different points along the enormous coast, although so far only the forerunner of what is to come, inspire the author of so many crimes and miseries with a lively anxiety.  There comes out of the sea from time to time a hand of steel which plucks the German sentries from their posts with growing efficiency.”

(From ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980 and Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg,  Dorset Publishing Company.)

 

In October 1942 43^rdReconnaissance Regiment were still in Dover. Visitors included Lieutenant Colonels Luce - Adviser to the Recce Corps, Pavey – Officer in Charge of Reconnaissance Corps Records and Whitbread - Officer in Charge of the R.T.C. (Regimental Training Corps?).

The major training during the month consisted of firing.  All available personnel received musketry training in the Rifle and Bren Gun and a modified range course was set up.

(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

As previous,

Friday 2^nd

My Darling Chotie,

                                                     Many thanks for very instructive
letter received today.  Glad to hear news of Eric – he appears to have struck it lucky – I said appears; though I expect he has something to moan about, as usual.  I definitely will write him when I get time.  I never seem to have a moment to spare these days.

            From after the 5^th inst. however, we should start the Winter Routine which means no work before breakfast and none after tea. There is also a later réveillé, which is a relief after the old 6am stunt.

            Well, Darling, I hope you are very fit and enjoying the glory of autumn (or Gluric as old McLuckie used to say). Though it’s hardly autumn yet – not here at any rate.

            I’ve just been talking to the padre – rather shocked him I think.  (I’m writing this in the Quiet Room which is also used by the Padre as a library. Some library…)

            I haven’t been out since last week-end, so I’ve nothing to write about.

            I wrote to Diller* last night, though not in time to reach her for her birthday (the 1^st) as I’d been out on a scheme.  She’ll soon be an Old Maid at this rate…23 I believe. However, who am I to criticize?  

            Weather’s been lovely today – plenty of sun and wind, and the old brown leaves tumbling down…

            Wish I was still in civvies.  Still, as you so aptly observe in your letter, it will soon be over.  About five years I reckon…You’ll be an old maid then! 

            I’ve just managed to get an ounce of baccy, first for several days, which cheered me up not a little. 

            Glad to hear Margaret*’s now sailing before the wind again.  Give her my best wishes, won’t you.  And all the family of course.

            I haven’t heard anything of Brinner*** lately, but no news is good news as the old saw has it.  I suppose he’ll be on leave soon, though it can’t be much fun for him, by himself, especially if there’s still no radio.

            Well, Lulu, I must close here for want of material.

            Be good, and look after yourself, won’t you. You’re very, very precious to me, you know.

                                                All my love,

                                                            Chotie Darling

                                                                                    Dicker

                                                                                    Xxxxxx

*Dick’s sister

**Chotie's second eldest sister - she had three sisters and one brother.

***Dick’s brother

 © Chotie Darling

 

On 5^th and 6^th October 1942 Humber Motors’ representatives visited 43^rd Recce and lectures were given to all Driver Mechanics (this would have included Dick) and Drivers I.C. Lieutenant Colonel Merriman also gave a lecture on ‘The Use of Anti-Tank and Anti-Personnel Mines by enemy ground defences’ on 6^th October.

(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

6^th October 1942 – Roosevelt announces establishment of a United Nations commission to investigate war crimes.

 

Although German attacks on Stalingrad were renewed in October the Soviet front reported on the 8th that ‘the defeatist mood is almost eliminated' - a total of 3,000 Soviet soldiers were executed for cowardice and desertion during the Battle for Stalingrad.  (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

11th October 1942 – The Battle of Cape Esperance continues the war in the Solomon Islands between supply ships for Guadalcanal.  The Japanese suffered heavy losses but succeeded in bombing the airfield, destroying half the US planes on the Island. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

A Very Happy Leave - Monday 28th September 1942

Mortar Troop, HQ Squadron A

43rd Recce Regt, Recce Corps

HOME FORCES

 

Monday.

 

My Darlingest Chotie,

                                                            Sorry I haven't been able to write before, Precious, but I'm afraid this is the first opportunity I've had since getting back.

            Hope you also arrived home safely, and got my card, from Hastings.  Needless’ I carried it about for hours without seeing a post-box and of course as soon as I put it in my pocket, I forgot it, and couldn't post it until Sat.

            I should like to thank you, Darling, for a very happy leave, before I go any further. I hope I don't sound over formal... But seriously, Chotie, I wouldn't even think of leave now unless you were able to spend it with me. 

            Please don't think me too puerile - I'm really very sincere.  I know you must often think me ‘vacant’ - I realise it myself, but being in this Army has or rather does things to me.  I find it very difficult to act normally and think normally when home on leave, as I suppose all the time I realise that I have to come back to this existence, for no one could call it any more than that.

             However, that's quite enough of this trash.

             Thanks again, Darling.

             Ref. the Recce Badge, I have applied for a transfer to the Engineers, though I very much doubt whether it will ever come through.

            Did you see the Splash about the Recce in the last Sunday Pictorial?*  Tommy rot...

            There was a twelve page missive from Monica** waiting for me when I got back from leave.  What a homecoming!  Tells me the only reason she married was that when she heard about you, she gave up hope!  More rot...

             Well, Cho, there seems no news, as usual.

             Don't forget to advise me instanta of any change of ‘employment', will you?

                                        Bye, bye, my Precious

                                                                    all my love,

                                                                                    Dicker.

P. S. Be good...

(or reasonably so...)

 

*A feature entitled “The First Thrilling Story of Britain’s ‘Reccies’ – our Secret Army is Ready”:

            “The men of the Reconnaissance Corps have taken on one of the toughest jobs in the war – the spearhead of our attack on Germany. They are as elusive as guerrillas, fast as scouts, tough as commandos…..every one picked for brain as well as brawn…everything is improvised, time reducing, hazardous…an army which will roam behind enemy lines...their job, to spy on the enemy a close quarters…every scrap of information they get will be fought for” etc.

(From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’  by Roy Howard, courtesy of the Sunday Pictorial, now the Sunday Mirror.)

**Dick’s former girlfriend.

 © Chotie Darling

 

On 28^th and 29^th September 1942 one squadron of 43rd Recce were involved in a Divisional Smoke Exercise.

(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

Nine Days

Telegram – 12^th September 1942

 

LEAVE WEDNESDAY 16th LOVE = RICHARD + +

 

Dick had nine days Privilege leave from 17^th to 25^th September 1942

and met up with Chotie.

 

Copy of Record

SERVICE AND CASUALTY FORM

17.9.42         Priv. Leave    17-25.9.42 (9 days) 

Army Rank Trooper              Place Home Forces

 

 

12th September 1942 - a Japanese attack on Guadalcanal,'the Battle of Bloody Ridge', is defeated costing the Japanese half their forces on the Island.

12^th/13^th September 1942 – Major March-Phillips, the founder and leader of the Small Scale Raiding Force (insert link), based in Poole, was killed in a raid (Operation Aquatint) on the Normandy coast near St Honorine des Pertes (the beach later known as Omaha from the D Day landings). (From Combined Operations WW2 website.)

13th September 1942 - a major German assault in Stalingrad pushed Soviet forces back to the banks of the River Volga but was met with fierce resistance.  In the heavily bombed city the Russians became adept at street-fighting, or 'Rattenkrieg' ('the war of rats') as the Germans called it, with crack snipers hiding among the derelict buildings.  Women played important roles in the defence of the city, as bomber pilots, firing anti-aircraft guns and as medical orderlies, retrieving the wounded under fire.  (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

18th September 1942 – British forces landed on the East Coast of Madagascar and by the 23rd occupied the capital Tananarive (now Antananarivo). The Vichy French government signed a peace treaty on 5th November 1942.

 

Our "Engagement" - Tuesday 8th September 1942

5731671 Tpr Williams R

A/TK Troop, HQ Squadron

43rd Recce Regt, Recce Corps, Armed Forces

Tuesday

My Darling Chotie,

                                        I'm in a lecture at the moment, so I'm writing this in my notebook under pretext of taking some notes…  I got your letter this morning - for which many thanks.   Hope you can read this scrawl but I never could write on my knee.  Glad to hear you celebrated your birthday in style - wish I could have been with you.

(The bloke here is a yawning on about internal combustion engines - very dull after six weeks of it.)

            By the way - in your last letter but one, you told me about your ‘change of employment ', but it was, if you remember, in the form of a postscript, which I missed of course, at the first reading.  When reading it again at a later date (a very sound habit of mine), I came across it, and needless to say, would have congratulated you in my last epistle. Anyhow - nice work.

            (I very much doubt whether you can make head or tail of this scrawl.  I've got a job to understand it myself - but persevere, Darling.)  I have to keep answering questions all the time to this wretched man - a Sergeant from the Ordnance Corps.  Up to now, I've managed to keep just one jump ahead of him.  He's not really very bright - typical of the R.A.O.C.*, but writing a letter as well has its snags.

            I've been enquiring about my leave, and may get it on the 16th i.e. next Wednesday (a week today), but it seems rather doubtful.  What can you manage if I do?  I'm afraid I can't say definitely, because the Squadron Office don't know themselves.

            I've been put on fire guard for a week (!) which means I work evenings as well.  I haven't been out since I've been here.  Not that there's anything of interest.  I went out on an exercise yesterday morning, and passed through some marvellous villages, would have delighted Frances B. Young**.  

            Glad to hear you met Jones.  Where is he stationed these days, or didn't he tell you?  Did I tell you that Brinner was on a course in North Devon?   

            Are the old Dorsets*** still with you?  It would mean that they've been there a year now.

            I've got a cross country to run this evening after tea, a Devil, isn't it, seeing that I haven't done PT of any sort for seven or eight weeks.

            My two Scotch friends have gone on leave to bra’ wee Ayr, and left me disconsolate, although they are both in ‘A’ Squadron, and I don't see much of them. 
(The lecture has at last ended, 1½ hrs, so I'll finish this tonight - maybe...)

            Well, Lulu, after the lecture I heard I'd been transferred from the Anti Tank Troop to the Mortar Troop****, and having seen the Troop Commander about my leave, feel more confident about the 16th - but remember it’s still not definite. 

            This mortar job appears cushy - driving - but not quite so cushy in action.

             Well, Darling, I must close here with all my love,

                                            always yours, Precious

                                                                    your loving

                                                                                    Dicker

 P.S.  I mentioned our “engagement” to the old folks at home in my last letter.  I haven't yet had a reply ... keep your chin up, Lulubelle..

 

*Royal Army Ordnance Corps – responsible for supplying weapons, ammunition and equipment to the Army.

**A Frances B. Young wrote a biography of Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke (an Elizabethan writer) but the origins of this reference are obscure.

***Dick’s original regiment (see Chotie Darling Part 1 ‘The Blue Cockade’) last heard of at Branksome in Poole.

****A Reconnaissance Regiment consisted of one HQ Squadron and three Reconnaissance Squadrons. Mortar Troop was one of the four Troops in HQ Squadron (with Signals, Armoured Tank and Admin) and used 6 x 3” mortars. Mortars are portable. Fixed to the ground they are used to fire small bombs in a slow high arc into the enemy at close range.

 © Chotie Darling

On 8^th and 10^th September 43^rd Recce were engaged in the 129 and 130 Infantry Brigade Exercise ‘Break In’ and on 15^th and 17^th in the Brigade Exercise ‘Break Out’.  Unarmed combat cadres for N.C.O.s were held from 14^th to 18^th September and on 14^th September Field officers attended a lecture on “Recent Operations in the Middle East”. The Commanding Officer attended an address by the new South East Army Commanders on 22^nd September. 43^rd Recce participated in a display for the visit of the Army Commander to the Field Firing range at Sandwich on 23^rd September.  A Regimental Exercise on 25^th and 26^th September “proved very valuable training in operating the regiment as a whole”. The exercise involved river crossings and cooking on vehicles with 4 man pack rations.

(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

Return to Dover - Thursday 3rd September 1942

The War in Dorset - September 1942

The Small Scale Raiding Force was involved in raids on Les Casquets lighthouse in the Channel Islands and St. Honorine near Bayeux, Normandy.  In Operation Dryad on 2nd/3rd Septembera the successful raid on Les Casquets lighthouse destroyed the ‘U’ boat wireless transmitting station, capturing seven German soldiers, as well as vital code books and Naval information.

Tarrant Rushton airfield was constructed between Blandford and Wimborne, near Badbury Rings in Dorset. The aircraft was to field the first arrivals on French soil on D Day and 1st British Airborne set off for 'the Bridge Too Far' that was Arnhem from here.
 

Whirlwind aircraft from Warmwell in Dorset sank two armed trawlers in the Channel on 9th September.

On 11^thSeptember five people were killed by a single German bomb dropped on the Bournemouth Road in Parkstone, Poole; near where Chotie and her family lived.

A Poole flying-boat, the Clare, came down in the Channel after a fire, killing six crew and thirteen passengers on 14^th September.

(From 'Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004 and ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980)

 

During September 1942 43^rdReconnaissance Regiment was still based in Dover, although that month they received orders to mobilise, complete with first line reinforcements. All reinforcements, including Dick, arrived during the month.

Inter-Squadron Exercises were held at the beginning of the month “bringing out many useful lessons in Section and Troop tactics and instituting considerable enthusiasm.”

Intensive First Aid training commenced early in the month, designed to train all ranks during the winter.

(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

 

On 2^ndSeptember 1942 Dick passed his Trade Test as a Driver Mechanic

 

Copy of Record

TRADE TRAINING REPORT FORM

REPORT ON STUDENT          c) End of course

TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT  ADDRESS:    

THE DREADNOUGHT GARAGE AND MOTOR ENGINEERING WORKS (HOVE) LTD

STUDENT’S REGTL.  No 5731671     RANK Trooper          NAME  Williams R.K.

ORIGINAL UNIT        43^rd Recce. Regt.                COURSE (Trade)  D.M.

Duration of course    From 23^rd July 1942           To 2^nd September 1942.

SUITABILITY FOR TRADE - Very suitable                       

CONDUCT AND INTEREST - Good

PRACTICAl ABILITY -  Very Good

THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE - Good                                                                    

SUMMARY      Passed Complete Class 2 Test in Army Trade of DM*

REMARKS:

Will make an excellent D.M. Requires plenty of work.

Date   2/9/42                              S.F.Webb. Lieut O.M.E.

*DM = Driver Mechanic. Reconnaissance called for many more drivers and mechanics than standard infantry to successfully reconnoiter the battlefield. (From ‘The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II’ by Richard Doherty, Osprey Publishing 2007.)

Copy of Record:

SERVICE AND CASUALTY FORM

Passed trade test and qualified for appointment as Drv. Mech. Tp. ‘D’ Cl.II                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3^rd September 1942 – a National Day of Prayer was held for the third Anniversary of the Declaration of War.

 

 

Letter - Thursday 3rd September 1942

5731671 Tpr Williams 

HQ Squadron, 43rd Recce Regt. Recce Corps

Home Forces 

Thursday

 

My Darlingest,

                                                                                    By the time you get this letter, I shall be back at Dover, but remember not to mention please or put anything but the address above.

            I hope this will reach you before the 6^th* – and so will wish you a very happy Birthday, and only wish I could be with you.  I have sent something – or rather it’s being sent – nothing much I’m afraid, but I wish you every happiness, with it.

            I went to the opera three times during the last week, the only nights I could get off and saw ‘Bohème’, ‘Trovatore’ &  ‘the Barber’**.  It was the Carl Rosa of course with Joan Hammond and Parry Jones.  Very good.  I met an Italian there (naturalised) and spent a very enjoyable night.

            Well, Darling, I’ll write again when I get to the other end, so all the very best, Precious

                                                                        Your loving

                                                                                    Dicker

                                                                                    Xxxx

PS. Have just started to run for the train…

 

*Chotie’s 19^th Birthday on 6^th September 1942.

**All famous Italian operas - Giacomo Puccini’s 'La Bohème’, Giuseppe Verdi’s ‘Il Trovatore’ (The Troubadour) and Gioachino Rossini’s ‘Barber of Seville’. The Carl Rosa were a touring opera company.  Parry Jones was a Welsh tenor. Joan Hammond,
an Australian soprano, became internationally famous after the war.

***Benetti – mentioned again in letter sent in February 1943.

© Chotie Darling

 

On 7^th September 43^rd Recce had a demonstration of the Army Cadet sign system for all wireless operators, Dvr Ops (driver operators?) and officers.  (From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)  Dick mentions being on exercise on the 7^th in his next letter.

 

 

7th September 1942 - Rommel withdraws from his attack on the El Alamein line at Alam Halfa Ridge in Egypt.

 

 

 

French Canadians and French Films - Sunday 30th August 1942

5731671 Room 28

3^rd Technical Training Group

Preston Barracks, Brighton, Sussex

 

Sunday Morn.

Chotie Darling,

                                                                                                Many thanks for letter of a couple of days ago. There’s no Church Parade this morning, so I have a good chance to catch
up on my mail.

            Feeling pretty low this morning. Went out yesterday evening and met some half-dozen French-Canadians, and I’m wondering now whether it was good luck or misfortune.  They’d only been over here a few months, and spoke no English, but I managed to hold my end up for a couple of hours.  There were two barmaids there, who, knowing they couldn’t speak any English, and thinking I was also French, were saying things …those girls almost made me blush… Unfortunately, when I rolled out of the place, it was pouring with rain, and I had no alternative but to walk, as the last bus had long since gone.  It was about 3 miles, and sobered me up not a little.

            Went to the jolly old Ballet again last week – twice in fact – Allied Ballets, allied to whom I don’t know.  The Prima Ballerina, Mela Carter, was almost as good as Fonteyn, but the rest were indifferent.  Not as good as Anglo-Polish.  Saw “Le Lac des Cygnes” (Swan Lake) and “Les Sylphides” the former Tchaikovsky, the latter, Chopin.  Also saw a Tod Slaughter film – “Murder in the Red Barn” – one of the old dramatics… 

            Was going to see “Joan of Paris”* yesterday, but after one look decided against it, even after your advice on same.  I knew America would ruin Michèle in the same way it ruined Boyer and will probably ruin Babin**.  Shakespeare said, ‘a good wine needs no bush’***, but America would have us believe the contrary.  It’s not necessary to shout the qualities of an actor from the roof-tops, to impress people of his ability.  The best French films were always the most unoffensive and unsung. 

            What about this engagement, Darling?  Kindly express your sentiments
per return…  We’ll have to see what can be done (If anything, can be done).  I suppose it’s about time we did something about it, before tongues start wagging, etc. 

            I was going home this week-end, and rather wish I had now.  But I suppose I
should get my leave soon, hope so anyhow.  Well, I’d better close here, Precious.

            Don’t forget about the jolly old engagement will you.  (I haven’t said anything about it yet …)

                                                                                    Son amoureux mari****

                                                                                                Dicker

PS       Love & kisses xxxx etc

PPS     Ich liebe dich, meine geliebte*****.

 

*A 1942 film about a waitress helping RAF pilots stranded in Paris to escape. It starred the French actress Michèle Morgan.

**Charles Boyer, a famous French actor

***A 15^th century proverb quoted by Rosalind in Shakespeare’s play ‘As You Like It’ – “If it be true that ‘good wine needs no bush’, tis true that a good play needs no epilogue” (Act 5 Scene 4).  Taverns claiming to sell fine liquor bore the sign of an ivy bush above their door.

***** ‘Son amoureux mari’ (French) = 'Your loving husband’

***** ‘Ich liebe dich, meine geliebte’ (German) = ‘I love you, my sweetheart’

© Chotie Darling

30th August 1942 – Germany’s annexation of Luxembourg is resisted with a General Strike. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

31^st August 1942 - Rommel begins his final attempt to break through at El Alamein with an offensive on Alam Halfa ridge (between El Alamein on the Mediterranean Sea and the Quattara Depression to the south). However, the Germans are forced to withdraw back to their start lines. The deciphering of Germany’s secret Enigma code played a critical role in the Allies successful defence – Montgomery was now aware of Rommel’s plans through the Ultra decrypts.  (From WW2-net Timelines and ‘Phantom at War’ by Andy and Sue Parlour.)

The French Traitors - Friday 21st August 1942

19th August 1942 – the Combined Operations raid (see the Missing Winter) on Dieppe in northern France, which ended in disaster. This joint British and Canadian commando raid (originally code-named ‘Rutter’, but now known as ‘Jubilee’), , was intended to practice techniques for an eventual invasion of Northern Europe by the Allies. The coast was heavily defended by German guns and the invasion force lost the element of surprise by encountering an escorted German convoy in the Channel. After less than 6 hours the forces landed on the beaches around Dieppe were forced to withdraw. Of the 5,000 Canadians, 1,000 British, 50 American Rangers and 50 Free French taking part in ‘Operation Jubilee’ more than 1,380 were killed, 1,600 wounded and 2,340 captured. The RAF had given support but lost 107 planes to the German’s 48. One Royal Naval destroyer and 33 landing craft were sunk.

Dieppe convinced the Allied commanders that a successful cross-Channel invasion would need a massive force, which could not be assembled before 1944. The decision not to use airborne troops had also contributed to the raid’s failure. (From Combined Operations WW2 website, WW2-net Timelines  and ‘Phantom at War – the British Army’s Secret Intelligence & Communication Regiment of WW2’ by Andy & Sue Parlour, Cerberus 2003.)

  

21st August 1942 – Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the USA says that the perpetrators of barbarism in occupied countries ‘that the time will come when they shall have to stand in courts of law in the very countries which they are now oppressing and answer for their acts.'  (From WW2-net Timelines.)

German troops scale Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in the Caucasus, and plant the Reich's flag on the summit but the overstretched forces never reached the valuable Caucasian oilfields.

 

5731671 Tpr Williams R

Room 28

3^rd Technical Training Group

Preston Barracks, Brighton, Sussex

 

Friday Eve.

Chotie Darling,

                                                            It’s pay-night, as you will see from above, but as it’s raining like hell I thought I’d stay in and write to my Chubby Lulubelle. Good boy, ain’t I?  Sometimes I wonder …

            Well, Precious – many thanks for your last letter and account of your adventures.  I am enclosing the polyfotos in this – have had to break them up I’m afraid, as I haven’t yet procured a large enough envelope.  I will give you the number I like best in PS., as I can’t make up my mind (?) which one I like the most, at the moment – they’re all so good.

            Hope you manage to see Michelle Morgan, she’s really very good in French films – I can’t guarantee American or English directors.  I’ve only seen her once – with Boyer, in French, with French direction of course and I was very struck then.  I believe I told you I saw Vivianne Romance, (almost as good) last week.

            Did you see the appalling list of French people who have been marked as definite traitors?  The list includes Georges Carpentier (France’s greatest boxer), Maurice Chevalier, Sacha Guitry (her greatest playwright), Corinne Luchaire (of “Prison without Bars” fame), Jean Borotra (the tennis star) and last but not least, Danielle Darrieux who needs no introduction.  Horrible isn’t it?

            Sorry you had a row with Horlock – but then you must remember that there are people without souls – who appreciate nothing, and the road of a martyr is by necessity an exacting one.  Persevere Darling … 

            However, I was glad to hear of your “Braemar”** show.  Looking forward to
seeing it soon.  I’ve been around quite a bit since last writing – making the most of it while it lasts.

            Have seen a couple of old flicks – “Suspicion” Cary Grant and Fontaine, and “Here comes Mr Jordan” – Montgomery and Claude Rains.  Not too
bad.  Also saw a play “Bedtime Story” with Mary Maguire – quite good.

            Had a letter from home – Mother says the Odeon at Bognor had a bomb, plumb centre – killed a dozen or so.  Luckily she did the shopping in the morning and the bomb was about 3 in the afternoon.  She’s been asked up to Herne Bay for a wedding – Rita’s (family friend) but sees no chance of going.

            Have you heard of Eric since your last letter?  Maybe he’s moved – but then
I suppose he’d have phoned or something. I really will write him some day, but I’m thinking of his heart when he gets the letter. 

            What did you think of the last raid***?  I saw most of the action in the Channel and was also machine-gunned in the streets – though still alive and kicking.

            Have you thought of a name for my new pipe yet?  He’s getting nicely burnt in, and has acquired a more mature appearance.

            I bought a copy of Darwin’s ‘The Descent of Man’ and have been up to my neck in it for some days.  I always do crosswords in the bus, on my way to “work”.  Quite suburban in fact – though I miss the Homburg and umbrella …

            Well, Darling, I must close here as its getting too dark to write,

                                                                        All my love, you Precious thing,

                                                                                     your adoring Dicker

PS. NUMERUS XXIV

that’s look you (No 24)

* Georges Carpentier - French boxer who was world light-heavyweight champion and a European champion at four weight classes.

Maurice Chevalier - French musical-comedy star

Corinne Luchaire – French film actress and daughter of Jean Luchaire a journalist and politician who supported the Vichy Regime.

Jean Borotra – French champion tennis player in the 20s and 30s.

Danielle Darrieux - French actress and singer, one of France's great movie stars.

** Braemar – a village in Aberdeenshire?

***possibly a reference to action following the Dieppe Raid, which had set sail from ports between Southampton and Newhaven (near Brighton)?

© Chotie Darling

 

 

22^nd August 1942 – Brazil declares war on Germany and Italy.

 

23^rd August 1942 – the Battle of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) begins in Russia. One of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare it continued until 2^nd February 1943, claiming nearly 2 million casualties and ending in defeat for the Axis Army.  On 25th August a state of siege was declared in the heavily bombed city. (From WW2-net Timelines and ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012.)

 

25^th August 1942 – beginning of the Battle of Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. This Japanese attack was defeated by largely Australian forces by 7^th September 1942 – the Allies first decisive victory over the Japanese. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

28^th August 1942 – a massive RAF raid on Nuremberg kills 4,000 civilains.  Unlike the Americans the RAF flew at night and Air Chief Marshall 'Bomber Harris' defined their success by the number of urban acres reduced to rubble. (From WW2-net Timelines and ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012.)

28^th August and 9^th September – the Japanese fire bomb the Oregon forests, USA. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

A good time in Brighton - postcard posted Tuesday 4th August 1942

The War in Dorset - August 1942

During August the propaganda film ‘Victory’ was shot on the Dorsetshire heaths using old First World War tanks rescued by Rudyard Kipling for the Armoured Fighting School at Bovington Camp. Many had been turned into scrap in June 1940 but some remained as stationary pillboxes and were used in the film.

Bridport was attacked by air on Sunday 2^nd August and two people were killed.

No 4 Commando trained for the raid on Dieppe with landings on the South Dorset coast from 5^th August. They successfully took a battery during the raid but had to withdraw (see the raid on Dieppe on 19^th August). Boats from Poole and Weymouth operated as support vessels for the raid.

On 14^th/15^th August the Small Scale Raiding Force (also known as No 62 Commando), based in Poole, staged a small successful raid on an anti-aircraft gun and radar station at Pointe de Saire, near Barfleur in France.

Luftwaffe bombers killed 13 people and injured 48 in attacks on Swanage on Monday 17th and Sunday 23^rd August.

On 31^st August the Royal Australian Air Force arrived at R.A.F. Hamworthy to fly anti-submarine patrols over the South Western Approaches and the Bay of Biscay in Sunderland flying-boats. Initially they suffered heavy losses because the Allied Navy signal code that operated their patrols had been deciphered by German Naval Intelligence. but their success improved when a new wavelength radar was introduced, which the German Navy failed to pick up.

By the end of August 1942 the X-3 midget submarine had completed testing at Portland and later caused extensive damage to the Tirpitz, Germany’s mega-battleship, when she was moved along the Norwegian coast.

(From ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, 2004 and ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980.)

 

3rd August 1942 – Churchill arrives in Cairo and makes staff changes which result in General Bernard Montgomery taking command of the 8th Army.

 

The 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment was still based in Dover during August 1943, although mobilisation had been completed.

Training was resumed with Squadron Exercises involving 2-3 nights out of barracks testing ‘vehicle cooking’ as well as Section and Troop operations. Some Field Firing exercises were carried out on the range at Sandwich. On 6^th and 7^th August ‘C’ Squadron participated in ‘Black Bull’, a Brigade Exercise on the South Downs.

Major A.W.E. Crawford, now a Lieutenant-Colonel, took full command of the Regiment on 9^th August, with Major H.G. Mason as second in command. On 12^th August the senior officers were involved in “Reorganise”, a simulation or ‘cloth model’ tactical exercise without troops and the new Lieutenant-Colonel attended a General Headquarters’ Battle School Course at the School of Infantry from 13^th-20^th August. 21 officers went to Worthing on 19^th August for a demonstration of tanks working with infantry in battle drill. 

43^rd Recce Regiment lost the Inter Regimental Athletics Meeting on Saturday 22^nd August to 1/8^th Middlesex, the Division’s Machine Gun battalion. On 26^th August the Recce took part in Exercise “Beaver”, a 43^rd (Wessex) Division training exercise.

(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

Dick, meanwhile, was training to be a Driver Mechanic

at the Dreadnought Garage and Motor Engineering Works, Hove.

 

BRIGHTON. PROMENADE GARDENS.

Chotie

      Just a few lines to let you know I’m still alive & kicking. My arm’s all right now so I’ll write again tomorrow. Having a good time here – change from Bulford! I shall probably go back to Dover when I finish this course. I had a week there before coming here.

Love Dicker

© Chotie Darling

 

6th August 1942 - General Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Allied forces preparing to invade North Africa. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

The World Jewish Congress British section announces that one million Jews have been killed in Nazi occupied Europe. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

7^th August 1942 – 19,000 US Marines are landed on the islands of Guadalcanal and Tulagi in the southern Solomon Islands, held by the Japanese since May.  Despite heavy losses, American and Australian ships continued to bring in troops and supplies.  Fierce fighting was focused around the Guadalcanal aerodrome begun by the Japanese but 'Henderson's Field' was held by the Allies.  The Guadalcanal Campaign was the first major offensive by Allied forces against Japan.  Land, sea and air battles continued around the islands until the Japanese finally withdrew on 7th February 1943, having reached the high-water mark of their conquests in the Pacific.  (From WW2-net Timelines and ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012 .)

8th August 1942 – Gandhi and other leaders in the Congress Party issue a call for the British to ‘Quit India’, leading to their arrest.  India finally achieved independence from the British five years later on 15^th August 1947.

9^th August 1942 – Leningrad (now, again, St. Petersburg) in northern Russia, which had now been virtually under siege since September 1941, broadcasts Shostakovich’s 7th (Leningrad) Symphony to the world on radio – a great boost to Russian morale.  On 19th August this was followed by the Sinyavino counter-offensive, which wrecked German plans to strangle Leningrad’s only supply route across Lake Ladoga.

21 years old - Thursday 30th July 1942

Room 28

3^rd Technical Training Group

Preston Barracks, Brighton, Sussex

 

Thursday

My Own Darling Chotie

                                                                                    Just a few lines, Precious, to thank you, and all your family for a lovely and very welcome present*.   Thank you, Darling, very, very much.

            I would have written before, but I’ve been laid up for some little time with the wretched vaccination.  However, I know you will understand.

            I had a very quiet time on the 28^th.  I thought rather than spend it in the company of strangers, I should prefer to be by myself, so I betook myself to the theatre and saw Jean Forbes-Robertson in the Soviet play “Distant Point” with the London cast, which was really rather good. I managed to sink a couple of pints every interval, so that by the time it finished I was beginning to feel that life was worthwhile again.

            I then hied myself to “the Old Ship”** and finished off the job.  The boys put me to bed when I got in …

            Further to my last letter – I do very well here now, as we are working on theory at a civvy garage every day in Hove, and have our meals in a British Restaurant***. And believe me that’s a cut above the Army.  I’ll send you one or two photographs of the old place. 

                    Well, Darling, I can’t write any more as my arm is giving me hell. 

            Please thank all your family very much.  I now have one exquisite smoke every night before going to bed.  Any tobacco will do in the daytime but I can appreciate a little ‘Sobranie’**** in the ‘cool of the evening’.

            I’ll write again as soon as my arm gets better – in a couple of days I expect.

                                                                                    all my love, Darling

                                                                                                            Dicker

                                                                                                            xxxx

                                                                                                            B.O.L.T.O.P.****(?)

                                                                      That shook you! Rather puerile don’t you think? 

 

* Dick’s 21st birthday was on Tuesday 28^th July 1942.

** an historic hotel on the seafront in Brighton

*** British Restaurants were set up by Local Authorities with loans from the Wartime Meals Division. They were open to all, but mainly served office and industrial workers. A three course meal cost only 9d.

**** an expensive cigarette

***** “Better on Lips than on Paper”

 © Chotie Darling

 

31^st July 1942 – heavy raid by 630 RAF bombers on Düsseldorf, a city in Germany’s Lower Rhineland.

Brighton - Wednesday 22nd July 1942

On 22nd July 1942 Dick was assigned to

No3. Technical Training Group in Brighton

 
Copy of Record

SERVICE AND CASUALTY FORM

22.7.42.  Cutd(?) to No 3. Tech. Trg. Gp.  Army Rank Trooper  Place  Brighton

 

Letter written Wednesday 22nd July

Tpr Williams R

5731671 Room 28

3^rd Technical Training Group

PRESTON BARRACKS

BRIGHTON

SUSSEX

 

Wednesday

Dearest Darling Chotie,

                                                                        As you will see from above address, I’ve changed location once again, as I’m on a six-week course at Brighton.  Will you please note exact address as above and make no further reference, as to Regt etc.

            I’m afraid I’ve only been toBrighton a couple of times before, and so was able to find much to interest me.  The number of Oriental and Continental cafés and jewel shops is amazing.  The famous Aquarium is, unfortunately, occupied by the Army, but the mosque-like Pavilion is still open.

            The unit I’m now with isn’t too bad on the whole.  A very rough lot – no signs of mental vigour, as the medical journal would say – but I’m very thankful to be out of the Airborne in spite of two good friends I made there.

            I’ve had no reply to my last missive – it will probably catch me up in a few days’ time.

            I was transferred from 'A' Squadron to HQ and a couple of days later I found myself on this course.  It’s a driving course and should be quite easy. 

            I managed to get a couple of hours in Brighton this evening and was amazed to find that almost everything was still going – cinemas, theatres, etc. – although all ARP services, and ATS etc appear to be well under control. 

            I was very glad to see our old County again – the Oast houses and farmsteads looking just as peaceful as before this wretched business – I think it would take more than a war to alter them.

            I wish you could have been with me, Chotie Darling, I miss you terribly.  I only hope the day will soon come when we will be together, and when our only worry will be Junior’s first teeth, or something equally trifling.

                                    Goodnight, my Precious

                                                            Your loving,

                                                                        Dicker

P.S.     Write soon

© Chotie Darling

 

23^rd July 1942 - opening of Treblinka extermination camp in NE Poland. More than 850,000 people were murdered here, the majority Jewish.  Between July 22^nd and September 12^th 1942 approximately 265,000 Jews from the Warsaw ghetto were deported to Treblinka and c.35,000 were killed inside the ghetto. (From ‘Warsaw’, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website)

In Operation Blau, the German advance in southern Russia, they capture Rostov, a city near the mouth of the River Don on the Sea of Azov and the western gateway to critical Caucasian oilfields.  

 

26th July 1942 –As attacks and counter attacks continue on the El Alamein front the SAS (Special Air Service) destroy 37 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground including critical supply planes.  In July 1942 alone daring raids by the SAS destroyed a total of 86 German aircraft in North Africa. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

Rationing of sweets and chocolate introduced in Britain.  Biscuits were also rationed from August 1942.

Kent - letter posted on Friday 17th July

Chotie Darling

Dedicated to the memory of my mother and all those who hold the forever young of war in their hearts.

Part2        Reconnaissance

 

Chapter 6            43rd Reconnaissance  – the end of the beginning

 Dick joined the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment on 13^th July 1942.

He was initially stationed in Dover, Kent.

On 13^th July 1942 Dick swopped his Airborne Pegasus badge for the Wyvern (a legendary golden dragon) of the 43^rd(Wessex) Division. The army of King Alfred the Great had fought under the banner of the Wyvern against the invading Danes in the 9^th century and the soldiers of the Division were predominately from the area of his ancient kingdom. The Reconnaissance regiment Dick joined was also known as the Glosters having been formed from the 5^th battalion of the old Gloucestershire regiment in 1941.

Design for 43rd Divisions Wyvern badge in the papers for 4rd Recce held by the Tank Museum, Bovington.

Reconnaissance was an elite corps of the British army, taking the place of the Light Cavalry of past eras. Each Regiment took the number of its relevant Division but from June 1942 used the cavalry names of ‘squadrons’ and ‘troops’ instead of usual infantry descriptions.

They evolved into “swift, adaptable, and superlatively mobile fighting units with fast vehicles capable of taking heavy punishment, high concentrated firing-power and a complicated but efficient wireless network designed to convey, under the most trying conditions imaginable, accurate and balanced information to the general’s battle map”.

'Their task was to solve an eternal problem of war, to discover “what is happening on
the other side of the hill” – that is, inside the enemy lines.'

Reconnaissance personnel had to be of a high standard of intelligence for both the deduction and transmission of information and, although their ultimate objective was not
fighting, they needed to be tough and speedy fighters, able to work at the front of the enemy lines and survive to tell their tale.

They had to find out - by stealth, by drawing fire or by fighting – where the enemy was concealed, to explore his strength and movement and to maintain constant touch with him, relaying accurate information back quickly and continuously.  They were specially trained to be constantly on the alert and to use initiative, cunning and any resources available.

 

Only those who came out top in the IQ test were considered for Recce. “Recce men had to be tough with cold scientific brains behind their brawn.”

 

(From “The Reconnaissance Journal”, Memorial Number, Summer 1950 – article by Arthur Bryant; Recce Regt record WO 170/433 5 at the National Archive, Kew;  “Only the Enemy in Front – The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946” by Richard Doherty 1994; “This Band of Brothers” by Jeremy Taylor 1947; and  “Record of a Reconnaissance regiment – History of the 43^rd” by  A. Scott, Cole Packer and J. Groves with Jeremy Taylor 1950  and other 43^rd Recce papers examined courtesy of the Archive & reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset. The assistance of members of WW2 Talk Forum with my research is also much appreciated.)

However, after 3 months training, Dick was no longer in the later famous 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron,

featured in the film “A Bridge to Far” for their role in Market Garden (September 1944).

 

16th July 1942 – in Paris 9,000 police under the orders of René Bousquet, the French secretary-general of police, seized 13,000 Jews, including children and sent them to Nazi death camps in the east.  In the course of the war at least 50,000 Parisian Jews were deported and murdered.  (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012 and ‘Paris’, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website.)

 

Letter posted Friday 17^th July 1942

Tpr 5731671 Williams R

“A” Squadron

43^rd Recce Regt, Recce Corps, Home Forces

My Darling Chotie,

                                                                                    As you will see from above address much water has flowed under the old bridge since I last saw you on Saturday.  About half the old squadron were transferred to this regiment which is in the same corps but non-airborne.

            I can’t tell you where I am – but I can tell you I’m in the county of my humble origin*.

            At present I’m feeling very groggy, having just had a couple of inoculations –which always set me back a bit.

            I managed to get back in time on Saturday last.  There was a devil of a crowd at the bus station and at least three fights with Red-caps**, but I managed to get on a bus and arrived back just before midnight.

            Well, Precious I’m afraid I can’t write any more, as I feel like Death warmed-up.

            I think the leave works out all right here, so I shall probably get my next 9 days on time.  I can’t see any chance of getting down before then.

                                                            Goodnight, my Darling

                                                                         God bless you

                                                                                    Dicker

*Dick was born in Orpington in Kent. This letter was from Dover.

** Military police

© Chotie Darling

 

On 20th July 1942 Major A.W.E. Crawford joined 43rd Reconnaissance, taking over command from Lieutenant-Colonel D.Ward on 24th July.  At the beginning of the month 43rd Recce had received orders to mobilise for service overseas, less 1st line Reinforcements, and preparation for this mobilisation (medical inspections, overhaul of documents and receipts of personnel), to be completed by 2nd August, filled much of their time. All squadrons also carried out shooting practice.

(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

21st July 1942 - 16,000 Japanese landed at Buna on the north cost of Papua New Guinea ready to advance on Port Moresby, the capital, along the mountainous Kokoda Trail.  Courageous Australian defenders, fighting in appalling conditions, stopped them from reaching their destination and in September they withdrew.

The Divisional Commander - Monday 6th July

The War in Dorset - July 1942

On 2^nd July air attacks on coastal defences in West Dorset damaged buildings and electricity supplies.

In Lyme Bay on 9^thJuly German E-boats (called Schnellboots for their speed) attacked Allied Coast Convoy WP183 sinking a tanker, four freighters and an armed escort trawler.

An air attack on Swanage on 13^th July caused injuries and damage to buildings.

From 19^th to 22^nd July German mines were being laid in the Channel off the Dorset coast. The people of Poole adopted a minesweeper on 29^th July, which became HMS Poole. At the time 35 vessels were being financed by warsavings from Dorset.

During July, a VIP air hanger, with specially built blast walls, was constructed at RAF Hurn to house Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s personal plane and other special aircraft.

(From ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004)

 

July 1942 - 1^stAir Landing Squadron were based at Carter Barracks on the Bulford ranges of Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

From 1st to 3rd July 1942 two 1^st Air Landing Squadron Troops took part in Brigade Exercise, one Troop operating on each side.  They were led by Captains G.L.Falkim and G.C. Roberts, Lieutenants D.M. Freegard and L.A.W. Hayes and 2^nd Lieutenant A.J. Waterman.  The exercises lasted 3 days and on 4^th July 1^st Air Landing Squadron had a Free Day.

On Sunday 5^th July 35 officers and men took part in a Glider Flying day. 3 sorties were made from Netheravon Aerodrome with flights of one hour each and the men practiced deplaning drill on landing.

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

 

1^st July 1942 – As Rommel advances into Egypt British officials in Cairo begin burning official documents (so many that the day was nicknamed ‘Ash Wednesday’) and desertions rose rapidly in the British Army of the Nile. However, Rommel’s attacks on the British positions at El Alemein were unsuccessful; the line held and Rommel was put on the defensive.  (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

4^th July 1942 – Sevastopol, a strategically important port on the Black Sea and capital of the Crimea, is captured by the Germans after a siege of 250 days.

German aircraft and U-boats attack PQ-17, the largest supply convoy Britain until then to be sent to the Soviet Union.  24 out of the 33 vessels were sunk in the Barents Sea east of Svalbard – one of the greatest Naval disasters of the war.

The German authorities begin systematically gassing Jews at Auschwitz near Krakow in southern Poland.

 

 

1st Air Landing Sqdn

Recce Corps, Home Forces 

Monday Eve.

My Darling Chotie,

                                                                        Thanks for letter received a few days ago.  I'm now back from this scheme, and would have written before but have only just come off a 24 hr guard.

            Just as luck would have it, the Divisional Commander* decided to pay us a call this morning so of course the Guard had to turn out for inspection.  Rumour has it that
he was once married to Daphne du M**, but I'm sure I don't know for certain. He’s a Major-General and by repute the best dressed man in the Army.

            I understand from Home that the Bryn is now a Lance–Jack - which makes him my senior, curse him!  He hasn't yet been home on leave - so it's probably all for the best that we took ours when we did.

            I met a very decent chap here - Philip by name, who is the image of Richard Dix.  He happens to be rather well-read so we have much in common... (Conceit of the man!).  He was a Glider Pilot but was thrown out in company with some fifty others and posted here.  Quite a good crowd but very R.A.F.ish.  You know - such nice little boys. 

            I went down as far as the Town where Strongs brew their xxxx*** and went all over the forest on the scheme.  We slept out in the open each night – 3hrs a night.  Pretty rough but quite good fun on the whole. 

            I've just had a letter from Mother - who appears to be much better now, after having had rather a bad time of it. Dad also wrote a few days ago - a sure sign that Mother was not up to par.  (That pun, wasn't intended, Darling!).

            I'm afraid there's no chance of my seeing you Precious, as we're working seven days a week.  If I do ever get a Sunday off though I'll come straight down. 

            I've done a bit more flying - but I'll tell you about it when next we meet.

            Well, Darling, there's nothing new, only that I love you Chotie, Darling and miss you more than ever.  All we seem to be able to look forward to is the time when we’ll never have to worry about the scourge of separation, - or having to be over careful about things...

            Goodnight my Darling,

                                                                        All my love

                                                                                    Dicker

PS       I wish you could see the sun set over the Plain*** tonight.  Turner would have revelled in it.

PPS. Brinner's had a letter from Pete! He's in Leicester.

 

* Frederick Browning, Commander of the 1^st Airborne Division consisting of the 1^st Airlanding Brigade and the British 1^st Parachute Brigade and from July 1942, the 2^nd Parachute Brigade (which brought it up to strength as a division).  He later became Deputy Commander of the 1^st Allied Airborne Division and was knighted in 1946.  He had married the novelist Daphne du Maurier - the author of Dick’s favourite novel 'Rebecca'- in 1932.

** Romsey – so presumably the New Forest in Hampshire.

*** Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

 

 © Chotie Darling

 

On the 6th July 1942 a party from 1^st Air Landing Squadron were fined and then grounded – they appear to have received a visit from Major-General Browning, the Commander of 1^st Airborne (see above).

From 7^th to 15th July 1942 the Squadron held Unit Cadres* – N.C.O., Fieldcraft, Weapon training and M/C (motorcycle) riding - with demonstrations by Paratroops & Air Landing Troops to High Officers and members of the Ministry of Production on 9^th and 10th July. 

*Cadre = A nucleus of trained personnel selected to train others or develop and build an organisation around which a larger organisation can be built and trained eg a cadre of corporals who train recruits. 

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

 

10^th July 1942 – Rommel’s Afrika Corps again attack the El Alamein line but an Australian Division breaks through the Italian formation and captures Rommel’s signals intelligence unit.  Without this and deciphered messages from the American military attaché in Cairo (the Germans had cracked his code in December 1941 but Bonner Fellers returned to the US in July) Rommel could only guess Allied intentions.  Conversely the British were now aware of Rommel’s plans through Ultra, their Enigma decrypts of German messages.  (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

 

Dick met up with Chotie,

returning late on the night of Saturday 11^th July.

 

Dick’s service record shows he was posted

to the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment on 11^th July 1942

(see "Transfers" - letter of 26th June 1942)

Copy of Record:

SERVICE AND CASUALTY FORM

11.7.42      Posted to 43^rd Recce Regt.   Army Rank Trooper  Place Field

 

Dick left first Air Landing on 11^th July

with “about half the old squadron”.

 

On 17^th July the 1^st Airborne Division was brought up to full divisional strength with the formation of the 2^nd Parachute brigade. Browning was determined that the Airborne would not be sacrificed in "penny packets" and had urged the formation of a third brigade (see Just Ordinary Men ).

61st Recce in Northern Ireland

Between June 1942 and January 1943 Eric Postles was training with 61^st Recce in Northern Ireland:

“The regiment moved to Cromore Camp, on the north coast by Portstewart Station and further training continued including carrier driving on the sand dunes.  During an exercise in the Sperrins we got a carrier stuck in a peat bog and by next day it had sunk leaving only an oily black stain on the surface.  We did shooting practice at Limavady Ranges.  It was strange because you could see the lights shining on the other side of the water in neutral Southern Ireland, on the other side of Lough Foyle.  Later in the year US troops began to arrive and, on an exercise with them, one of our Troop armoured cars overturned on a bank and caught fire but we got the crew out.  It burned like a blow torch." 

(Extracts from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

Eric Postles in Recce beret (introduced in December 1942)

Flat Beer - Sunday 28th and Monday 29th June 1942

1^st Air Landing Sqdn

Recce Corps, Home Forces 

Sunday

My Darling,

                                                                        Thanks for letter with all the news.

             I've started writing this letter without much hope of finishing it this evening. 
However, the fact that I've started it is certainly a move in the right direction.  It is such a devil of a job to find anything to write about in this God-forsaken dump.

            I went out this evening but came back after half an hour or so - there being nothing whatsoever to do.  The Garrison Theatre, although a very good show only has the one programme for the week, and once you've seen it, it's no use going again the same week.  There's a play on next week, - “While Parents Sleep”, which I've seen, - but I shall go again, as of course it will be a different cast, etc.

            I've been sick for the last week with a sore throat which developed into bronchitis or so the M.O. said.  Personally I didn't agree, but also didn't argue as it gave me a cushy time for a few brief days - no P.T. etc, of course.

            I managed to go into the nearest town (?)* on my day off, yesterday.  It boasts some very excellent pubs – the “George” Hotel and the “Bell” being very
famous in Georgian days.  The beer however tasted very flat - perhaps because you were not there with me.

            I had no one to talk to about Herne Bay and the various professions which help to make the social system what it is.  Just imagine what you'll have to put up with when we are married... but perhaps you'll see H.B. for yourself and perhaps I'll have a profession...

            I haven't yet heard from home and am getting a little worried on that score. 
I hope Mother’s all right - but maybe I'll get a letter tomorrow.  There seem to be so many worries that separation brings so cruelly in its wake.

            Does this letter seem very morbid, Darling?  I don't want you to think that
I'm too browned-off**.  After 2 years in this Army I think I can stand anything. 

             I'm going on a three days scheme on Wednesday, so I won't be able to write of course - so don't be over anxious if you don't get a letter for some days.

            It's nearly lights out, Chotie Darling so I'll say Goodnight my Precious, and write some more tomorrow.
 

            Well, Lulu, it's now Monday Lunch-time so I'm writing a bit more. 

            It's terrifically hot today - and we have to wear respirators on Monday morning. 
Was I exhausted!  I'm now trying to get an hour's relaxation before going on Parade this afternoon.

            I may go to the Old Garrison to-night and see this wretched play - that's if I can get out in time. That's one of the troubles here; even if there was anything to go out for, we rarely get out before Seven pm or so - which is rather late.

             Well, Darling, by the time you get this letter, I’ll be on this stunt so I hope to write again next Saturday or perhaps Sunday - and I'll say bye, bye for the present, and remember, Darling, I still love you, very very much.

                                                All my love, Chotie Darling

                                                                                 Dicker

*Amesbury

**Dick must have been disappointed to be transferred out of Air Landing after only a couple of months.  After training in Tunisia from April 1943 1^st Air Landing Squadron went on to be involved in the invasion of Italy near Bari in September and Operation Market Garden in September 1944, when the elite 1st Airborne were sent in to defend "a bridge too far" at Arnhem with disastrous results.  (Dick was to be among the ground forces racing towards Arnhem.)

© Chotie Darling

 

29th June 1942 – 1^st Air Landing Squadron training on Streatley Mortar Range, Berkshire. (From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

 

30^th June 1942 – as the Germans advance into Egypt the Allies’ Mediterranean Fleet evacuates Alexandria and prepares to demolish the port. The Allied Eighth Army hold the line at EL Alamein, 150 miles west of Cairo. There is fierce fighting along the El Alamein front throughout July. (From WW2-net Timelines)

 

End of June 1942 – Battle of the Atlantic. In the first six months of 1942 the Allies had lost 989 ships, a total tonnage of 3,950,000 tons.  173 ships were sunk in June alone.  The British code breakers at Bletchley Park were still struggling to decipher the Enigma upgrade introduced in February, which they called “Shark” and in March 1942 the Germans had cracked the British Admiralty code Naval Cipher 3,which was not changed until 10^th June 1943.

 

Transfers - Friday 26th June 1942

1^st Air Landing Sqdn

Recce Corps, Home Forces 

Friday

My Darling Chotie,

                                                                                    Many thanks for your letter, received a couple of days ago.  I was pleased to read about your meeting Norman - quite the little man now, isn't he? You didn't say what he is doing here, ie. is he on leave, stationed in England or what?  Don't forget to let me know.  After all - I should like to see him again.  Is he very “different”?  It's hard to think of Norman as a hardened boozer - but believe me, Honey, the Services will drive you to “anythink” - in next to no time.

            Well, so much for Norman. For my part at the moment, - I'm on the sick list - sore throat.  I've had it ever since I came back from leave, and it's got worse every day. 
I've now got to the stage when I have to gargle three times per diem*!  However I hope to get rid of it in a few days.

    It's my day off tomorrow, but being sick, of course, I can't get a pass - although of course it won't have been any use to me, as you would have been working Sat morning.  I understand that in future there will be no more of these day passes - though I don't yet know what the new system will be.

    There are transfers right and left at the moment, so I may get mine soon**, which will be a relief to mother, I'm thinking.

    Have you thought of a name for our horseshoe yet?  I'm relying on you, Darling.. Think hard, LuluBelle ...

    I suppose Brinner's home now.  I haven't heard from home since I got back, so I hope everything’s all right.

    I went out last night to the first time in days and saw a very good show at the Garrison Theatre.  I never go out here, as there is nothing to go out for, and it's quite a long way to the theatre.

                                    Well, Darling, I must close here, as there's little news.

     Please write soon, Precious - your letters mean a hell of a lot out here in the wilds.

                         Bye, bye, Darling - and remember I love you very, very much.

                                                        God bless you, Chotie,

                                                                                    Dicker

*per day.

**According to family memories Dick was transferred out of the Airborne because they found ‘sugar in his blood’ but he wasn’t diabetic.  Although temporary hyperglycemia is often benign and asymptomatic the Airborne medical was very rigorous and any possible problems to the eyesight (damage to the retina is one of the possible symptoms) meant you were out.

© Chotie Darling

 

27th June 1942 – 1^st Air Landing Squadron saw the film ‘Next of Kin’ (a WW2 propaganda film used to promote the government message that “Careless talk costs lives”). (From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

 

27^th June 1942 – PQ-17, an Allied convoy of 40 ships, set sail from Iceland to supply Russia. By 15^th July it had lost 24 ships and a cargo including 210 aircraft, 430 tanks and 3,350 lorries in attacks by the Luftwaffe and U-boats. The Germans lost only 5 planes and no U-boats in the attacks.  (From WW2-net Timelines )

28th June 1942 – in the opening moves of Operation Blau, Germany’s offensive towards Stalingrad, Voronezh (500 km south of Moscow) is attacked but successfully and ferociously defended by the Soviets.  (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

 

The Lucky Horseshoe - Monday 22nd June 1942

1^st Air Landing Sqdn

Recce Corps

Home Forces

My Darling Chotie,

        Just a few lines to let you know I arrived back safely, though later than I had expected.

        Firstly, I was under the impression I was going by Salisbury whereas of course I came from Andover. This actually made no difference however, as the ticket bloke said “Change at Romsey”, and it had Andover on my ticket. However, I had to wait over an hour at Romsey and the same again at Andover.  But, as I got back in time, I can't grumble.

        I would have written last night but was on guard, of course.  (You always get stuck on guard immediately you return from leave).  Andrew, the bloke like Doug, was also on so we stuck together.

         There's no news of course - never is.

          I got quite a good book.  It's called “Hudson rejoins the Herd” and is by Claude Houghton*.

           I hope you got back all right, Darling, complete with Horseshoe...What shall we call him?  I'll leave it to you, Precious, as you seem to have a flair for naming things.

           Well, there seems nothing else, Darling, except to thank you very much for a lovely time at Pagham and to tell you, I love you very much.

                                                            Bye, bye, my Darling

                                                                                    Dicker

P.S.     Please excuse pencil, Honey but I left my pen at Pagham. 

*Said to have inspired Henry Miller’s ‘Tropic of Capricorn’.

© Chotie Darling

 

On Monday 22nd June 1942 an Airborne Section demonstration was inspected by the Deputy Brigade Commander. 1^st Air Landing Squadron trained on the Bulford Grenade Range on 23^rd June and was given a lecture on Russia on 24^th June.

(From the WarDiary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

 

23^rd and 24^th June 1942 – the Germans advance into Egypt as the British Eighth Army retreats although more than 6,000 prisoners from the Indian Division were taken by Rommel’s troops at Mersa Matruh on the Egyptian coast.

25th June 1942 - General Dwight D. Eisenhower is appointed to command US forces in the European Theatre. (From WW2-net Timelines )

 

25th June 1942 – 1^st Air Landing Squadron tested for night vision and then marched to the compound. D.M.* used. (From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

*D.M. probably refers to Distance Measuring - a technique for night navigation.

Pagham - Thursday 11th June 1942

 “St Margarets”

Lea Lane, Pagham, Sussex

Thursday

My Darling Chotie,

                                                            Received your letter this morning, and also your telegram of course, which was already here by the time I arrived.

                I'm just penning these few words, to let you know that I'll meet you on Chichester Station on Saturday.  The train should get in somewhere about 7.30 I suppose.  Remember, Chichester - not Bognor.

                                         Bye, bye ‘till Saturday Darling –

                                                                                    love

                                                                                                Dicker

 © Chotie Darling

Chotie and Dick met up at Pagham.

Chotie, Dilys (Dick's sister) and Pa Williams

Brin and Pa Williams

 
Pa Williams, Dilys (Dick's sister) and Chotie

“…and when they moved to Pagham, Sussex, to a pretty chalet-like house, I went to stay with them.

            That house was full of singing and music – so happy. We walked round a lagoon , ending up with a beer in a Selsey pub. I did so like his family. There was no
serious religion, which I was subject to at home. Dicker did not have much time for the church, saying “Why do Bishops live in Palaces?”

 From ‘Chotie’s Story’.

© Chotie Darling

 

While Dick was on leave 1^st Air Landing Squadron were training on the Vickers MMG (Medium Machine Gun) Range on Saturday 13th June 1942 and on beach bomb Ranges for field firing on 14^th June.

They were  moved by rail to Kimmeridge Bay* (Dorset) for field firing training on 15^th June.  On 18th June the squadron marched 25 miles from Kimmeridge Bay Firing Range back towards Bulford. Unit transport picked them up for the last 20 miles on 19^th June.

20^th & 21st June 1942 – 1^st Air Landing Squadron were Tiger Moth flying at Shrewton in Wiltshire.

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

* Kimmeridge is on the south coast of the Isle of Purbeck, ironically close to Chotie’s home town of Poole and near where she was (briefly) stationed in the Land Army at Church Knowle in October 1942. The lovely bay became England’s first voluntary marine nature reserve, managed by the Dorset Wildlife Trust, and in later life was one of Chotie’s favourite places to visit.

 

14^th June 1942 – German saboteurs landed on Long Island near Jacksonwille in Florida, USA. They were quickly picked up and executed after trial.

 

19th June 1942 – Churchill and Roosevelt met to plan Allied offensives against the Germans for the rest of 1942.  They agree that American troops will join their Allies to invade French (West) Africa in Operation Gymnast (which became Operation Torch).

 

21st June 1942 – Rommel’s Afrika Corps capture the key port of Tobruk in Libya after a 4 day assault following the Battle of the Gazala line.  (The Australians had defended Tobruk under siege for more than 7 months in 1941). Rommel found more than 4,000 tons of oil had not been destroyed in Tobruk – vital supplies for his planned advance into Egypt.  Churchill, who had ordered that Tobtuk was to be held at all coasts was dismayed and wrote “Defeat is one thing, disgrace is another”.  (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

20^th & 21st June 1942 – Dick appears to have been granted his 1^st Long Service and Good Conduct (L.S. & G.C. badge - one chevron on lower arm) retrospectively. It was due on 21^st June 1942 and although this date appears on the record of his Service and Casualty Form it follows records from September 1942.

Copy of Record

SERVICE AND CASUALTY FORM

21.6.42  Granted 1^st L.S. & G.C Badge  Army Rank Trooper  Place Home Forces

 

Leave Today - 9th June 1942

The War in Dorset - June 1942

On the night of 3rd/4th June 1942 decoy fires and explosions on the Purbeck heathland (see HH1 and HH2) saved the Royal Navy cordite factory at Holton Heath, near Poole, from 112 high explosive bombs and 5,000 incendiaries.  No bombs hit the cordite factory and there were no casualties on the decoys.

Poole also suffered a heavy bombing attack on the 4th of June. Early incendiaries started fires on the heathland west of the town, diverting many of the 50 Luftwaffe bombers. However, they also caused numerous fires in the town and several buildings were hit by bombs. Dedicated effort by the fire and civil defence forces (presumably including Chotie’s father, an ARP* warden) meant that only three people were killed.

An underground petrol tank at the Hamworthy RAF depot was blown open and a huge slick of petrol covered the adjacent land and harbour.  Fortunately these highly inflammable lakes didn’t catch fire and the petrol gradually evaporated (the explosion would have destroyed all the RAF petrol supplies for Dorset and West Hampshire).

One of the 139 tons of bombs released over the town hit the Sona, a Naval Headquarters ship moored at Poole Quay. It went through the ship and lodged unexploded in the mud below until 7th June when it destroyed the Sona and several evacuated buildings on the Quay.

On 6^th June bombing aimed at the railway track in Bournemouth damaged 454 properties although only one bomb hit the track.

Whitley planes arrived at RAF Hurn (now Bournemouth airport) in June 1942 to fly Special Operations Executive agents and supplies for Resistance groups across the Channel. They also supported Airborne training on Salisbury Plain.  A satellite aerodrome for the Fleet Air Arm station at Yeovilton was established at Sigwell’s Farm, north of Sherborne.

(From ‘The Book of Poole Harbour’ edited by Bernard Dyer and Timothy Darvill and published by The Dovecote press Ltd 2010,  ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980 and ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company.)

*ARP = Air Raid Precautions

 

 

June 1942 - 1^st Air Landing Squadron were based on the Bulford ranges of Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

1^st Air Landing Squadron Officers listed for June 1942:  Major C.J.H. Gough;

Captains: A.S.Baker, G.L. Falkim, G.C. Roberts, J.P. Royle, C.W. Suter;

Lieutenants: D.Allsop, R.W.Clough, D.M.Freegard, T.J. Firbank, M.W. Grubb, J.A.Hay, L.A.W.Hayes, F.D.E.Imes (Quartermaster), R.W.Jahren, G.L.Millar and F.D.Slater;

2^nd Lieutenants:  R.J.Clark, Kindersley, H. Poole, and A.J. Waterman

 

On Monday 1^st June the Squadron had lectures and training at Bulford and on 3^rd June they were on night operations – a compass march.

On Sunday 7th June 1942 1^st Air Landing Squadron were training on Ogbourne St George Mortar Range, Wiltshire and on 8^th June were flying in Tiger Moth (biplanes).

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

 

2nd June – The German Army 11th Army advances in the Crimea and attacks the port and fortress of Sebastapol.  The fierce battle ends with German victory on 9th July.

 

4th-7th June 1942 – the battle over Midway Atoll, the US base in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii, was won by the US Navy. This crucial battle turned the tide and the Allies took over the offensive from the Japanese in the Pacific.  Again US codebreakers had intercepted signals revealing that Japanese invasion fleets were heading for the Midway Islands , enabling timely launching of US Naval task forces from Hawaii to defend the base. Four Japanese aircraft carriers were sunk and 250 Japanese planes destroyed with the loss of only one US aircraft carrier, the Yorktown.

 

 

Dick visited the dentist again on Friday 5th June 1942, attending Dental Centre 363.

Dental Treatment Card –  5/6/42

 

5^th June 1942 – an SS (Shutzstaffel – Nazi paramilitary and police) report states that 97,000 persons have been “processed” ie killed, in mobile gas vans. (From  WW2-net Timelines)

 

 

Telegram - 9th June 1942

CHALKLEY KNITWEAR DEPT BEALES* BOURNEMOUTH =

= = =  LEAVE TODAY 9 DAYS WIRE PAGHAM = RICHARD

++ CT9 QKP  BEALES + PAGHAM +

*By this time Chotie had transferred from Plummer’s Knitwear Department back to Beales.

 

 

 

On 10^th June 1942 Dick was granted 10 days leave.

Copy of Record

SERVICE AND CASUALTY FORM

10.6.42        Granted 10 days leave       Army Rank Trooper        Place Field

 

10th June 1942 – After the gallant defence of Bir Hakeim in the Battle of the Gazala line , most of the Free French escape to the British lines.  General de Gaulle hails Bir Hakeim as the start of the resurrection of France.

The King and Queen - Saturday 23rd May 1942

21^st May 1942 – The Airborne Division was visited by their Majesties the King and Queen at Bulford (Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire) followed by demonstrations by various units of the Division.  1^st Air Landing Squadron was inspected and the Commanding Officer presented to the King. 

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

 

22^nd May 1942 – Mexico declared war on Germany, Italy and Japan.

 

5731671 Tpr Williams R

1^st Air Landing Sqdn

 Recce Corps

HOME FORCES

My Darling Chotie,

            Hope you will excuse my writing in pencil but expect you are used to it by now...

            Many thanks for letter - as welcome as ever.

            Glad to see you managed to get a swim in - which is more than I've been able to - not that I've got the inclination - seem to have lost all interest in that direction, which is probably a good thing as I always tended to overdo it.  I rather think Brinner has also lost interest.  If ever I get out of this show alive I'm all for a life of ease – swimming’s far too strenuous.

            So Margaret has made it up with Ted to quote your own words.  Well, well...On ne sait jamais*..

            Had quite a thrill on Thursday - when we were inspected by the King & Queen and a score of Generals.  It was a demonstration of Paratroops & Gliders etc.

            I hope Johnny knows what he's letting himself in for.  At any rate he'll find out sooner or later.

            Did you hear the “Barber**” this afternoon (Saturday)?  Unfortunately I was working and missed it.  I cursed my ill-luck bitterly.

            Flying all the morning - cold & cloudy.

            Lucky Diller - wish I was going down, or rather we were.

            Books: “Portrait of a Village” Francis Brett Young**, “Blood & Sand” Ibanez - though rather dull gives quite a true appreciation of the life of a Torero.

            Brinner may have moved by now - probably has.  Near Winchester I believe - couldn't be worse than Oakmere Farm - I was horror struck when I saw it last Saturday. 

            Raining hard at the moment - very miserable - the weather I mean - I'm reasonably cheerful.

            Well, Precious no news as per usual. 

            Incidentally will you get in touch with Eric and get him to send me a GROUNDSHEET. MOST IMPORTANT!!! I'm about to be charged 18/- for one! Will you send it, Darling?  (please...) - and I'll give you a big kiss...(Hope that will do the trick). 

                        Well, bye, bye for now, Darling.

                                                            All yours,

                                                                        Dicker

PS.      I now drive a 15 cwt truck. It was called ‘ Evelyn’ but is now ‘Chotie’ - I painted it in Gothic’s.

                                                                xxxxxxx

                                                                        all for you!

                                                                                    Darling.

                                                                                                Xxxxx

 

*French for “You never can tell”.

**Presumably the ‘Barber of Seville’, an Italian comic opera by Rossini.

***A mystery story set in the Black Mountains of Wales.

****A famous tale about bullfighting in Spain.

Ted Lewis

© Chotie Darling

 

23^rd May 1942 – the British Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces orders an end to ‘blood-lust inculcation’ in battle training.

( From WW2-net Timelines. )

 

26^th May 1942 – Britain and Russia sign a treaty in London pledging to fight Germany until final victory. They also agreed a 20-year alliance. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

The Battle for the Gazala Line in Libya begins with an offensive by the German Afrika Corps towards Tobruk and the line held by the Allies’ Eighth Army while Rommel’s main forces outflanked the line from the south, attacking the forces now cut off at Bir Hakeim where the 1^st Free French Brigade stood firm.   On 31^st May in the ‘Battle of the Cauldron’ the British 150^th Brigade was eventually destroyed.  50^th Recce Regiment, which was also attached to the 50^th Division, was annihilated in the Battles of the Gazala line (leading to Dick’s 61^st Recce taking its place in 1944). It was an Axis victory ending with the withdrawal of the Allies towards Egypt on 14^th June and the fall of Tobruk on 21^st June. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

50 Recce was all but destroyed during the action and its place as the ‘eyes’ of the 50^th (Northumbrian) Division was later taken by 61^st Recce – Dick’s Regiment in North-West Europe. (From ‘The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II’ by Richard Doherty, Osprey Publishing 2007)

27^th May 1942 – 152 Berlin students were shot for displaying anti-Nazi posters.(From WW2-net Timelines.)  

On the same day Reinhard Heydrich, the German SS (Shutzstaffel – Nazi paramilitary and police) General and major architect of the Jewish Holocaust was shot in Prague by two Czech volunteers trained by the British Special Operations Executive. He died of his wounds on 4^th June. Lidice, a Czech village of 2,000 people, was raised to the ground by the Germans in reprisal. All the men over 16 were shot and the women and children sent to concentration camps. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

28^th May 1942 – beginning of Operation ‘Blau’, the German summer offensive in Russia.  Defeat of the Soviets at Kharkov. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

29^th May 1942 – 1^st Air Landing Squadron move from Shaw House, Newbury to take up quarters at Bulford on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

I have not been able to identify the soldiers on this photo but they appear to be wearing the 1st Airborne Division's Pegasus badge. If you can help please comment. They were Dick's photos.

 

30th and 31st May 1942 - the Allies’ first 1,000 bomber raid attacked Cologne in Germany, killing 486 civilians and destroying 600 acres of the city.

31^st May 1942 – a Japanese midget submarine entered Sydney Harbour in Australia. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

Eric Postles was now with the 61^st Reconnaissance Regiment in Northern Ireland, in 10 Troop 'B Squadron' – he would fight alongside Dick in B Squadron from June 1944 to February 1945.

“After training was completed I was sent on a 6 week course at the Divisional Driver Mechanics School at Cookstown (in the centre of Northern Ireland) where I learnt to mend and maintain vehicles.  On return I joined 10 Troop B Squadron Carriers and Armoured Cars and remained with the troop until the regiment disbanded.  I got an extra 9d a day for passing the course.  Further training included a live firing assault course with Bren guns firing above you as you went along and over obstacles and wire.  The Recreation truck went into Armagh (near the southern border of the Province) at weekends where you could get sweets off ration in the shops.  Fred Neale, one of my pals, was with me in 10 Troop and another pal Jack Reed was in 13 Assault Troop.  Before D-day some of the older soldiers (including Fred) were posted out of the regiment and he went to The Ranges at Warcop…….”

(Extracts from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

YMCA - Sunday 17th May 1942

YMCA

WITH HIS MAJESTY’S FORCES

 PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR REPLY TO

 

No. 5731671     Rank Tpr         Name Williams R

Address 1st Air Landing Squadron

            Recce Corps HOME FORCES       Date 17 – 5 - 42

 

My Darling Chotie,

                                        Many thanks for letter - glad to see you're still alive and kicking.

            I went over to Basingstoke yesterday to see Brinner - which took him rather by surprise in the midst of the delicate operation known as shaving. He's very fit and will be moving by the end of next week - he thinks.

            There's no further news from this end.  We're in the midst of specialised training which is pretty stiff and takes most of our spare time as well.

           There's a lot of sport here - I play hockey most of the time!  (Don't tell Diller for heaven's sake..)

           I'm on the MT* again - for the time being anyhow - and drive a 15 cwt** truck.  Not too bad as I manage to get out most of the time and see quite a bit of the local country.  Unfortunately when you're on the MT, you have to do your ordinary training as well! - which is rather a blow.

            I've heard from home that they have settled down once again, which is quite a relief.  Brinner says it's not too bad, but the country is flat and very uninteresting***.  Chichester however is quite near and that is a beautiful town if ever there was one.

            In any case, we shall see for ourselves, soon, I hope. 

            Well, Darling, as I said before, there's no news - is there ever? - and I must conclude here to get back to billets in time.

                                                            Bye, bye my Darling

                                                                        all my love

                                                                                    Dicker

 

P.S.     Please give my best wishes to all and sundry, won't you?

PPS     Still love you, Precious...

                                                xxxx

                                                            xx       

 

*MT = Motorised Transport 

**cwt = hundredweight - 112 pounds in the British Imperial System (or 50.8 kg.)

***Dick's family had moved from Poole to Pagham in East Sussex.

© Chotie Darling

 

20^th May 1942 – British forces retreating from Burma reach the Indian frontier.(See WW2-net Timelines)

Malta receives re-inforcements (spitfires were brought in by the US Navy ship Wasp), deterring  Germany’s planned airborne invasion. 

Poor Margaret - Monday 11th May 1942

5731671 Tpr etc

1st Air Landing Sqdn

Recce Corps

HOME FORCES

 

Monday Evening

My Darling Chotie,

                                             Many thanks for letter received this morning - took away that Monday Morning Feeling like fun. 

            Glad to hear you've had a letter from Eric, and to read same.  Pay no attention to his latest affair - he gets like that periodically.  He'll soon get over it - mark my words.

            Poor Margaret*!  She does seem to strike it unlucky, doesn't she?  I expect you're getting worried - but have no fears, Darling, I won't run away.

            Pleased to see you've really got going with the old First Aid - may be very useful someday.  Cheerful ain't I? - but remember what I said about Eric.

            Brinner came over to see me on Saturday - and we swapped yarns as of yore.  Unhappily, he had to go back before the pubs opened and consequently we parted rather thirstily.  All the same it made quite a break.

            I haven't heard from home since the move, so I'm expecting a welcome letter from that quarter.

            Incidentally, don't worry about my aerial activities - it's really quite safe.

            I'm afraid I don't write very long letters, Darling, firstly I have very little time of my own, and secondly there is so very little to write about anyhow.  I can't give any details of this place, or of our training, which leaves precious little to write home about.

            But, remember I still love you and always will, Precious.

                                                                                    All my love, Chotie,

                                                                                                Dicker

 P.S. Give my kindest regards to all your family and console Margaret for me.

 

*Chotie’s elder sister. (See Tom's Death - August 1940 )

© Chotie Darling

 

12^th May 1942 –six officers and six O.R.s (Ordinary Ranks) of 1^stAir Landing Squadron went gliding.

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

 

12th May 1942 – the second Battle of Kharkov (south of Moscow, in the Ukraine) begins with an offensive by Soviet forces but ends on 28th May with victory for the Germans with over 200,000 Russian soldiers captured, wounded or killed. Nikita Khrushchev was one of the Soviet commanders and his hatred of Stalin is said to date from the dictators  refusal to allow their forces to withdraw.  (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

13^th May 1942 – Operation Rutter (the original codename for the Allies' disastrous raid on Dieppe), which took place in August 1942, is approved. It was led by Combined Operations. (From WW2-net Timelines)

From the Air - Wednesday 6th May

On Saturday 2^nd May 1942 1^st Air Landing Squadron was training on the Bulford Ranges, Salisbury Plain and on Sunday Dick had his first flight. The squadron diary records ‘Night flying’.

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew and ‘Chotie Darling’)

 

3rd May 1942 – the Japanese land on Tulagi in the Solomon Islands.

 

5th May 1942 – the Japanese advance into China along the Burma Road.

The British attack French Vichy Madagascar (the battle continued until November 1942).

(From WW2-net Timelines)

6^th May 1942 – The last of the Allied forces on the Philippines (13,000 troops on the Island of Corregidor) surrender to the Japanese. 

 

Wednesday 6^th May 1942 – the Commanding Officer and four officers of 1^st Air Landing Squadron flew in gliders with 80 O.R.s (Ordinary Ranks) taking particular note of any air sickness.

On the same day Browning met Churchill and requested 96 aircraft to get 1^st Airborne Division battle ready. The RAF agreed to supply 83 Whitleys and 10 Halifax bombers to tow the larger Hamilcar gliders.

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew and Wikipedia)

 

5731671 Tpr Williams RK

1st Air Landing Sqdn

Recce Corps

HOME FORCES.

My Darling Chotie,

                                             Many thanks for letter received to-day (Wednesday).  Your letters always seemed to cheer me up just at the right moment.  I also had a letter from home, so I'm feeling particularly cheerful.

Well, I made my first flight here, on Sunday last in a glider - and go up again tomorrow.

Flying in my humble opinion is much overrated and can't be compared to Sailing. I said my humble opinion... However, I must admit it does make a break in the ordinary routine, but I should not like to be up every day.  The country-side looks marvelous from the air, except where it's spoiled by Army Camps and tracks of vehicles, etc.  Altogether not too bad on the whole.

        I'm glad to hear you've started a little First-Aid.  Should you meet Eric* on this subject, just ignore him, - he knows nothing about it, and may tend to have a harmful influence on your work.  Unfortunately, First Aid Classes always seemed to pay particular attention to fingers, arms etc, and leave the rest of the anatomy - where you are usually seem to get hit - to the care of Mother Nature...However, we mustn't grumble.

Glad to hear you still love me, Darling - keeps my head above the water.

Fancy old Monica** pulling a fast one like that - and after she swore blind I'd be the only father of a child by herself.  Ingratitude ...

        I have to get up at 5 am to-morrow for this flying, curse it, so must close here.

                                                 All my love, Precious

                                                                                                Your adoring

                                                                                                            Dicker

*Eric was a close friend mentioned in Chapters 1 and 2

**Monica, Dick’s former girlfriend, apparently now 'with child’.

© Chotie Darling

 

7^th and 8^th May 1942 – Battle of the Coral Sea (lying between the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and NE Australia) between the Allies and Japan. This was the largest naval battle ever fought off Australia’s shores and the first naval battle fought by aircraft carriers. America lost the carrier Lexington and the Yorktown was also hit; the Japanese carrier Shohu was sunk and the Shokahu disabled.  The Japanese withdrew without landing as planned at Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea).  American Naval codebreakers had deciphered a Japanese signal revealing the destination, enabling their taskforce to intercept the invasion.

8th May 1942 – the German Army began its offensive on the Eastern Crimea; Soviet forces experienced terrible losses. On 10^th May Churchill warned that Britain would use poison gas on Germany if the Germans did so in the Soviet Union. (From WW2-net Timelines)

 

10th May 1942 – opening of the German death camp, Maly Trostenets, near Minsk. Thousands of Jews lost their lives there.

Home Forces - Friday 1st? May 1942

The War in Dorset - May 1942

On 14^th May 1942 a landslip at Cairn’s Folly near Charmouth destroyed the radio station on the clifftop. Two German ‘T’ boats were sunk off the Dorset coast by Royal Navy motor torpedo boats on 19^th May and on 23^rd May the German flying ace Hauptmann Langur was killed when he crashed into a Shaftesbury hillside in low cloud.  The RAF plane attacking him was able to operate through the cloud using the ‘Starlight’ radar system from Sopley near Christchurch.  

24^th/25^th May – following a Pathfinder bombing, which unfortunately killed several people and damaged houses in the Hamworthy area, a bomb fell on the Brownsea decoy site setting off prepared cordite flashes.  The Special Fires (code name ‘Star Fish’ - pyrotechnics simulating bursting bombs and burning buildings) were started on the island attracting a 75 minute bombardment from 60 enemy aircraft that would have done terrible damage in Poole, where Chotie lived.  Out of 166 tons of bombs used that night, all but 9 tons fell harmlessly on the decoy.  Even so 140 people had to be accommodated in the Sandacres Hotel, Sandbanks that night and one bomb hit a military target – the Poole Home Guard company HQ in Lindsay Road, where one Guardsman was killed.  (See also December 1942 - the war in Dorset.)

At the end of May 1942 the Telecommunications Research Establishment at Worth Matravers, near Swanage in Dorset, moved inland to Malvern in Worcestershire.  The success of the Bruneval Raid had alerted them to the dangers of a coastal raid on their vital and very secret research.

(From ‘The Book of Poole Harbour’ edited by Bernard Dyer and Timothy Darvill and published by The Dovecote press Ltd 2010, ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980 and  ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004.)

 

 

In May 1942 Lt-General “Boy” Browning, the Commander of 1^st Airborne Division, devised an inspirational emblem to represent the airborne forces and introduced the famous ‘red’ beret, which is still used to this day. The badge of the winged horse Pegasus and his rider Bellerophon was taken from Greek myth and designed by Major Edward Seago. It became the divisional shoulder flash of the airborne forces.  (See The Pegasus Journal )

1^stAir Landing Squadron Officers listed for May 1942:

Major C.J.H. Gough;

Captains: G.C. Roberts, J.P. Royle, C.W. Suter;

Lieutenants: D.Allsop (captain of Freddie Gough’s 1^stAirborne Reconnaissance Squadron at Arnhem, awarded the Dutch Bronze Lion), D.M.Freegard (mentioned in despatches
as a Major in 1945), T.J. Firbank, M.W.Grubb, J.A.Hay and G.L.Millar

2^ndLieutenants:  R.J.Clark, Kindersley, H. Poole and A.J. Waterman.

(See Joining Browning's Boys )

For most of May 1942 1^stAir Landing Squadron was still based at Shaw House, near Newbury.

1^st May 1942 – City of Bath placed out of bounds for 1^st Air Landing Squadron except for duty on special leave. (Why? Was this because of the Baedeker Raids?)

(From The Pegasus Archive, Just Ordinary Men, Operation Market Garden and the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

 

Trooper Williams RR

1^st Air Landing Sqdn.

Reconnaissance Corps

HOME FORCES

N.B. New Address

                        NOTHING ELSE!

Friday

Dearest, Darling Chotie,

                                                     Many thanks for letter received yesterday.  It would appear that it took ages to get here - but the new address, Home Forces, is apparently much quicker.  However it did arrive, which is the main thing.

I must begin this letter as usual by an apology for this paper - after all, there's a war on, somewhere, so convention must go by the board.

I hope you're quite well Precious and looking after yourself as you mean a helluva lot to me (slush...!) - but seriously, Darling, takes great care, and dodge the bombs, if any.

I've been to Bulford* all day, firing Anti-Tank Rifles, and managed to get quite brown as there was plenty of wind and sun.  The weather here is excellent, and I eat like a horse (or two).

Incidentally, I'm at the place I expected to go to - the one we found on the map, but I'm not of course allowed to write it down in letters - hence the address - Home Forces.  I had a letter from home a couple of days ago - things there, being a little brighter than usual.  Diller however can give you more dope on this question then I can.  It's quite all  right for you to tell Diller where I am, so don't be frightened on that score.

I met quite a decent bloke here, who's very much like Douglas (Enid's?).  He's a throw out from a Military Academy and joined the 70th Hants** (Brinner's crowd) and transferred here the same time as I did.

I'm afraid there's no news - I am up to my eyes in work and get very little time to call my own.  Hope everyone at home is up to par, and hope you will give them all my fondest regards, etc.

This is a glorious county - reveling in old houses particularly Georgian and Elizabethan.  I saw plenty of such desirable abodes today as I did nearly a hundred miles in the truck.

Well, I must close here as I'm on night operations in about half an hour and have to get my kit ready.

                                                            All my love, Darling

                                                                        Dicker xxx

P.S.
Home Address

                        “BROOMLEIGH”

                                    PAGHAM BEACH

                                                BOGNOR

                                                            SUSSEX.***

PPS     Look after yourself!!!

 

*Bulford ranges on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

** The 70th Battalion (the 70th was usually the “Young Soldiers” battalion) of the Hampshire Regiment was formed in Southampton in September 1940, but soon moved to Basingstoke. It was disbanded in July 1943. It appears that Dick’s younger brother, Brian or Brinner, had now joined up.

***Dicker’s family had now moved to Pagham in Sussex. Dick’s next of kin (father) is listed as Capt. Dudley Kelner Beresford Williams of St Margarets, Sea Lane, Pagham, Sussex but the family first moved to ‘Broomleigh’.

© Chotie Darling

Shaw House, Newbury - c. Wednesday 22nd April 1942

Pte 5731671 Williams RK

1st Air Landing Coy

Recce Corps

C/o A.P.O. NOTTINGHAM.

My Darling,

            Arrived here safe and sound on Monday Evening.

            This is one hell of a crowd. Discipline isn't in it. They're trying to break the Guards peace time standard and believe me they're doing it.  Everything has to be blancoed* up to scratch nearly every day. I shall get little or no time off.

            The only good thing about it is the leave.  Apparently they get Seven Days every nine weeks or so - which is amazing for the Army.

            I start on a course on Monday next - it's just like being a rookie all over again.

            The Company here is billeted in a marvelous old house – Elizabethan* - with hundreds of rooms, banqueting halls etc.

            Incidentally you must write to the address as shown, and not the one you already know - for security reasons. You might advise Diller or Mother if you write, as I've had to give them the Nottingham address of course.

            For Pete's sake, how long's the war going to last?  I only hope your mother's right, when she says it will be over this year.

            I'm afraid I can't say anything of local interest, etc as these letters are sometimes censored for security reasons.

            I miss you already, Darling - how am I going to feel in a month’s time?

            I'm afraid I must close here as I have a hell of a lot to do.  Please write
soon my Darling as I feel b----- lonely.

                                                                        all my love Precious,

                                                                                    your adoring

                                                                                                Dicker

*Blanco was a cleaning compound used on the cotton of army uniforms. ‘Bull, Blanco and Brasso’ meant getting uniforms immaculate.

** Shaw House, Newbury, Berkshire - the base for 1st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron mentioned in their wartime diary in the National Archives, Kew. This grade 1 listed Elizabethan Building is now owned by West Berkshire Council and open to the public.

 © Chotie Darling

 

23^rd April 1942 - In a secret session of the House of Commons, Churchill delivered a speech declaring that the liberation of Europe was 'the main war plan' of Britain and the USA. (From WW2-net Timelines. )

 

Friday 24^th April 1942 - 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron changes its designation to 1^st Air Landing Squadron, Recce Corps. On 27^th April its address was changed to 'Home Forces’. The Squadron used the mortar range at Chobham (Surrey?) on Tuesday 28^th and were training with night flying gliders on the 29^th.

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew)

 

24th April 1942 - The Luftwaffe raids Exeter in the first of Hitler's raids on historical cities in retaliation for the bombing of Lübeck at the end of March. These became known as the 'Baedeker' raids after the famous guidebook series.

The Allies second raid was made against Rostock in Germany and on 25th April the Luftwaffe attacked Bath. The 'Baedeker' raids continued with the bombing of York and Norwich in late April and of Canterbury in May and June, after the Allies’ bombing of Cologne.

 

28th April 1942 – the Nazi Reichstag, Germany’s ‘puppet government’ declares Hitler ‘Supreme Judge of the German People’ and above the reach of the law. This turns out to be its last meeting. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

Air Landing

Chotie Darling

 

Dedicated to the memory of my mother

and all those who hold the forever young of war in their hearts.

 

Part 2        Reconnaissance      

  

Chapter 5            1^st Air Landing

 

 

On 20^th April 1942 Dick was transferred to

1^st Air Landing of the Reconnaissance Corps

and posted on the 21^st April

 

Copy of Record

Statement of Service             Army No. 5731671             Richard Kelner WILLIAMS 

RECONNAISSANCE CORPS

Order 29/42  

1^st Air Landing        Transferred to Reconnaissance Corps   Army Rank Pte        20-4-42

 

Copy of Record

SERVICE AND CASUALTY FORM

Posted to 1^st Air Landing Coy w.e.f. 21. 4. 42.

 

1st Air Landing Reconnaissance was part of 1st Airborne Division commanded by Frederick “Boy” Browning with Brigadier George Frederick Hopkinson (known as “Hoppy”) and Lieutenant Colonel Philip “Pip” Hicks. (See 1st Airlanding Brigade.)

Major-General Browning had a DSO (Distinguished Service Order) from his WW1 command in the Grenadier Guards. He was an impeccably dressed, hardworking, disciplinarian. Married to the famous novelist Daphne du Maurier, he went on to play a prominent and controversial role in the British command of Operation Market Garden.

Hopkinson had founded the General Headquarters Liaison Regiment (known as ‘Phantom’ – see The Missing Winter) soon after Dunkirk, leaving in late 1941 to command the glider-borne brigade of 1st Air Division, 1st Airlanding Brigade Group. The actor David Niven, an officer in Phantom, remembered ‘Hoppy’ as “a short square officer with a fertile imagination and a great gift for extracting the maximum loyalty and hard work from all ranks”. As one of the first volunteers for the fledgling airborne forces in Britain he qualified as a parachutist, injuring his back on his first jump and landing in Poole Harbour on his second, still wearing a plaster cast.

When Hopkinson became head of 1st Airborne in 1943, Hicks was promoted to Brigadier and gained his second DSO from his actions in Sicily. Major-General Hopkinson was killed in Italy in September 1943 while Brigadier Hicks survived the war, having been one of the commanders of the British Airborne Division during the Battle of Arnhem.

Officers listed for 1st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron in April 1942:

Major C.J.H. Gough (see 1st Air Landing Reconnaissance.)

Captains: G.L. Falkim, G.C. Roberts (later ADC to Major-General Urquhart during the Battle of Arnhem), J.P. Royle (a close friend of the actor David Niven, he became a major in the Glider Pilot Regiment commanding “Force John” in Operation Overlord. He was killed at Arnhem on 20th September 1944 – see the Pegasus Archive), C.W. Suter (like ‘Freddie’ Gough a former member of the distinctive 5th (Ski) Battalion of the Scots Guards and a Lieutenant with the London Rifle Brigade in the British Expeditionary Force of 1940); Lieutenants: T.J. Firbank (later awarded the Military Cross and becoming Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the Airborne Forces Depot after the war), M.W. Grubb (captain of ‘A’ Troop with the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron under ‘Freddie’ Gough at Arnhem) and P.C.K. Somerville.

2nd Lieutenants: R.J. Clark (represented the Reconnaissance Squadron as a captain in the ‘seaborne tail’ at Market Garden), Kindersley (possibly the Hon. Hugh Kindersley who became Brigadier commander of the 6th Air Landing Brigade and was wounded in the battle of Normandy?), H. Poole (a captain at Squadron Headquarters of the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance during Market Garden) and A.J. Waterman (later captained ‘B’ troop of the 1st Air Landing reconnaissance Squadron).

(From  The Pegasus Archive, Paradata, Just Ordinary Men, Operation Market Garden, the War Diary of 1st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, National Archives, Kew and ‘Phantom at War – the British Army’s Secret Intelligence & Communication Regiment of WW2' by Andy & Sue Parlour 2003)

 

All troops in the 1st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron were volunteers: ‘Experience from 1941 to 1945 proved that only about one man in three of all volunteers possessed the necessary physique and morale to become and remain a parachute soldier. All airborne forces, though emphatically not “suicide” troops should at all times be prepared to fight under unusual circumstances, to gain a vital objective, for the initial battle was theirs, and theirs alone. They should expect as a matter of course to be surrounded by the enemy, cut off for some time from all except supply by air and to have to defeat a more heavily-armed opponent before being relieved by ground troops. This was as much a matter of morale as skill and training – complete self-confidence in addition to physical fitness, endurance and personal initiative.’

The basic training for an Airlanding soldier enabled them to attain a high standard of fitness - the intention being that they "Would be able to march 60 miles in 72 hours and still be able to fight".

Glider troops were trained beyond the level of the standard British soldier though not to the peak and expense of paratroopers. They were less swift when deployed in an attacking role, but were entirely solid in defence. Glider battalions were approximately 50% larger than parachute battalions, comprising of 16 rifle platoons in 4 companies, as opposed to 9 enlarged platoons in 3 companies. In addition, each of their Support Companies were much larger than that of a conventional infantry battalion, containing double the amount of men and equipment in their Machine Gun, Mortar, and Anti-Tank Platoons. The need for glider-borne troops had been realised with a view to providing parachutists with both support equipment and additional infantry - the purpose of airborne troops was expanding far beyond that of infrequent commando raids.

(From ‘Airborne Forces’ by Lt-Col T.B.H. Otway, D.S.O. London: Imperial War Museum, 1990, The Pegasus Archive and Combined Operations WW2 website. )

Malta's George Cross - April 1942

The War in Dorset - April 1942

Work commenced on building a Landing Craft base for the Commandos at Ham Common, Poole (officially commissioned as HMS Turtle in October 1942).

On 2^nd April an American B-17 Flying Fortress bomber made an emergency landing next to the Baker’s Arms pub at Lytchett Matravers. That night, bombing in Weymouth killed 20 and injured 56 people.

Winston Churchill visited the Lulworth Ranges on 6^th April to inspect the new ‘Churchill’ tanks and on 9th April a new master station for the radio direction of RAF bombers from Southern Britain was erected on Bulbarrow Hill, in central Dorset.  On 17^th April a flight over Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch managed to use the new ground-mapping radar (developed by the Purbeck-based Telecommunications Research establishment) to distinguish the towns without vision. This enabled bombing though clouds or at night.

20th April brought bomb attacks in Hamworthy, Poole and in Swanage, where there was considerable damage.

In April 1942 Mountbatten’s Combined Operations began to plan for an Allied landing at Dieppe (see August 1942). A scheme for the landing of 12 divisions around Le Havre had been put forward in late 1941. The scheme was to be tested in Operation Rutter, a division sized raid on a German held port on the French Channel to be held for at least two tides while effecting the greatest amount of destruction of enemy facilities and defences before withdrawing. It was hoped this would divert troops from the beleaguered Russian front and was supported by the Americans eager for an offensive in the West and under pressure to concentrate their efforts in the Pacific against the Japanese. The scheme became the disastrous Operation Jubilee - 4,384 of the 6,000 Allied troops that landed were killed, wounded or missing, the Royal Navy lost 550 men and 34 ships and the RAF lost 106 planes in their largest single-day air battle of the war.

Combined Operations were also engaged in Operation Myrmidon in April 1942. This commando led raid on the Ardour Estuary in southern France planned to land 3,000 troops to disrupt road and rail transport between Spain and France.  However, the vanguard encountered a sandbar barrier and the raid was called off on the 5^th April after a month sailing off the coast of France disguised as Spanish merchant ships.

(From ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004, ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980,  The History Learning Site and Wikipedia.)

 

1st Air Landing Reconnaissance:

In April the 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron was still based at Shaw House, Newbury, Berkshire. Their war diary mentions a platoon demonstration inspected by the Corps Commander on 1^st April but not the critical visit to 1 Airborne Division on 12^th April 1942 by Winston Churchill. He was shown a demonstration of gliders and parachute troops dropping, including 12 Whitbys and 9 Hectors, each towing a Hotspur Glider. Following this demonstration Churchill increased the number of discarded bombers to be placed at the disposal of the Airborne Corps.

Meanwhile the squadron continued their training - at  Shrewton Aerodrome on 6^th April, at Abingdon aerodrome on the 10^th and on the Imber Ranges of Salisbury Plain on the 13^th.  The right wing historian, Sir Charles Petrie, was called in to give them a lecture, ‘Why we are at war’, on the 9^th April.  

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, WO166/6955 National Archives at Kew, ‘Airborne Forces’ by Lt-Col T.B.H. Otway, D.S.O. London: Imperial War Museum, 1990 and Paradata  – the living history of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces.)

See the next Chapter of Chotie Darling, Air Landing, for further information from the war diary for April.

Dick joined 1st Air Landing Reconnaissance on 20th April 1942.

 

1^st April 1942 - Japanese begin landing in Dutch (West) New Guinea. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

5th April 1942 – Japanese attack on the Royal Navy's base at Colombo in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Although the bulk of the fleet escaped the heavy cruisers HMS Dorsetshire and Cornwall, the armed merchant cruiser Hector and the destroyer Tenedos were sunk. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

9^th April 1942 – the 76,000 American and Filipino forces on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines finally surrender to the Japanese (only the fortress island of Corregidor was still held by the Allies).  More than 7,000 of the prisoners die on a forced march (‘the Bataan Death March’) while hundreds of Filipino officers are massacred. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

Mahatma Gandhi arrested by the British in India.

 

11^th April 1942 – in the smallest Commando raid of the war, Operation JV, two men paddled a canoe into Boulogne Harbour to stick a limpet mine on a German tanker and withdraw unseen. (From Wikipedia)

 

15th April 1942 - Malta was awarded the George Cross for "heroism and devotion" by King George VI for its key role in attacking the German supply line to Libya, despite a constant siege. The Maltese people stood up to more than 2,000 bombing raids and constant shortages for over twelve months and did not surrender. (From WW2-net Timelines)

 

18^th April 1942 – first Allied air raid on Japan by 16 US bombers from the aircraft carrier Hornet. The success of the ‘Doolittle raid’ (named after its leader, Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle) raid on Tokyo, was an important boost to American morale.

The US eastern coast was ordered to black-out its light at night to reduce the success of U-boats attacking convoys at night. (From WW2-net Timelines)

The Allied Headquarters of the Southwest Pacific theatre were established in Melbourne (and moved to Brisbane on 20^th July 1942). (From WW2-net Timelines)

 

End of Part 1 The Blue Cockade

 

Australia under attack - March 1942

The War in Dorset - March 1942

Early in March a German reprisal raid for RAF bombing in Paris hit….Delcombe Bottom near Milton Abbas and Smacam Down near Cerne Abbas, both in very rural parts of Dorset.

On 8^th March Messerchmitts machine-gunned the quay at Christchurch.

There was intense activity by the Royal Navy off Dorset in March to enforce the naval blockade of the Channel but the German raider Michel and 5 destroyers escaped through to the Atlantic.

Some of Poole’s flying-boats were commandeered  to relieve the siege of Malta, flying a shuttle service from Gibraltar.

Commandos of the Special Service Unit return to Poole after Operation Postmaster, the successful undercover mission in their converted Brixham trawler ‘the Maid Honor’ (see The Small Scale Raiding Force).

A Halifax bomber, specially adapted to trial the first ground mapping using radar, arrived at Hurn aerodrome.

In March 1942 Major David Niven, the actor and film star, was working with ‘V’ Corps on the South coast behind Poole Harbour in Dorset as commander of ‘A’ company in the General Headquarters Liaison Regiment, code-named PHANTOM.   David Niven recalled:

“’A’ was my pride and joy.  My second-in-command was a sardonic Irish newspaper man and the patrol officers included a Cameron Highlander, a Frenchman, a Lancastrian, a weight lifter, the assistant Bursar at Eton College, an amateur steeplechase jockey and an interior decorator who frequently called me ‘dear’ instead of ‘sir’.  The squadron Sergeant-Major was a Scots guard and the seventy other ranks were made up of bank clerks, burglars, shop assistants, milkmen, garage mechanics, school masters, painters, bookmakers, stockbrokers and labourers.”  (See The Missing Winter.)

(From  ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980, ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing company 2004; ‘Phantom at War’ by Andy and Sue Parlour, published by Cerberus in 2003 and ‘The Moon’s a Balloon’, autobiography of David Niven, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in 1972.)

 

1st Air Landing Reconnaissance:

In March 1st Air Landing Reconnaissance trained on the Bulford Ranges, Salisbury Plain and worked to develop their craft with the Vickers Aircraft Factory at Weybridge. Glider flying training was based at Netheravon. Parachute PT commenced on 30^th March. (From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, WO166/6955 National Archives at Kew.)

 

March 1942 – gas and electricity rationed in Great Britain.

 

1st March 1942 – the Japanese achieve victory at sea in the battle of the Java Sea and by 9^th March 1942 Java and the rest of the Dutch East Indies had surrendered to the Japanese.  In revenge for the destruction of the precious oil installations prior to the invasion, the Japanese killed almost all the white males and forced the women and girls into brothels.

8th March 1942 – the Japanese capture Rangoon, Burma.

12^th March 1942 – General MacArthur, Commander of the US Army Forces in the Far East, is forced to leaves the Philippines.  American and Philipino forces continue to defend the Bataan Peninsula on the northern island of Luzon.

14^th March 1942 – US troops arrive in Australia.

22^nd and 23^rd March 1942 – Japanese aircraft again attack Darwin in Australia and Port Moresby in New Guinea (now the capital of Papua New Guinea).

28th March 1942 - Under the new tactical doctrine of area saturation bombing, introduced by Air Vice Marshal Harris, the RAF launches a heavy incendiary attack (234 bombers) against Lübeck on the Baltic that devastates 265 acres of the old city. The RAF lost 13 aircraft and from one of these the Germans were able to obtain their first specimen of the secret GEE radar equipment. In retaliation for the raid on Lübeck, Hitler orders the Luftwaffe to bomb historic British towns and cities.  (From WW2-net Timelines. )

29th March 1942 - The Australian War Cabinet implements a 'Total Denial' policy in northern Australia should the Japanese invade. This would involve the conduct of a fighting withdrawal, with the evacuation or destruction of anything left behind. A vast migration of sheep and cattle southwards was already underway, with those taking part being nicknamed 'Overlanders'.  (From WW2-net Timelines.)

Eric joins 61st Recce

February 1942

Eric Postles continues his account of life in 61st Recce:

“After training those who were allocated to 61^st Division went by train to Loughgal in Northern Ireland via Edingburgh, Glasgow and then from Stanraer by boat to Larne.  The train journey from Larne was interesting as at each station the engine was detached to move goods waggons and we could get off for a leg stretch. 

Our camp was Nissen-hutted in the grounds of an estate.  We were divided in squads for further training including driving instructions on 15cwt trucks, Bren carriers and armoured cars as everyone had to be able to drive.  The regiment was so concerned to have these young boys posted to it that we were given extra food to build us up. We were also dropped off around Lough Neagh and had to find our own way back to camp.  Training ended with an exercise up in the mountains.  We were on open trucks and had to endure snow, rain and cold.”

 (Extracts from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

"The Divisional sign was a blue square with inset red diamond."

The 61st Division was deployed to Northern Ireland in response to the German threat to invade neutral Ireland - Plan Green - which, although thorough, may have been a deception or feint.

Introducing Eric Postles

The stories of those who survived fighting with 61^st Reconnaissance have brought to life Dick’s wartime experience.

Eric Postles was born on 8^th September 1922 and lived in the village of Burscough in Lancashire.  His parents, Mr and Mrs H. Postles lived at 7 Moss Nook, Burscough bridge, Nr. Ormskirk, Lancashire. His war years began here:

 “When men and women reached 19 years of age they were conscripted and, unless you were in a reserved occupation, you were called up for the forces or munitions work etc.

 

I had a medical for the forces at Wigan and on 15^th January 1942 I, along with Harry Parr* from the village and Dennis Crumbleholme from Ormskirk, reported to the Castle at Carlisle as part of a big intake of men from north-west England for the Reconnaissance Corps, a newly formed corps to provide regiments to recce for Infantry Divisions.  I became 10602580 Trooper J.E.Postles. 

The role of the Reconnaissance Corps was to gather vital tactical information in battle.  Our badge was a spear with flashes of lightning on either side and the words reconnaissance on a scroll beneath.  The Corps lanyards were green and yellow and on top of our sleeves we wore the word 'Reconnaissance' in yellow on a green background, the divisional sign and beneath that a bar of green and yellow.

Similarly our vehicles were recognised by the number '41' on a green and yellow square and the divisional sign on the front and rear.  We wore forage caps, later changed to khaki berets and then black berets when we became part of the Royal Armoured Corps.  We also changed our steel helmets to ones similar to those worn by the airborne troops, which gave more protection. 

Our pay was 1 shilling and 9 pence a day but shortly after joining it rose to 2 shillings and 6d and 6d was paid in towards a gratuity given at demobilisation. 

After an IQ test I was allocated to 61^st Division Recce Regiment.  The Divisional sign was a blue square with inset red diamond.  Harry and Denis went to 59^th Division Recce Regiment in Ireland.

 

My regiment, also in Ireland, was moving to a new location so instead of joining them at the outset we went by train on 18^th January to No 10 I.T.C. (Kings Own Scottish Borderers) to do our basic training at Berwick-on-Tweed.  The camp was on the cliffs next to the sea.  It was bitterly cold and snowed heavily.  There was a lot of visible enemy air activity off the coast although the camp was never attacked."

(Extracts from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)

*Harry Parr joined the 59 Division Recce regiment.  In July 1943 he “was killed on an exercise in Kent when his heavy armoured car turned over and he was crushed by the gun.”

United Nations Declaration - January 1942

The War in Dorset - January 1942

In Dorset in January 1942 a Wellington bomber, with a Royal Australian Air Force crew, crashed at Fifehead Magdalen near Sturminster Newton and the first American GIs (General  Infantryman) began to arrive in the county at the end of the month - see previous post. (From ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, 2004)

 8^th January 1942 – Mountbatten, head of Combined Operations (based near Poole), approaches 1^st Airborne Division to discuss the feasibility of a paratroop raid on the Würzburg radar apparatus detected near Cap de la Hague. This was to result in the famous Bruneval Raid.

14th January 1942 – Operation Postmaster.

17th/18th January 1942 –  Operation Curlew – an unsuccessful commando reconnaissance raid on St Laurent, France (between Cherbourg and Caen) by the elite ‘V’ Corps School of Raiding from Southern Command. ‘V’ Corps Southern Command included the secret signals and reconnaissance ‘Phantom’ squadron commanded by David Niven and based inland of Poole Harbour (see The Missing Winter).

 

1st Air Landing Reconnaissance:

On 1^st January 1942 Major General F.A.M. Browning, D.S.O., commander of 1^st Airborne Division, inspected the 1^st Air Landing Company, Reconnaissance Corps.  Browning, married to the novelist Daphne du Maurier (Dick’s favourite), was close to both Churchill and Louis Mountbatten and used this influence to ensure his men got what they needed.  

Throughout January their training continued on the Churn Ranges near Didcot and Beacon Hill* Ranges. (* The Beacon Hill near Newbury or the Beacon Hill on Bulford Ranges, Salisbury.?)

(From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, WO166/6955 National Archives at Kew.)

 

Dick joined 1st Air Landing Reconnaissance on 20th April 1942.

 

1st January 1942 – all those at war with Germany adopt the ‘United Nations’ and sign the  United Nations Declaration in agreement with the principles of  the Atlantic Charter.  26 nations signed in January 1942 including the so-called ‘Big Four’ - Britain, America, Soviet Russia and China.

January 1942 – rice and dried fruit rationed.

 

2^nd January 1942 – Japanese capture Manila, capital of the Philippine Islands.  On 9^th January they attack General MacArthur’s US and Philippine forces and advance down the Bataan Peninsula. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

5^th January 1942 – Stalin launches new Russian offensives attempting to advance and encircle German troops on the front line near Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in the north, Moscow in the centre and the armies in Crimea and Kharkov in the south.  By April, Soviet military casualties had risen to over one million, although the suffering of civilians (“crushed between the cruelty of the Germans and that of their own Army and partisans”) was even greater. Stalin ordered the destruction of any building the Germans might use for shelter.  Dreadful conditions in besieged Leningrad led to the death of 620,000 (a quarter of the December 1941 population) from famine, cold and disease. However half a million of the inhabitants escaped by “the Road of Life”, the frozen ice road across Lake Ladoga, before the spring thaw. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

11^th January 1942 – Japanese took Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

 

12^th January 1942 – Japan declares war on the Dutch East Indies.

 

14th January 1942 - At the Arcadia Conference in Washington, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill agree to concentrate the Allied war effort on the European theatre.

President Roosevelt also orders that all ‘aliens’ register with the government. This is the beginning of a plan to move Japanese Americans into internment camps in the belief that they might aid the enemy. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

18th January 1942 – Japanese troops advance into Burma from Thailand.

 

19th January 1942 – Japan occupies British North Borneo. Singapore Island prepares for siege by the Japanese. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

20^th January 1942 - British troops capture Benghazi in Libya.

20^th January 1942 – Germany formally adopts the ‘Final Solution to the Jewish Problem' . All Jews in occupied Europe were to be transported to the east. The able bodied were worked until they died, while the remainder were put to death.

See Holocaust Memorial Day (27th January).

 

21st January 1942 - Japan attacks New Guinea.

Rommel launches a counter-offensive against the 8th Army in North Africa and the British retreat to the Gazala line, 60 kilometres west of Tobruk. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

The Luftwaffe begin a series of raids against London and ports in southern England.(From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

25^th January 1942 – Thailand declared war on Britain and the USA.

Having requested re-enforcement for Britain and the US, Australia begins full mobilisation for defence against Japan. (From WW2-net Timelines.)

 

26^th January 1942 – American forces began arriving in the British Isles, first landing in Ulster. They brought with them a new vocabulary, including the snappier ‘radar’ for 'radio direction finding' and a guidance book to prevent them treading on British toes:

Mindful of the old saying, “It is always impolite to criticize your hosts; it is militarily stupid to criticize your allies”, the US War Office provided every American serviceman heading for Britain with a cultural guide ‘Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain, 1942’.

Explaining about the war-weary British, it said: “Thousands of them have lost their houses, their possessions, their families. Soap, is so scarce that girls working in the factories often cannot get the grease off their hands or out of their hair. And food is more strictly rationed than anything else.”

Also “The British do not know how to make a good cup of coffee. You don’t know how to make a good cup of tea. It’s an even swap.”

To the sometimes jaundiced Tommy the GIs (General Infantry) were still "overpaid, over sexed and over here".

 

29^th January 1942 - German forces recaptured Benghazi in Libya. 

Churchill’s speech to the House “I offer no excuses” ended with:

“I avow my confidence, never stronger than at this moment, that we shall bring this conflict to an end in a manner agreeable to the interests of our country, and in a manner agreeable to the future welfare of the world. I have finished. Let every man act now in accordance with what he thinks is his duty in harmony with his heart and conscience.” From the Churchill Society

 

31^st January 1942 – British and Commonwealth forces complete evacuation Malaya in the face of the Japanese advance but defend Singapore.

Dentist in Bournemouth

19^th December 1941 – Dick visited the dentist in Bournemouth.

 
He visited again on 11th and 23rd February 1942 so was presumably still located in the Bournemouth area (but was treated by a different Dental Officer on the 23rd).

Copy of Record

Dental Treatment Card –    19/12/41, 11/2/42 and 23/2/42                 Bournemouth

Pearl Harbour - the world at war, December 1941

The War in Dorset - December 1941

While the Telecommunications Research Establishment continued to develop their ‘Blind Navigation’ two more British planes crashed in Dorset – a Wellington bomber on 16^th December 1941 near Powerstock and a Beaufighter (the long-range heavy fighter modified from the Beaufort bomber) at Pulham on 29^th December. Both crews survived the crashes.

(From ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004).

During 1941 construction began of the Starfish (from SF for Special fire) Decoy on Brownsea Island that was to play such an important role in the defences of Poole. Elstree Studios' pyrotechnics crew helped to install theatrical explosives and fires to mimic the bombing of Poole and draw the Luftwaffe's attention away from the town.  Designated as PE1, it was operated by the Royal Navy who also maintained decoys to protect the Royal Navy Cordite Factory at Holton Heath– HH1 on Arne and HH2 on Gore Heath.

 (From  ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980 and ‘The Book of Poole Harbour’ edited by Bernard Dyer and Timothy Darvill and published by The Dovecote press Ltd 2010.)

 

1st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron:

In December 1941 the newly formed 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron moved from their secret training location in Wales to Shaw House, an impressive Elizabethan building in Newbury, Berkshire.  There they had lectures and motor cycling, driving and weapons training.

On 26^th December their designation changed to 1^st Air Landing Company, Reconnaissance Corps.  Major C.J.H.Gough (later of Arnhem fame), known as ‘Freddie’, was their commanding officer and the squadron soon acquired the nickname of FGS or ‘Freddie Gough’s Squadron’. He was a stickler for discipline and set exacting standards in search of 'the best of the best' in selection and everyday duties. All Air Landing (gliderborne) troops were volunteers.

 (From the War Diary of 1^st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron, WO166/6955 National Archives at Kew, ‘Airborne Forces’ by Lt-Col T.B.H. Otway, D.S.O. London: Imperial War Museum, 1990 and Paradata  – the living history of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces.)

Dick joined 1st Air Landing Reconnaissance on 20th April 1942.

 

At the beginning of December 1941 German heavy artillery were within range of Moscow but the German commanders realised that their exhausted and frozen troops could not take Moscow this winter (frostbite casualties were now exceeding the number of wounded in battle), even as they began a final assault on the city. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012).

 

2nd December 1941 – the new National Service Bill introduces compulsory service for women.

 

 

5^th December 1941 – Soviet forces mount a surprise counter-attack to defend Moscow and the Germans advance is halted.

 

6^th December – Roosevelt approves the commencement of atomic weapons research in the USA.

 

7^th December 1941 – Admiral Yamamoto’s Japanese carrier fleet bomb the US fleet in Pearl Harbour.  The Americans, taken completely by surprise (Japan had not declared war on the US), lost the battleships Oklahoma and Arizona, two destroyers and 188 aircraft. Many other ships and planes were damaged and 2,335 servicemen were killed.  The Japanese lost only 29 aircraft. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

Japanese forces land on Kota Bahru in the far north-east of Malaya and are able to make their first air raid on Singapore the next day.

 

8^th December 1941 – the USA and the UK declare war on Japan.

Japan attacks the US controlled Phillipines bombing the Philippine capital of Manila and American airbases. Half the US Far East Airforce are destroyed.

Japanese forces attack the British territory of Hong Kong and Japanese forces occupy Shanghai in China.

 

Mass killing began at the Chelmno extermination camp near Lodz in Poland. More than 152,000 people were murdered there during the war, mostly in the gas chambers, including Jews and Romanies from Poland, Hungarian Jews, Czechs and Soviet Prisoners of War.

 

9th December 1941 – China declares war on Germany and Italy.

Japanese troops occupy Bangkok, Thailand.

 

10th December 1941 – Allied Forces enter Tobruk in Libya. This was their first major overseas victory.

The British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and the battle cruiser HMS Repulse, which had been sent to defend Singapore, are sunk by the Japanese.

The Japanese take Guam, an American base in the Mariana islands.

 

11^th December 1941 – Germany and Italy declare war against the USA and the USA declares war against Germany and Italy.

 

14^th December 1941 – Thailand becomes an ally of Japan.

 

15^th December 1941 – Japanese troops enter Burma.  The Battle of Burma begins with a Japanese bombing attack on the capital of Rangoon on 23^rd December.

 

16^th December 1941 – Japanese forces land in Borneo.

 

18^th December 1941 – Japanese troops land on Hong Kong Island.

The British battleships HMS Queen Elizabeth and Valiant are sunk by the Italian Navy while in Alexandria harbour, Egypt.

 

19^th December 1941 – Hitler took over complete control of the German armed forces, the Wehrmacht.

 

22nd December 1941 – Roosevelt and Churchill meet at the Arcadia conference in Washington and agree to pool British and US resources and develop strategy to win the war together.

Japanese forces land near Manila in the Philippines. US and Philippine troops with the American Commander-in-Chief General Douglas Macarthur, withdraw to the Bataan peninsula.

 

23rd December 1941 – Japanese forces finally land on and occupy Wake Island an American base in the Pacific between Hawaii and the Mariana Islands (after unsuccessful attacks on 8th and 11th December

 

25th December 1941 – surrender of Hong Kong to the Japanese.

 

 

26^th December 1941 – Winston Churchill addressed the US Congress with his speech “A Long and Hard War” rejoicing that “the United States, united as never before, have drawn the sword for freedom and cast away the scabbard”.

27th December 1941 - A combined services commando raid on German occupied islands off Norway results in 150 Germans killed and 16,000 tons of shipping destroyed as well as defences and infrastructure.

 

During 1941 Allied merchant shipping lost 503 ships, equalling 2,530,011 gross tons. to U-boats world-wide. Only 35 U-boats were sunk (from World War 2 Timelines).

 

Lest we forget - November 1941

The War in Dorset - November 1941

Weymouth was bombed again at the beginning of November 1941. Devastation around the Abbotsbury Road killed three and injured eleven, including the Mayor of Weymouth, the publican of the Adelaide Arms.

On 10th November 1941 Christchurch Aerodrome became a satellite airfield to the now larger RAF Hurn. It’s Special Duty Flight, which had carried out aerial tests for the secret Telecommunications Research Establishment at Worth Matravers in Purbeck since August 1941, was moved to Hurn. Around this time TRE discovered that ground ‘maps’ could be produced using radar.  Varying signals were received from the streets, houses, pines, heath and cliffs of Bournemouth on a plane flight from Christchurch.  This became known as ‘Blind Navigation’ enabling bombers to find targets in poor weather and at night.

Guarding RAF Warmwell, two members of Dick’s Dorsetshire Regiment were killed with a Spitfire pilot when his plane crashed on landing on 11^th November 1941

See also The Würzburg  .

 

13th November 1941 – the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal is
torpedoed and sunk. On the same day the US Neutrality Act is repealed to allow
the arming of merchant ships carrying Lend-Lease cargo to Britain.

17^th November 1941 – buses are restricted so none may
leave after 9.30pm due to fuel shortages. Christmas cards, advertising
leaflets, posters and paper handkerchiefs are banned because of paper shortages.

18^th November 1941 – beginning of the Allies ‘Operation Crusader’ to relieve the
siege of Tobruk in Libya, North Africa.

25^th November 1941 – Germany attacked Moscow.

28th November 1941 – Germany’s siege of the critical Mediterranean
seaport at Tobruk, in Libya, was broken by the Allied 8th Army.

30^th November and 8^thDecember 1941 – massacre at Rumbala. 25,000 Jews were murdered in woods near
Riga in Latvia by Nazi paramilitary death squads, the SS Einsatzgruppen.

(From WW2-net Timelines and ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, DorsetPublishing Company 2004.)

 

From ‘Chotie’s Story’

“After my fiasco with the Land Army I went to work at Plummers, Boscombe, where I learnt a lot about displaying fashions.  Then, as it was quite a way from home, I transferred to Plummers, Bournemouth and did a spell in the Knitwear Department.  I got friendly with a Jewish girl and was spending the weekend at her home in Mudeford when I met George.  He was sitting in the back of a car smoking a Petersham pipe, just like Dicker did.  That was the attraction.  He was motorcycle officer at Blandford Camp, very posh - in fact an old Etonian, which I found out much later on.  He used to say he was second best, as he knew that Dicker was first.  George never gave me a clue as to his swanky background and he came to our humble abode for Sunday lunch and thoroughly enjoyed my Mum’s apple pie.”

Never give in - October 1941

The War in Dorset - October 1941

In October 1941 – filming of ‘The First of the Few’, a film telling the story of the Spitfire aeroplane, began near Christchurch.  It starred Leslie Howard and David Niven, both returned from Hollywood to support the war effort since 1939. Niven rejoined the Army and around this time was working for the General Headquarters Liaison Regiment (known as ‘Phantom’) as Commander of ‘A’ squadron, informing Army HQ on coastal defences and invasion risk, and happened to be stationed near Poole. Leslie Howard may also have been employed by Intelligence – when he was killed in 1943 it appears that the civilian plane he was flying in from Lisbon was targeted by a German bomber, possibly because of his work supporting the Allied cause in Spain and Portugal (although Churchill had been scheduled to fly on the same plane). 

On 11th October 1941 three of the crew of a crashed Wellington bomber were rescued off St Albans Head on the Purbeck Coast, Dorset.  Chotie was still working nearby in the Land Army at Barnston Farm, Church Knowle.

On 21st October 1941 a German plane crashed into the side of Bindon Hill at Lulworth in Purbeck.

George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Dominion airmen stationed in Bournemouth on 23rd October 1941.

(From ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing CompanyDorset Publishing Company 2004).

 

1st Airborne:

10^th October 1941 – formation of the British 1^st Air Landing Brigade which became part of the 1^st Airborne Division on 31^st October 1941. (See Chapter 5 Air Landing.)

The 31^st Independent Brigade, recently returned from India and mountain-trained, was selected for conversion to an air land role and redesignated the 1st Air Landing Brigade.  It was anticipated that the Brigade would be transported to a war zone either in gliders or in aircraft that would land on an airfield or suitable level strip of land so they were known as “Airlanding” and not “Gliderborne” troops.The initial task of 1 Air Landing Brigade Group was to carry out investigations into the problems of organisation, equipment and training of an air-landing formation.   

On 29^th October 1941 Frederick Browning, a protégé of Louis Mountbatten, was appointed to act as Commander of the Para-Troops and Airborne Troops that became 1^st Airborne Division.  

(From ‘Airborne Forces’ by Lt-Col T.B.H. Otway, D.S.O. London: Imperial War Museum, 1990 and ‘The Pegasus Patrol’  by Jack Turnbull & John Hamblett.)

 

22^nd and 24th October 1941 – the assassination of two German military commanders in Nantes, France, resulted in large scale punishment killings. 

Following the first violent act of the French Resistance in August 1941 French prisoners had been classified as ‘hostages’ to be executed in reprisal for any assassinations of the German military.  When Feldkommandant Karl Hotz, commander of the occupation troops in Loire-inférieure, and the German Military Administration Advisor were killed by the Resistance on 20^th and 21^st October 1941 fifty local prisoners, mainly communists and other political detainees, were shot in retaliation for each assassination. Despite bribes and threats of further atrocities information on the assassins was not forthcoming.

 

On 29^th October 1941 Churchill addressed Harrow School with his famous speech "Never give in".

30^th October 1941 – beginning of the seige of Sebastopol. This port on the Black Sea continued to resist the Germans until June 1942.

31^st October 1941- an American warship, the destroyer Reuben James, was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat submarine while escorting a British convoy. The Americans had not yet entered the war.

The Missing Winter

There are no letters from Dick between 7th October 1941 and 20th April 1942, when records show he was transferred from the Dorsets to 1^st Air Landing in the Reconnaissance Corps. The obvious reason would be that he was stationed near Chotie and seeing her regularly so there was no need to write. He had dental treatment in Bournemouth in December 1941 and twice in February 1942.

Presuming he continued in some part of Intelligence (he refers to a potential transfer in his letter of 7^th October), there are a number of interesting activities in the Poole area where he may have been involved, including the planning of the raid on St Nazaire and the Bruneval raid by Louis Mountbatten’s Combined Operations Command.

Mountbatten became Advisor on Combined Operations on 27th October 1941 .  Churchill summed up his job in one sentence “I want you to turn the south coast of England from a bastion of defence into a springboard of attack”.  His duties included planning commando raids across the English Channel and inventing new technical aids to assist with opposed landing.

 The Bruneval Raid was intimately connected to the secret radar work of the Telecommunications Research Establishment in Dorset and carried out by a company of paratroopers from 1^st Airborne Division who trained with the Royal Navy on the Dorset coast in February 1942.

Poole was also the base of the ‘Maid Honour Force’ of marine commandos, which Combined Operations and Special Operations Executive developed into the 'Small-scale Raiding Force', establishing an HQ at Anderson Manor in the Poole hinterland during this period (see posts for 1st April 1941 and 2nd February 1942).

All of these operations were conducted with the utmost secrecy and may possibly have involved the services of Trooper R.K Williams, Intelligence Section.

In addition, the activities of a squadron of the elite signals and reconnaissance unit known as ‘Phantom’ were centred on the area behind Poole Harbour. Commanded by the actor David Niven, ‘A’ squadron of the General Headquarters Liaison Regiment was attached to General Montgomery’s Fifth Corps and responsible for the rapid relay of information on coastal defences or invasion to Army HQ.  Since Dick later had to learn morse and wireless it seems unlikely that he worked directly for ‘Phantom’ at this time.

However, in joining 1st Air Landing (the glider-borne troops of 1^st Airborne Division), Dick would have come under the command of Brigadier G.F. Hopkinson, the founder of ‘Phantom’.  Dick had his first experience of flying in the 1^st Airborne so, if he did go to France during the ‘Missing Winter’ (as my mother seemed to remember), it was not by plane.

 

(From ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980, ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004,  ‘Phantom at War – the British Army’s Secret Intelligence & Communication Regiment of WW2’ by Andy &Sue Parlour, Cerberus 2003 and Combined Operations.)

 

Somewhere in England - Tuesday 7th October 1941

On 7^th October 1941 Dick had a medical, prior to his transfer,

which found him in A.1. condition.

Copy of Record

SERVICE AND CASUALTY FORM

Medical (b)         Category A1          Date          7-10-41

 

Intelligence Section, HQ Company, 70th Dorsets

Branksome, Hants. 

Tuesday

My Darling Chotie,

                                                            Just a few lines to let you know that all is well, and that I still love you, EVERYTHING.

            I'm now feeling much better and though still on the sick list, hope to be OK again in a few days time.

           I had a letter from Brinner (NO not Monica*, Darling...) who appears to be enjoying himself.

           I do little or nothing all day with Eric, which gets pretty boring after a while.  He had a parcel today and is, consequently, feeling quite cheerful, and sends his love (brotherly).

            I was medically examined this morning re transferring, and was categorised A1. - not that it makes any difference.  I'm afraid there's no news, of course, as nothing seems to happen.

             Monica, as I hear from Diller, who still corresponds, has now found her true love (etc), and may now cease to cause me sleepless nights.  It's about time she had a change of front and policy.  That's the only snag of going back to Herne Bay**.  But at any rate we hope she's married by then and in safe hands. 

            This pen’s horrible to write with.  Needless to say, it’s Eric's!  He has everything on the thin side.

            I've managed to find Cocknowle*** on a large-scale map - so I now know whereabouts it lies.

            As regards next Sunday, I'll borrow a bike from Somewhere in England and be around sometime about 3 pm to 5-30.  At any rate, I'll write again before then.         

            Well, Darling I must close here as it's time for tea, and I must rush to post this.

           I managed to get a Dorset Brooch, which will do, I hope, until I get into a Genuine Regiment when I'll send you another. 

                                                                        Bye, bye Darling

                                                                                    All my love

                                                                                                Dicker

                                                                                                Xxxxxxxx

* Dick’s former girlfriend

** Dick’s family were planning to move back to Herne Bay from Poole. They ended up at Pagham in Sussex.

*** where Chotie was living in the Land Army

 From ‘Chotie’s Story’: 

“I left Beales to become a Land Army girl, age seventeen, after a tiff at home.  A lovely farm at Church Knowle in the Purbecks.  Miss Geaves, the farm owner, let me live in her beautiful cottage under Creech, the highest point in the Purbecks.  Walking across fields in early morning, the mist fell in between the hills like small lakes, quite awesome.  Also awesome was my cycle ride from Corfe Castle station to Church Knowle, on a moonlit and part cloudy evening.  How ghostly Corfe Castle looked.

 The Land Army was not for me.  After too much rich food I suffered a bilious attack and hours of mangold pulling, milking cows and trekking across fields took its toll.  Dad took great pleasure in saying I had been invalided out of the Land Army much to my annoyance.  Beryl† joined at a later date and made quite a success of it.”

† Beryl was Mum’s younger sister, a 'success' in the Land Army

 

 

Reputedly my mother lasted three weeks in the Land Army before she was ‘invalided out’, always a source of much amusement in our family.  Dick’s posting to a location so near to her home may have had some influence on her desire to leave the rural idyll of Purbeck.

I have an annoyingly vague memory that she told me Dick went to France before ‘D’ Day and was injured and the worry of this French trip, coupled with sickness, led to her leaving the Land Army.  I wish I’d found out more but I think this was a whispered secret even then – perhaps only for dramatic effect but possibly, like the Bletchley girls, because there were things one swore never to tell.

© Chotie Darling

Chotie at Church Knowle - Wednesday 1st October 1941

 

Intelligence Sec., HQ company, 70th Dorsets

Branksome, Dorset.

My Darling Chotie,

                                                                   Many, many thanks for your letter.  I was very pleased you have struck it so lucky at Church Knowle.*  I wish you lots & lots of luck in this new venture (does that sound too staid?), and hope you have a lovely time, as I'm sure you deserve it after all our troubles.

          I'm glad Brinner saw you off as I always think it helps.  He told me you met someone to travel down with, which I hope made the journey a little more pleasant, though as a rule this isn't the case.

          I feel b----y awful at the moment, for no known reason, but I haven't felt too well since we've been at Branksome.  I've got the devil of a boil on my shoulder-blade which Eric has been doctoring for a couple of days, without very much effect.  He lanced it about an hour ago, which has caused my left shoulder to pack up for the duration.  I can't even lift my wretched arm.  However that's enough moaning in one letter.

        This cottage of yours sounds most thrilling.  I must try to get over as soon as possible - and whilst the weather holds.  It's been rather dull here and cloudy all day.         

        I was very miserable until I got your letter, which had its usual cheering effect.

          There's the devil of a lot of duties to do now, including keeping the gardens are up to scratch from 5 o'clock to 5.30!  What a game! - and there's supposed to be a war on somewhere...

          We had some excellent news today however - transfers have started again, and consequently, allowing for the usual lapse of time, (transfers take ages as a rule) I should be out of this punk crowd in a month or two.  All of which has cheered me up considerably.

          Incidentally, we are moving**!  It's more or less settled, (I know that look in Ma’s eyes...) for the beginning of November, - just above a month, and once again it's going to be Herne Bay.  I don't suppose I'll ever get leave up there but still these things must wait until after the war.  We'll make up for every scrap of it then, never fear, Darling.

          I went home yesterday and had a quiet evening in front of the fire, thinking about the move, etc.  The doctor apparently told Pa that he couldn't possibly go on working or he wouldn't hold himself responsible for Pa's welfare, which has prompted the move more than everything.

          Well, Precious I must close here to post this in time.

          Please excuse paper but it's all I can get.

                                                          all my love, Chotie Dear,

                                                                   Dicker

                                                                             Xxxxxxxx 

 

* where Chotie was living in the Land Army to work on a farm in Purbeck, Dorset.  She stayed with Miss Grace of Churchknowle Farm in a little cottage tucked into the hillside at Cocknowle.

** Dick’s family left Poole in late 1941 or early 1942.  Initial plans were for Herne Bay on the north coast of Kent but by the spring of 1942 they were settled at Pagham, near Chichester in Sussex.

 

© Chotie Darling

 

In October 1941 – filming of ‘The First of the Few’, a film telling the story of the Spitfire aeroplane, began near Christchurch on the Dorset/Hampshire border.  It starred Leslie Howard and David Niven, both returned from Hollywood to support the war effort since 1939. Niven rejoined the Army and around this time was working for the General Headquarters Liaison Regiment (known as ‘Phantom’) as Commander of ‘A’ squadron, informing Army HQ on coastal defences and invasion risk, and happened to be stationed near Poole.

 

2^nd October 1941 – Operation Typhoon begins, Hitler’s ultimately unsuccessful attack on Moscow.

Autumn - Monday 15th September

5731671. Int. Section, HQ Company, 70^th Bn Dorsetshire Regt

Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hants.

My Darling Chotie,

                                                                        Many thanks for letters.  I believe one of them must have been held up somewhere as I didn’t get it for some time.

            But all is well now.  I’m glad you’ve eventually joined up in the Land Army, as I think it will be a change for you.

            At the rate things are going this show may be over before we expect and we’ll be together again, which is all I hope and pray for.  After all, absence does make the heart grow fonder, believe it or not, and being something of a fatalist I believe all these things are planned just to test our fidelity, as it were. 

            I know we can make it, Chotie Darling, that’s why I’ll always trust you (even with the Farmer’s son ...), because I just know we’ll come through in the end. 

            It’s marvellous here now that the Autumn’s setting in, and the trees are beginning to change to that glorious brown.  There’s also a wonderful range of animal-life here – squirrels, pheasants, rabbits and even snakes. 

             I stopped this afternoon to watch a couple of woodpeckers at work (or play?), and I wished you were here to watch them with me.

             We go for a run at six every morning, and do I enjoy them! Unless you get up early and see the countryside at that time I think you’re missing something in your life that’s really too wonderful to describe.

             If I’m not careful I’ll ramble on forever ...

            I’m afraid I must close here, Sweetheart as I’m wanted, (as usual). 

                                                                                    Bye, bye, My Precious,

                                                                                                All yours

                                                                                                            Dicker.

P.S.  I love you.                                                                             xxxxxxx

                                                                                                                  Xxxxx

                                                                                                                           xxxx

© Chotie Darling 

Not much of a birthday - posted Saturday 6th September 1941

61st Reconnaissance Regiment, who Dick was to fight with in NW Europe, were formed in September 1941 under the leadership of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Mount, Bt.T.D. (the former Prime Minister David Cameron's grandfather).

1^stSeptember 1941 – Nazis decreed that Jewish people in Germany and occupied countries should wear the yellow star badges introduced in Poland in November 1939.

3^rd September 1941 – the first gassing of prisoners at Auschwitz concentration camp. More than one million people were killed there during the war.

5^th September 1941 – Estonia occupied by the German army.

 

 

Intelligence Section, HQ Company, 70th Dorsets

Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hants.

Darling Chotie,

                Just a few lines, Precious, to wish you very many Happy Returns of your Birthday.

                I'm afraid you won't get this missive until after the sixth* as I haven't had one single moment to spare since I've been back.  Also of course it's the hell of a job to get anything posted out here in the wilds.

  

            Anyway, Darling, as you put it once before, “Here's wishing you everything you wish yourself”, which is, I think, easily the best way of expressing myself.

 

            Unfortunately I haven't yet been paid this week, as they wouldn't pay me at Brockhurst, and pay parade was over when I arrived up here.

 

            I had to do a 24 hr Guard at Brockhurst as soon as I was back but I hope to be able to get a bracelet in Gosport or Pompey*** when I can get there.  Brinner’s** still got the residue of my cash, but said he would send it on.

         Poor Chotie ... I'm afraid it won't be much of a birthday for you, but doubtless better times are coming.  Don't forget to tell me all the latest when you write, Honey.  I'm dying to know what’s happened re the Land Army, etc.

 

        If you see Brinner, tell him to let me know all his news, (also to send some cash!)

 

                            Well, Darling I must close here, as I have to see the Intelligence Officer.

                                                                                All my love Darling

                                                                                         ever yours Dicker.

 

PS.Don't worry about anything, Precious, - we'll pull through all right.

 

* Chotie’s 18^th birthday

** Dick’s younger brother Brian

 

*** A name for Portsmouth

 

© Chotie Darling

 

 

8th September – beginning of the German siege of Leningrad (St Petersburg) which was not lifted until 27th January 1944. Some 600,000 people died of starvation and disease in the city during the siege.

On 9^th September 1941 Winston Churchill addressed the House
of Commons ending his speech with the famous lines "We are still masters of our fate. We are still captain of our souls" based on the poem ‘Invictus’ by William Ernest Henley. (See full speech on Churchill Society website http://www.churchill-society-london.org.uk/CptsSoul.html.)

Too many Court Martials - Sunday 17th August 1941

Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hants.

Sunday.

My Darling,

Many thanks for letter received a few days back. I have passed on “sisterly” love to Eric & JP, who's now back from leave - looking rather worn out. I wonder why?

        Eric is still moaning about his leave - he hasn't had one for nine months! (apart from sick leave, which doesn't count). I'm one of the luckiest, if the truth be known. However, I'm still trying hard for my Seven Days - if anything unexpected happens I'll send a telegram but it's very unlikely.

        Hope your sniffles are better by the time you get this letter.

        What's the weather like at home? It's alternately sunny & rainy here, and has been for some time - rather more like April than August.

        The ‘I’ section has lost a large number of its members. Bill Ede the “brains” of the section, deserted a week or so ago, one is in hospital, and another is in ‘Clink’ (cooler). We've also got two on leave. What a life!

        I had a letter from Marjory* a few days ago. Full of the usual bunkum. However they don't come more than every 6 weeks to two months so there's no need to worry (?) (I bet you're throwing things about already ...) Never mind, Darling, your little Dicker still loves you, more than anything in this wide world. Does that convince you? I hope so, because it's really true sweetheart.

        I'm still doing plenty of German + Spanish, but on your intimation have given up using it in letters! There's no need to worry - it's the same in any language, anyhow.

        I believe we’re moving on the 22nd (Friday), when I should be getting my leave - what a hope! We're coming back here after a month, though, which isn't too bad. At any rate I'm a lot better off than Eric.

        Do you remember that time I went on exeat to Birmingham**? Well, the kid who went with me, Private Currey (he's only about 17), has just got 56 days detention by Field General Court Martial. He started getting tough with the RQMS(WOII)***, yelling “I come from Brum, and it's about time you bloody well knew it!” etc. He‘s now at the Glasshouse at Aldershot. There's been a lot of Court Martials lately. Far too many for one Battalion.

                    Well, Honey, I'd better close here,

                                                            all my love,

                                                                            Dicker

                                                                                    Xxxxxxxxxxx

* Dick’s former girlfriend

** See ‘Bombs in Birmingham’ letter posted 5^th November 2010

*** RQMS (WOII) Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (Warrant Officer 2)

© Chotie Darling

 

18^th August 1941 – local fire brigades were replaced by a National Fire Service.

 

Possible that Dick got his 7 days leave on 22^nd August as hoped for.

 

25th August 1941 – British and Russian troops invade Iran.