Chotie Darling

A Young Novel - 1st and 2nd September 1943

 

Same address

Wednesday (nearly Thursday)

My Darling Chotie,

                                                            It’s a long time since I’ve written to you at this time of night, but I find myself with two others operating a wireless for three days and nights and this being the first I thought it would give me a golden opportunity to send you a young novel – so here goes.

            The remainder of the troop are out on a three days exercise and we are maintaining contact with them the whole time.  The system, as it stands sounds quite fun but unfortunately we are not allowed to sleep as those on the exercise aren’t able to.

            This little discrepancy is, however, compensated by the fact that I get a weekend on Saturday, so things aren’t really too bad.  Diller will be home I believe so she’ll have a glorious chance to moan to her hearts content, an opportunity I know she won’t be slow to seize.

Came back from 48hr scheme yesterday, just about all in.  This wireless* is murder, it’s not only the mental tiredness you get, but also chronic headaches owing to the headphones which have to be worn continually.  I’ll spend the week-end in bed – lonely and cold ….

            We’ve managed to scrounge some cocoa and milk, also a shave, so we have hopes of something hot soon.

            Weather here is typical autumn – lots of mist and rain and last night a beautiful sunset, one of the best I’ve ever seen.  The trees – hundreds of them here are just beginning to turn – though it’s early yet.  It will be lovely by the time I leave – always presuming I don’t leave prematurely …

            We have a pretty sound wireless officer, one of the pleasant slavedriver type who works all hours from morn ’til night and expects the whole troop to do the same…Luckily he likes his pint and consequently we always find ourselves some hundred yards from the Duke of Wellington for lunch and he always stands the troop a pint apiece.  God knows how much it must cost him.

            I was talking to the publican who says that the present Duke (who lives in the neighbouring estate – Stratfield Saye) is quite a pleasant bloke – Captain in the Commandos in Sicily and always goes to the pub when on leave to play darts with the farmers.  Apparently he’s about 30**.

            Did I tell you that Dad went up to Purley*** to see all the relations?  It’s the first time he’s seen his father for about five years!  Awful isn’t it?  Apparently things have changed quite a bit.  Gramp now looks his years – he’s about 78, which he never has done before and has slowed up considerably.  Cyril (Dad’s brother) took him on a trip which included all the most dubious of London’s night clubs.

            They all expect me to go up (after Brian going, of course) but I still prefer to go home, or if possible come down to see you.  (I still owe you about a dozen spankings…****)

            However, he did see them, they were all very pleased, and that’s that – for another five years anyhow.

            Incidentally is there anything I can get you for your Birthday? I haven’t had a chance to get out for ages, and you can’t do anything on schemes.  Let me know – and if there’s no chance of my getting it, I’ll send you some shekels*****.

            The ATS are a better crowd than I thought, despite their being mostly Generals’ daughters.  The one I had (not literally….) yesterday did all the cooking for us – and did it very well – probably because they were scared of letting us do it, as they have to eat it as well.  I managed to get her a room in a farmhouse and she managed to get me half-a-dozen eggs so we had quite a happy time.  She comes from Kent of course – Pett’s Wood – about a mile from Orpington†.  We had several common friends.  I should say friends in common – there’s a subtle difference….

            I still haven’t had an FFI†† – you really must organise another meeting…See what you can do.  I always get atrociously rude this time of night – at the moment I’m thinking awful things.  I couldn’t even tell you… 

            That’s enough of this – I’d better do some wireless for an hour or two.

 

            Well, I’ve done some morse – over an hour in fact and have just been relieved.  Still feel the same.  Good thing I’m not in the Bristol area.

            Read Deeping’s ‘Two Black Sheep’ on the scheme and also “Fanny by Gaslight” again (Michael Sadleir) which I’ve always thought an awful lot of.  It’s the finest picture of Victorian England of the last ten years and heaven knows there have been enough books on that subject!  I’m sure Fanny would get the same hold on you as she has on me.

            Won ten bob on a little side bet last night.  Bill said it was Tchaikovsky’s ‘Casse Noisette’††† and I said it was ‘Eugen Onegin’ and Eugen Onegin it was.  Just as easy as that.  Wish money was always so procurable as that 10 bob.

            It’s now nearly 2 oclock and we’ve got the water on the boil for some luscious cocoa!  Jeez!  

            My two colleagues have just started to take an interest in things – now that there’s a chance of a hot drink!  One is that madman I told you about from Corfe Castle – incidentally his name’s Peter Collins (happy memories?) who still intends to live on Round Island after the war††††.  A genuine hermit’s life with just his wife.  Notice I say just!  This is where I should say “what more could a man want”… (after his pipe of course…Never mind Darling – you come second …)

            The other one’s an Oxford law student, pretty nearly broke.  Tennis champ of north of England.  Quite a good type.

            I’ve just had my COCOA(!) and, it’s good.  I’ve got a lovely warm feeling in my tummy which I definitely didn’t have before.

            Well, Chotie Darling I must close here as I have to go on the set again.  I’ll let you know how things went on the weekend and enumerate some of Diller’s moans.

                                    All my love, precious.

                                                Always thinking of you.

                                                                        Dicker

 

P.S.  You should read Napolean’s letters to Marie Louise and Josephine.  They’re good….

 

*Wireless – “not enough emphasis can be put on the importance of communication in battle situations”…Wireless operators needed high quality training “to pick up weak signals against a background of atmospherics and interference” known as ‘slush’. (From ‘Phantom at War’ by Andy & Sue Parlour, Cerberus 2003)

**The Duke of Wellington’s estate at Stratfield Saye near Basingstoke in Hampshire.   The 6th Duke of Wellington, Captain of No 2 Commando, was killed in action at Salerno on 16^th September 1943.  

***Purley, near Croydon, South London.

****Possibly referring to Chotie’s involvement with her officer at the Bristol camp earlier that year??

*****slang for cash. Chotie’s 20^th birthday was on 6^th September 1943.

†Dick was born in Orpington in Kent and spent his childhood there.

††the 'Free from Infection' inspection for venereal disease (presumably being used by Dick as a euphemism here).

†††Tchaikovsky’s ballet ‘The Nutcracker’ and not his opera ‘Eugene Onegin’.

††††an island in Poole Harbour.

Peter Collins was the name of one of Chotie’s early admirers:

“Peter Collins, the boss’s son, home from Blundell’s, a posh school in Devon, also took a fancy to me and given the chance, we would canoodle in the store room.  His mother was very kind to me and I was invited to stay at their lovely house in Talbot Woods for a weekend.  Peter had won a scholarship to Blundell’s for his brilliant piano playing and taught me about classical music - a love that has stayed with me all my life.” (From ‘Chotie’s Story’. See also F.W.Collins.)

© Chotie Darling

 

3^rd September 1943 – the Italian government, under Marshal Badoglio, signs a secret armistice with the Allies at Cassibile in Sicily.  In Operation Baytown, British and Canadian forces crossed the Messina Straits unopposed, landing at Reggio de Calabrio (the tip of Italy’s toe) in an unsuccessful attempt to draw German forces away from the main landing areas further north.

 

 

Our "Engagement" - Tuesday 8th September 1942

5731671 Tpr Williams R

A/TK Troop, HQ Squadron

43rd Recce Regt, Recce Corps, Armed Forces

Tuesday

My Darling Chotie,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                            always yours, Precious

                                                                    your loving

                                                                                    Dicker

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

 

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

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

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

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

 © Chotie Darling

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

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

Pagham - Thursday 11th June 1942

 “St Margarets”

Lea Lane, Pagham, Sussex

Thursday

My Darling Chotie,

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

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

                                         Bye, bye ‘till Saturday Darling –

                                                                                    love

                                                                                                Dicker

 © Chotie Darling

Chotie and Dick met up at Pagham.

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

Brin and Pa Williams

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

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

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

 From ‘Chotie’s Story’.

© Chotie Darling

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Copy of Record

SERVICE AND CASUALTY FORM

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

 

Home Forces - Friday 1st? May 1942

The War in Dorset - May 1942

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

1^stAir Landing Squadron Officers listed for May 1942:

Major C.J.H. Gough;

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

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

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

(See Joining Browning's Boys )

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

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

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

 

Trooper Williams RR

1^st Air Landing Sqdn.

Reconnaissance Corps

HOME FORCES

N.B. New Address

                        NOTHING ELSE!

Friday

Dearest, Darling Chotie,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                                            All my love, Darling

                                                                        Dicker xxx

P.S.
Home Address

                        “BROOMLEIGH”

                                    PAGHAM BEACH

                                                BOGNOR

                                                            SUSSEX.***

PPS     Look after yourself!!!

 

*Bulford ranges on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

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

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

© Chotie Darling

Malta's George Cross - April 1942

The War in Dorset - April 1942

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

1st Air Landing Reconnaissance:

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Mahatma Gandhi arrested by the British in India.

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

 

End of Part 1 The Blue Cockade

 

The Bruneval Raid

The Würzburg 

In November 1941 photo-reconnaissance of unusual looking 'cow pens’ near Cap de La Hague revealed movement through the fractional lengthening of a shadow.
Subsequent ‘dicing’ (flying in low and fast to take a closer photo) showed the parabolic disc of a Würzburg – one of Germany’s most closely kept secrets. Air staff had known about the Freya radar apparatus, which was long-range but not very precise, for almost a year and could already deceive it successfully. Until the photo, Würzburgs were a mysterious reference from the Enigma decodings. Located between the Freyas they were short-range and precise, providing a chain of defensive radar around German territories that caused devastating losses to British bombers. The Telecommunications Research Establishment, at Worth Matravers in Dorset, urgently needed to acquire further information about the Würzburg and this one in the photo was conveniently situated on a lonely cliff top. Thus began ‘Operation Biting’, now known as the Bruneval Raid.

Planning the Bruneval Raid

On 8^th January 1942 Acting Admiral Lord Louis  Mountbatten, head of Combined Operations, approached 1^st Airborne Division to discuss the feasibility of a paratroop raid on the Würzburg radar apparatus. He had realised that an airborne assault would have the required surprise and speed, rather than the Poole commandos (see The Small Scale Raiding Force ) who were first considered.

By 21^st January Mountbatten had proposals for the Bruneval raid to submit to the Chiefs of Staff. ‘C’ company of the 2^nd Parachute Battalion, 1^st Airborne Division were to carry out the raid supported by the Navy and the aircrew of No.51 Squadron RAF. They trained on Salisbury Plain, on Loch Fyne near Inverary in Scotland and finally on the Dorset and Hampshire coast. The operation was organised from Combined Operations headquarters at Anderson Manor, near Poole.

 On 24^th January 1942 the French Resistance group, La Confrérie Notre-Dame, led by the famous Rémy, was asked to investigate the defences of the German radar installation near Bruneval at Cap de la Hague (not far from the port of Le Havre).  They supplied vital information for the Bruneval raid and the troops were able to train at Inverary using a model of the installation and buildings produced from the RAF’s Photographic Reconnaissance Unit and French Resistance intelligence.

 

By 22^nd February 1942 Bruneval Raid parachutists, commandos and the Navy were training off the Dorset coast for retrieval from the beach below the German radar station - No 12 Commando were tasked with giving covering fire and hauling the paratroopers and their booty into the boats.

They encountered considerable problems including parachutists getting stuck in a coastal defence minefield!

Practising off Redcliff Point near Weymouth in Dorset, one of the landing craft collecting the raiders became grounded offshore but the raid had to go ahead over the next few days to coincide with an approach on the rising tide under a full moon.

 

The Bruneval Raid

On 27^th February 1942 Allied paratroops landed on the French coast at Bruneval, near Le Havre to capture Würzburg radar equipment. ‘Operation Biting’ had begun.

In the afternoon the naval force under Commander Cook of the Royal Australian Navy, had set off across the Channel. Under a full moon four Whitley bombers dodged heavy anti-aircraft fire to fly the airborne assailants over and they landed on the clifftop in deep snow. Major John Frost, (subsequently famous for his involvement in the Battle of Arnhem during ‘Market Garden’ - filmed in ‘A Bridge Too Far’) and his 120 men met stiff resistance from German troops but managed to capture the precious Würzburg equipment and prisoners including a valuable radar technician. They escaped from the beach into the waiting gunboats and were escorted back across the Channel by four destroyers and a flight of Spitfires on the morning of 28^th February.

The successful raid was a terrific morale booster for the British and provided important information for the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) at Worth Matravers, Dorset. It led to the development of the ‘Window’ bomber defence first deployed in the bombing of Hamburg raid on 24^th July 1943 – strips of metal were dropped from the planes successfully jamming the German radar and cutting Allied air losses over Germany from 6.1% to 1.5%. (The technology was developed by April 1942 but its use was delayed while defence was more important than attack to Britain. The Luftwaffe could easily have copied the technique).

On 18^th March 1942 Lord Louis Mountbatten was raised to Chief of Combined Operations with the acting rank of Vice Admiral (and the honorary ranks of Lieutenant General in the Army and Air Marshal in the RAF).

British airborne forces were expanded with the establishment of the Airborne Forces Depot and Battle School and, in summer 1942, the creation of the Parachute Regiment. The raid also resulted in the relocation inland of Dorset’s Telecommunications Research Establishment, having realised their vulnerability to coastal assault.

The Germans increased their defences around the Würzburg stations, inadvertently making them easier to locate and target from the air during preparations for ‘D’ day and the Allied assault on NW Europe.

(From Combined Operations WW2 website,  WW2-net Timelines, ‘The Bruneval Raid – stealing Hitler’s Radar’ by George Millar - Cassell Military Paperbacks 1974 and ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004.)

Dick was working in Intelligence and probably based near Poole at this time (see The Missing Winter).

Was he involved in the planning of the Bruneval Raid?

His letters and service record reveal he’d joined the 1^st Airborne by April 1942 (see Air Landing)– possibly inspired by the raid?

 

 

Introducing Eric Postles

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Never give in - October 1941

The War in Dorset - October 1941

In October 1941 – filming of ‘The First of the Few’, a film telling the story of the Spitfire aeroplane, began near Christchurch.  It starred Leslie Howard and David Niven, both returned from Hollywood to support the war effort since 1939. Niven rejoined the Army and around this time was working for the General Headquarters Liaison Regiment (known as ‘Phantom’) as Commander of ‘A’ squadron, informing Army HQ on coastal defences and invasion risk, and happened to be stationed near Poole. Leslie Howard may also have been employed by Intelligence – when he was killed in 1943 it appears that the civilian plane he was flying in from Lisbon was targeted by a German bomber, possibly because of his work supporting the Allied cause in Spain and Portugal (although Churchill had been scheduled to fly on the same plane). 

On 11th October 1941 three of the crew of a crashed Wellington bomber were rescued off St Albans Head on the Purbeck Coast, Dorset.  Chotie was still working nearby in the Land Army at Barnston Farm, Church Knowle.

On 21st October 1941 a German plane crashed into the side of Bindon Hill at Lulworth in Purbeck.

George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Dominion airmen stationed in Bournemouth on 23rd October 1941.

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

 

1st Airborne:

10^th October 1941 – formation of the British 1^st Air Landing Brigade which became part of the 1^st Airborne Division on 31^st October 1941. (See Chapter 5 Air Landing.)

The 31^st Independent Brigade, recently returned from India and mountain-trained, was selected for conversion to an air land role and redesignated the 1st Air Landing Brigade.  It was anticipated that the Brigade would be transported to a war zone either in gliders or in aircraft that would land on an airfield or suitable level strip of land so they were known as “Airlanding” and not “Gliderborne” troops.The initial task of 1 Air Landing Brigade Group was to carry out investigations into the problems of organisation, equipment and training of an air-landing formation.   

On 29^th October 1941 Frederick Browning, a protégé of Louis Mountbatten, was appointed to act as Commander of the Para-Troops and Airborne Troops that became 1^st Airborne Division.  

(From ‘Airborne Forces’ by Lt-Col T.B.H. Otway, D.S.O. London: Imperial War Museum, 1990 and ‘The Pegasus Patrol’  by Jack Turnbull & John Hamblett.)

 

22^nd and 24th October 1941 – the assassination of two German military commanders in Nantes, France, resulted in large scale punishment killings. 

Following the first violent act of the French Resistance in August 1941 French prisoners had been classified as ‘hostages’ to be executed in reprisal for any assassinations of the German military.  When Feldkommandant Karl Hotz, commander of the occupation troops in Loire-inférieure, and the German Military Administration Advisor were killed by the Resistance on 20^th and 21^st October 1941 fifty local prisoners, mainly communists and other political detainees, were shot in retaliation for each assassination. Despite bribes and threats of further atrocities information on the assassins was not forthcoming.

 

On 29^th October 1941 Churchill addressed Harrow School with his famous speech "Never give in".

30^th October 1941 – beginning of the seige of Sebastopol. This port on the Black Sea continued to resist the Germans until June 1942.

31^st October 1941- an American warship, the destroyer Reuben James, was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat submarine while escorting a British convoy. The Americans had not yet entered the war.

Somewhere in England - Tuesday 7th October 1941

On 7^th October 1941 Dick had a medical, prior to his transfer,

which found him in A.1. condition.

Copy of Record

SERVICE AND CASUALTY FORM

Medical (b)         Category A1          Date          7-10-41

 

Intelligence Section, HQ Company, 70th Dorsets

Branksome, Hants. 

Tuesday

My Darling Chotie,

                                                            Just a few lines to let you know that all is well, and that I still love you, EVERYTHING.

            I'm now feeling much better and though still on the sick list, hope to be OK again in a few days time.

           I had a letter from Brinner (NO not Monica*, Darling...) who appears to be enjoying himself.

           I do little or nothing all day with Eric, which gets pretty boring after a while.  He had a parcel today and is, consequently, feeling quite cheerful, and sends his love (brotherly).

            I was medically examined this morning re transferring, and was categorised A1. - not that it makes any difference.  I'm afraid there's no news, of course, as nothing seems to happen.

             Monica, as I hear from Diller, who still corresponds, has now found her true love (etc), and may now cease to cause me sleepless nights.  It's about time she had a change of front and policy.  That's the only snag of going back to Herne Bay**.  But at any rate we hope she's married by then and in safe hands. 

            This pen’s horrible to write with.  Needless to say, it’s Eric's!  He has everything on the thin side.

            I've managed to find Cocknowle*** on a large-scale map - so I now know whereabouts it lies.

            As regards next Sunday, I'll borrow a bike from Somewhere in England and be around sometime about 3 pm to 5-30.  At any rate, I'll write again before then.         

            Well, Darling I must close here as it's time for tea, and I must rush to post this.

           I managed to get a Dorset Brooch, which will do, I hope, until I get into a Genuine Regiment when I'll send you another. 

                                                                        Bye, bye Darling

                                                                                    All my love

                                                                                                Dicker

                                                                                                Xxxxxxxx

* Dick’s former girlfriend

** Dick’s family were planning to move back to Herne Bay from Poole. They ended up at Pagham in Sussex.

*** where Chotie was living in the Land Army

 From ‘Chotie’s Story’: 

“I left Beales to become a Land Army girl, age seventeen, after a tiff at home.  A lovely farm at Church Knowle in the Purbecks.  Miss Geaves, the farm owner, let me live in her beautiful cottage under Creech, the highest point in the Purbecks.  Walking across fields in early morning, the mist fell in between the hills like small lakes, quite awesome.  Also awesome was my cycle ride from Corfe Castle station to Church Knowle, on a moonlit and part cloudy evening.  How ghostly Corfe Castle looked.

 The Land Army was not for me.  After too much rich food I suffered a bilious attack and hours of mangold pulling, milking cows and trekking across fields took its toll.  Dad took great pleasure in saying I had been invalided out of the Land Army much to my annoyance.  Beryl† joined at a later date and made quite a success of it.”

† Beryl was Mum’s younger sister, a 'success' in the Land Army

 

 

Reputedly my mother lasted three weeks in the Land Army before she was ‘invalided out’, always a source of much amusement in our family.  Dick’s posting to a location so near to her home may have had some influence on her desire to leave the rural idyll of Purbeck.

I have an annoyingly vague memory that she told me Dick went to France before ‘D’ Day and was injured and the worry of this French trip, coupled with sickness, led to her leaving the Land Army.  I wish I’d found out more but I think this was a whispered secret even then – perhaps only for dramatic effect but possibly, like the Bletchley girls, because there were things one swore never to tell.

© Chotie Darling

Chotie at Church Knowle - Wednesday 1st October 1941

 

Intelligence Sec., HQ company, 70th Dorsets

Branksome, Dorset.

My Darling Chotie,

                                                                   Many, many thanks for your letter.  I was very pleased you have struck it so lucky at Church Knowle.*  I wish you lots & lots of luck in this new venture (does that sound too staid?), and hope you have a lovely time, as I'm sure you deserve it after all our troubles.

          I'm glad Brinner saw you off as I always think it helps.  He told me you met someone to travel down with, which I hope made the journey a little more pleasant, though as a rule this isn't the case.

          I feel b----y awful at the moment, for no known reason, but I haven't felt too well since we've been at Branksome.  I've got the devil of a boil on my shoulder-blade which Eric has been doctoring for a couple of days, without very much effect.  He lanced it about an hour ago, which has caused my left shoulder to pack up for the duration.  I can't even lift my wretched arm.  However that's enough moaning in one letter.

        This cottage of yours sounds most thrilling.  I must try to get over as soon as possible - and whilst the weather holds.  It's been rather dull here and cloudy all day.         

        I was very miserable until I got your letter, which had its usual cheering effect.

          There's the devil of a lot of duties to do now, including keeping the gardens are up to scratch from 5 o'clock to 5.30!  What a game! - and there's supposed to be a war on somewhere...

          We had some excellent news today however - transfers have started again, and consequently, allowing for the usual lapse of time, (transfers take ages as a rule) I should be out of this punk crowd in a month or two.  All of which has cheered me up considerably.

          Incidentally, we are moving**!  It's more or less settled, (I know that look in Ma’s eyes...) for the beginning of November, - just above a month, and once again it's going to be Herne Bay.  I don't suppose I'll ever get leave up there but still these things must wait until after the war.  We'll make up for every scrap of it then, never fear, Darling.

          I went home yesterday and had a quiet evening in front of the fire, thinking about the move, etc.  The doctor apparently told Pa that he couldn't possibly go on working or he wouldn't hold himself responsible for Pa's welfare, which has prompted the move more than everything.

          Well, Precious I must close here to post this in time.

          Please excuse paper but it's all I can get.

                                                          all my love, Chotie Dear,

                                                                   Dicker

                                                                             Xxxxxxxx 

 

* where Chotie was living in the Land Army to work on a farm in Purbeck, Dorset.  She stayed with Miss Grace of Churchknowle Farm in a little cottage tucked into the hillside at Cocknowle.

** Dick’s family left Poole in late 1941 or early 1942.  Initial plans were for Herne Bay on the north coast of Kent but by the spring of 1942 they were settled at Pagham, near Chichester in Sussex.

 

© Chotie Darling

 

In October 1941 – filming of ‘The First of the Few’, a film telling the story of the Spitfire aeroplane, began near Christchurch on the Dorset/Hampshire border.  It starred Leslie Howard and David Niven, both returned from Hollywood to support the war effort since 1939. Niven rejoined the Army and around this time was working for the General Headquarters Liaison Regiment (known as ‘Phantom’) as Commander of ‘A’ squadron, informing Army HQ on coastal defences and invasion risk, and happened to be stationed near Poole.

 

2^nd October 1941 – Operation Typhoon begins, Hitler’s ultimately unsuccessful attack on Moscow.

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.”

© Chotie Darling, 2010

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

On 28th October 1940 Italy attacked Greece.

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

© Chotie Darling, 2010

Enter du Rose - Sunday 8th September 1940

Bemerton

Sunday evening

 

My Darling Cho,

 

    Thanks for the letter.  I’m so glad you had such a cheerful birthday.  I only wish I could have been home to spend it with you.

 

    I expect you had quite a show last night.  We didn’t get much sleep, if any.  I still don’t know what happened, and I’m afraid I don’t much care.  Once again, I’ve got fed up and am going to move heaven & earth to get back to the ranks and so on to a commission.

 

    There is only one respectable bloke here now.  Actually he’s French, and one of the few Lanerjacks left.  His name’s du Rose and he’s commission crazy.  His Old Man’s a captain and expects him to become one in next to no time. He comes from Birmingham University, where he was endeavouring to secure a B.A.

 

    We are both going to see the Major tomorrow, if we can, to find out data re junior commissions.

 

    We went on the beer last night in Salisbury ending up with a fish & chip supper.  Mon Dieu, were we merry!  Nothing was going to stop us!  We were going to see the Major on Monday and tell him just what we thought of this crowd, and also his abilities as a Major….We swore solemn oaths that nothing on this earth would stop us getting this coveted commission.

 

    I’m afraid we’ve cooled down somewhat today.  However, I do hope something really material will happen tomorrow.  “Qui sait?” as the French say.

 

    Hughes and crowd came over from Dinton on Saturday afternoon to play cricket against our team.  George, of course, was amongst them as usual.  I didn’t know he was quite so old.  He’s nearly twenty, and can I believe get a transfer then.

 

    Well, Darling, I must close now to catch the post (6.30).

 

                                                all my love,

                                                         and definitely all yours

                                                                    Dicker

 

PS.   How long can you possibly hang on with your holiday?

I can’t manage anything for a fortnight I’m afraid. Don’t forget to tell me.

                                                                    Dicker

 

© Chotie Darling, 2010

A show of some sort at Bemerton - 2nd and 3rd September 1940

 

 

“K” Company

6^th Bath Dorsets

Bemerton

Wilts

My darling Cho-cho,

 

                                                I’m writing this at my first opportunity, ie Monday evening, in fulfilment of my promise.I travelled back with one of “G” Coy’s Sergeants, whom I met when boarding the bus.

 

I’ve just had an enormous meal of tea & supper combined.I had two pints of tea and one of soup. I’m not feeling so good now. The trouble was, I remarked a bottle of Worcester sauce on the table and half emptied it into my soup.  It tasted marvellous at the time, but I’m just beginning to feel the effects.

 

            I’ve spent most of today with the C.S.M.I. He’s drawing 8/6 a day as against my 2/- and I’ve been spending half my time teaching him!What an Army!

 

I’ve got to go to a show of some sort at Bemerton at 7pm.I believe it’s one of these horrible affairs for the troops.I’m expected to help maintain order as there are few N.C.O.s in camp tonight.I can already visualise a shrill soprano murdering ‘Down in the Forest’ etc!

 

            I’m afraid I must close rather abruptly for the moment, darling, as there’s a sergeant shaking me up.

 

 

            It’s now about 7 o’clock Tuesday morning. I’ve just had a shave and breakfast and feel considerably better than I did an hour ago.I went to that show last night.Pretty chronic. I walked out after twenty minutes or so.

 

I must close now, darling, as kit inspection comes off in a few minutes

 

                                    all my love

 

                                                    Dicker

 

© Chotie Darling, 2010

Friendless at Bemerton - 29th August 1940

On 28^th August Dick qualified as an Instructor in Physical & Recreational Training.

 

 

 

Letter posted on Thursday 29th August 1940

‘K’ Company

6^th Bath. (HD)

Dorset Regt.

Bemerton

Wilts

My darling Chotie,

                                                    Thanks for the letter.  As you will see from above, I am now at Bemerton again, and don’t I know it.  I arrived here this afternoon to find that ‘G’ company, to which I was attached, has now moved to Dinton, to take the place of ‘D’ who are at Dorchester.  I’m just about fed up as I haven’t a friend in the place now, in fact, apart from the C.S.M.I.*, I don’t know a soul.

 

    Yet another calamity, even greater.  There’s a certain Major here, who is doing his best to stop all week-end leave.  I asked the C.S.M.I. if there was any chance of a pass this week, and his reply was not encouraging.  He said he’d do what he could, but could promise nothing.

 

    I am however putting in for seven days leave, in a few weeks time, ie. after my three months is up.  This should be successful, unless of course all army leave is cancelled, which action seems rather imminent.  Not a very cheerful outlook I’m afraid.

 

    But still, darling, even this ---- army can’t stop me loving you, and after all, that’s all that matters.

   

I heard to-day that Tom was buried when bombs fell close to him at Warmwell.  Apparently he’s OK, but I have heard nothing definite.

 

    Incidentally, it’s a good thing I didn’t try to come on home last week-end, as everyone who went was caught, and put on a charge.  I think they were all reduced to the ranks.  Rather a close shave.

 

   

                                 Well, bye bye for now darling,

                                                        Your devoted

                                                                        Dicker

 

 

*C.S.M.I. = Company Sergeant Major Instructor

 

 

 

 

From the end of August to October 1940

Dick was in ‘K’ company of the 6^th Bath & Dorset Regiment

based at Bemerton, near Salisbury, in Wiltshire.

 

© Chotie Darling, 2010

Tom's death - 3rd August 1940

Saturday 3^rd August 1940

Bemerton

Salisbury

Wilts

Saturday afternoon

My Darling Chotie,

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

   

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

 

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

 

    Bye, bye Chubby, Darling 

        Your adoring

        Dicker

 

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

 

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

  

© Chotie Darling, 2010. 

Dinton first letter - 27th & 28th June 1940

  

Quidhampton

Wilts

Thursday evening

 

My darling Chotie,

 

  

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

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

   

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

 

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

 

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

   

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

   

 Bye, bye darling

 Dicker

(PS The food here is putrid)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

We can but hope.

 

 I must close now darling

 Bye Bye

    Dicker

 

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

 

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

  

© Chotie Darling, 2010.

 

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