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)

18^th August 1941 – local fire brigades were replaced by a National Fire Service.

Possible that Dick got his 7 days leave on 22^ndAugust as hoped for.

25th August 1941 – British and Russian troops invade Iran.

Posted on 17 August 2011 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Meetings with Chotie | Permalink | Comments (0)

German class - Monday 11th August 1941

Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hants

Monday Morning

My Darling,

It's not often that I begin an epistle to you at this hour in the morning - it's now only 8.30 - but as I have some time to spare, I thought I'd start anyway.

It's been raining hard since réveillé and looks like going on all day. I suppose it will stop by about eleven or so. I'm meant to demonstrate sniping to the Company Commanders at nine o'clock but with this rain I suppose it will be postponed - at any rate I hope so.

Thanks for your last letter. I've passed on best wishes to Eric (I'm too jealous to give him your love...) who returns same. I haven't seen Pete lately and JP is on leave.

Incidentally my leave is down for the 22^nd of this month but we have been warned that all leave will probably be a month late, so it's not a bit of good to back on it. It would be marvellous if I could get it, as it's only about ten days time.

Eric and I went to the flicks yesterday and saw ‘Typhoon’ (Lamour & Preston). It's a bit ancient but very good. I don't know whether you saw it or not. Don't miss it if you get the chance. Eric & I also joined the Gosport Library - which is an excellent one in every way.

We have just started a German class, but I hope to carry on with my letter. The Education Sergeant is very ancient and could easily overlook this writing. At the moment he’s chalking up lines and lines of German on the blackboard - I've no idea what - I never do.

Well, I just had a break for lunch so am once again at it.

Hell! I wish I could get my Seven Days... and don't you start talking about going Russian either, or I'll start…

We are now having a lecture on mopping-up paratroops - a lot of bloody rubbish… They are under the impression that a section (one Lance Corporal & nine men) could easily finish off 18 paratroops, which is ridiculous as a British Army section has only one Bren Gun, possibly a Tommy gun and seven or eight rifles, whereas paratroops have each a light machine-gun, and bristle with Mills bombs*, grenades etc. That's the Army all over - mass slaughter.

I'm just going to dinner, so I'll probably feel better after that.

Well, Darling I've had dinner and do feel considerably better for it. Excuse the ink (unusual for me) but as there appears to be a pen here I thought I may as well use it, perhaps it helps to make my writing legible.

It has cleared up and the sun is shining once again - think of the time when it will always be shining, Sweetheart, when there shall be ‘no wars nor rumours of wars**’... That little cottage with the thatched roof and glorious roses...And a Queen Anne bed... (?)

This nightmare of separation will soon be over Darling, and then we'll start to live again. That's if you'll still love me then. All I ever do is hope & pray that you will. Please tell me you will, Darling, and I'll get some sleep at night...

Well, Precious I must close here as I have to go on parade at 2 o'clock.

All my love, Darling,

Your loving,

Dicker

* kinds of hand grenade

** Mark Chapter 13 Verse 7 “And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet …” from Authorized King James version of the Holy Bible (Matthew Chapter 24 Verse 7 is very similar).

13^th August 1941 – fighter aircraft arrive at R.A.F. Hurn to become the secret Telecommunications Flying Unit. (From ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004).

14^th August 1941 – Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the USA, and Winston Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter, a joint statement of their mutual goals for the post-WW2 world.

Posted on 11 August 2011 in Army life, Dorset, Film, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ich liebe dich - Tuesday 5th August 1941

Fort Brockhurst,

Gosport, Hants.

Chotie Darling,

Many thanks for your letter. It had its usual cheering effect on me - Honey, they never fail. How do you do it?

Hope you are still feeling OK and not too browned-off. Eric's presence has cheered me up considerably - but I'm pretty fed up, and Eric coming back from six months rest is also likewise.

There are one hell of a lot of mosquitoes here and one of the ------- bit me just under the eye-lid causing the eye to close up completely - and do I look a sight! Darling, you wouldn't like to see me now.

Leave, I'm sorry to say is hopeless at the moment, no one seems to be going, and there are three blokes in this room who haven't had a Seven Days for seven months! - which makes my three months look pretty silly. It's a scandal when you come to consider that a soldier is allowed four Seven Days a year and five 48 hrs. What a war!

This Intelligence course looks as though it's going on forever. We’re going to have a month under canvas soon - I don't know where - so I suppose all leave will be cancelled then.

Eric and I have just had a supper in the NAAFI, so my (our) condition has improved somewhat. I've just been reading “France” the Free-French newspaper in an effort to keep my French more or less fluent. What with German & Spanish it's rather difficult when I don't get any practice. Spanish I find very easy as I like it, but not so German - but then you'd expect swine to have a swinish language.

At the moment (on the course), I do six hours German and three hours Spanish per week ---. I won't be able to speak English soon.

How's everyone at home? I hope all are well and full of spirits etc. Talking of spirits, Eric and I had our fill last Thursday - we had enough to float a dinghy.

We went out with Pete and J.P. last night. Eric and I got in at about a quarter to eleven, but JP didn't arrive until after midnight, having found a woman from Brum. Pete being on detachment in ‘B’ Company can get it at any time.

Well, I must close here, as it's nearly lights out and I have to make my bed up.

All my love

all yours

Dicker

PS. Ich liebe dich*.

* I love you (German)

9^th August 1941 – the Maid Honor crew set sail from Poole for West Africa and Operation Postmaster. They arrived at Freetown , Sierra Leone, on 20^th September 1941.

10th August 1941 – end of Double Summer Time to facilitate “early to bed and early to rise”. Replaced by the clocks going forward from Greenwich Meantime just one
hour instead of two.

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

Posted on 05 August 2011 in Army life, Dorset, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Poole | Permalink | Comments (0)

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.

Posted on 29 July 2011 in Army life, Family, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Horse Riding - Sunday 20th July 1941

Intelligence Section, HQ Company, 70th Dorsets

Fort Brockhurst, Hants, Nr Gosport.

My Darling Chotie,

Many thanks for the letter received this morning. Don't ever stop writing to me, Honey, as your letters mean so much to me. I also had a letter from home, and some drawing stuff I'd asked them to send.

Things here on the intelligence are still very nice.

We were out on exercise on Tuesday and Wednesday in the country about 20 miles from here. We slept in the barn of a farm - and what a farm! It was the home farm of the country estate and a pretty marvellous place believe me. You'd have loved it I know. Miles from anywhere, and all the estate thickly wooded. The House was Gothic style and covered with ivy. They also had some superb horses …. and thereby hangs a tale.

There were four of us - Johnny, Welsh, Sherman and myself. Welsh & Sherman come from Plymouth and are both rather tough. We happened along a chestnut mare - a beautiful animal, with a filly by her. We made friends with this hoss and decided to have a shot at riding her.

I got a leg up from John and I was no sooner on her, when she started -and when I say she started I don't mean maybe ... she tore round & round that field a couple of times, stopped dead and started bucking as though her life depended on it.

I hit the ground! No kidding! I hit the ground on that part of my anatomy where it hurts most. I had to sleep on my tummy that night....

However all is well now - my poor bottom having recovered from the shock.

As I'm writing this, we're all on another exercise, (Defence), inside the Gosport area, and as my duties for the next four hours are to sit in the Intelligence Office and listen for the phone, I have plenty of time to spare - for a change believe me.

We are on this stunt all the weekend and are all confined to billets. However, I've been out a few times during last week and as it's raining hard at the moment I'm not worrying.

I've recently seen “Mr & Mrs Smith” (very good), “ Honeymoon for three” and “ Spring Meeting”. All three were pretty good. I definitely advise you to see the first named as it will give you ideas to say the least.

Well I must close here as I'm out of paper.

All my love, Sweetheart,

Your adoring,

Dicker

PS. Du bist meine geliebte!* (German)

* You are my beloved!

La France publication for 23^rd Juillet, published in England to use in ‘French studies’

23rd July 1941 – Japan occupies all of Indochina under agreement with Vichy France.

26^th July 1941 – US and British Commonwealth freeze all Japanese assets and the US suspends relations with Japan.

Posted on 20 July 2011 in Army life, Film, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The Intelligence crew - Saturday 12th July

Chotie Darling

Dedicated to the memory of my mother

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

Part 1 The Blue Cockade

Chapter 4 Intelligence

Dick was in Intelligence from early July 1941,

probably until 20^th April 1942 when he officially transferred from the 70^th Dorsets to Reconnaissance.

The secrecy surrounding certain Intelligence units

meant that participants often remained officially assigned

to their original regiments.

From July to September 1941

he was Trooper Williams Intelligence Section, HQ Company, still assigned to Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hampshire

while he trained in Winchester (probably at King Alfred College) with the 'Other Ranks' for the Intelligence Corps.

July 1941 – coal also now rationed.

July 1941 – formation of the British Special Air Service – a small scale fighting force suited to raiding and reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and close quarter combat deep behind enemy lines. They were the first to use the motto “Who Dares Wins” and were parachute trained to reach the enemy by air.

1st July 1941 – Germany and Italy recognise the Japanese government of China.

3rd July 1941 - Soviet Premier Josef Stalin exhorted the Russian people to defend their soil by adopting a "scorched earth" policy, destroying anything that might be useful to the German advance.

Dick’s ‘Seven Days’ leave

appears to have been taken at the beginning of July,

at about the time he joined the Intelligence section.

The Sandbanks peninsula, Poole, had been a restricted military area since July 1940 but in the summer of 1941 sea bathing was once more permitted for residents of Poole on a small strip of the Sandbanks beach. This was courtesy of the Russian resistance to Hitler’s forces deterring Germany from any invasion of Britain. Before the war Chotie’s family had a cherished beach hut at Shore Road, Sandbanks, but all the huts were removed to clear the line of fire against invading forces in 1940.

“Happy days were spent in the summer going to the beach. We had a hut on the sands at Shore Road, Sandbanks and I cannot remember when I could not swim. We pumped up car tyres, which were great fun to dive through and play with - these were the days before lilos and plastic beach toys. In the evening we would collect all the rubbish left by picnickers and have a bonfire. Salty, sandy and dishevelled, glowing from the day in the sun and weary from all the playing of games and swimming, we were piled into the back of the milk delivery van to wend our way home.” From ‘Grandma’s Story’ written by Chotie for her grandchildren.

FAREHAM SERVICES INSTITUTE

Intelligence Section

HQ Company, 70th Dorsets

Gosport, Hants.

My Darling Chotie,

Having just been to the flicks and finding myself at the above address, I thought I’d write you to let you know what news there is and that I arrived back safely but very late. The trains were all over the show at So-ton and I had to go all the way to Romsey, from Totton, and then back on the same train to So-ton. When I got to Fareham the last bus had just gone, and consequently in the company of several others I had to walk (!) to Brockhurst - about six miles!

And not one car passed me all the way.

In the interests of National Economy I am using both sides of this note paper.

This Intelligence game is proving to be a cinch, ---- all to do and plenty of time to do it in. It is in fact, just my vocation.

We've just been to see ‘ Honeymoon for Three’ - quite amusing. I was going to see ‘Rebecca’ again but it was on in some vague suburb of Pompey, and consequently I changed my mind.

I went to the Coliseum again last night. Annette was there again – strip-tease. I regret to say I got hopelessly tight afterwards. There were four of us, and I've no idea how we got back again and believe it or not, I was by far the most sober of us all.

After an hour's steady drinking, it developed into a competition, and we started on Brandy and Chablis. Gertie (Kirkwood) was crawling about under the table before long, and Welsh, a bloke from Plymouth Grammar, looked decidedly ill. Billy Ede, has lived most of his life in France & Germany and is consequently rather hardened. After that we got split up and Bill and I later found the others in Gosport trying to climb a pile of sandbags. I managed to get to bed, but got up again about midnight and had a cold shower which sobered me up considerably.

I'll never forget that night. We're all on Intelligence. What a crew. I had the devil of a hangover this morning, but luckily it's Saturday so there's ---- all to do.

Well, Darling, there's no news as usual. I hope you managed to get back all right.

I've written with some pens in my time, but I've never seen the likes of this one. The ---- nib keeps getting crossed.

I must say bye bye now Darling as I have to get a bus back to Brockhurst.

All my love, Darling,

Dicker

PS. Je t’aime encore de tout mon coeur.

12th July 1941 – surrender of Vichy French Syria and the Lebanon to the Allies.

13th July 1941 – Anglo-Soviet Pact. Britain and the USSR pledged to assist one another against Hitler.

Posted on 12 July 2011 in Army life, Dorset, Film, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Poole, Records, Theatre & Ballet, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

Out to lunch - Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th June 2011

MT Section, HQ Company

Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hants

My Darling Chotie,

I'm sorry I haven't written before but have been very busy for the last few days, working nights as well. There's so little news to tell you, as usual.

It's been very hot today (and yesterday) - scorching in fact. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to sunbathe, the only thing to do in this weather... I always was pretty lazy! Beachcombing in Tahiti is my true métier! What about it, after I get out...? You'd have to wear a sarong... You won't have much to lose, then...

Wouldn't it be marvellous, though! Just think of it - live on bananas & things. Wear pyjamas and a bandit's hat, roll your own cheroots, and sink a drop of Bourbon or Rye...

To change this too-good-to-be-true subject - there's going to be a Regimental Sports on Monday, and feeling bold I've entered for the Mile. I expect to withdraw in about the 2nd lap. However, I'm doing a bit of training so may last to the 3rd. Time will show… There's a Lance Corporal here who comes from the 5^th Battalion where he broke their 100 yds record. I did a bit of training with him tonight. He's pretty mustard.

The Colour Sergeant took my name for the leave roster today, so I shall get another Seven Days in about six weeks or so. Maybe.… I hope to get home for a weekend soon but things are very difficult at the moment. This week is out of the question I'm afraid.

Bye, bye My Darling,

All yours

Dicker.

PS. Love you.

Thursday

As I expected to see you today, I didn't post this letter - and so I'm writing a bit more.

I had to go to Bournemouth with the Second-in-Command Major Miles. We went on to Poole and he gave me half an hour or so for dinner, so of course I went home. Coming through Bournemouth on the way back he went home (he lives at Southbourne) which gave me some ten minutes or so. I tried to phone you, as you know by now, but unfortunately you were out somewhere. It was dinnertime... Just our luck.

Still, I'll manage to see you soon - never fear. I shall certainly get my Seven Days on time. Probably in about six or seven weeks.

I did my best mileage to date today – 12.8. It surprised me what a strain it is - especially when you're not used to it.

I must close here as I have no more paper.

All of my love Chotie Darling,

Dicker

PS. Love you, Love you, Love you.

22nd June 1941 – start of Operation Barbarossa, Germany’s (surprise) invasion of Russia.

Posted on 18 June 2011 in Army life, History, Letters from Dick, Sport | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Private Williams

Copy of Record

Statement of Service Army No. 5731671 Richard Kelner WILLIAMS

THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT

Order 113/41 70^th Y.S. Bn Reverts at own request Rank Pte 7-6-41

CERTIFICATE

CERTIFIED that I wish to revert to the rank of Private at my own

request and not in order to escape trial by Court Martial.

Gosport. RKWilliams Corporal

70^th (YS) Bn. The Dorset Regiment

COUNTERSIGNED

MR.Steel Lieutenant-Colonel,

Gosport Comdg. 70^th (YS) Bn. The Dorsetshire Regiment.

8^th June 1941 - Allied forces invaded Syria and the Lebanon.

Letter posted Monday 9th June 1941

‘D’ Company

Fort Brockhurst, Gosport.

My Darling Chotie,

Thanks a million for the letter. I've only just got it as I suppose it was held up at Soton.

Well, Honey, I've got some news this week! I'm now a private again.

I got so utterly fed up with this Battalion, that I sent in an application to the Old Man to revert to the ranks. He refused, saying he considered me better as an NCO, than as a private. He then asked me why I wished to revert, so I let him have it!

I told him I'd sooner serve as a Mess Orderly in a fighting unit than a Sergeant-Major in this. That shook ‘ee!

He asked me whether I'd like to go on MT*, driving, probably on a motor-bike, should there be a vacancy. I told him I would, so may start there soon. At any rate I'll get a transfer.

I told the Old Man that all the NCOs did here was to wet-nurse a lot of kids who should be in the Boy Scouts.

So here I am. Being a Private will give me a wonderful chance to swot up, which I intend to do. Besides, driving is more fun than fooling about in barracks, etc. I shall probably break my neck, but that's how it goes.

(Don't forget to address all correspondence to Private name & number)

Will you still love me as a private, Darling? That's all I'm worried about.

George was going to chuck his in, but he's got some sick leave, so I don't know much about it.

I went to the Coliseum at Portsmouth, yesterday, and saw a Strip-Tease Act. The compere said “The more you applaud, the more she takes off.”! Did the boys give her a hand! I went with John and Ted Rendall, - we nearly killed ourselves laughing.

Later The only good thing at this place is the showers. They're hot almost always. I've just had one, after dinner, and do I feel ‘in the pink’! I could kill an ox.

Well, Darling I must close here, with all my love. Please write and tell me you still think of me now & then.

Bye, bye, Darling

Your own loving hubby,

Dicker.

* M.T. = Mechanical Transport

Dick was in the Mechanical Transport Section of HQ Company

(still in the 70^th Dorsets) for the rest of June 1941

14th June 1941 – America freezes the assets of German, Italy and Axis occupied countries.

18th June 1941 - Turkey signs a 10 year non-aggression pact with Germany. Free French forces occupy Damascus, the capital of Syria.

Posted on 09 June 2011 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Photos, Promotion/Demotion, Records, Theatre & Ballet | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Fort Brockhurst, Gosport - Friday 6th June 1941

5731671 Cpl Williams RK.

‘D’ Company, 70^th (YS) Bn Dorsets.

Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Hants.

My Darling Chotie,

Just a few brief lines to let you know I'm OK, etc, and give you the new address. I’m still on Ord. Sergeant, and consequently don't have one minute to spare all day. I'm up at 5.30 and generally don't get to bed before eleven. I’m afraid I can’t write much as I only have a few minutes to spare.

As you will see from the address we are in an ancient fort*, built I understand in the Napoleonic days.

Things on the whole ain’t so bad, but discipline is very hot. There’s a tremendous amount of spit and polish…which isn’t exactly to my liking.

I haven’t been outside billets for eight days which also hasn’t been much fun. But that’s the army anyway...just think of that chicken farm!

I started to write this letter in ink, but was called away by the CSM. Since then my pen’s disappeared, mysteriously...some -------‘s got it.

I haven’t had a letter from you (or from home) as I believe some fool of an officer at Southampton is holding them up. The rat...

It’s raining like hell at the moment (9 pm). Before going to bed tonight, I've got to take First Post (9.30) - and also Company Roll call, Last Post (10.0) - which is also a Staff Parade when I have to report the Company present or otherwise to the Orderly Officer, and then see that all lights are out at 10.15. After this I have to call a roll of all NCOs in the Company at 10.30. After that I may with luck get straight to bed. I'm then called by the Guard at 5.30 the next morning...

I'm afraid I can't write any more, Honey, as I've only got a few minutes before First Post. I come off the Ord Sgt on Friday so will write you a nice long letter then.

Bye, bye, Darling,

Your own loving

Dicker.

PS. Love you lots - more than ever....xxxxxxxxxxx

* Fort Brockhurst was built to protect Portsmouth against French invasion but in the mid-nineteenth century. It is now open to the public as English Heritage's treasure store for the south of England - see Fort Brockhurst .

Posted on 06 June 2011 in Army life, History, Letters from Dick, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

Moving to Gosport - Friday 30th May 1941

Southampton

Friday AM.

My Darling Chotie,

Is anything wrong? I haven't heard from you for years! If you have written, I certainly haven't had it. I hope there's one on the way, and everything's all right.

I'm afraid the main theme of this letter must strike a sad note, as I'm Orderly Sergeant for a week, which means I can't get off at all this week-end. I was hoping to get home, ---- it...

All 48 hrs have been cancelled owing to our move, which is to Gosport, or rather in between Gosport & Fareham. I understand it's 3 miles from anywhere, which doesn't sound cheerful. However, we must hope for the best.

This Orderly Sergeant racket isn't so good. You have to be the first up in the morning, - to get the Coy. up, and you're the last in bed at night.

I hope this will reach you before Saturday as I don't want you to think I may be coming, all the time, when it's imposs.

We are moving to Gosport on Tuesday - at least that's the orders so far. They'll probably be cancelled two or three times before then. That's the Army, all over.

How are you, Cho Darling? It seems such ages since I heard from you - whereas it's only about five days really.

John's just gone on Seven Days, lucky ------- ! He'll have to come back to Gosport. I haven't heard anything of Eric. I expect he's enjoying himself somewhere or other, with Jean. Another lucky ------ !

Never mind, Sweetheart, it'll soon be all over bar the shouting. And then ...

Don't you think it's worthwhile though? It's certainly something to keep us going. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that I'll always like the Army for one thing - it's shown me how much I do miss you, more than I ever dreamed. I love you such a terrible lot, Darling. I'm always thinking about you, and hoping & praying that you're safe and well.

In these horrible days, no one is really safe, what with bombs & land mines & things. Please, Tootsie, take care of yourself, you're so precious to me.

I hope this letter won't make you split your stays with laughing, but I just had to tell you how much you mean to me.

I'd better close here.

Bye, bye, Precious,

your loving,

Dicker.

Dick was based in Gosport until September 1941

31^st May 1941 - Germany’s Luftwaffe accidentally bombed Dublin (the Republic of Ireland was neutral during World War 2).

Collapse of the pro-Axis revolt in Iraq.

1st June 1941 – rationing began for cloth, clothes, footwear and knitting wool with 66 coupons per person, reduced to 48 in the middle of the war and 36 by 1945. See rationing on the Fashion Era website.

Chotie worked in fashion and would have been quite miserable about these restrictions although she became a very able seamstress, making and updating her own clothes.

Eggs also started to be rationed in June 1941 – people were allowed one egg per week but could usually only obtain dried powdered egg. Chotie’s family ran the Creekmoor Dairy in Parkstone and were often able to obtain fresh food from the farms.

Milk was not rationed but could be difficult to come by since many of the pastures for dairy cows were ploughed to grow crops during the war. See Rationing on the Home Sweet Home front website.

Posted on 30 May 2011 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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.”

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)

Posted on 27 May 2011 in Army life, Books, Dorset, Family, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Photos, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

Winchester Intelligence course - Wednesday 21st May 1941

Dick was on the 4th Division Intelligence Course

at HQ 4^th Div. in Winchester

from Sunday 18^th May to Saturday 24^th May 1941

20^th May 1942 – Germany invaded Crete.

Winchester

Wednesday Morning

Darling,

Sorry I haven't been able to write before. I've been on the course for 2 days now and so far haven't had a spare moment.

I don't mind that so much, but unfortunately I won't be able to receive any mail whilst I'm here. This means I won't hear from you until Saturday night at the earliest. Rather a blow, but these things can't be helped.

The course is very interesting to a bloke who knows sweet ---- all about Intelligence. I don’t suppose I’ll know much more about it when I’ve finished but still....

Incidentally, I get back on Saturday night, which means the CSM will try to jump on me for guard on Sunday. If, however, I can evade this, I’ll send a telegram on Saturday night to let you know whether I can get the day off. I’ll probably have to go on Church but still, we get back about 11.30. I believe.

I’m afraid I can’t write any more, Darling as it’s now nearly 0900 hrs. We have to be in the Lecture Room by 0930 and it’s a fair way to walk. (I’ve just had a marvellous breakfast!)

Bye bye Darling,

Your adoring

Dicker

Dick had his rank as full Corporal confirmed on 21^st May 1941.

Copy of Record

Statement of Service Army No. 5731671 Richard Kelner WILLIAMS

THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT

Order 100/41 70^th Y.S. Bn

Promoted War Substantive Army Rank Cpl 21-5-41

24^th May 1941 – HMS Hood was sunk by the Bismarck with the loss of 1,416 men, out of a crew of 1,419, in the Battle of Denmark Strait.

24^th May 1941 – Picture Post, the most popular magazine of the time, predicted that Poole (where Chotie lived) with the Isle of Wight and coast by the New Forest would be one of the four main landing areas for German invasion.

"Poole was the first landfall out of Cherbourg. It's gentle shelving beaches were ideal for invasion while, as a landing base, it had 5,000 feet of quays, wharfage facilities and equipment for handling cargoes. It also provided airfield facilities for the BOAC flying boats and had millions of gallons of petrol stored near its quays."

Hitler's plans for invasion in 1940 included the landing of the 6th Army from Cherbourg on the Dorset coast.

(From ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980.)

Posted on 21 May 2011 in Army life, Dorset, History, Letters from Dick, Photos, Poole, Promotion/Demotion, Records, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Saving 10 shillings a week - Thursday 15th May 1941

Thursday 15^th May 1941

Soton

Thursday.

My Darling Chotie,

I've just received your letter and am replying instanta*.

I'm glad you managed to get back safely - I worried about you a lot I'm afraid - but then you always say I worry too much anyhow.

I've just come back from hospital. I went in yesterday morning, and the MO, having taken a casual look at my arm, promptly told me to go to bed for 24 hours, and that he'd have a go at it in the morning. I had a miserable time in bed, being treated like a b-----y invalid and having my temp. & pulse taken about every half hour. However, the MO probed about with it for about half an hour this morning, and then sent me back to the unit with my arm in a sling.

Well, so much for that.

What do you think of the photos? I thought they were very good, especially the one of you with Michael**. You looked lovely Darling, just as I always think of you.

I regret to say I've got to go on this course on the 18th, which unfortunately is Sunday - the hell of a nuisance but we must hope for the week after (as usual). I don't expect you’re feeling too pleased having to go back this afternoon, at any rate it will be a very short week.

I've seen the pay clerk and am only going to draw 25 shillings from this week onwards. That will be saving 10 shillings a week, which isn't too bad after all.

I am also going back to P.T. after this course. It’s a waste of a good course, but I don't care. I get fed up with doing guards etc. Such a wretched waste of time in my opinion.

I'm always grumbling, ain't I darling? Anything connected with the Army is enough to start anyone grumbling.

Old George has just come in, (I'm in the Corporals’ Room). He's had a tooth out, so he's moaning about everything in general. We’re just having a discussion on our Officers and we've come to the conclusion that there isn't one of them worth a stripe, let alone a commission.

I must close now as my arm’s giving me hell.

Bye, bye, Darling

your adoring

Dicker

PS. Je t’aime encore au tout mon Coeur.***

* instantly (Italian)

** see photos on blog for 4^th May.

*** “I love you with all my heart.”

Posted on 15 May 2011 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

In a hut on the Common, Southampton - Tuesday 13th May 1941

May 1941 - cheese rationing began in Britain. The Earl of Shaftesbury and Viscount Cranborne were both in the Dorset courts this month, charged with buying black-market butter.

An observation minefield, controlled from Brownsea Island, was laid near the entrance of Poole Harbour to defend it from German E boats.

1^st May 1941 –Donald Coleman Bailey tested his prefabricated steel bridge across the River Stour at Christchurch. Bailey was later knighted for his design of the indispensable ‘Bailey Bridge’ and eventually retired to Southbourne, Bournemouth.

4th May 1941 – a German Junkers aircraft crashed on Winfrith Heath, the decoy ‘airfield’ (rigged with flares and moving lights) for Warmwell aerodrome in Dorset.

(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.)

Dick had seven days leave from 4^th to 11^th May 1941

Top photo: Dick and Chotie at 'Fairhaven', Orchard Avenue Parkstone, Poole

Above: Dick, Chotie and Brin, Dick's younger brother.

6th May 1941 – Axis aircraft begin to land in northern Iraq.

8th May 1941 – HMS Bulldog and HMS Aubretia captured a German U-boat with intact secret code books and equipment enabling a breakthrough in deciphering the German Enigma code at Bletchley Park. Picking up coded German radio messages became particularly important for revealing German war plans.

9th May 1941– six people killed when a bomb hit their family home in Weymouth, Dorset.

10th May 1941– attack on Christchurch aerodrome.

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

10th May 1941 – last raid of the Blitz in London.

12th May 1941– sinking of the Maia in Poole Harbour. This famous flying-boat had completed the first British commercial flight across the Atlantic with it’s passenger flying boat the Mercury, before the war. The attacking Heinkel bomber was brought down by fire from ships in the harbour and anti-aircraft guns. Railway line north of Bournemouth and Christchurch aerodrome were also attacked in the early hours.

(Extracts 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).

CHURCH ARMY CENTRES FOR H.M. FORCES

From Southampton

Date 13/May/41

Supplied gratis to Men of H.M. Forces for personal correspondence only.

My Darling Chotie,

I'm writing as we promised on Tuesday Evening. I hope you got back all right - it was far too late for little girls to be travelling alone, but I won't argue about that, at any rate not until I see you again.

I went sick this morning and have got off all duties so far and hope to for the next few days. I'm also getting treatment twice a day, which can't be grumbled at. There is, however, no hope of sick leave.

I'm in the Hut on the Common* at the moment trying to drown my sorrows in tea (without sugar...) I've also just had a supper so I'm not feeling too bad on the whole. I slept all day in the Corporals’ Room, and hope to do the same tomorrow. They're very good at this place (Church Army) - the old boy has just come round with free fags - two for every one in the place.

There doesn't seem anything for me to write. I haven't yet got over the shock of having to come back again. It nearly kills you after seven days of freedom - but as usual I expect to get over it OK.

Well, Sweetheart, I'm afraid there's no news of any sort to tell you. Hope your mangy sniffles are all better.

Bye, bye Darling

Your loving

Dicker

* presumably Southampton Common

14th May 1941 – the RAF attacked Syria, which was pro-Axis and governed by the Vichy French.

14th May 1941– bombing of Swanage, Dorset, including Wesley Cottage where John Wesley stayed on a preaching trip. (From ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004).

Posted on 13 May 2011 in Army life, Dorset, History, Letters from Dick, Meetings with Chotie, Photos, Poole, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

IMMEDIATE

Southampton

Thursday.

24 APRIL 1941

Darling Tootsie,

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

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

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

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

Bye bye, Darling

Don't lose hope,

Your loving

Dicker

XXXXXX

PS Thanks for letter received this morning.

“D” COMPANY

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

25 APR 1941

70^th BN. THE DORSET

RKWilliams Capt. Commanding D Coy

70^th Bn. The Dorsetshire Regt.

URGENT!

Southampton

CONFIDENTIAL! Friday

25 APR 1941

My Darling,

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

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

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

Well Darling once again bye bye for the moment.

Lots of love

Dicker

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

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

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

“For while the tired waves, vainly breaking,

Seem here, no painful inch to gain,

Far back, through creeks and inlets making,

Comes silent, flooding in, the main.

And not by eastern windows only,

When daylight comes, comes in the light,

In front, the sun climbs slow, how slowly,

But westward, look, the land is bright."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on 24 April 2011 in Army life, History, Letters from Dick, Photos | Permalink | Comments (0)

Failing the OCTU Board - Tuesday 22nd April 1941

10th April 1941– severe incendiary bombing of Poole suburbs including Broadstone, Upper Parkstone and Canford Cliffs. Water supplies were used up by fire fighting in the lower part of the town so there was no mains water to dowse the blaze at the Canford Cliffs Hotel which burnt to the ground. (The converted remains of the stable block behind the hotel accommodate The Cliff pub and the flat where Chotie was to live for 44 years).

Bournemouth was also bombed that night and several people were killed by the bombing .

11th April 1941 – Incendiary bombing and machine gun attacks in the Poole suburbs of Broadstone and Corfe Mullen.

13th April 1941– bombing of Upton, near Poole. A Heinkel crash landed at Lydlinch in North Dorset.

(Extracts 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).

13th April 1941 – Russia signs a neutrality pact with the Japanese.

14th April 1941 – Rommel besieges Tobruk, a key port in Libya.

17th April 1941 – Yugoslavia fell to Germany.

18th April 1941 – Britain warns Italy they will attack Rome if Cairo is bombed.

19^th April 1941 – British forces land in southern Iraq.

Southampton

Tuesday

My Darling Little Chotie,

As promised I'm writing as soon as possible. To cut a long story short, the Board failed me because I'd done too much service on P.T. and couldn’t therefore have enough military knowledge!

I was that mad when I heard, I could have rushed from here to there but now having cooled off somewhat I don't care twopence.

Last night I went to the Bellemoor* to drown my sorrows with John and a few others. On getting back to get to bed, however, I found I hadn't got my petrol lighter. Half crazed with grief, I rushed back to the Bellemoor to see if it was left there, despite the fact that it was after Roll-call. It wasn't there. I almost cried. Some time later John comes in and casually gives it to me saying that he had pinched it from my pocket. I was so relieved; it left me a physical wreck.

I realised then, Darling, that every thing connected with you means far more than anything this world has to offer, least of all commissions. If only I could tell you how much you really do mean to me, Tootsie. It makes the Army seem so insignificant.

At the present rate things are going, it should be all over in six months to a year. Just wait ‘till then...

I mustn't write any more Darling, as I have to make out a pass for my Seven Days. I doubt if I'll get it now as things appear to be bad in that direction. But, here's hoping.

Bye, bye Darling,

Take care,

Your loving Dicker.

P.S. Vous êtes le lait dans mon thé,

Ce n’est pas possible de vivre sans toi!**

(all my own work!)

S.W.A.L.K.** etc!

* the Bellemoor Tavern in Shirley, Southampton

** “You’re the milk in my tea, it’s not possible to live without you!”

*** acronym for “Sealed with a loving kiss”.

24^th April 1941 – German forces advance into Egypt.

Posted on 22 April 2011 in Army life, Dorset, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Photos, Poole, Promotion/Demotion, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

The OCTU Board - Wednesday 9th April 1941

April 1941 – a secret commando unit, the Small Scale Raiding Force, was founded at Poole in response to Churchill’s proposal for “self-contained, thoroughly-equipped raiding units with specially-trained troops of the hunter-class” to “develop a reign of terror down the enemy coasts”. Initially their HQ was the Antelope Hotel in Poole. ‘Pop’ Seymour the landlord, the Poole pilots and the Naval Officer were the only locals who knew of their existence on 'Maid Honour', a requisitioned Brixham trawler moored in a southern creek of Poole Harbour for their demanding training on the Purbeck hills and coast.

(Extract from ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980.)

1st April 1941– 10 killed and 20 injured in a raid on Warmwell aerodrome in Dorset. (From ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004).

3rd April 1941 – beginning of pro-Axis uprisings in British Iraq.

6th April 1941 – Germany attacked Greece through Bulgaria in Operation Marita.

6th April 1941 - the Allies captured Addis Ababa, the capital of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia).

Telegram on Tuesday 8th April 1941 from Southampton

LEAVE POSTPHONED LETTER FOLLOWING = RICHARD

Southampton

Wednesday 9^th April

My Darling Chotie,

I'm writing as soon as possible to let you know the worst - and the best.

The point is this. I should have been on leave from ‘After Duty’ on Tuesday. However, on Tuesday afternoon (I only wanted about 2 hours to go!) the O.C.* (Capt Burgess) told me I wouldn't be able to go as I had some board or other on Thursday. Even if I had come home, I should have had to go back again as, if I missed going before this board, it would probably mean waiting six months or so before I had another chance.

Looking on the brighter(!) side, the O.C. said that if I get recommended for an O.C.T.U.** I should get leave before I go, which won't be longer than a fortnight away and will probably be ten days not seven.

Another thing. If I'd been going on leave and not going to see this board, I should have been inoculated and vaccinated. Well, the way it seems to affect me, I should be in bed for at least three days. I’ve still got the hell of a throat, and it's been over a week since the last.

So, altogether Darling, it’s all for the better that it has been postponed. It would have been marvellous to be home for Easter, but we can probably have as much fun afterwards. Also leaving it until after Easter, I can get much more cash than I could at the moment.

I've explained everything against taking this leave Darling, but I'm really terribly disappointed at not coming home. I’d have chucked the whole stunt to get home for Easter, but I'm not going to back out now. I spent about an hour trying to get through on the phone yesterday. I reckon all the wires were down or something - in any case, the girl was completely daft.

How have you been keeping, Darling? I feel OK now but have been under the weather for a week or so.

Incidentally, I've got hold of a battered copy of ‘Rebecca’ from a lending library in Shirley. It's due back in a week, but I can easily pay the fine. I'll send it on after this letter and bring it back after my leave.

Well, Darling here goes for breakfast. I didn't tell you it was early, did I?! I'll write some more later.

Afternoon

The O.C. called me into the office this morning and told me I have to go to Winchester tomorrow. It will only be for the day I suppose.

George will be home tomorrow for seven days. He's just been raising Cain owing to the fact that they only gave him £3 to go on leave with! Poor George...

Well, Honey, there doesn't appear to be anything else. I expect you think I've said enough already! I only hope I have some better news next time.

If they let me get away suddenly, I'll send a telegram.

Bye, bye, Darling,

Dicker

* O.C. = Officer Commanding

* O.C.T.U. = Officer Cadet Training Unit

Posted on 09 April 2011 in Army life, Books, Dorset, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Poole, Promotion/Demotion, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

THB Inoculation - Monday 31st March 1941

Southampton

Monday

My Darling Chotie,

I've just received your letter, and am replying post haste.

Well Precious for once - Good News! I put in for 7 days on Sunday, as I thought I had a chance of getting away tomorrow. This morning I was told by the Company Commander - the one we saw in the Pavilion with four women (?) - that I couldn't go this week as the CSM was going amongst others, but he has granted it for a week tomorrow (i.e. next Tuesday the 9th).

All leave may of course be cancelled by then, but we can only hope...By getting it on a Tuesday it means that I get a full weekend at home. California, here I come!

This morning I was inoculated with T.H.B. (i.e. the worst one) and can't move my left arm. I'm supposed to be in bed, but who cares. At any rate it doesn't hurt yet. I've got 48 hrs excused all Duties, which is something. I expect I'll be on my back by tomorrow - but the thought of 7 days will keep me alive.

I had a letter from Monica* this morning - as usual full of woes. She doesn't like the thought of corresponding with me when you disapprove. However Frank dislikes her writing to me anyway!

I'm afraid I can't write any more Darling as my arm’s giving me hell.

Bye, bye Darling

Your loving

Dicker

* Dick’s former girlfriend – see letter of 12^th November

Posted on 31 March 2011 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oh, for my Student days! - Thursday 27th March 1941

‘D’ Company, 70th Dorsets (No Girls School now)

Southampton

27th March 1941

My Darling Chotie,

Thanks for the letter, and Birth Certificate, it’s very good of you to go to the trouble of getting it.

Did I make my journey back sound so terrible? It was quite fun really. Everything connected with the Army is grumbled at – at the time, but doesn’t seem half so bad afterwards.

I hope you’re managing to bear up all right. Things are quite good here – all things considered – but it wouldn’t be much of a life if I hadn’t my Chubby Baby to dream about, in fact it wouldn’t be a life at all.

I had a letter from Eric to-day. He’s a queer bloke. He thanked me most profusely for ‘what I did on the beach’! I think he thought I’d have walked off and left him! He always says nothing for months after anything, and then suddenly holds forth. He also enclosed 3 shillings, which was very welcome. He owes me about £3, the rat!

I’m afraid I don’t get much time to write here, if any. I always seem to be on duty – they have a nasty habit of grabbing me when there’s any work to be done! However, who am I to grumble? I’ve got the most wonderful wife in the world, which is more than any General has.

I write so seldom now that I can hardly hold a pen! Oh, for my Student days! By the time I get out of the Army I'll be so dull I shall have to keep pigs or something. I haven’t had time to read anything lately, besides I can never get settled on any one thing for long.

I’ve been up on the range for the last three days, instructing. The best part of it is that I’m no good myself

Well, Darling, I’m on duty till lights out so I must say night night, Honey

your adoring sweetheart

Dicker

x x x x x x x

I.T.A.L.Y.*

* acronym for “I trust and love you”

27th March 1941 – a ‘sneak raider’ bomber attacked the gas works at Branksome, Poole. 34 were killed and 23 injured when the works Mess Hall was hit at lunchtime. (From ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980.)

30^th March 1941 – the German Afrika Korps began their offensive in N. Africa.

Posted on 27 March 2011 in Army life, Dorset, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Poole, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bombs every night - Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd March 1941

‘D’ Company, 70th Dorsets

Southampton, Hants.

My Darling little Chotie,

Many thanks for the letter, Darling, which I’ve just received.

It’s now Friday afternoon and I’m on guard. I went on at seven o’clock yesterday and come off at seven this evening. Unfortunately I haven’t been paid yet and probably won’t get paid until tomorrow. What abject misery!

Saturday morning.

Well, Darling I’m off guard and waiting to go on morning parade. We keep getting sirens here, about six a day. There’s always one about 6-30, (reveille)!

There are rumours about of going back to Southbourne. I only hope they’re true. In any case it won’t be for another fortnight or so. I’m pretty fed up with this place. The bombs rain down every night. I don’t mind bombs but I can’t tolerate shelters. Spending hours in shelters in the early hours of the morning is enough to make anyone fed up.

Saturday Afternoon

I’ve just come from a meeting of the Corporals’ Club. It’s not too bad as we get papers etc. in the Corporals’ Room.

Well Darling, I’m afraid there’s nothing else to tell you, except I think of you all the while and dream of that wonderful time which is bound to come after the end of the war when we can really start to live.

I’d hoped & prayed that I could have got home this weekend but, as Corporal Holloway is still at Southbourne, I’m on guard again on Sunday.

Bye bye for now Darling,

Your ever loving,

Dicker

21st March 1941 – the 'Glamour Puffer’, which brought young Poole women to work at the Royal Navy’s Cordite factory at Holton Heath, was bombed but everyone survived. (From ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980.)

Posted on 21 March 2011 in Army life, Dorset, History, Letters from Dick, Poole, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

Air Raids in Southampton - March 1941

‘D’ Company, 70th Dorsets

Southampton, Hants.

My Darling Chotie,

As I’m on guard once again I thought I’d write as I have a few moments all to myself!

I have to go on guard every three days or so – far too often - a 24 hrs guard, mounting at 6 pm and dismounting at 6 pm the next day.

It’s a regimental guard over the main entrance to the Battalion Headquarters. Needless to say everything is just so-so or the RSM* wants to know why. However, there’s a stove in the guardroom which helps matters not a little. There’s also an orderly attached to the guard who gets the meals and anything from the NAAFI.

The guard consists of one Corporal and three men, each man doing two hrs on duty and then four hrs in the guardroom. The main snag is that we have to wear full equipment and are not allowed to take it off during the 24 hrs, except for reasons too obvious to mention!

That’s enough of guards – they’re pretty depressing things anyway. To turn to a more cheerful subject, I hope to get home next weekend for a few hours – either on Saturday or Sunday. It all depends on when I have to go on guard again.

If it falls on Saturday evening it ruins me, as there wouldn’t be time to get home and I would be on guard all the Sunday. I believe, however, that I go on again on Friday, which means I come off Saturday night and could get home on the Sunday. We must trust to luck as usual. I think I can make it all right.

I’ve been to the flicks twice lately – saw ‘The Great Dictator’ and ‘Black Fury’ (Paul Muni). How anyone could see anything in the ‘Great Dictator’ I don’t know. I thought it was chronic. ‘Black Fury’ was quite good but nothing up to the usual Muni standard.

The place we go to (the only place we are allowed without a pass) is Shirley. I’ve no idea where it lies on the map but it’s inland from Southampton. It’s a pretty dull place; reminds me of the East End on Sunday – all 50 shilling tailors and patent leather.

There’s nothing to go out for anyway, as we have a first rate NAAFI and a good Corporals’ Room. The boys say there are plenty of women here but I haven’t seen any – except a couple of old bags, doubtless engaged in plying the oldest of professions. I’m afraid that’s rather crude. Almost Russian**…

Incidentally, I don’t know whether I told you I had an interview with the ‘Old Man’ and he’s recommended me. It will mean some months, as I have to wait for the recommendation to go through to the interview board. They’re the b----rs to get past and even if I get past them (which I very much doubt) I’d still have to wait to get posted to an O.C.T.U.*** Still it’s a start, I suppose.

I’ve just paused to make out the Guard reports – a wretched job as everything has to be reported – even the minutest detail.

Later

Well, Precious, it’s now just after midnight and still the sirens haven’t gone. It's really rather odd as we seem lost without them here. I expect Jerry’s stocktaking this evening… the raids lately have been almost continuous and pretty vicious. About six houses in a row, 200 yards from here came down on Saturday night.

When there’s a night raid on the shrapnel comes down like rain, from the Anti-Aircraft Barrage. There’s not a house in the whole place that hasn’t got some windows out or half the roof gone.

It’s certainly more interesting from that point of view, as there’s seldom a dull moment at night. It makes the guards a lot more fun when you can hear the shrapnel on the roof.

I’ve done very little reading lately as I don’t get very much time. I read, or rather re-read, Hitchins’ ‘The Garden of Allah’, and quite an interesting little book called ‘I’ll Tell You Everything’, written by Priestley in collaboration with some one else, which, although very light & sometimes puerile, was really rather good****.

(Every now and then I light my pipe and march up and down outside in an effort to keep awake. The stove in here makes me wish for my dear little bed…).

There’s a piano here in the Assembly Hall, on which I manage to amuse myself occasionally if no one else*****. If I can find a piano anywhere where I can play without fear of being interrupted I’m really happy for hours – which only goes to prove what a simple minded soul I must be.

Well, my precious baby, I must close here as I don’t want to put an undue strain on your eyes (?) reading all this rubbish, so I will say ‘Good Morning’, Darling,

Your ever loving,

Dicker

P.S. Please look after yourself, Darling, as you mean just everything now.

* RSM – Regimental Sergeant Major

** ‘Russian’ was a romantic code between Dick and Chotie:

“Dicker and I, so young, played wonderful games. We pretended to be ‘Russian’ and he taught me to love the ballet as he did. Having always wanted to be a dancer we pretended I was. I wore my long blonde hair in the style of a ballerina. He was a brilliant pianist and played Chopin by ear. He had a very good physique having exercised with weights and things – very muscular. How I adored him. Our lovemaking was very pure by today’s standards. Just to kiss and hold each other close was very thrilling.” From ‘Chotie’s Story’.

*** O.C.T.U. – Officer Cadet Training Unit

****Robert Smythe Hichens’ ‘The Garden of Allah’, a tale of adventure in the Sahara Desert written in 1904, was made famous by the Marlene Dietrich film of 1936. ‘I’ll Tell You Everything’ written by J.B.Priestley in collaboration with Gerald Bullett is a light-hearted crime thriller.

*****Dick played the piano fluently by ear.

Posted on 15 March 2011 in Army life, Books, Film, Letters from Dick, Music, Promotion/Demotion, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

Southampton - Wednesday 12th March 1941

Chotie Darling

Part 1 The Blue Cockade

Chapter 3 Guarding England – spring

Dedicated to the memory of my mother

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

Dick was still a Corporal in ‘D’ company

of the 70^th ('Young Soldiers') Battalion of the Dorset Regiment

March 1941 – jam, syrup and treacle also now rationed.

1^st March 1941 – Bulgaria joins the Tripartite Pact with Germany, Italy and Japan.

10^th March 1941

Dick, still a Corporal in ‘D’ company

70^th Battalion of the Dorset Regiment,

appears to have moved to Southampton around this time.

11^th March 1941 - The Lend-Lease Act was approved in the US. Through this programme the USA supplied the Allies with more than 40 billion dollars of war materials. Less than one quarter of this ‘loan’ was ever repaid.

‘D’ Company 70th Dorsets

Girls Grammar School

Southampton, Hants.

Chotie,

Well, here I am Darling, writing at my first opportunity just to let you know I arrived here safely and to let you know the address.

I don’t know whether it’s official or not but as no one ever knows the address for days after we move, I always invent my own, which is generally more or less correct & which always seems to reach me anyhow.

I’m in the N.A.F.F.I. in our billets, which is pretty good – plenty of everything including chocolate(!) and beer!

There was a lecture this evening for NCO’s by the Colonel. He kept us waiting for 1½ hours and then spoke for 10 mins. I suppose it’s a C.O.’s privilege rather like a woman’s….

This is the first ‘breather’ I’ve had for 2 days. We’ve been hard at it solidly. At the first rest I go for a beer and writing pad.

I miss you an awful lot, Darling. Much more than I can hope to tell you. It’s hell going away again. It’s hard to say how long we’ll be here. I think we’ll be going back to Salisbury soon.

There was a terrific raid here last night. It lasted from 7pm to 3 this morning. Since then we’ve had six alerts.

Leave from here will be out of the question, I think. We also have a Guard, which means more work, and greater difficulty in getting in at night. However, we must look on the bright side. I may be able to get a 48 hr or even a seven days in the next few weeks.

I’m afraid I must close here, Darling as there’s more work to do. It’s now 8 o’clock!

all my love, Precious

Dicker

PS I’ll write again tomorrow. I’ll get more time then.

Posted on 12 March 2011 in Army life, History, Letters from Dick, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Guard again - Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd February 1941

1st February 1941– a flying-boat service to neutral Portugal was established from Poole Harbour. Lisbon was the only safe staging post in Europe and became vital in supplying air support to Africa as well as Egypt and the Middle and far East via the Free French colonies in West Africa – the famous ‘Horseshoe Route’. This was a vital artery for the Western Desert campaigns.

The BOAC flying-boats had been moved to Poole from Hythe, near Southampton, in August 1939. Water runways known as ‘the Trots’ were marked out in the Main and Wareham Channels and operated from Salterns Pier (Poole Harbour Yacht Club, now Salterns Marina Hotel). Poole Harbour became the main UK civil airport during the WW2.

(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 Tel. 01963 32583).

Rye Cottage, Marine Parade W

Lee-on-Solent, Hants.

Darling Chotie,

Thanks for the letter. As I'm on Guard again I thought I'd write. It's about the only time I get. I'm on the Beach Hut Guard with no stove and only a candle for light and heat, and is it cold!

It's now just eight o'clock Saturday evening, and I'm faced with the pleasant prospect of staying in this wretched hut, awake, ‘till ten o'clock tomorrow morning. It's so damn cold now that I can hardly write - heaven knows what it will be like by about midnight.

There was an inspection of these guards by a General a few days ago. From what I can gather from various sources, he condemned the conditions and I believe there is the chance of moving again. I don't know where it will be, of course.

Everyone's fed up with this place as, apart from the food, there's nothing to be said for it. It's one long Guard - up to our necks in mud and only one wretched cinema, when we get any time off.

Anyhow, Darling, I still love you so much that even Guards become a pleasure when I think, of the glorious time we're going to have when I get back. And I don't mean maybe...

About every ten minutes someone, some clumsy ---, knocks over my candle, and if it were not for my lighter, Darling, I don't know what I'd do. I'd certainly have used a good few matches tonight.

I'm afraid as usual there's very little news - if any. Nothing of any real interest ever seems to happen.

I hope to meet Eric again soon. He's at Gosport (about 5 miles from here) and I'm trying to arrange a reunion. The snag is that it's difficult for us to both get the same night off duty. I expect we'll manage it soon - Eric's a born wangler.

Sunday Evening

I came off Guard and after a bath and some din-din, felt a lot better.

I'm afraid I can't write any more, Darling as it's just on Supper Time, and I must post this in the NAAFI as it's the only chance I’ll get.

Bye, bye Darling,

All my love

Dicker

Dick appears to have been stationed at Southbourne (in Bournemouth)

for the rest of February and into early March.

There are no letters between 2^nd February and 12^th March 1941

so he presumably met up regularly with Chotie.

9th February 1941 – Churchill’s broadcast to the nation ended:

“We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle, nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.”

The Churchill Centre and Museum

11th February 1941 – German forces arrived in Africa for ‘Operation Sunflower’, reinforcing the remaining Italian forces in Libya after the destruction of the Italian Tenth Army in the Allies' 'Operation Compass'.

Dick was promoted to full Corporal again

on 20th February 1941.

He also appears to have been moved to ‘D’ company of the 70^th Dorsets

Copy of Record

Statement of Service Army No. 5731671 Richard Kelner WILLIAMS

THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT

Order 55/41 70^th Y.S. Bn Appointed Paid Army Rank A/Cpl 20-2-41

25th February 1941 – British forces captured Mogadishu, the capital of Italian Somaliland.

26th February 1941 - following Hitler’s appeal for Spain to enter the war General Franco declares “I stand today already at your side, entirely and decidedly at your disposal”, but Spain remains neutral.

Posted on 02 February 2011 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Meetings with Chotie, Photos, Promotion/Demotion, Records | Permalink | Comments (0)

Something to be fought for - Wednesday January 1941

Lee-on-the-Solent

Wednesday.

My Darling Chubby Little Cho-cho,

Just a few lines to let you know I'm still here and still, as ever, thinking of you.

I'm on Guard at the moment (24 hrs) with three men and a Lewis Gun. (If it came to a scrap I'd sooner have the Lewis than the three men.) It's quite sunny, though still very muddy. We get our feet soaked for some 25 hrs every guard which accounts for the present number down with flu, etc.

I went to the flicks last night for want of something better to do and saw "A Primrose Path”, which I'd seen before but enjoyed.

Feeling rather good at the moment as I have an ounce of tobacco and a good dinner in my tum. That's half the trouble with men, - they’re only able to do anything when they've got plenty of food. (That is a hint for when we are married... Darling, I’ll even buy you a cookery book and an oven to practice on!)

I can hardly wait for that glorious time. Just imagine, Precious, when this is over and we can start again - swimming, sailing and just lazing in the sun... – what a time that will be. No worries about leave or bombs or anything else that keeps us apart.

We have one great consolation Cho, and that is, it will seem much better having been apart so long. It's something worth striving for.

Even if I got out of the Army, I should have to join up in something again. I couldn't be at home enjoying myself when everyone else is away from the ones they love and who I know, they'd die for, if necessary. This isn't an act Darling - it's so tragically true.

Chamberlain was only half right. He wanted peace but went the wrong way about getting it. It's something that has to be fought for - and won, after much bloodshed and toil - not something that is just written down on paper.

Am I boring you Darling? I think I must be.

It makes me feel so wonderfully happy to know you still love me after all this time. It will be just ecstasy when I get back, Darling, and believe me I will be back. That will give you something else to worry about...

We just had another 10 minute raid. That's the third in the last two hours

Well, Darling, that's about all, I guess. There is no news, as usual, except I'm still loving you every little bit, but then again that's not news, or shouldn't be by now.

Bye bye Darling,

your adoring

Dicker

29th January 1941 - US and British military leaders begin secret talks concerning a common war policy against Germany.

Posted on 29 January 2011 in Army life, Film, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (2)

Blitz in Southampton - Monday January 1941

20^th January 1941 – compulsory fire watching duty introduced in Great Britain. All shops and office buildings had at all times to be attended and, at night or in any ‘red alert’ there had to be a ‘Roof Warden’ on duty.

As an employee of Beales, in Bournemouth, Chotie had to take her turn at night-time fire watching on the roof. Beales was later destroyed by bombing on 23rd May 1943, in the worst attack on Bournemouth during the war.

Rye Cottage, Marine Parade West

Lee-on-Solent, Hants.

My Darling,

I'm writing as I promised as soon as possible to let you know that I arrived safely - but only just. I got to Southampton at 8 o'clock and then the trouble started. I didn't get back to camp until 3 o'clock this morning. There was a terrific Blitz on* and we had to wait on the station from 8.15 until 12.30! However the train eventually came and we reached Fareham, at about 2.30. Here I met with some luck as there was a naval lorry going back to the camp. It dropped me about a hundred yards from my billet.

I had to go on Guard at 7 o'clock this morning so I didn't get much sleep - and if anyone catches me asleep to-night I'm for a court-martial. What a life!

Still I mustn't grumble as my little wife is all that really matters in this heartless world. (Another proposal!) I must really get down to this proposal business when I get back in civvies...You're not going to get out of it as easily as you think...

I felt terrible this morning, Darling. It's pretty chronic when you get back from leave and haven't anyone you can call a friend in the whole company. Apart from Clive there isn't one man whom I could ever get to know or like.

Well, Sweetheart, I've just had supper, (2 zeppelins in a cloud**) and feel at ease once again.

I hope you got back from Bmth all right - and please Darling, do look after yourself, whatever you do. You'll never know how really precious you are to me. I just can't help thinking of you the whole time here.

I don't think I've ever felt so terribly depressed and lonely as I did this morning. Cho Darling, I don't know what you must be thinking about me after coming home and being so terribly cold. I suppose it's not my fault really, but I can't adapt myself to home life in a few hours. I worry too much I suppose.

Whatever happens, the next time I get home we must go to the Shipwrights’ or Norfolk*** or somewhere and get completely blotto. At any rate I'll be home earlier next time, which will mean we can at least go somewhere in the evening.

Well, Darling I must close here as the Orderly Officer is due any moment,

night, night Precious

All yours

“Dicker”

* Southampton was the one of the most heavily bombed cities (7^th) in Britain during WW2. As Britain’s number one military port and the home of Spitfire production, just across the Channel from northern France, it was an obvious target.

** Army slang for canteen sausages in mash.

*** The Shipwrights Arms was a pub on Poole Quay (demolished in 1978). Dick had taken Chotie there before the war, much to her mother’s horror. Pubs in Poole were then almost exclusively a male preserve and Chotie’s family were teetotal – even Chotie had signed ‘the Pledge’ - "We agree to abstain from all liquors of an intoxicating quality whether ale, porter, wine or ardent spirits, except as medicene.”

“My mother tore off down to the Williams’ house after she found out Dicker had taken me to a pub. I had not even been in the bar but had played skittles and drunk one grapefruit juice”. From ‘Grandma’s Story’ written for Chotie’s grandchildren. However another version of ‘Chotie’s Story’ has Dicker “sneaking me into pubs, taboo with my family in those days”!

There was little other social life besides the pubs during the war and, with war work giving many women more independence, pubs were soon frequented by both sexes.

*** The Norfolk is still a fine Edwardian Hotel near the centre of Bournemouth.

January 22^nd 1941 - British and Australian forces capture the port of Tobruk, Libya from Italy.

22nd to 25th January 1941 – German minelaying off the Dorset coast.

Last week of January 1941 – the Telecommunications Research Establishment at Worth Matravers commandeered the BBC’s pre-war television transmitter, at Alexandra Palace in London, to jam the newly refined German radio beam system for night time location of English targets.

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

Posted on 20 January 2011 in Army life, Dorset, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Poole, Pubs, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lonely Nights - Tuesday January 1941

Rye Cottage, Marine Parade W

Lee on Solent, Hants.

My Own Darling Chotie,

Many thanks for your letter received this morning. I was just embarking on a 24 hrs Guard and was consequently feeling rather depressed, when along came your letter like a breath of Spring. Darling, your letters have a wonderful effect on me. Like morphia* they soothe my somewhat jaded nerves... - and like morphia too, they raise me from the depths of despair to heights of ecstasy.

This is a tolerably decent Guard Room. There's no fire as the place is electrically heated. There's also electric light, & so for about the first time on Guard I am able to write in almost what may be termed comfort.

In King's Regulations (the Laws which govern Army Life) it says that any man may ask for a pint of tea or cocoa (free of charge) which he has during the night if on a 24 hr guard. By reason of this most noble law, I am now enjoying some steaming hot cocoa, which even if it doesn't taste like cocoa is at any rate hot...

A man is also allowed a pint of beer, but needless to say this luxury comes from his own pocket!

It's now 20.30 hrs (8.30) Tuesday evening and I am faced with the dismal prospect of staying awake all night until we dismount at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

I've just finished a very good book. It is called ‘Magnus Merriman’ and it's by Eric Linklater (of ‘Juan in America’ fame). You must certainly read it if you get the chance! I was just reminded of it because I remembered where:

“The girls who had been sitting on the sailor's knees, and had now returned to those warm seats began to sing: -

‘Morning never comes too soon, I can face the afternoon, But Oh! Those lonely nights!’ “**

I had to admit the truth of those lines. It deals with the life of a poet, from when he joins the army during the last war, to when he finally ends up in a marriage of convenience. It is brilliantly written in the usual Linklater style.

I also re-read ‘Rebecca’ (Daphne du Maurier) - in my opinion the best novel of the last five years or so. You should see the film if you get the chance as I know you'd love it.

(Lengthy pause whilst I fill my pipe).

Remember in ‘Impatient Virgin’ whenever Ruth (the heroine) walks out of a room she always left behind ‘the blue tobacco smoke mingled with the scent of dried roseleaves’! Perhaps my mind’s wandering...

How's the Guardsmen? You'd better go careful you know. I may turn up and catch you in the act – and 6ft 3 or not he's going to hit the deck mighty hard. You can take that from me.

Good to hear you had a good time at the ‘Haven’***. It's not a bad place is it? The only snag is that they can always chuck you in the sea to sober you up.

Well Sweetheart, I must close here, as the Orderly Officer is due round.

I'm afraid it's no good me trying to tell you how much I miss you. It's so much more than words can convey. I still love you with all my heart Cho Dear, as I know I always will. I think it would kill me if I ever thought you were unfaithful - but I trust you, Darling as I hope you trust me.

Goodnight Precious

Your ever loving

Dicker

* morphia – another name for morphine, a powerful narcotic painkiller.

** from ‘Happy Days and Lonely Nights’, a love song by Fred Fisher and Billy Rose.

*** the Haven Hotel, Sandbanks, Poole

Telegram on Saturday 18th January 1941 from Lee on Solent

BARBARA HOME TONIGHT = RICHARD

18^th January 1941

Dick and Chotie’s first meeting since October 1940

19^th January 1941 – Allied troops advance into Eritrea. Mussolini accepts German aid in North Africa but not in Albania.

Posted on 14 January 2011 in Army life, Books, Film, History, Letters from Dick, Meetings with Chotie, Pubs | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lorry collision - January 1941

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

My Darling,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Still loving you every bit Cho Dear,

your devoted

Dicker

The Reconnaissance Corps was established on 14th January 1941.

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

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

Posted on 12 January 2011 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (0)

Demotion

Dick was demoted to Lance Corporal

on 1^st January 1941

and transferred to ‘C’ company of the 70^th Dorsets

Copy of Record

Statement of Service Army No. 5731671 Richard Kelner WILLIAMS

THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT

Order 2/40 70^th Y.S. Bn Relinquishes appointment as A/Cpl Army Rank P/L/Cpl 1-1-41

‘C’ Company, Corsham, Wilts

2/1/41

My Darling,

Thanks for the letter. I’m afraid I’ve some not so good news in this letter. I’ve been chopped from full rank to Lance Corporal, and Pete has been made up.

During the last few months, discipline has been neglected and I was the only rank to charge anyone. Today I was hauled up in front of the Colonel and calmly told that I hadn’t any control over the men! I was amazed.

As usually happens, I have been transferred from ‘A’ Company to ‘C’ which is at Battalion Headquarters; actually at Corsham about 10 miles from the Aerodrome. This Company, which was the old ‘L’ Coy, is junior to ‘A’ and is consequently still training. This is a pleasure as it means no more guards, better food and generally better living conditions.

Pete, for some mysterious reason, has been transferred to ‘D’ Company which is also here. I don’t think he’ll last very long as I have just seen him and he isn’t feeling too good, being generally fed up.

I don’t give a damn myself. All I want to do is to get back to my little Cho-Cho. Nothing seems to really matter in the Army. All I do is live for that glorious day when this will all be over and just a nightmare best forgotten. If only you knew how much I miss you Tootsie, and how often I think of you, you’d know just how I feel.

I don’t know whether you remember me telling you about J P Clarke (“JP”) who went on a 48 without permission. Well, he’s here, at the Headquarters. At the moment he’s on his first Seven Days. He is, I think, the only bloke here who I really understand. He’s so crazy about his Toots. He’s the only one I’ve got something in common with. All the rest seem so shallow and so far from genuine. He was busted from L/Cpl to private by the Colonel.

Corsham is a village of sorts, having a few shops, one half pint sized cinema & a small YMCA. We get very little time off and consequently I haven’t had much chance to see it yet.

I’ve met many of the blokes I knew six months ago in the old ‘D’ Coy. Most of them are pretty fed up with everything. There’s no chance of a Commission as the new Colonel hasn’t passed a soul since he’s been here. Toni was passed by Col. Heseltine, the previous C.O. I wish he was still here. At least he showed a little interest in the junior NCOs.

Well, Darling I must say Au Revoir here as its lights out.

Goodnight, Tootsie Darling,

all my love

Dicker.

P.S. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon…

New Address : -

L/Cpl RK Williams, ‘C’ Company, 70^th Dorsets, Corsham, Wilts.

9th January 1941 – the Allies began their attack on Italian forces in Eritrea, Somaliland and Ethiopia.

January 1941 – Poole attacked with incendiary bombs on six of the first twelve days.

9th January – Incendiary bombs caused 37 fires in Poole. 248 houses were damaged and two men were killed by high explosive bombs at Canford Cliffs.

(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 Tel. 01963 32583).

Posted on 01 January 2011 in Army life, History, Letters from Dick, Photos, Promotion/Demotion, Records | Permalink | Comments (0)

A light in the darkness - Wednesday 25th December 1940

Corsham, Wilts

Christmas Day

My Precious Darling,

I had to write straightaway, to try to thank you for the lovely lighter you sent for the 25th. Darling, it lights! Nothing can stop it lighting - not even a young hurricane. I've used it on guard - and believe me the wind howls round here - and it lights first time every go!

Darling, it's just what I've wanted for years. You know how many matches I use! Thank you ever so much Cho, Dear. Remind me to give you a big kiss when I get home. When.………..But I'm still hoping.

I thought about you all over Christmas Darling. It made me so mad to think that I couldn't send you anything, not even a Christmas card. Poor Eric's in the same boat and Pete. We haven't seen a shop of any sort for nearly three weeks. I've been to Bath twice since we've been here but each time the only thing open were the pubs.

The latest is that all passes to Bath have been stopped as the Chief-of-Police has banned us from the town! The same applied to Chippenham. The Boys beat up every town we get near!

I've been on guard all day (Christmas) and come off tomorrow morning. It's now about 9.30 pm., and as usual I'm writing this by the lamp in the Guard Hut. I managed to wangle Eric on this guard so I've had his company all day, which is a relief. We had quite a good dinner, which included Beer & Cigarettes.

Pete has been in bed for 2 days with a so-called gastric stomach! He's really no more ill than I am, but you know what he is! Needless to say however, he made a rapid recovery on Christmas Eve.

Owing to present conditions I can't say just what's going to happen to me. Let me explain. Out of the whole battalion (A,B,C,D & E Companies.) which is approx 850 men, there have been over 250 deserters in the last fortnight! Which only goes to show what the conditions are like!

Now, everyone over 20 can get a transfer to another Regiment - and believe me, there are plenty over 20 who have put their age down to 18.

Lieutenant White our Officer in Charge is being replaced as from tonight by a Captain. This means I have to start all over again as regards a commission! What a life!

The Orderly Officer has just come up with Beer & fags (!) so I have altered my opinion of the Army since writing the last sentence.

Well, my precious, I must close soon as the Ord has to be accompanied around.

Darling, I must see you soon as I love you so madly that I just can't go on without you.

Goodnight, Cho Darling

Your adoring

Dicker

The War at Sea – 567 Allied ships were sunk by U-boats in 1940 (almost 3 million gross tons of shipping) although only 24 U boats were lost -World War 2 Timeline .

Posted on 25 December 2010 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Promotion/Demotion, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

Long nights on guard - 19th and 20th December 1940

Corsham, Wilts

Thursday evening

My Precious Darling,

I must beg forgiveness for not having written before, but to tell the truth (for a change) I simply haven't had ten minutes to myself for three days, during which I've had only three hours sleep. I hope to spend my first night actually in bed for about six days.

Well, Precious I won't bore you with my troubles, but will write you a lovely long letter to make up for not having written before.

Darling, it makes me so wonderfully happy to know that you still love me, that I'd go through Hades quite cheerfully, knowing that you'd wait for me at the end, and that we can really begin again after all this.

I don't know how blokes exist in this hovel without anyone to think of in the long hours of guard at night. I know I'd soon pack up if I hadn't you to think about, and worship all the time. No matter what I'm doing, Darling, I just can't forget you for one moment. You mean so much to me now that I'd forget all about Commissions or anything else just to be near you and to hold you in my arms again.

Cho Dear, we must never let anything let anything part us - ever. Whatever happens we must do our best to face it, as I know my only happiness lies with you.

Please don't think I'm raving or tight or anything. I'm perfectly sane (as much as usual), and, as it's Thursday, perfectly sober. It's just that I've reached the stage when I don't care what happens so long as you still love me.

I'm afraid I've a disappointment for you, Darling. I can't get leave for at least a fortnight. There is no leave for senior NCOs all over Christmas. I hope I'll get a 48 soon after Christmas. I think everyone is going to get one then.

I'm also afraid I won't be able to get a present to you before Christmas as, of course, there's nowhere to get anything. I managed to get to Bath for a couple of hours last Monday, but since it was about 8pm all the shops etc were shut. There’s no prospect of getting there again before Christmas.

Well, Darling, I must close here, as I’m wanted by the Company Sergeant Major.

your adoring

Dicker.

Well, Darling, it's now Friday night, and once again I find myself on guard, and again a 24 hrs one. I had to go on again this morning as my Old Friend (?) Sergeant Gurd went on a leave and has not returned as yet. He's overdue and has been marked down as absent.

This means that he'll be busted, I fancy. He's been playing merry hell here for the last month or two since he's been busted to a Sergeant. I expect this will mean he'll be back where he started all over again. He's been made up to a Sergeant four times this year, including a CSM, and been busted again. He's a first-class soldier, but far too egoistic for my liking.

Just try to picture me now, Darling, sitting in the Guard Hut, writing this at the Guard Table with the hurricane lamp burning away and spluttering like an old Colonel.

There's a raid on at the moment, and Jerry’s dropping hot iron around. It's rather a job here when there’s a raid on as all the Guards have to be doubled and extra ammo dished out, etc. However, I expect to get through it is usual.

I was almost on a Court Martial the other day because someone or other pinched five pounds of ammo. I went scrounging round the Sergeants however, and managed to replace them. But it was a close shave for all that.

It's pitch black tonight. I've just been out to change my guards and walked bang into a Spitfire much to the general detriment of my nose.

Gurd is scared stiff of going out to change guards as they all have their rifles loaded, and many have threatened him in the past. You only get two warnings here and then you're fired at. A bloke was shot here about three days ago. Luckily it wasn't on my guard as it's rather a gruesome business.

What a morbid subject! My mind must run in queer channels!

Well, Cara Mia, I must close now as the Orderly Officer is coming (he is a -!)

Goodnight, my Darling

All yours

Dicker

20th December 1940 – Allies drive Italians out of Egypt.

Posted on 19 December 2010 in Army life, History, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the mud - Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th December 1940

Corsham, Wilts

My Darling,

I must apologise for not writing before, but quite a lot has happened in the last few days.

As you will see from above, we have moved in the Bath direction, and are now doing guards at an Aerodrome in this vicinity.

The place is really undescribable. We are now in wretched little huts, which are stone cold. The mud is feet thick. Prepare for it, there is no water! That's quite literal. All the water in the cookhouse (I don't know where it comes from) has to be boiled before use. I haven't washed or shaved for three days. It's criminal to say the least.

There is no village or shops within 3 miles, Bath being about 5 miles away. The NAAFI here sells only Beer & Cigarettes, no chocolate or cakes. We do 24 hrs on guard (ie no sleep) & then 24 hrs off. Well, when I got off my guard, I got no dinner and in what should have been my 24 hrs I had to supervise trench digging in pouring rain! What a life!

Darling, it's now Thursday and I'm sitting outside the Guard hut out in the wilds, in front of a log fire. I came on this morning at 9 and end at 9 on Friday morning, (24 hrs). It's a marvellous day, frost early but now in glorious sunshine.

I was very pleased to hear about your new job*. I hope you'll like it and get on very well there, but remember eyes off the boys in the display.

Darling, it seems such ages since I've seen you. We're supposed to be on this job for a month, which means I'm afraid no leave for that long. The South Staffs, whom we relieved when we came here hadn't had any leave for over nine months. It's a bad case but that's the Army all over now.

Incidentally, Eric has had a shocking letter from Jean. Apparently she has been ogling someone else in his absence and has the nerve to ask Eric for permission to go out with him as she is lonely! What a woman!

Please Cho Darling, don't ever run out on me now, as you're the only thing that makes this wretched life worthwhile.

Eric is in the hell of the stew and hints at suicide & desertion etc. I don't blame him, I'm only too sure I would.

Lets talk of more pleasant things. It seems now that this show won't last so very long. Wouldn't it be marvellous if it would end in a few months? It would seem too good to be true. But as Dumas says we can only wait & hope.

Well, Darling, I must close now as I perceive the Orderly Officer on the horizon.

Your adoring & ever devoted

Dicker

Dieu te garde***

P.S. Address is:-

‘A’ Company (‘A’ not ‘L’)

70^th Dorsets

CORSHAM

Wilts

*Chotie: “I was working at Beales in the Window Display Department (after F W Collins). Colleagues Enid Cooper, later to become very big in the fashion world, Arty (the artist) and two others – I cannot recall their names. Miss Boyle, the manageress, was a dragon (she had sued her boyfriend for breach of promise.) At night we had to do firewatch duty. Later on Beales was mostly destroyed by a bomb.”

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

** “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.

***'God keep you'

Dick was based in Corsham, Wiltshire,

until January 1941.

16th December 1940 – first RAF ‘reprisal raid’ for the Blitz on a German town (Mannheim).

18th December 1940 – Hitler confirms plans for ‘Operation Barbarossa’, German invasion of the Soviet Union.

Posted on 11 December 2010 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

To Corsham Aerodrome - 7th December 1940

Chippenham, Wilts

My Darling Chotie,

I must reply immediately to your letter for which many thanks.

Cho, Darling, I'm terribly sorry about this weekend. I didn't know you missed me so much.

The trouble is, we are moving on Monday, and I'm probably going on a Vanguard which will be on Sunday. All leave of every description has been stopped. We shall be there for a month, doing guards at an aerodrome. The name of the place is Corsham. It's a few miles from Bath. Whether there will be any leave there, I can't say.

I know it's terrible Darling, but we'll make up for it one day.

I saw the Officer in Charge of our Company today, about a commission. He said he'd recommend me to the Colonel, at his first opportunity. Whether he will or not however, is another thing.

Incidentally, I was told that a young officer was asking for me at the ‘On Duty Room’ a couple of days ago. Unfortunately, I was out, and missed him. I believe it must have been Toni. I was mad as I'd loved to have seen him.

Another point of note. This company is now ‘A’ and not ‘K’ as previously. I've also got a new battledress, which I think is about time as we've had this for 6 months.

Well, Darling, there doesn't seem much more to tell you, except I still adore you and still pray to see you soon.

Bye, bye, Cho, Dear,

your adoring

Dicker

Dick was in ‘A’ company of the 70^th Dorsets

for the rest of December 1940

8th December 1940 – General Franco declares Spain will not enter the war.

9^th December 1940 – commencement of Allied counter-attack on Italy in the Western Desert called Operation Compass.

11th December 1940 – British victory over the Italians at Sidi Barrani in Egypt.

Posted on 07 December 2010 in Army life, History, Letters from Dick, Promotion/Demotion, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

We're moving - 5th December 1940

Letter posted on Thursday 5^th December 1940

Chippenham, Wilts

My Darlingest,

I must write to let you know that I'm afraid I won't be able to get home this weekend. We're moving and consequently my pass has been cancelled. It was a hell of a blow Darling, just when every thing seemed so rosy. Don't be too disappointed Sweetheart, I’ll be home the week after, one way or another.

I don't yet know where we're going to. One hears so many rumours that you simply can't believe anything you hear. I have every reason to believe however, that the move will be local. I only hope so.

At present, I'm in the Y.M.C.A with Eric who’s writing to Jean. He arrived back from leave three days overdue, but with customary brilliance got off the charge.

I was amazed to learn from Eric last that he’s 22! I always understood that he was 18! No wonder he's fed up and after a transfer.

Clive Gammage, one of the gang, reverted at his own request, (i.e. handed in his stripe) yesterday. He got so utterly fed up, that he felt justified in doing so.

I must tell you Darling, that I went to the office on Friday last to revert, but the new CSM wouldn't hear of it and went all fatherly towards me. Perhaps it was because I'm the youngest Cpl. in the Battalion now. One of us is crazy, and I feel all right.

Well, Darling, I must close here,

All my love

Dicker

Posted on 05 December 2010 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, Letters from Dick, Promotion/Demotion | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday fights - 24th November 1940

Chippenham, Wilts

My Darlingest,

Thanks for the letter. I'm glad you haven't decided to fall for a Guardsman.

I’ve been lying awake for nights thinking the most horrible thoughts about the wretched guards, and when I have slept, I've had nightmares about them. It was a wonderful relief to know you still care for me, even if I can't see you very often, and that comes before the Army, Victory or anything.

If only this wretched show would end. What a time we could have! No having to think about getting back to camp on 48 hrs or anything like that. It seems too good to be true now - but the time will come, Darling, never fear. It will take more than Jerry bullets to get through me, you know.

There has been a great change here. CSM Gurd is going away, and another sergeant who is now in ‘L’ Coy, and with whom I get on excellently is being made up and will take his place from tomorrow. There was a conference this morning of Officers, WOs & Senior NCOs which I had to attend and which dealt with the near future of this Company. Things are beginning to tighten up now and discipline is much hotter. It's about time, as things were getting slack. I say that now I'm a senior, but I doubt if I'd say it if I were a private!

Eric still hasn't come back, and I'm wondering if he's been hit by a bomb or something, as there's been hundreds where he lives. He’s two days overdue from his leave.

It’s now Sunday Afternoon, and as usual, I’m stretched out on my kit, writing to my little Cho-cho. There's a couple of fights going on, (which is a common occurrence) as everyone has by now spent all their money and has nothing better to do. Johnny Hill who is a L/Cpl-Instructor (PT) and I join in when we feel like it as one has to let them know who's boss!

Well, Precious, there doesn't seem anything else to tell you, except that I still adore you with all my heart and soul and always will.

So, don't forget to think of me sometimes, Darling, and remember I'll do anything for you, any time.

Your adoring

‘ Dicker’

Posted on 24 November 2010 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (0)

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.

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.

Posted on 20 November 2010 in Army life, Family, Film, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Sport, Theatre & Ballet, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

Church Parade - Sunday 17th November 1940

Chippenham, Wilts

My Darlingest Chotie,

I'm writing again as I promised to do yesterday.

We had quite a merry little time last night, with the Sergeant Major*. He's turned out a lot better since I got my second stripe. I later learnt that he got it for me! What a life. I don't know whether I'm coming or going lately.

Pete has settled down here and is doing very well, thank you.

Everyone here has taken a sudden dislike to the NCOs. L/Corp. Shingles who is my second-in-command was bashed on the head with a rifle last night when he was asleep. He was laid out flat. I was going to put the platoon on charge but this would stop me going out tonight so I let it go, as I don't think much of Shingles anyway.

I'm writing this stretched out full-length on my kit. Pete is scrounging my cleaning stuff to do his buttons with.

You'd like Clp. McCracken. Blond hair, blue eyes, everything in fact. He's rather hot on Rugger. He was made up a full corp, soon after me.

We had a pretty good church parade this morning. The O.C. was missing but everyone else was there. The preacher (bless his little heart) got quite mad and said “And the next time we pray, you get down and kneel properly.” Mac & I had slept on our slacks all night to get a crease for the parade, and we didn't see kneeling on them. Having no soul, I don't see what difference it makes anyway.

If only I was nearer home, I could see you every Sunday as we now get off from 12 noon until 10:30 p.m. That is of course unless I was on duty of some sort.

There's been scores of fights this weekend as usual as everyone who can get out gets completely and hopelessly tight. They come in looking for trouble and we have to get them to bed somehow even if it means knocking them out, which is often done. They always seem to get up in the morning as right as rain.

Well, Darling, there's no more to tell you, except of course I still adore you and always will,

Your devoted

Dicker

qui t’aime pour la vie.**

* Can this be Sergeant Major Gurd? (see letters from mid September 1940)

** “who loves you for life.”

19th November 1940 - Canada approved initiation of mass production of war bacteria.

Posted on 17 November 2010 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (0)

'pretty merry' in Chippenham - 16th November 1940

Chippenham

Wilts.

Saturday.

My Darling,

Thanks for the letter. The Post-Corporal whose job it is to deliver the mail said nothing to me about it, but I later discovered it tucked in the blankets in my kit. As usual, it was just what I needed to cheer me up.

Pete came back as you probably know on Friday. McCracken and I were pretty merry when we met him in town, but what were we like when we rolled back to billets at 10-30? Our condition was certainly nobody’s business!

However, I've spent the day sobering up, and am now writing this in the ‘George’, a very old pub which we frequent; when we have the price of a pint or two.

Well, Darling, I hope you're keeping well and looking after yourself in my absence. You really must look after yourself and take care, as you're all I've got that matters now.

I don't know when I shall get another 48 hrs. I'm pretty busy now as I’m doing duty & P.T. as well & it's pretty tiring not to mention the small amount of time I get off.

I can't write any more now, but will again tomorrow. I'm afraid I've been called for Batt. Ord. Sergeant* for tonight as we had four deserters yesterday.

all my love

your devoted

Dicker

S.W.A.L.K.

* Orderly Sergeant is the first Sergeant of a company.

Posted on 16 November 2010 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, Letters from Dick, Pubs, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

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.

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.

Posted on 12 November 2010 in Army life, Family, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Promotion/Demotion, Sport | Permalink | Comments (0)

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).

Posted on 05 November 2010 in Army life, Family, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Records, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

"uxoriousness" - 29th October 1940

Bemerton

Tuesday evening

Dearest of all, Cho-Cho,

Thanks a lot for the letter – I got it at dinner time and it was more welcome than a seven-course meal.

I’m writing this, or rather endeavouring to do so, by the dim beams of a somewhat shaky candle, lying in bed in the tent. I’ve certainly never attempted anything like this before. I hope it’s successful.

I went over to Tidworth this afternoon to pick up a Boxing Ring. I had to collect it from the Gym at which I did that wretched course.

I met the old crowd including the Sergeant Instructor who was in charge of my platoon. He appeared (?) very pleased to see me again, and asked me how I was getting on, etc. I don’t think he was feeling very well…

Well, Darling, as usual I have some bad news. I have unfortunately been done out of 48 hrs this week, in my absence on Sunday. However, I have every chance of coming home the week after, so I can’t grumble. I know it seems hard, Darling, but when we consider that most army blokes only get a 48 hrs every three months or so, we are really very lucky.

I hope your sniffles are better now. You must take care of yourself, you know. You’ll never realise how much you do really mean to me, certainly, more than I can ever tell you. I hope you’ll never desert me, Honey, because if you did, I’d pack up, and give up the ghost, and I don’t mean maybe.

Eric you’ll be pleased to hear has got his seven days, which starts on Friday. It will seem pretty dull without him, as I’ve become very attached to him, as we have one great thing in common viz uxoriousness*. (There’s a word for you to look up!)

I must close now precious, as there’s some wretched Sergeant shouting “put that ---- light out”!

Loving you more than ever

your devoted hubby

Dicker

I.T.A.L.Y.

* uxoriousness = excessively or submissively fond of a wife.

29th October 1940 - conscription begins in the U.S., the first military draft during peacetime in American history.

30th October 1940- RAF Bomber Command is directed to commence ‘area bombing’ in Germany.

31^st October 1940 – end of the Battle of Britain.

Posted on 29 October 2010 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dinton, b....y awful, but not Basingstoke - 22nd October 1940

22nd October 1940

Bemerton

Tuesday evening

My Darling Cho,

Thanks for the letter which I got this morning.

Well Darling to get down to business, I find that with reasonable luck I’ll be able to get home on Sunday. The point is Honey, that if I can get a pass all day in Salisbury I may just as well come home, and it will save you a look of trouble & expense. Also I don’t like the idea of your travelling back all that way in the dark.

There is some truth in what Mummy warns you about, even if you don’t believe it… Mind you, I’m not saying you can’ take care of yourself, but after all you’re only a lickle baby although you’re the most adorable chubby baby that ever lived. I tremble to think what could happen to you, Sweetheart, and I hate taking those kind of risks.

I was doing Battalion Orderly Sergeant all day last Sunday which is some job, & I don’t mean maybe. It means being on all day from réveillé until about 11pm, with one worry after another – but for all that, it’s good experience.

Incidentally, I was choked off the other day, pretty severely. I bet you wouldn’t guess what for? (No, Precious, it wasn’t women!) It was for associating with private soldiers vis. Eric & Pete.

I’m no longer able to go out with them, and should I meet them in the N.A.A.F.I. or anywhere, they have to address me as Corporal and not the now familiar ‘Dicker’. What a life!

The latest news as regards moving is back to Dinton which suits me admirably – that is, it’s b…..y awful but much preferable to Basingstoke.

We had a dance here last Monday. I’d had nine pints at the Conservative Club before I got there, so had a pretty good time on the whole. The women were a little better than usual but have no fears, Darling, as there isn’t a woman living who could take me away from you, (and that includes Bergman*…)

Well, Chubby, I must close now, loving you more than ever.

Je suis à toi pour la Vie,**

Your adoring,

Dicker

P.S. I terrible sorry about you’re cold. It’s just like me to forget all about it until the end. I hope you’ll forgive me Darling and get better soon.

all yours

Dicker

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

All for you! (when I come home)

* Ingrid Bergman, the Swedish film star

** “I am yours for life.”

Dick and Chotie probably met up on Sunday 27^th October 1940.

On 28th October 1940 Italy attacked Greece.

Posted on 22 October 2010 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Meetings with Chotie, Villages | Permalink | Comments (0)

Choosing Friends - 18th October 1940

Letter posted on Friday 18^th October 1940

Bemerton

Thursday

My Darling Chotie,

Thanks for the letter which I've just received, and also the snaps enclosed.

It's wonderful to hear from you again, as it seems ages since I saw you. It's funny to think that in reality it's only a few days. It's just impossible to tell you how much I really do love you and how much I miss you.

I think that being away most of the time has made me realise this more than ever.

Well, Darling I had to break off there rather abruptly and am continuing here on Friday afternoon. I've just been paid, exactly £1 - no more or less.

I saw Mr Lawson (2/Lt) who is my present platoon Commander about being transferred back to duty - ie packing up P.T. He's going to speak to Mr White about it. It's the only way if I am to take a commission eventually. It will probably mean giving up my last stripe but I'd willingly give up both to get back to the ranks.

Eric + Pete came back last night with the advance party. It brightened me up a lot as I missed them both.

I get on very well with almost everyone here, but when I tell you that all the members of the tent I'm in charge of come from Borstal you will understand that one has to be careful, to say the least, in choosing friends!

Well, Honey Bunch, there is, as usual, no news. Pete & Eric send best wishes etc. Clive has gone on 48 hours leave this weekend, and Eric is wangling for 7 days.

If we're still here next weekend as I expect we will be, you must come out to Salisbury. I expect I can get Sunday off if I tell them my fiancée is coming over to see me!

I must close now Darling as I have to parade my platoon for tea.

tout à toi*

your adoring

Dicker

* “All yours”

Posted on 18 October 2010 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, Letters from Dick, Promotion/Demotion | Permalink | Comments (0)

The other stripe - 14th October 1940

On 3^rd October 1940 Dick was appointed a full Corporal.

Telegram 7th October 1940

HOME TONIGHT SEVEN DAYS LEAVE = RICHARD +

Dick met up with Chotie again for the first time since the beginning of September during this 7 Days Leave, which lasted until Sunday 13^th October 1940.

On 12^th October 1940 the proposed German invasion of Britain, Operation Sealion, was abandoned by Hitler who turned his attention to the Russian front.

Bemerton, Salisbury

Wilts, Monday eve.

My Dearest Darling Little Cho-cho,

I'm writing, or should I say, trying to write, this in the N.A.A.F.I. rather late in the evening. As you will see from above, we are still here.

When I arrived back on Sunday I heard that Pete + Eric had gone on to Basingstoke as an advance party, which is the usual thing just before you move. Then tonight I heard that the whole show has been cancelled as far as we're concerned and that we're staying at Salisbury. I was also told that a lorry had been sent this evening to bring them back, but I've just heard that no lorry has been sent. What a show! You simply don't know what to believe. We hear one thing one moment and another the next.

I heard one thing that definitely is true however, and that’s that I've been given another stripe, and that all the time I was home, I was a full Corporal! I shall get (I hope) about five shillings and threepence a day soon. Just another stripe Darling, and we'll get married (officially...).

Well, Darling, it will be wonderful if we stay at Salisbury, but I'm afraid it's not definite yet.

I must close now, Dearest as it's nearly Lights out.

Still loving you every lickle bit,

your adoring hubby

Dicker

Posted on 14 October 2010 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, History, Letters from Dick, Meetings with Chotie, Photos, Promotion/Demotion, Records, Villages | Permalink | Comments (0)

Action around Parkstone - Friday 27th September 1940

Bemerton

Friday

My darling Chotie,

Thank you, Darling, for the letters & tobacco you sent. It came just at the right time, when I was out of tobacco, and completely broke, but no more sweetheart, as your love is all I ask for.

It seems that you have been having a lot of action around Parkstone. I only wish we could have a little de temps en temps. However, I expect we’ll have enough of it before we’re finished.

There’s no news lately. I rather think I can get a transfer back to the ranks soon – which is all I ask for at the moment. I'm gradually getting back to duty. I’m on Fire Piquet tonight, which means I have eleven privates under me on the watch for fires. It also means I can't get out all night.

I'm going to see the Major again in a couple of weeks’ time. If I don't get recommended to see the Colonel I'm going to fall on my bayonet in true Roman style. I believe in King's Regulations, one can demand to see the Commanding Officer of the Battalion. If this is the case, I shall do so, and see what happens. My one present motive is to get back to duty in the ranks and away from P.T. Then I can really start towards a commission.

I've been under the M.O. for the last four days with sore throat, headaches etc. Someone left my kit out in the rain when I was at Quidhampton, and consequently I slept between wet (damp) blankets, which never does one a lot of good, especially when it’s as cold as it has been lately. This morning for instance, we could write our names on the inside of the tents in the frost!

This being Friday night and as I'm in the N.A.A.F.I. everyone here is half soaked, some really tight! They're always broke by Sunday night. I generally last out to Tuesday.

Well, Darling I must close now to get some sleepy byebyes.

Still loving you all that’s possible,

Your adoring hubby

Dicker

On 27th September 1940 Germany, Italy and Japan signed a tri-partite agreement and Japan joined the Axis Powers.

Posted on 27 September 2010 in Army life, Dorset, Letters from Dick, Poole, Promotion/Demotion | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bemerton Hut - Tuesday 24th September 1940

Bemerton

Tuesday

My Darling

Thanks for the letter. As usual, it cheered me up not a little. Hope you're still getting along OK at little old Parkstone - I'm getting on all right here, but am unfortunately still on P.T.

I believe I told you that I am now definitely in ‘K’ company and not just attached to them as I was before. I don't know whether it will happen to me, but I believe everyone here is being transferred to the Hampshire Regiment. Members of ‘H’ and ‘G’ companies have already signed transfer papers. This, however, I am definitely not going to tolerate. Imagine me, a Dorset man (?), being in the Hants! They're going to have a job to get me to transfer. But as yet, I've heard nothing really definite.

I went to another dance here at Bemerton last night. Apparently there was an ATS girl here who comes from Poole. Everyone immediately chases around for me, but unfortunately(?) I was at that moment buying my Sergeant a whisky at the Conservative Club over the road – (and me a Liberal!) and par conséquent I never met her.

However, she couldn't have had anything on you, darling as I told Eric afterwards. No one in the world has anything on his Jean according to him. But that's only because he's never seen you.

I shall put in for my seven days after next weekend. How long can you hang on for? I hope indefinitely, as everything is very shaky as regards leave.

Eric and I are at the moment at Bemerton Hut which is rather like the club - only there are no women. We use it for dances and as a recreation room each evening. Here I can sit at ease, smoke my pipe and read ‘The Field’ and ‘Country Life’. Just another couple of papers that make life a little more pleasant.

Poor Eric was on another charge - this time when he was acting as Company Orderly Corporal, and was found in bed at 6.30 am - a crime in the army. I swore he was out there, however, when he was up in front of the Camp Commandant – and managed to clear him.

Well, as usual, Darling I have no news of any real interest or importance - so I will close now, to get back and scrounge some supper.

And just in case you need reassuring (?) I love you now more than ever before, and also miss you more.

your adoring

Dicker

Posted on 24 September 2010 in Army life, ATS, Dorset, Friends & acquaintances, Letters from Dick | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Rising Sun, Salisbury - 21st and 22nd September 1940

Saturday 21^st and Sunday 22nd September 1940

Salisbury

Wilts

My Darling Cho,

I’m endeavoring to write this in ‘The Rising Sun ' a notorious pub in Salisbury. There's a hell of a row on here. The place is full of Uniforms of every description, Polish etc. I don't suppose you'll be able to read this. This is my first evening out for over a week.

I have however some encouraging news this time. I saw the Major a few days ago. He’s going to recommend me for a commission in a month’s time. That is of course, to see the Colonel. If I pass him, I'll be OK. The trouble is, however, passing the Colonel.

As you probably know, all leave has been cancelled. I can't even get a Sunday pass. I'll let you know however, if there is any change.

How terrible it seems, Darling. You're so near and yet so far. I'm dying to see you again, if only for a few minutes. It's just impossible to say how much I miss you, Chotie - but I think of you all the time. I'm afraid I love you too much to express myself in words. I hope you can understand and realise Cho.

And I'm not tight (yet...). I hope to be, however, in an hour's time. I shall be flat broke by Monday as usual -- we always are.

I'll write some more tomorrow, which I hope will be a genuine day of rest.

Sunday afternoon.

Du Rose & myself are in the tent at the moment, it’s raining, and we have the afternoon off. We are endeavoring to recover from last night's spree, having had a hell of a hangover this morning. We had to go to Church Parade at 9 o'clock this morning, which was rather a blow to us as everything has to be just so. We managed it, however, without passing out.

As you may know, all soldiers have to be in billets or barracks by the 30th inst - which means to say we have to move by next week. There has been a lot of talk lately of Southampton. This would, I think, be preferable to this place, as there is a little more life and what is much more important, I should be nearer home.

I only hope leave will be resumed soon. I'll be able to get my seven days then.

I'm afraid I've nothing more of any interest darling except that I still love you all that's possible. I hope you're being a good girl whilst I'm away. Eric and I have sworn oaths never to look at another girl. He has a Jean in Birmingham.

Well bye bye for now Darling.

God bless you and keep you safe until I can come and look after you again.

Your adoring

Dicker

Posted on 21 September 2010 in Army life, Friends & acquaintances, Letters from Dick, Promotion/Demotion, Pubs, Towns & Cities | Permalink | Comments (0)

"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.

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

Posted on 18 September 2010 in Army life, Books, Family, Friends & acquaintances, Letters from Dick, Sport | Permalink | Comments (0)

Search

Chotie Darling Pages

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Letters from Dick

17 August 2011

11 August 2011

05 August 2011

29 July 2011

20 July 2011

12 July 2011

25 June 2011

18 June 2011

09 June 2011

06 June 2011

30 May 2011

27 May 2011

21 May 2011

15 May 2011

13 May 2011

24 April 2011

22 April 2011

09 April 2011

Telegram on Tuesday 8th April 1941 from Southampton

31 March 2011

27 March 2011

24 March 2011

21 March 2011

15 March 2011

12 March 2011

02 February 2011

Dick was promoted to full Corporal again

29 January 2011

20 January 2011

14 January 2011

Telegram on Saturday 18th January 1941 from Lee on Solent

12 January 2011

The Reconnaissance Corps was established on 14th January 1941.

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

01 January 2011

25 December 2010

19 December 2010

11 December 2010

07 December 2010

05 December 2010

01 December 2010

24 November 2010

20 November 2010

17 November 2010

16 November 2010

12 November 2010

05 November 2010

29 October 2010

22 October 2010

18 October 2010

14 October 2010

27 September 2010

24 September 2010

21 September 2010

18 September 2010