Chotie Darling

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 On the same day the US Neutrality Act is repealed to allow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.”

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.

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.)

Dicker age 20 - Sunday 27th, Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th July 1941

 

Fort Brockhurst

Gosport

Hants.

My Darling Chotie,

                                                                        In reply to yours of the 23^rd inst.*, etc!  Thanks very much for same.  As you probably know, I had a P.O.** from Chris Higginson, - very welcome as I was completely “skint” (broke), it being a Thursday.  However, I've been paid since then, which improved matters somewhat.

 

            So Brinner's not doing anything yet.  I can't say it surprises me.  If only he'd get in the Fleet Air Arm or the Navy or something like that he'd probably be a bit happier - at least he'd have something to moan about.  I think he'd do well in that line - he's the type.

 

            How did Norman appear to be getting on?  He's probably got used to it by now.  It's the devil at first in anything.

 

            Likewise was I amused at your Russian*** descent (?)!  Just wait till I get my next leave - you'll go through the mill then...

 

            I don't know when it will come off but my three months will soon be up.  Leave isn't going too well at the moment, but may recover.

 

            This course looks like going on forever.  I'm expected to lecture about twice a day - to the 2 Lance Corporals and the Sergeant! - and me a mere private.  The worst part of it is the Sub. 2^nd Lieutenant Chase always comes to me when he's going to give a lecture, so he'll have something to talk about!  However, “Truth will out”† as someone once said.

           

This writing paper is rather more like blotting paper. The price of paper is atrocious these days.  Would you write to ‘the Times’ about it, Darling?

           

I thought the “Derrick” episode had finished, but it appears to be flourishing again.  Everyone appears to have lapses except us.  I wonder how we do it. 

 

I love you so much that nothing else matters at all - everything is so insignificant.  I wouldn't care if I was doing detention or “Jankers††” or anything.  I've still got you to think about and dream about.  I'm really the luckiest soldier in the world.  There's only one Chotie and I've got her all to myself (I hope...).

 

There goes ‘Lights Out’ Honey, so I'll write some more tomorrow.

 

 

Monday.

                                    Darling, thank you lots & lots for the present received this morning†††.  It's lovely, and just what I wanted.  Some rat relieved me of my razor on Saturday, so you can imagine just how welcome it was.  All the same I don't think you should do it as you work hard enough as it is, without spending money on me.  That isn't a crack Honey, really, - I'm quite in earnest.

 

Tuesday.

                                    I've had a terrific surprise, Honey.  Someone turned up last night - someone I hadn't seen for ages - Eric!  He limps a bit, but apart from that he's fine.  I've never been so surprised my life.  I never thought he'd be back in the army.  So now we're at it all over again.

 

I've just come in from laying a minefield - we've got to practice this in the Intelligence Section.  Apparently there's a minefield not far from here - and we're expected to go and disconnect the charges ... what a life.

 

Well, Darling, this will have to be all for now, as I have to go to Spanish in a few minutes.

                                                Bye, bye, Darling,

                                                            and thanks once again,

                                                                        All yours

                                                                                    Dicker

 

* Latin abbreviation of ‘instante mense’ = “this month” 

** P.O. = postal order (money)

*** Dick and Chotie appear to have used ‘Russian’ as a euphemism for intimate matters.

† Shakespeare gives Launcelot these words in ‘Merchant of Venice’ 1596 but they were used in Old English by the monk John Lydgate’s in his 1439  ‘Life of St Alban’.

†† ‘Jankers’ – official military punishment for a minor offence. In World War II usually meant being confined to barracks under a regime of punishment parades, inspection and tasks.

††† 28^th July 1941 was Dick’s 20^th Birthday

 

© Chotie Darling

29^th July 1941 – the Reconnaissance Corps adopt the badge Dick later wore – an upwards-pointing spear flanked by two lightning bolts designed by Trooper George Jones. (From ‘The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II’ by Richard Doherty, Osprey Publishing 2007)

 

31st July 1941 - the Nazis prepare to implement 'The Final Solution’ for the extinction of the Jews in German held territory (the Holocaust) . Over one million Jewish children were killed in the Holocaust with approximately two million Jewish women and three million Jewish men. Yizkor.

1st August 1941 – US stops oil supplies to the Axis powers.

Detention guard on Southampton Common - Tuesday 27th May 1941

Southampton

Tuesday 27/May

My Darling Chotie, 

                I'm writing as promised, as soon as I'm on guard, which I missed yesterday.

           I'm now on the detention guard (the one with the barbed-wire round it on the common). There are nine prisoners at the moment, though things are not so bad as I thought they would be as I have a Lance Cpl with me, who does most of the work, leaving me most of the responsibility.  It’s not too bad on the whole.  I shall be quite all right, unless a prisoner escapes, in which case I shall be ruined. But I’ll bayonet the b-----, if I catch him!

           I’ve only just been paid!  They wouldn’t pay me on Sunday, as you know, and on Monday they hadn’t got any!  However, I’ve got it now and that’s all that matters.  The only thing is I’ve borrowed so much now that it scarcely leaves me any left!

           This is neither here nor there.  What I wanted to tell you was that you looked marvellous on Sunday, Darling, and made me love you a hundred times more than I ever thought I could love anyone.

            I miss you so terribly, Darling.  Even when I'm with the boys having a drink, or at the flicks or somewhere, I am always thinking how much better it would be if I could only change them for you.  I have a good time on the whole here with John & Co, but it could never be compared with being with you.  Just to be near you, Tootsie, really means such a lot to me, more than you'll ever know.

           Am I boring you?  I hope not.  You must think I write a lot of drivel - but nothing has ever happened to me like this before.  I'll change the subject before you start throwing things about. 

           It's a funny day to-day here at any rate.  It's real April weather, alternate sun & rain - really marvellous.  The common’ s lovely when the sun's out, as all the trees are wonderfully green.

            I took ‘Rebecca’ back yesterday evening.  The woman who runs the library is very decent and kept insisting that she didn't want any fine but my conscience paid her.  I got Steinbeck's ‘The Grapes of Wrath’.  I read it when first published but it's all I could get and it's worth reading again. 

(smudge)    Mucky puppy!

             There's a lot of rumours around about moving, which will probably be on Thursday, but is not definite.  It will probably be Gosport, which is no good to me.  I'd like to get back to Southbourne again....that seems too good to be true now.  However, we must always hope, as usual. 

            The buglers are practising somewhere outside, and they're raising Cain. They keep playing ‘Cookhouse*’.... blast them! 

            I hope you got back safely and in good time, on Sunday.  I had a lift up Hill Lane, but was soaked all the same.  It rained all yesterday which peeved me not a little as I again got soaked, being too lazy to clean my overcoat buttons...That is the penalty for sheer laziness.

            Have you seen any of the old family?  I suppose they're still alive & kicking, if somewhat feebly.  I had a letter from the mater this morning, also an enclosed from Diller, as mad as ever.

             There's no news as usual, I'm afraid, so I'll close here, and scrounge some tea if possible.

                                                            Bye, bye, Darling.

                                                                        All my love

                                                                                    Dicker 

PS.  Maintenant, Chèrie, je t’aime tout ce qui est possible, avec tout mon âme, et avec toutes mes forces**.

* Buglers memorised their calls through patterned word refrains – mealtimes were announced by the call to “Come to the Cookhouse door, boys, come to the cookhouse door”, which presumably acted on Dick’s saliva glands like Pavlov’s whistle!

** “Darling, I love you as much as possible now, with all my soul and with all my strength.”

© Chotie Darling

 

 
Top photo: Corporal Richard Williams of the Dorset Regiment on guard at home at 'Fairhaven', Orchard Avenue, Parkstone, Poole.

Above: Corporal Richard Williams with his father Dudley Williams in Home Guard uniform and his younger brother Brin, a cadet.

 

 

27th May 1941 - President Roosevelt of the United States declares an unlimited national emergency and asks all Americans to resist Hitlerism.

Germany’s new battleship, the Bismarck, was sunk in the Bay of Biscay, finished off by the torpedoes of the battle-cruiser HMS Dorsetshire.

 

27th – 31st May 1941 – evacuation of defeated Allied troops from Crete.  Poole’s flying-boats assisted with the evacuation. (Extract from ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980)

 

 

Raid on Chippenham - 20th November 1940

Chippenham, Wilts

Wednesday

My Darlingest,

                                                Many thanks for the letter which I have just received.  I'm replying instantly as I have one stamp between me and starvation.  I drew 30/- this week, but as I was endeavouring to influence the C.S.M. and as we met Pete, it all went by Saturday evening.  The more I draw the less far it seems to go.

     Well, Honey, you don't mention anything re FWC*.  I see that your letter was written from work.  I hope everything turns out all right, as you certainly deserve it.

     You seem to be having a pretty hot time now.  I wish I could say the same for myself.  Things are very dull here.  On occasion we go out and drown our sorrows but that's all it amounts to.  We very seldom seem to get very merry.

     I hope you won't go and fall for a Guardsman.  They are a trifle smarter than the Dorsets you know.  Have a good time by all means, but don't forget your little Dicker whatever you do, as I'm afraid you're vital to me now.

     Pete and Co are on an NCOs’ Cadre at the moment.  That's a course of sorts.  I did my best and got out of it as I much prefer to go away on a pukka course.  Local courses sound alright but amount to very little.  This particular one is being taken by an old Sergeant, who fondly imagines this is 1914.  He's very smart but lives in the past as so many old soldiers do (Pa for example).

     At any rate nothing can be done, until I get back to duty.  Then the sparks will fly, and I don't mean maybe.

     There's going to be a pretty good change in about a fortnight's time.  Everyone is going to be switched around in platoons and companies.  I'd like a change from ‘K’ as I'm pretty fed up with it.  We've got a new CEO now who is rather a ----.  He stripped a Cpl in ‘D’ for coming in an hour late after he'd been to a dance.  I'm glad I'm not still in ‘D’ as I'd have been finished by now.

    Commissions are still on the horizon, but are approaching gradually. Nil desperandum.

     I'm writing this in an old theatre, in the wings.  We use it for P.T. this weather.

     Went to see ‘ Convoy’ last night as I’d missed it before.  Then we had a raid here.  I should think that half the Jerry Air Force were up.  Plenty of bombs came down, but not too near.

     Well, I must close now and do some work.  The CSMI is on a course, which leaves me in charge of PT for 300 men!

         So long, Honey

                    your devoted

                                        Dicker

P.S. Remember what I said about that Guardsman ....

 

* Chotie’s place of work, which was closing down.

© Chotie Darling, 2010

 

20^th November 1940 – Hungary joins the Tripartite Pact with Germany, Italy and Japan.

22nd November 1940 - Italian 9th Army defeated by Greeks.

23^rd November 1940 – Romania agrees to join the Tripartite Pact with Germany, Italy and Japan.

24^th November 1940 – Slovakia joins the Tripartite Pact with Germany, Italy and Japan.

Taken off PT, Chippenham - Tuesday 12th November 1940

8th November 1940 – Italian offensive in Albania.

9^th November 1940 -  death of Neville Chamberlain, formerly Prime Minister of Great Britain, who thought he had gained ‘peace for our time’ from Hitler at Munich in 1938.

 

Chippenham

Tuesday

My Darling Chotie,

                                        Thanks a lot for the letter.  It seemed I hadn't heard from you for such a time.  Even a few days seems like years now.

     I have some rather distasteful news I'm afraid.  As far as I know, all 48 hours have been stopped for the present.  Isn't it a blow?  I was expecting to get home this coming weekend.  The only leave going now is seven days, and, as there are about 200 blokes here all due for it, rather cuts me out.  Still we mustn't be too downhearted as I expect I can manage a 48 during the next few weeks, whether they’re stopped or not.

     I was hoping to see Pete by now.  I don't suppose he's too keen on coming back as he's had such a while at home.  I know I shouldn't be

     Well, Darling, I have at long last succeeded in getting returned to duty, ie. being taken off P.T.  I heard I was in for another stripe, which would have made me a Sergeant Instructor in the A.P.T.S.*, but of course I won't get that now.

     I hope to go on an NCO’s Course in a fortnight or so.  This is what I've been after for ages.  You get a chance to do Bren, Lewis** and Anti-tank, etc.  I was talking to Mr Lawson (Lt.) about a commission, and he seems to think I stand a good chance, but as far as I can see (which isn't much!) I can't do anything for some time.  Everything here is so unsettled that nothing much can be done at the moment.

     Incidentally, I learn from Diller, that she has given Monica*** my address.  She (Diller) wrote and asked me if I minded, but I wasn't keen and forgot all about it, and now she's done it without my consent.  Don't be jealous will you, Darling.

     I know just what you're thinking, Honey!  You're just thinking he can't palm me off with that slush!  Never mind, Precious, I'll give her to Brinner for Christmas.

     I'm writing this in the Y.M.C.A., which is pretty good.  (No, Sweetheart, very few ATS....)  This accounts for the ink. 

     Well Darlingest, I must close now.

                                                                   tout à toi

                                                                             Dicker

                                                                                xxxxxxxxxxxxxx etc!...

 * Army Physical Training Staff.

** Bren & Lewis were light machine guns.

*** Dick’s ex-girlfriend and friend of his sister Dilys. Brinner was Dick’s younger brother.

© Chotie Darling, 2010

 

 14th/15th November 1940 – Coventry was bombed so heavily that a third of the factories were destroyed. Over 60,000 houses were damaged, the cathedral was destroyed and more than 500 people killed.

Bombs in Birmingham - early November 1940

Chotie Darling

Part 1         The Blue Cockade

Chapter 2           Guarding England – winter

Dedicated to the memory of my mother

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

 

 

Dick was posted to the 70^th Battalion of the Bath & Dorsets

on 1^st November 1940.

He was in ‘K’ Company, based in Chippenham, until mid December.

The 70^th or Young Soldiers Battalions were formed about this time to take volunteers too young to be conscripted. They were generally over 18 and under 20.

(Dick was 19 in July 1940, soon after he joined up.)

 

from Record

Statement of Service            Army No. 5731671             Richard Kelner WILLIAMS 

THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT

Order 198/48            Unit 6^th H.D. Bn          Posted to 70^th Bn          Army Rank A/Cpl          1-11-40

 

 

3rd November 1940 – British troops arrive in Greece to fight the Italians.

 

 

NB Change of Batt.

70 Bath Dorset Regt.

‘ K’ Coy.

London Rd

Chippenham

 Wilts.

My Darling Cho-cho,

                                                                                                Well, at last I'm now able to write. It's been one long rush for the last week or so, I'll tell you all about it in a moment.

            I was very sorry to hear that F W* has been forced to close down.  It must have been rather a blow. I don't suppose you're very worried though!  Nothing worries us does it, Darling?  You can now join the ATS and get stationed near me.  That would be just about heaven I reckon.

    Talking about getting stationed near me, I'm now at a place called Chippenham, which is marvellous.  We’re billeted over a Burton's (tailors) right in the middle of the town.  I've just given the place the once-over, and when I say it's OK I don't mean maybe.  It's got some marvellous pubs, teashops & everything.  I don't know how long we’ll stay here but it's all right by me.

    I was going down to dinner on Friday when Gurd (CSM) pounced on me and yelled “Escort to Birmingham!” whereupon I proceed to pack up my goods and chattels and, having conscripted a private, set off for Brum.  It took us just about 8 hours to get there. 

     We got to Brum about 11 pm in pouring rain & blackout etc, with nowhere to sleep and no money (having lent all mine to Eric to go on leave with).  Bombs were falling all over the place.  Marshall and Snelgrove's (about as big as Bobby’s**) was reduced to an ash heap.  I ended up sleeping in a cellar under some barracks. 

    I had two days in Brum arriving back via Bristol with the prisoner who was doing his best to escape (bless his little heart...).  It was no joke, I can tell you.

    Well, Darling, I'm afraid there's nothing else of interest.  I may be able to get home this weekend, I don't know yet.

 

            I’ll write again anyway. 

                            Loving you more than ever

                                                            Your devoted

                                                                                Dicker

  

* FW was Chotie’s place of work: 

“At fourteen my Mum took me to Bournemouth for a successful interview in Mr F W Collins’ rather swanky dress shop, selling hats, furs and clothes ‘for every occasion’ in the arcade.  Mrs Pitman, the rather sad manageress (her husband was a rotter) took me in hand and trained me to be a Sales Assistant and Window Dresser.  Mrs Collins showed me how to make and trim hats. 

Mary, whose parents kept the Anglo-Swiss Hotel, also worked there. We used to hide in the lower floor and cold store room (where furs were kept in summer), putting the evening dresses against us, which were lovely, instilling in me a love of beautiful clothes.

The errand boy took a shine to me and bought me a handbag (Mum made me give it him back).  You could not, in those days, accept presents from ‘any old Harry’.

 I forgot to mention, at thirteen I won the ‘Atlanta Cup’ for physique out of all the Poole schools.  Must have been quite a dish!”  

From ‘Grandma’s Story’ written for Chotie’s grandchildren.

** Bobby’s was a large department store in the centre of Bournemouth (later Debenhams, then Bobby's again).

© Chotie Darling, 2010

"Birmingham urchins" - 18th September 1940

Posted on Wednesday 18th September 1940

Bemerton

Wiltshire

My Darling,

                                                                                                       What’s happened to you!  Haven’t heard from you for ages.  I thought you must at least be pushing up the daisies by now.

     Well Darling, I’m still fed up (as usual) and trying hard to get a transfer.  Du Rose, Gammage and myself are still being chased by the RSM.  My God, what a life we get.  It’s just an existence.

            He managed to get du Rose on two charges in the same day last week, but Eric, who is almost a BA put up a lawyer’s defence and the cases were dismissed.  It was a narrow shave, though.

I’d rather hoped that we would have been stripped, in which case I should have reverted and gone back to the ranks.  At the moment none of us care either way.  If du Rose would, I know I should.

            I’ve been reading rather a lot, having enjoyed immensely Adrian Bell’s ‘Corduroy’ and having fought, I think rather unsuccessfully, with James Cabell’s ‘Jurgen’.  I also read a Penguin (these are all penguins) entitled ‘Murder at the ‘Varsity’ ’* in which the murderer, an elderly scholastic University Lecturer, has a passion for Rabelais! – which I suppose only goes to show what Rabbi can do for you.              

        I hope you will excuse this scrawl but as I write less, so my écriture** depreciates.  I’m afraid I get duller and duller in my present company.  My former touch with ‘Les Belles Lettres’ now seems to elude me.  I often misquote Shakespeare.  An unpardonable sin.  However, I rival University Dons on the ‘Immortal Bard’ when half tight; so perhaps it’s not as bad as I make it appear.              

            At present I’m sleeping in du Rose’s tent with six Birmingham urchins – and what amazing blokes they are.  Nothing seems to get them down.  They grumble about everything one moment, and are exceptionally cheerful the next.  Their language is amazing.  They all appear to live for “tabs” (cigarettes) and kypher (skirt) and come back to the tent late at night and recount all their luck and experiences until the early hours.  Needless to say it’s all very interesting.

        Du Rose is something of a swimmer.  He is the present Midland Champ and has swum against Wainwright*** a score of times. 

 

        It’s now Tuesday afternoon & I still haven’t heard from you.  Mother wrote on Tuesday last but I only received the letter on Monday.  It had gone all the way to Warmwell although it had the Bemerton address. 

        Well Darling I must close now, still loving you more than ever    

                                                    Your devoted

                                                                        Dicker

PS Write soon.

PPS. I’ve just received your letter.

                        All is forgiven!

                                                            Dicker

* Adrian Bell was an English rural journalist and farmer – ‘Corduroy’ recounts his early experience of farming.  James Cabell was an American author of fantasy fiction.  His best known book ‘Jurgen’ was the subject of an obscenity trial soon after publication.  ‘Murder at the ‘Varsity’ ‘ is by Richard Wilson Webb, and English detective writer.

**French for handwriting.

***Norman Wainwright was a British Olympic swimmer.  At the 1938 Empire Games in Sydney he was in the gold medal winning freestyle 4 x 220 yards relay team.

© Chotie Darling, 2010

 

19^th September 1940 – the German Fleet assembled to bring their troops to Britain for the invasion was dispersed.

Returning to Tidworth - 12th August 1940

Dick met up with Chotie over the weekend of 10^th/11^th August 1940.

 

Tidworth

Monday evening

My darling Cho-cho,

 

            Just a short note to let you know that I arrived OK, and without any trouble.I’m afraid I haven’t a moment to spare as we have ‘voluntary’ apparatus tonight, termed voluntary but actually compulsory.By the time I get back it will be dark, and there are no lights here now.

 

            George was on the bus when I got upstairs, I expect you saw him. We had time for a beer in Salisbury, before going our respective ways.

 

            We got to Salisbury at 8pm, and there wasn’t a bus to Tidworth before 9pm!  This was packed full, so they ran a relief which was also packed.  This miserable bus didn’t pull out till 9.20 and arrived in Tidworth at 10.30.  From there I had about 2 miles to walk to my barracks, which I accomplished successfully by removing my boots and gumshoeing past the guards in the shadows. Quite fun.

 

I must close now darling to get to the gym in time.

 

                                All my love

 

                                            Your devoted

                                                                

                                                            Dicker

 

P.S. You might tell Brinner that I made it O.K. but don’t mention it to the rest of the family.  I have n’t time to write them.  That is of course if you should see him.

 

© Chotie Darling, 2010.

 

 

13^th August 1940 – ‘Eagle Day’, start of the major offensive by the Luftwaffe to destroy RAF airfields.

 

 

Dick met up with Chotie over the weekend of 17^th/18^th August 1940.

 

 

17th August 1940 - Hitler ordered total blockade of Great Britain.

Tom's death - 3rd August 1940

Saturday 3^rd August 1940

Bemerton

Salisbury

Wilts

Saturday afternoon

My Darling Chotie,

 

 

    I’m terribly sorry to hear such sad news about Tom*.  I was only enquiring about him a few moments before I got your letter.  Quite a number of N.C.O.s** here were transferred from the 5^th Batt., and all knew Tom well.

 

    Margaret must feel terrible about it.  I know how I should feel if anything happened to you.  She has at least one consolation, in that he was serving in the Forces, - although that doesn’t bring him back.  I hope you will convey my every sympathy to her.  I’m going to Tidworth on Monday next and will send a card as soon as I get the address there.

 

    I was made Lance Corporal a few days ago.  I was rather annoyed at only getting one stripe but will probably get another after my course.

 

    ‘D’ Company, that is, with the sole exception of myself, is going back to Dinton this afternoon.  I rather think I may be transferred to ‘G’ Company (George’s crowd) after the course.  Unfortunately, Toni & co. are all with ‘D’ Coy and consequently I must say goodbye to them in a few minutes time.  That’s the trouble.  You no sooner make friends, than you lose them.

 

    Ben and I (he’s going for a commission in the Tanks) went on the beer on Thursday evening.  We drank Salisbury quite dry, and had the helluva job to get past the guards.

The sentry with fixed bayonet said “Halt, who goes there!” etc. and Ben, quite tight, shouted “Deutschland über Allez”!, and tried to blow out the light in the guard Tent.  We staggered into the tent, fell over and woke up the next morning still attired in Service dress, gas mask etc.  What a life!

   

It’s now Saturday Evening.  I’m just waiting for six o’clock when I’m allowed out to Salisbury.  I’ve said goodbye to everyone, Toni, Ben & co. who went back to Dinton this afternoon.  They had to march in full kit! and it’s just about a heat wave today.

 

    The showers are now working here, what luxury!  I’ve just had my 6^th today.  Showers & Choties are just two things that make life worth living.

 

    Bye, bye Chubby, Darling 

        Your adoring

        Dicker

 

*Tom was engaged to Chotie’s elder sister Margaret. He was killed in a motorbike accident on manoeuvres.   

 

** N.C.O. = Non-commissioned Officer

  

© Chotie Darling, 2010. 

Dinton, sad news - 15th July 1940

 On 14^th July Churchill broadcast to the nation:

“And now it has come to us to stand alone in the breach, and face the worst that the tyrant's might and enmity can do… We are fighting by ourselves alone; but we are not fighting for ourselves alone….”

“This is no war of chieftains or of princes, of dynasties or national ambition; it is a war of peoples and of causes. There are vast numbers, not only in this Island but in every land, who will render faithful service in this war, but whose names will never be known, whose deeds will never be recorded. This is a War of the Unknown Warriors; but let all strive without failing in faith or in duty, and the dark curse of Hitler will be lifted from our age.”. 

 (Reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown Ltd, London on behalf of the Estate of Sir Winston Churchill. Copyright © Winston S. Churchill ) 

Dinton

Wilts

Monday evening

My Darling Chotie,

        Thanks for the letter which I received at lunch.

 

    I have some rather sad news. Hughes fiancée died on Saturday morning.  He was married to her 2 hours before she died.  It was the wish of both of them, and the doctors apparently thought that it would help her to recover.  She actually recovered her memory for about ten hours.  It made me feel pretty bad and also Toni, as we are rather attached to Hughes who is one of the best.

 

    I haven’t been too good lately; suffering from what I thought must have been food poisoning.  I haven’t eaten anything for a couple of days, but stuck to my usual ration of beer, and now feel much better.  I carried on as I couldn’t very well go to the M.D. so soon after starting the P.T. stunt.

 

    However, to revert to more cheerful stuff, I have seen the photos they took of us.  What do you think of them?  As usual, you come out marvellously. 

 

    I understand that Pete is coming here, putting his age on a little … (sotto voce).  I hope Brinner* can manage to do the same.  I don’t know what Ma will say however.

   

I met some really decent chaps here, from all over the place, all writing letters home…

   

However, must close now, as there is simply nothing to say now.

 

    Bye, bye, darling

 

    Dicker

PS Je t’aime encore.

 

 

* Brinner was Dick’s brother Brian, two years younger than him

  

Chotie at Fairhaven, Parkstone, 7th July 1940

  

 

© Chotie Darling, 2010. 

 

 

Dinton, a PT Instructor - 11th July 1940

 Dinton

Wilts

Thursday

My Darling Chotie,

    Have just received you letter, for which many thanks.  I am replying immediately, as usual ….

   

I started P.T. instructing this morning and hope to get a stripe soon.  Toni got one this morning, but as he’s had a lot of previous military training this is to be expected.  I went for an interview with the C.O. - quite satisfactory, apparently.  I get every afternoon off, and have been excused all parades, etc. 

The P.T. instructor is quite a decent sort of bloke.  He’s getting married in a few weeks time, poor chap.  I hope she can cook … He says he will sign a pass (week-end) for me almost anytime I like, so I think I can manage to get home on my birthday (ie about two weeks time). 

    I’m just going to have some tea now.  More later.

Having had 2 pieces of bread & jam comprising tea, I feel a little more contented.

It’s the helluva job to get anywhere to write in this camp.  I’m writing with the pad supported on my lap.  (That’s where you ought to be …)  All the camp had the afternoon off.  There was a crowd of W.A.T.S* at the gate for some time.  Most of the boys trooped down but I wrote to my little Cho-Cho instead.  I think I deserve a big kiss.  How about it?

    Hughes' fiancée has recovered quite a bit according to the doctor, but has no memory yet.  Hughes is going to see her next weekend after his brother’s wedding – hope he bungs back a bottle or two. 

I forgot to tell you that George turned up on Monday night – just after I posted your letter.  He’s getting on very well in ‘G’ Company with Hughes.  George and I won our first game of darts together on Tuesday night.  We hope this will be the first of many victories.

Give my love to Pete’s Barbara the next time you see her and tell her, I already have one Barbara, and as she’s rather a handful, I have all my work cut out to keep her under control without any more. 

 

I hope you will give my wishes to Betty** & Leslie for perfect marital bliss in the future and all possible happiness.

There’s a bloke with a wonderful voice in this tent singing “At the Balalaika***”.

        Je t’aime encore****

Bye, bye, darling,

     Dicker

PS Write soon (or needn’t I say that!)

 

* Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service

** Chotie’s eldest sister who married Leslie Hall in 1940

 

*** Song from the popular 1939 film based on Posford and Grün’s operetta ‘Balalaika’.

**** "I love you always"

 

      
 

© Chotie Darling, 2010. 

 

Dinton first letter - 27th & 28th June 1940

  

Quidhampton

Wilts

Thursday evening

 

My darling Chotie,

 

  

Thanks a lot for the letter.  It cheered me up no end.

I also had a letter from Mother and one from Diller*, at the same time.

   

We are having a pretty strenuous time at the moment, two route marches and two sessions of P.T. every day, as well as squad drill.

 

    We have now received details of our future training in the army - we do six weeks concentrated training, at Quidhampton, to which we are returning on Saturday or Monday next.  (We are at Dinton at the moment, a small – I should say minute - village, in the heart of rural Wiltshire, situated about 10 miles from Salisbury.  There is one shop and one pub.  It’s hopelessly dull, as we have nothing to do after about 5 o’clock pm.)  After this 6 weeks we are posted to various isolated centres on guard duty, par example – aerodromes (which are the best), bridges, petrol dumps, and key positions. 

 

Our sergeant told me that this is a cushy job, with as much as forty-eight hours leave every week in some cases!  I must get posted within thirty miles of Poole, in order to be able to get home and back within the 48 hours.  The only thing to do is wait and hope as Dumas** says.

   

Please excuse this paper etc but until I can get to Salisbury its all I have.

   

 Bye, bye darling

 Dicker

(PS The food here is putrid)

 

 

I wasn’t able to post this letter yesterday and consequently have added another sheet.

 

As I stated, the food is rotten, and there is very little of it.  We get nothing whatsoever after 4.30pm every day.  There is a canteen here and half our money goes on food.  It’s criminal.  However, we are constantly reminded that there is a war on and cannot really grumble.

 

We get up about 6 in the morning and wash & shave in the open air.  We have to be in each evening by 10 o’clock, but as there is nothing to do and we are always pretty tired, we don’t particularly mind.

 

They are mad on discipline here.  Every thing has to be just so or you’re in trouble straight away.  I’d still go through it all just to get back to civilian life.  I might mention that 15 blokes deserted a couple of days ago owing to the conditions.

 

I think about you a lot, Darling.  It’s terrible not seeing you.  Were it not for the fact that we are on the go all day, I think I’d go mad. 

 

I’m going to put in for leave in about a fortnight or three weeks time.  I hope it will be successful.  I may get off on Saturday dinner time and will be at home Saturday afternoon.  I’ll have to leave again Sunday tea time.

 

We can but hope.

 

 I must close now darling

 Bye Bye

    Dicker

 

* Diller was Dick’s sister Dilys, two years older than him

 

** “Until the day when God shall deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in these two words,--'Wait and hope'.” Quotation from ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ by Alexandre Dumas.

  

© Chotie Darling, 2010.

 

On 30th June 1940 Germany began occupation of the Channel Islands.