Reg WARD's wartime letters 22.11.1942 - 29.1.1945
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Darling, 22.11.42
Many thanks for your postcard dated Oct 26th which I received the other
day. I'm glad you enjoyed your 48 hour leave. It's a very short time,
just long enough to make you wish it were a week or more and too short to
see many people or to do too much. Your seven days will be about due when
you receive this and that's a far better spell.
I can't understand why you don't get much mail from me, I write you
every time I write home and frequently in between, must be going astray
somewhere.
Glad to say that I'm OK, the weather is getting noticeably colder now
and the snow appears to get a little further down the mountains each
night. None has fallen here yet though. The days are still warm enough
for shirt and shorts but I think it won't last for long now.
Have you finished your wireless operator course yet? What will happen
when you have passed out on it, will you be posted to an A/A battery or
something like that?
Thanks for the news that Dad is quite well again now. In your last Pc
he was getting better but noone ever let me know he was ill. What was the
matter with him?
I received a couple of D Times mid August issues, thanks for them.
Nothing much seems to be happening; I read them through and they must have
passed through half a dozen pairs of hands since then. Mail comes through
more regularly here than any place we have been in previously. We get two
or three lots a week now and some arrive in only three weeks.
I believe I told you I had been in Baghdad in my last letter but that
was all I had room for. I have also been in Basra on the Persian Gulf, in
Kermanshaw and Qum in Iran; nothing worth mentioning about them, the usual
domed mud houses and dirt. The women folk here definitely wear the
trousers and also a kind of cloak with which they cover their faces. They
are practically the same colour as us and some of them are passably good
looking.
Well dearest, that's about all again. So cheerio, all the best and
keep your pecker up.
All my love, Reg.
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29.11.42
Joanna darling,
Practically no mail for anyone this week so I've nothing to reply to,
there will be a big lot in during the next two or three weeks.
How is the new life suiting you? You have not told me yet you know.
I expect the lack of privacy is what gets you most. I know it did me at
first but that soon wore off. What's the grub like in your branch, it's
the first thing every squaddie thinks about. We can't grumble about what
we are getting now, its quite good and fairly plentiful, all tinned or dry
stuff of course, but we get very good white bread which is more than you
can say I expect.
I recently spent a day in Qum shopping. It's a very interesting town,
one main shopping street and the remainder the usual flat topped or domed
roofed mud buildings. I'll try and give you a picture of it:- a wide
street of low roofed shops, some of them joiners or metal workers' work
places, others fruit shops selling dried figs and so on and the rest
devoted to clothing or very cheap Birmingham type of jewelry and such like
trash. There are no drains at all and the water just lies or runs along
the gutters. Off the main road are the "residential quarters", very
narrow streets of low mud buildings, very dirty and poor.
The main sight of the town is the mosque and that really is a beauty.
Unfortunately, the interior is "out of bounds" but the outside is
splendid. In the centre is the great gilded dome of the temple proper.
It's golden and glitters in the sun. Around this are four tall towers of
glazed tiles, taller than the dome but very slender, each topped by a
small roof. The whole place is surrounded by a high wall in which are two
gateways. They are faced with glazed tiles and well worth seeing
themselves, and of course that's where the beggars hang out. While I was
there I saw a Moslem funeral, the procession was headed by the coffin and
each of the mourners took a turn in carrying it a few yards whilst the
rest kept up a sort of chant. Altogether it was a very interesting visit
although as a city at home we would consider it a washout even if the
authorities did not demolish it.
Well sweetheart that's all for the present so cheerio, keep smiling,
All my love,
Reg.
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13.12.42
Joanna darling,
You would think that a warm day in a date plantation under a blue sky
would be just right conditions to write a letter, perhaps, but
unfortunately there is such a lot that can't be written.
Last night I was out to a cinema, the first time for months and
although the cinema apparatus was awful and the picture rotten I enjoyed
it very much. We got a good supper after it so it made a very nice
change.
I have had no mail from you for some time and as I don't expect to be
able to get any for a further six weeks or so. I shall have a biggish
batch when it does finally catch up with me.
Where are you now, what are you doing and are you getting your leave
regularly? Let me know all about it when you write. I expect that by the
time you receive this the cold weather will be at its worst, rather
different from this now that I'm away from the snow line.
Well dearest I guess that's about all for the present so cheerio, keep
smiling and don't forget every letter is one nearer to the end of all this
wandering.
All my love,
Reg.
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11pm Christmas Eve
Darling,
I am on a course in Palestine and we have got a few days Xmas leave so
I am writing this in the bedroom of the hotel we have put up at.
It's lovely dearest, I wish you could see this place, the Med is
within 100 yards, the climate is perfect. I have just been to a cinema
and seen "How Green is My Valley" and had a supper. I've a bottle of wine
in front of me and a good bed to go to, the first in almost 12 months.
The country is the best I have been in yet, all orange groves loaded with
huge oranges of every variety and the rest of the land is nearly all under
cultivation.
I enclose a bracelet which I thought you might like. I know you have
not much use for them but I thought that it would make a nice souvenir.
We have not made up our minds whether to stop here or not, we may move
on to the Holy City tomorrow, it all depends on transport facilities.
Personally I rather hope we go on.
The people here seem very friendly which is quite a change and there's
a general atmosphere of Xmas about.
Well sweetheart I guess that's about all. I hope you have been lucky
enough to go on leave so Goodnight and the happiest of New Years, hoping
that it will see us together again.
All my love,
Reg.
PS. Ever seen a camel draw a plough? Have decided to send bracelet under
separate cover. R
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Paiforce
1.1.43
Darling,
A new year, let's hope it's a lucky one. In my last letter I told you
that I am at present in Palestine so this time I will try and tell you how
the place appears to me.
The whole countryside is dotted with orange groves, fig orchards and
vineyards. The oranges etc. are now loaded with lovely fruit, it's a pity
they can't be transported to Blighty. The rest of the land is cultivated.
Of course there are no crops growing at the moment and the Arab farmers
are busy ploughing. They use donkeys and oxen to pull them but the animal
mostly used is a great lumbering camel. It looks funny to see such a huge
cumbersome creature pulling a plough and of course he makes the farmer
look small.
All along the coast runs a wide belt of sand dunes, it's fine sand and
not the usual mixture of stone and sand but it's heavy stuff to walk in.
The cities are very modern in the Jewish quarters and not so good in
the Arab districts, cafes are very popular here and everyone, especially
the Arabs, gather to talk and smoke there.
New Year's Eve here was not the hectic thing we have in the battalion
and perhaps it's just as well.
I have seen the Sea of Galilee and quite a lot of the river Jordan.
The Jordan valley is quite picturesque, there are not many people living
there though, just the old nomad Arab with his black tents and goats and
sheep. Some people live in the caves in that district. In summer nearly
all the flowers we cultivate grow wild here and I am told that the hills
are covered with daffodils and narcissi in spring. No wonder it was
called a land flowing with milk and honey after living in the deserts.
Well sweetheart no mail has been forwarded to me here so I've no idea
of anything which you may want to know. I don't suppose I shall get it
until late February anyhow.
That's all darling, so goodbye, keep smiling,
All my love,
Reg.
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Paiforce
25.1.43
Darling,
I have sent a letter, pendant, bracelet and photo off today.
Unfortunately it had to go by sea route so goodness knows if it will ever
reach you. Thanks for the whole pile of mail which was awaiting my
return. I had thirty letters and postcards altogether and yours formed at
least half of the total. The ATS does not sound so bad as I expected. I
was afraid that you would have hated it.
I told you in my letter that we had a fine time on the course. I
don't mind telling you that I'm anything but glad to be back.
Damascus was quite an interesting city. Cold, of course but we could
put up with that under those circumstances.
No doubt you would see in the papers that a good deal of mail went
down. I think it was the October lot, still I think all my stuff comes by
air so I did not lose much.
From your letters I gather that you have turned into a bit of a
wanderer yourself. Seeing the country at the Government's expense is
quite a good idea or would be if you were able to choose your own
destination.
I shall be very pleased to receive the photo you promise me. I've
often wondered how you look in those togs.
Cheerio sweetheart, it will not be so very long now I hope, so long
darling.
All my love,
Reg.
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Paiforce 14.2.43
Joanna darling,
Sorry I have not written before but I've not had much chance. Thanks
very much for your Air letters of Dec 30th & Jan 3rd, also for your letter
card Sept 7th & Nov 2nd, all of which I received together. I was very
good of you to send the PO. Thanks very much for it.
The ATS seems fairly cushy about reveille, you talk of getting up at
half past nine on Sundays, wish we had a few days like that here. On the
other hand I'm hanged if I can remember having had my breakfast before it
got light, that's taking things a bit too far in my opinion. It will be
rather a difference for you I know.
I have heard from Stanleys what a fine little place Keith and Hilda
have got. I see you share their opinion. Young Graham will be quite a
hefty little fellow by now I expect.
I shall be very glad to receive the photo you have sent. A photo is a
poor substitute any time for you but will be none the less welcome.
Will you please drop Dad a line. I have not written to him either for
almost three weeks and I have only this card at the moment and don't see
where the next is coming from for a day or two.
Things are getting a bit better here now. At last NAAFI is feeling
its feet and some stuff is coming through, about time too but I suppose we
mustn't grumble.
The war news seems to remain consistently good these days, a big
change from a year or two ago and it looks to me as if this year will
definitely see the end of it. May it be soon so that we can all get home
again.
I expect you will be on leave about now. Make it a good one whilst
you are at it. I don't suppose that the weather will be ideal by any
means but that won't worry you any more than it ever did me.
Well sweetheart the light's fading and the bottom of the page is
closing in so Goodnight darling, keep smiling, All my love, Reg.
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Miss VJ Stevenson Paiforce 20.2.43
Thornhill House
Carsington. Derbys. England.
Airgraph
Joanna darling,
Yes, I have got your official number etc. but I'm hanged if I'm going
to use it. I suppose I'm stupid about it but I still prefer the above
mode of address. There's nothing much I can say this week and I'm glad
not to be able to give you gruesome details of illness and so on. I
received an airgraph from Eyam the other day. Aunt J seems to be OK and
as usual fairly busy. She says she is looking forward to the time when we
shall be going to see her again. Who isn't? Well sweetheart I guess
that's about all so once again it's cheerio and keep your pecker up.
All my love,
Reg.
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Paiforce
27.2.43
Joanna darling,
Quite a heavy mail this week, air letters from you dated Jan 8th,
11th, 20th, 23rd & 31st. Receiving a bunch like that makes me ashamed of
the scrappiness of my own letters.
So the Army have begun to chivvy you about from one place to another
have they, apparently if you keep going to places like the I.O.M you will
be quite content for them to carry on. How did you like the boat
journey? Hope you will have no awful experiences to relate when I do see
you again. Well sweetheart as long as you don't get moved from one desert
to another desert it's not so bad. My grouse is that one lump of sand
looks much the same as the others wherever you are.
You seem to strike lucky with canteens. Well listen and I will get
the better of you this time; we can get tinned fruit, milk, chocolate,
sweets, cigs, cakes and anything else we fancy at approximately prewar
prices and we can get as much as we want, how's that? Guess it shakes
you.
I have not yet received the photo which you sent but am looking
forward to getting it. The last one you sent was very good and is in my
wallet, but I want another one and even more than that I want to see you
and make sure it is you and not just a beautiful dream.
Well you will have had your leave by now. How did you enjoy it and
how did you enjoy the worst part of it - going back? Your conditions
seem to be fine but there's no place like home is there? At least I've
only seen one and believe me it's a wonderful country. I told you about
it in a previous letter and lately I have thought a lot about it. There's
every chance for a fellow there, what do you think? Don't think that by
this I have definitely made up my mind to go. I want your opinion for
that's going to count a lot after this war. In fact I hope in this matter
you will agree for you will have the casting vote. As I said I have not
made up my mind but I definitely lean that way. Please don't mention this
to anyone, they may not understand as you do and may even worry.
You seem to have been very lucky on finding such fine billets in the
I.O.M, the place seems perfect from your description, more like civvy
billets by the sound of it and from what I have heard there's stacks of
amusement in Douglas.
Sorry I did not tell you I was going on a course; there was nothing
out of the ordinary about the course itself but the journey to and from it
were fine. You will know by my other letters that I had a short stay in
both Baghdad and Damascus and you will have seen by the photos I sent you
that Tel Aviv is a fine place. By the way, those same photos give you a
very good idea what a South African city looks like.
I can't understand you not getting mail for a month at a time. Even
if I was away on a course it should have been my mail and not yours which
got held up. In fact you should have got it much quicker from Palestine
than from Paiforce.
Well sweetheart I guess that's about all so once more dearest,
cheerio, keep smiling and don't forget I love you more with every day that
passes.
All my love,
Reg.
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Paiforce
6.3.43
Joanna darling,
Many thanks for your letters of Feb 7th & 21st. Glad to hear that you
had a good leave and that the weather has been kind to you. Your
description of Carson almost makes me see it and the mention of Renshaw's
hill reminds me that there will be young rabbits about now. If I was home
I suppose that I should be having a walk round this afternoon to see what
autumn's prospects are like.
You seem to have had rather a bad passage home. Last time we came
across that district the old tub did everything but loop the loop. Still
it's worth it sweetheart to be home even for so short a time.
I rather gather from your last letter that there's another one dated
about the 14th on the way so I don't know if you went to Eyam or not.
According to yours of the 7th you intended to go. I hope you did
sunshine. I know Aunt J was looking forward to seeing you. From her
letters it seems as if I'm not the only one in love with you and she
always writes and tells me when she has heard from you.
Evidently you have not yet received the photo etc I had taken at Xmas.
Hardly to be expected as it had to go surface but you will be receiving it
sooner or later. Whilst on the subject I've not yet received the one of
yourself you sent.
The I.O.M. sounds a lovely place for a holiday. John Bembridge and I
were once considering going there but nothing ever materialized. From
what you say it's warmer than it is here. Incidentally I'm not sunburned
at the moment although I don't suppose it will be long before I am. Did
you know that in heat such as we had last autumn you don't turn brown but
white and you never sweat or if you do it dries on the skin as soon as it
forms.
I've received a letter from Keith. You will be able to tell me if I'm
right for from his letter he appears to be rather a patronizing individual
these days, full of his own importance. He refers to Wirksworth as a
"stagnant backwater". I have replied giving him to understand that if he
wandered about as much as we have done and had to put up with the
inconveniences we have that he might long for a "backwater" to "stagnate"
in. However, he has done very well for himself and I suppose he thinks he
has a right to condescend to lesser mortals; but who is the lesser mortal?
Dad told me that the Nipper has an interest at Brasson. Apparently he
is rather shy of the subject; he's eighteen isn't he and growing up fast.
Well darling, the bottom's near once again so once more cheerio
sweetheart it won't be long before I shall be saying to you,
Goodnight dearest, All my love,
Reg.
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Paiforce
Airgraph 13.3.43
Joanna darling,
I have now received your letter of Feb 12th. Glad you went to see
Aunt J, she was looking forward to seeing you so much. I have had a
letter from John Bembridge, he has been fitted up with a glass eye and is
now somewhere up in the western desert again. I was out last Sunday to
one of the bigger local towns. It was quite an interesting place, perhaps
its chief attraction was the trees after the sand. The people were more
friendly than most and I think more honest. Of course there's not much
competition in this part of the world.
Well that's about all sweetheart, Cheerio and good luck.
All my love,
Reg.
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4805498 Cpl WR Ward
D Coy 6th Seaforth
M.E.F 23.3.43
Joanna dearest,
All right, there's no need to bother about the changed address.
Everything is still peaceful about here.
I've had no mail at all this week so don't be surprised if you find
the reading rather heavy going. Regulations say you can't say this and
you must not say that until it's almost a matter of hello and goodbye.
How is the I.O.M. looking now, flowers everywhere by this time I
expect. I've seen quite a lot lately. In places out here there are
masses of 'em, hyacinths, delphiniums, daisies, bluebells, coltsfoots and
even a few orchids and everywhere there are any of any variety you find
the big red poppy. They look fine when you are lucky enough to see them!
In one of your letters you say that the Shiningford Land does not look
so bad. What has happened there? Folk keep hinting at it and I have
formed an idea of what it is but noone has ever said what it actually is.
What's the matter, is it a military secret or something? Did the Hall
Woods ever get felled is another question. One letter said that they were
going to be but I've never heard any more of it.
One thing here that I think is worthy of mention is the fact that the
powers that be have decided that the floor is too hard to lie on now and
have decided to issue us with a palliasse of straw. Of course it's very
thin but it does make things a bit easier. I think you will agree that
their thoughtfulness is almost overwhelming.
I believe that it's a year today since Blighty disappeared over the
watery horizon. It really does seem to have gone more quickly than the
previous two and it's certainly been the most interesting.
Well darling the space is about ended and so are my ideas for a letter
so cheerio. Someday I'll be able to look down at you again and say "Happy
Joanna?" Goodnight dearest,
All my love, Reg.
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MEF 27.3.43
Joanna darling,
What's all this about CB? Have you been on jankers? Your letter of
the 9th rather looks like it although you don't mention it on the 3rd.
You seem to be a bit "browned off" with moving around, not homesick are
you. Make the most of it sweetheart, it won't last for long. As soon as
the war's over you will be demobbed whereas old Churchill's speech of the
other day didn't promise us anything much.
The photo I sent is of a group (I don't suppose you have received it
yet) so maybe it's not what you want and although having one taken is
worse than having a tooth out to me I will get one when I can. The only
trouble is that native villages are hardly the place to find a
photographer although it would be easy to buy a donkey.
Do you get hot water bottles, ATS for the use of, or are you pulling
my leg again. I fancy the latter. You say you have lost it. Is that
what you have got the jankers for? haven't you been in the Army long
enough to know how to get another?
Spring at home sounds good this year. I suppose the chestnuts are in
full flower and the birches pale green again now. There are not many
trees in this district but it's not hard to imagine the old chestnut
behind the house or the damson blossom in the pub orchard.
I think your idea of getting your mother and Bet over to the I.O.M
whilst you are there is a very good one, shall you be able to get a living
out pass while they are with you? It won't be like going home but it will
certainly be the best thing to it. What's your Dad going to do, forage
for himself? He's very capable of doing it I bet.
It's bitterly cold here just now, the winds have been high for the
last few days and when it rains it simply lashes it at you. Not too good
in tents but they stand up to it well, not like that one in Palestine
which blew over and pinned me to my bed just after Xmas. Apart from the
cold and the mud after the rain things aren't too bad. We are getting
plenty of grub and the absence of anywhere to go makes us go to bed in
decent time, so it's early to bed and early to rise, although the wealthy
and wise part of the rhyme were rather a mistake.
Well darling that's about all, sorry I can't tell you more but the
censor's very keen. So cheerio my darling and don't forget I love you.
Reg.
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MEF 4.4.43
Joanna darling,
Your letter of the 2nd Dec, the one which you sent by surface route
has at last arrived, rather a long time, like the Airmail letters very
welcome but hardly worth it when you consider the time these things and
airgraphs take. I've had nothing but the letter from you this week so I
suppose that there will be something tomorrow.
It's rather a prosaic thing to say but today really is glorious. I
spent the morning wandering about amongst the hills and it was just like a
Sunday morning at home. I can't say the same about this afternoon for you
are too far away.
BLUE PENCILLED SO COULDN'T DECIPHER IT ALL
The hills here are very much like home, rather rocky -----so but the
same abundance of lovely flowers, many are the same as at home, egg and
bacon, lichens, wild peas, poppies, daisies by the thousand and ---------
as well as wild tulips just like the ---- ones we used to grow at home.
The animal life is practically nonexistent but there are plenty of
skylarks round us singing in the hills.
The villages around here are surrounded by trees, mostly fruit and as
they are at the moment --------- they look rather like a ---------- in the
distance. Needless to say this appearance disappears the moment you get
into the centre of the place.
I had a very interesting talk with an old native the other day. Don't
think that I've learnt a foreign language, this old man had spent some
years in Canada and as a result spoke quite good English with a Yankee
touch. It was rather amusing to hear him say "Gawd Almighty" and to refer
to his own currency in terms of dollars. However, he told us all about
his crops and the habits of his people, of how they regard us and he also
gave one the best "back to the land" lectures I've ever heard and so we
will leave him to his philosophy.
Censorship is now 100% here, have any of my letters ever been trimmed
down at all? You have never said so but it occurred to me that if they
had there would not be much left.
I notice that you are now being influenced by the Army. I don't
remember the precalled up Joanna calling things "smashing", being "browned
off" and so on. Still I don't know but what I prefer it and I'm waiting
impatiently for the photo you have sent to see how you look.
I've had a letter from Dad, he's OK and I expect busy as usual. I
suppose your mother and Betty will be over in the I.O.M with you now,
lucky beggars.
Well sweetheart I guess that's about all that space will allow so once
again, cheerio, keep your chin up and keep smiling.
All my love,
Reg.
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MEF 10.4.43
Joanna my darling,
As expected your letter turned up on Monday. As it was dated the 25th
of March that was good going. I'm sorry not to have an Airmail letter
card for you this week but you see we only get issued with one a week and
as this week's have not turned up yet and I'm unable to scrounge one I
will have to send this and it's much slower.
So your folk managed to get over to the I.O.M did they. Lucky
blighters. I wish I could but it's rather a long way from here and four
day's leave would not be much good; leave is on the go here but I hardly
expect to go for a long time as I've had a leave since leaving Blighty and
very few others have. Apparently you were able to have quite a decent
time with them and even worked a bit of leave into the bargain. Nice work
sweetheart, grab all you can in that line, it's worth it.
I was out on pass a couple of days ago. As usual I can't tell you
where which is just a plain damn nuisance but we had quite a decent time
wandering round. I wish you could see these places, perhaps they would
not come up to your expectations but they are well worthwhile. As usual
the most interesting place was the bazaar, a very big one in this case.
It must have been well over a quarter of a mile long and everything in
them from Birmingham's worst to finest silks etc. The smell of these
places differs every few yards; one moment you are by a leather shop and
the next moment on to a spice shop and so on, each has its own smell
although the local smell is always there as usual. The usual way is to
walk through and bargain with one shopkeeper after another for anything
you want and eventually buy it at about a third of the price asked and
twice its value. They are a hard lot these wogs.
Today being a Saturday and more or less a half day is wash day. Yes,
I do my own, the Army contractors are as usual awful and the stuff comes
back a good deal dirtier than it goes away so we just get the old petrol
can of water and scrubbing brush going and make a better job of it than
they do.
When I was out I saw "Sun Valley Serenade"; it's a good job you
mentioned "Katrina" in your letter or I should never have been able to
spell Sonja Henji. It was a very good film and the fact that it was a
very comfortable cinema helped me to enjoy it.
Goodnight sweetheart,
All my love,
Reg.
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Airgraph MEF 18.4.43
Darling,
It's three o'clock in the morning, rather a queer time to be writing,
but I'm on guard and everything's quiet so it seems to be an opportune
time.
I received your letter as expected on Monday. Glad to see that you
refuse to let the powers that be worry you although they do make you get
up at a reasonable hour, no sympathy for you, lazy bones.
I keep managing to get out once a week, was out on Thursday, spent a
lot of time pottering about the bazaars and wrangling with the worthy
wogs. Once again we got to the great gate of the mosque with intentions
of going in but turned back because the paving stones looked too cold and
our boots would probably have been pinched from the gate by the beggars
who hang around there.
Well sweetheart that's the space, can't think what's happened to the
letter cards lately, cheerio, all my love and keep smiling.
Reg.
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MEF 2.5.43
Joanna dearest,
Sunday evening again and summer's definitely here now, hot days and
warm long nights, comparatively long of course.
There's hardly been any mail again this week, just a few belated ones
but none for me except one from Les who I hear is once more on leave. He
does not say if it's draft leave or not but he apparently expects to be
out before so very long. I suppose you know that Reg Bacon's missing. I
believe I told you that I missed seeing him by hours a few months ago. I
believe I know where he was , you know how news travels. When last I
heard of him it was from a Guardsman I was talking to at least a thousand
miles from him; it's hard luck on his wife.
The grub here is fine now, I think about the best we have ever had;
egg and bacon and decent meat is no longer a thing of the past and the
cooks don't seem to mess it about in the usual way. In addition another
chap and myself muck in at tinned fruit and biscuits every night and so go
to our beds with a sigh of contentment clasping a well filled tummy. In
addition to all this I reckon I eat almost a dozen oranges a day, the
heat's a good excuse for that though.
By the time you get this I expect that you will be thinking of leave
yourself, remember you can paint the best picture of Carson for me will
you. Let me know what it looks like and especially what the back of the
allotments by our house look like. Les tells me that the last chestnut
has fallen but being Les he refers to it in terms of firewood only.
I'm afraid the fly season's begun again; a couple of flycatchers have
been hung in the tent but the only catch to date has been myself three
times, being long has its disadvantages you see. I hope they don't get
too bad for they can be more than a pest.
Well dearest, that's a rather trivial list of things but living here
is not very exciting although it has plenty of advantages, so goodnight
sweetheart, keep smiling.
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
MEF 9.5.43
Joanna darling,
Stacks of mail this week including an Air letter dated 13th April and
the photo from you. Now this photo dearest. It's good of your face but
where the devil did you get that hat, it's just terrible darling. Sorry
if I seem rude but thanks for it just the same.
I've been fortunate to get out on pass again this week and managed to
visit the mosque. I have got to the door a couple of times before but
have jibbed at walking barefoot over the paving stones, and then when I
finally made up my mind I found that Christians are provided with huge
slippers to fit over boots instead. It's not a bad sort of place although
not as beautiful as many I have seen. The walls of the courtyard are bare
stone although there are patches of ancient mosaic hanging on in places.
The prayer hall is huge and ornamental, the roof is all inlaid and the
walls mosaic, wonderful work and colour effect. The part which
corresponds to the pulpit in our churches is a carved marble flight of
stairs. It's very fine workmanship and worth seeing. Apparently, Moslems
are of four sects for there are four ornamental arches facing Mecca, one
for each sect. The whole of the floor space is covered with very rich
Turkish and Persian carpets, the sort of stuff which would command a huge
price. They are worked in a pattern of oblongs each about five feet by
two and a half; this makes spaces for individuals to worship in and there
they kneel and pray or sit meditating, oblivious to everything else. I've
never thought about it before but from what I could understand from the
jabbering guide, there are a good many similarities between Islam and our
own, they have common prophets and customs.
Have my letters been cut about at all? Dad tells me that a piece I
wrote to him on the flowers which grow around here had been cut out. Why,
I don't know. I always thought I played safe in that respect but I guess
the censor was browned off or something, it's silly to take things to that
extent.
Glad to hear that the Jankers was not dished out as a punishment, I
could hardly imagine you answering the call etc.
Everything's the same here, I know that's getting a rather worn out
phrase but it's true, at least true to the extent we are allowed to write.
Well sweetheart I've several more to write, I've been letting them
slide again just lately so I had better pipe down, write another two or
three and then get on with a bit of washing (laugh if you like) and a few
other odd jobs. Cheerio my darling,
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
MEF 17.5.43 (stamped 3.6.43)
Airgraph
Joanna darling,
Many thanks for your letter of April 25th. Glad to hear that you are
still having a decent time. Things are not too bad here, the monotony of
it is getting us a bit browned off but I suppose it's no use letting that
bother us. Have you had leave yet? Don't forget that I want a full
description of Carson when you write. I got a snap taken last night,
goodness knows how it will turn out but if it's any use at all I will send
it on. Well sweetheart I guess that's all space will allow.
Keep smiling, All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
MEF 24.5.43
Joanna dearest,
Sorry I missed writing yesterday but I did not get time. Your letter
of the 8th arrived today; you certainly seem to be working some queer
hours just now but a shift of six hours is not too bad.
No, I can't tell you where I am, somewhere in the Middle East of
course but that's rather a large area and I'm afraid that you will have to
keep guessing.
How was the channel when you went on leave, was it kinder than last
time or were the effects as before?
I had no idea that George Marsden was in the Navy. He was going in I
knew but then he was also going in the Air Force at one time. He also ran
away from home; in fact that boy seems to have developed a mind of his own
at last.
A sale at the Hope and Anchor should be very interesting and attract a
lot of attention, if the relatives don't rob the place before it comes
off. There's a huge lot of good antiques I know.
I suppose Miss Budworth's death will shake HG and his fellow topers,
it's been their meeting place for years and there have been Budworths
there for years; in fact they have been there so long that they are more
like mine host out of an old book than landlords.
Les's stay in Ireland has now been cut down to a month so he may be
coming out this way after all. Dad tells me where he is but I never heard
of the place before.
Everything here is much the same so I've no news. The cornfields are
ripe now and a good deal has been pulled. Yes, they pull it by hand and
cart it away on donkeys.
Well sweetheart, that's all, keep your chin up.
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
MEF no date
Joanna dearest,
Thanks very much for your letter of the 9th which I received the other
day. I've only had that one this week from home although I've had one
from John Bembridge.
The MEF address is really insignificant; this is one of the most
peaceful places you can imagine and very much like
CENSORED, CAN'T READ A WORD UNDER BLUE PENCIL with its --------------
after rain there's that same herby smell which you find -------------.
John B is down in Egypt now and holds the rather peculiar status of
"official rat catcher" in a camp there, that's a smashing job if you like.
He says it reminds him of the time we went ferreting at home although he's
had to substitute oily rags in place of ferrets, he gets an acker a tail
(ie approximately ¼d) as a bonus so is able to make a nice addition to his
pay. Sounds like one of those jobs you dream about (sorry, substitute we
for you). Cyril Webster I know nothing of.
I was rather surprised to hear of young Desmond Taylor's commission.
I knew him of course but always thought of him as a bright kid and no
more. It's rather a shock that he's grown up to me. Of course there are
a lot of silly boys in similar positions but he does seem so very young.
Of course I know Marg Rains well, another damn nice kid who seems to
have grown up suddenly. Tell me dearest, am I getting ancient or is
everyone maturing very rapidly in Blighty these days? I seem to be
getting hopelessly behindhand through not seeing these folk for three or
four years.
Have you given any thought to the S Africa idea I wrote you of some
time ago. You've not mentioned it and so perhaps you have not got that
particular letter. Also, have you received the oddments I sent you in
January.
Sweetheart, this letter is nothing but an answer to yours, nothing has
happened here. As it is Easter Sunday we have had a free day, voluntary
church parades which meant that everyone made a few remarks on the padre
and his ancestors and noone went to church.
It's a job to fill a day in really if you aren't one of those folk
who's one idea is to lie in bed all day. We do a bit of washing (using
Lux mind you) some cleaning up and finish up by reading and smoking too
many fags.
Well darling I guess that's about all this time so as usual Goodnight
sweetheart, keep smiling and don't forget.
I love you
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
MEF 5.6.43
Joanna dearest,
Thanks for your letter of May 21st. So you managed to get your leave
and I gather that you are not going back to I.O.M. Where are you going to
now?
Carson seems to be the same, thank goodness for that. Do the RAF
maintain a small staff on the Shiningford land?
You seem to be getting quite gay these days, the last three letters
refer to some bloke or other; it's a good job that I know my Joanna or I
should be getting a bit jealous.
Do you find that being on leave is one long round of people who ask
you when you are going back on the first day you arrive home. It always
annoyed me, and then there are the old crones who think that you are
having the time of your life.
I'm glad to see that you had a better crossing this time, it gives the
leave a better start. I can't recall the house you tell me that Mary ex
Doxey has gone to live in. I thought that they were all of a bigger type
than the one you describe. However, I suppose that it suits them well
enough.
I heard from Les today, he is expecting to go back to Wales very soon.
He says very little about Ireland, but I don't think he likes it very
much. He is on some job away from the rest of his crowd so he's lucky.
How did the dance go, was the Nipper there? Where do all the blokes
come from these days? I should have thought that they would all have been
away now.
Well sweetheart I'm afraid that I can't tell you anything of where I
am etc but you know how strict censorship is out here. However; I can
tell you that you that it was a different crowd to this in Tunisia, things
are quiet enough here. Cheerio darling all the best.
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
MEF 24.6.43
Joanna dearest,
I was very surprised at the news of your new abode, you are in luck
this time alright. How do you manage it? You will be able to get home
every week and Sid Husband's place is only just across the park.
I'm afraid that it's well over a week since I was able to write to
you. Sorry, but it just couldn't be helped.
Someone, I think it was Dad, had already told me that Jim Fidler has
turned up again alright. I bet his wife is feeling relieved about it;
it's such a long time since he went missing and I believe that you told me
some time ago that he had been officially reported as believed killed.
Your leave must have been a good one even if you did only stooge
around Carson as you call it, well there aren't many much better places
for the job in my eyes.
Please don't mention gooseberry pies, I've just had the same old bully
and jam for dinner and the thought of those pies, well I suppose you know.
Do you remember that big one I finished off on one leave I was on, wish I
had it now.
I had no idea that Edith Stanley was going to college, I thought that
she had finished all that long ago. She must have been teaching for over
a couple of years now. What's her idea? to enable her to get a job in a
secondary school I suppose. It sounds a very pukka joint that she is
going to anyway.
Cheerio, keep smiling and don't forget,
I love you.
Reg.
PS Had a letter from old Sutton at the Post Office, under his name he puts
PMR, any idea what it stands for?
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
MEF 27.6.43
Joanna dearest,
Well, you lucky blighter. Many thanks for your letter of the fourth
and an undated one which you wrote later. You complain of the rain, a
little drop would do us very nicely but I doubt very much if it's due to
rain again for a few years here.
I managed to get hold of a few Ashbourne Telegraphs the other day.
Perhaps you have never heard of it, it's just a local rag but covers
Hognaston district and is quite interesting providing you know the
district well.
I was very pleased to hear that the Husbands family are all well
especially that Mrs H has improved so much. Please remember me to them
when you next go there, will you.
This kid brother of mine must be growing up at a tremendous rate these
days. There was a big difference the last time I saw him but nothing in
comparison to what you say he's like now. He will be nearly 18 now of
course, although it's hard to imagine that he's not still at school.
Carson sounds grand these days. I expect they will all be getting
ready for haymaking now, old Joe Renshaw will be leaning on a gate
looking at the crop and the dogs will be there, wish I was with him again
talking it over.
We have just come off church parade, had a section of parsons this
morning all having a dabble. It's a long time since we had one for which
we are all thankful but this morning was not too bad at all.
Well darling that's about all so for the present cheerio, good luck
and keep your chin up whatever happens.
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
MEF 29.6.43
Joanna my darling,
Your descriptions of Kedleston at the moment are very vivid. I can
almost see the place and the flowers which you describe and I bet you are
making the best use of the tennis lawns. Speaking of tennis, I saw a
court the other day but it was composed of sand like the rest of the
countryside. The photo which you have can give you no idea of the
monotony and the vastness of it.
I'm very glad that you are able to drop in and see Sid and Mrs
Husbands, please remember me to them and Dodie. She's in the Land Army
now, isn't she?
Darling, there's such a lot which I can't write about and nothing that
I can except that I'm loving you more than ever and looking to the day
when I shall see you again, so
Goodnight dearest,
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
MEF 23.7.43
Joanna my darling,
At last I am able to get a letter off, please don't blame me for not
having written sooner. I expect you and Dad will have gathered from my
cables that I am in Sicily. I'm keeping my head down and my fingers
crossed and am coming to no harm. Of course I can't tell you much of the
war out here, you will know more about it than I do I suppose. One thing
however we can say is that our Airforce is supreme, for a few days our
friends were about but you should see them run for it if a couple of
fighters come along. Some did not always get far though.
The country itself is very beautiful but rather hot, fruit seems to be
very plentiful and you can bet that we have made the best of it. Oranges
and grapes grow everywhere but are not ripe yet, lemons are plentiful in
certain districts and we just sucked them as we marched along, plums,
pears and apples are also quite good. Whole fields grow nothing but
tomatoes, I have got them coming out of my ears now I reckon. There are
also plenty of water melons.
The scenery is very good, a narrow plain follows the coast and farther
inland are the hills and mountains. Both rivers and the sea are very warm
and ideal for bathing.
The people live in a terribly poor standard. Their houses, or rather
hovels, are not fit to keep cattle in, their clothes are one patch on top
of another and they have a horrible habit of kissing your hand, especially
in the country districts. By the way, it's only the old folk who do
this, no glamorous Iti girl has tried it yet or maybe I should not call it
horrible. Everyone is very friendly, they gather and cheer and clap as
you go by although no doubt they curse us in Italian at the same time.
This place can't last so very long now and after all I'm nearer home
than I have been for a long time. I received a couple of letters from you
a week ago. Cheerio darling, keep smiling and never forget I love you.
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Med Forces 7.8.43
Joanna dearest,
Yes, I'm here still, sitting on top of a hill overlooking miles of
orchards. On the left is the sea and away over to the right is a quaint
medieval looking town. It's very beautiful but rather difficult to
describe. There are huge patches of vineyards dotted with olive and
fruit trees of various kinds. The people are most friendly, on the
surface at least. Yesterday we marched through the town I mentioned
above, the church bells pealed, the crowds all clapping and yelling "Viva"
or something of the sort, the old women with glass jugs of water and some
of the men offering drinks of their wine, rather like a carnival day in
fact. No doubt it's the best policy though. A great many of the houses
fly white flags, sheets or towels, as soon as a town falls and some even
carry a personal one on a long pole. Like their Italian soldiers a white
flag is their most cherished possession.
Fruit is still plentiful, the grapes are now ripe and anyone going
down the hill returns with his steel hat piled up with them. At the
moment I've got about five bunches around me. I shall be ill if I'm not
careful.
The war here is moving on, the Jerry man is on the run and of course
the Iti has practically given himself up altogether. We are hoping Italy
will pack up altogether soon, one or two really good RAF raids would
decide her, I guess.
I received a couple of letters from you the other day. Would you swap
me that gooseberry pie for a cart load of grapes?
Sweetheart, a couple of days will be your birthday. I will try and
get a cable but if I can't will you please accept a rather belated "Many
Happy Returns".
One of my cousins got married a little while ago and I sent her a
small present which she has received so I'm afraid that we shall have to
write your parcel off as a loss again, hard luck but still -
Will you please let Dad know that you have heard from me. I've only
been able to scrounge the one stamp.
Cheerio darling, keep smiling. All my love, Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Med Forces 10.8.43
Joanna darling,
Well sweetheart it's just after lunchtime, I've just had some bread
quarried in 1927, received a couple of letters from you, found a shady
place under an olive tree, Jerry is miles away so I'm feeling at peace
with the world in general. The scenery here is grand. I described it in
my last letter but as it's clearer today, we get a better view especially
out to sea. It sounds rather piggish I know but at the moment I've got a
heap of figs and several pounds of grapes at my side, my pockets are full
of almonds, a bloke has promised me some plums in a few minutes so the
home front is doing rather well.
At present we are lying back, laying about or sleeping. The worst of
this kind of life is that you are going like the hammers or doing nothing,
there is no happy medium.
The newsreel you saw was pretty quick work. I saw camera men kicking
about a few times but as you will no doubt have guessed these front line
pictures are taken a few miles from any enemy. One case I do know of the
"first troops" into a certain town. Actually we were through it a few
hours before he got there.
To reach a good many of the cottages and farms off the road one has to
follow paths through the lava beds. How the old man gets home in the dark
if he's drunk, I don't know, it's like a maze in daylight.
There's a convent only a couple of hundred yards from here. It's fine
to hear them singing in the morning. They also play "God Save the King"
now. At first it was a bit shaky but there's a big improvement already.
The refugees who are living amongst the rocks here are in rather a
sorry plight; grub's very scarce with them; a steady stream of farm carts
loaded with furniture and people with bundles of bedding go by on the road
from dawn to dusk. Some of them will have a shock when they get to what
once were their homes.
I was very surprised to hear that Betty is getting married. I got
your letters of the 19th and 24th together and found the answer to the
puzzle of the first in the second. I certainly had no idea anything like
that was in the wind, wish her all the best of luck or whatever the
appropriate thing is for me, will you please. It's rather amusing on
reading your letters to find that you are becoming a sort of pole
squatter, you write most of your letters in trees.
If you do get up to Eyam, please let Aunt J know that I'm alright and
intend to remain so. I've not written to her for a month but intend to
do so very soon, pure idleness, but you need not tell her that.
Keep your chin up, the silver lining is not far away and I shall be
able to tell you instead of write,
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Cent Med Forces 20.8.43 (approx)
Joanna darling,
Sunday morning again and of course the sun's still shining, there are
never any clouds or signs of rain here, just perpetual sunshine. The
bells are ringing down in the town and I suppose that all the faithful
will be having a spot of prayer. Fortunately the C of E padre has decided
not to hold any service today so we have no church parade. One thing I
don't think that I have told you of are the little niches which are to be
found built into many of the houses. They contain some religious picture
or statue and as a rule the stonework is ornamental and the whole thing is
kept very clean.
One of the greatest shortages here are books and papers, the only
literature we can get are the Eighth Army Paper and the Crusader and these
are generally a few days old before they come round. There are a few
tattered novels but we all read them long ago.
When we were bathing the other day a chap named Houghton from
Wirksworth and another named Doxey from Middleton came up. I had not seen
either of them since I joined up. George Smith who used to live with
Arthur Fearn is OK, he's in the same lot but I did not see him.
The civil population is returning to normal fast now, they are going
to be the best scroungers yet in a short time. The evacuees have gone
home so the population in places like this is only 10% of what it was two
or three weeks ago.
Wine making is now in full swing; the bunches of grapes are thrown
into a concrete trough and trampled on by a man with very dirty boots.
When he has crushed all the juice out, it's strained into large bottles
and allowed to ferment and after about six months is ready to drink.
You would be very amused to see and hear a conversation between one of
us and an Iti; they speak very fast and wave their arms about but we can
generally follow their meaning; out of my very limited stock I suppose I
use "non capisco" most of all. As you may guess it means "I don't
understand".
Thanks very much for the cable you sent. It did not manage to get
here on time but as they actually take longer than a letter it was hardly
to be expected. There is no service from here and so they come ordinary
mail from Egypt.
Your letter reminds me that our travels were mentioned in the news so
I don't suppose the censor will have any objections to my mentioning them
at last as you missed it. They are roughly Madagascar, India, Iraq,
Persia, through Transjordan to Palestine on a course, back to Persia and
Syria, Egypt and now Sicily. I wonder where next?
Afternoon
Sweetheart,
It's not very nice to lie here and write this; three years ago (no,
more than that) I should have been going out to meet you. I bet that the
fishpond is still as lovely and wild. The first Sunday I get home, I know
where we are going. Cheerio darling, keep smiling
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Field Service Post Card 18.9.43
I am quite well. I have received your letter dated 31st Aug.
Letter follows at first opportunity.
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Cent Med Forces
19.9.43
Joanna my darling,
Yes, I'm still here although the censor is back at work and I can't
tell you where here is. I will continue to try and make your mouth water
by saying that the orchard we are in contains apples, peaches, grapes and
figs.
I see by your letter that you are still at Kedleston although most of
your letters are headed "At Home". By the way, there are also plenty of
walnuts around here but they are not quite ripe yet.
As usual there are miles of olive groves and I was watching the locals
make olive oil the other day. It's a very simple matter of grinding and
pressing the olives. Of course there's more to it than that but that
comes later.
I've just received a letter from Dad, he tells me that Les has had
fourteen days draft leave. Every leave that lad has had lately (and he's
had a good many) seems to have been draft leave.
What do you think of the news in this part of the world these days?
horrible creeping creatures these Itis, only fit for such jobs as fish and
chip mongers.
Who has gone to the Hope and Anchor now? I'm not usually sentimental
but it does seem a pity that there's no Budworth to carry it on; they were
more of an institution than inn keepers.
There's not much chance of me running into Ray Anthony, the RAF are
usually a good many miles behind us. In any case we don't even know that
he is in this part of the world.
Frank Oldfield wrote me, reminding me of various binges but I'm
practically on the water wagon these days. There's stacks of wine and
it's dirt cheap but what a head it leaves you with, so no thanks.
Well darling I'm nearer home than ever before since we left Blighty.
It's a long way yet but we are on the right road and from the news it
won't be long before I'm seeing you again.
Cheerio sweetheart, keep smiling, All my love,
Reg.
Please let Dad know that you received this. I've no more cards.R
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Airgraph
Central Med Forces 2.10.43
Joanna darling,
No mail lately so I expect that I shall receive a bunch as soon as I
have finished writing, it often happens. I suppose that Betty's wedding
will be very soon. Carson seems to have been struck with a whirl of
weddings lately, must be something in the air.
We are still wandering around this poverty stricken country and it
does not improve on closer acquaintance. The hills are not quite as big
but the folk are just as poor and miserable as before, a whole nation of
scroungers apparently.
Cheerio and keep your pecker up.
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
13.10.43
Cent Med Forces
Joanna darling,
A shoal of letters turned up yesterday so I'm going to have a busy
time today. Two of them were from you dated Sept 27th & Oct 3rd. I can't
understand you not having received any mail as I have written fairly
regularly.
Italy is not such a good country, the people all live in villages
which are always built on a hill top and there are none of the isolated
farms and cottages common to Blighty. These villages are often seven
miles or more apart and in the morning and evening you see practically the
whole population going to work in the fields. The country is not so very
hilly now, it's taking on more of a rolling type of land. Trees are few
and far between so if you do get caught in the rain, there's no shelter.
The weather here has definitely broken up and we have rigged up shacks for
ourselves. Before we did this we were wet through day and night and of
course dry blankets were unknown. However, it's not so bad now although
we are rather crowded. That's enough of my troubles.
All letters contain a wealth of information on Les's wedding. I have
had a letter from both Les and my new sister as she terms herself. They
don't say very much but Bet has promised to send me on the photos when
they come through.
Sorry to hear about Jack Higton, I am not surprised as malaria is very
prevalent out here. Quite a lot of people get it and it certainly shakes
them up. At one place we were at the mossies were thicker than flies are
here and it's always referred to as Mosquito Valley now.
Our Iti allies? (damn them) are forever pestering us for boots. They
are in a very poor state in this respect and a great many of them either
go barefoot or wrap any old cloth or sheepskin round their feet. The cold
weather is coming on so they look like having chilblains this winter.
Cheerio, keep smiling
All my love, Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
CMF 6.11.43
Joanna my darling,
From your two letters of the 10th & 17th Oct you seem to have been
having a rather hectic time lately, weddings, cinemas and so on, good
enough, keep it up.
Dad tells me that you have had very little mail lately. Admittedly
letter writing has been a few days overdue at times but nothing is
sufficient to warrant that delay.
Wonderful news - we are in billets, at least that is the name given to
these four walls and a roof. At any rate it's the first we have seen with
the exception of two days a fortnight ago since leaving Blighty. The
place we are in is a typical Iti farmhouse, almost without furniture, full
of squealing women and kids and in a filthy condition. This room was
thick with the dirt of years until we pinched a brush and got cracking on
it. Even now it is a dismal hole but welcome shelter from the rain.
We have been rather busy lately but by keeping my head down, I've kept
out of harm's way. We are resting now though and I'm very thankful for
it. Jerry still goes back but stubbornly. You have to hand it to him,
he's a brave man.
Thanks very much for the description of Bet's wedding. You all seem
to have had a good time although your job of keeping our old enemy the
rector occupied must have been a sore trial to you. How do you do it? I
know I should have fallen out with him during the first five minutes.
I see by our local rag "The Eighth Army News" that there are cinemas
running all over Italy now. These adverts and propaganda titbits sound
very well but it's only the folk way back in HQs and such like miles
behind the lines places who ever see them. The poor old foot sloggers
never get to them, they are too far away.
Out here the women do most of the work on the land. It's a common
sight to see half a dozen women breaking up the land with big hooked
tools. It must be very hard work for them but they live so little above
the standard of animals, that it suits them. The kids too, even at five
to ten, appear to be really ancient. They are little and bent with old
pinched faces and patched filthy clothes. No wonder they grow up into
such horrible adults.
Have you been down to Lincoln on your leave? If so, how are the folk
down there, last time you mentioned them, Mrs Whatever her name is, was
ill. Also did you manage to get to Eyam? I hope so as I know how much
Aunt J looks forward to seeing you.
Well sweetheart, I guess that's about all so cheerio. I'm still
heading for home and you.
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
4805498 L/Sgt WR Ward
D Coy. 6th Seaforths
CMF 13.11.43
Joanna darling,
Three letters dated Oct 24th, 31st & Nov 2nd which I've received
during the last few days. I see that you have got your leave and I'm sure
that Mr Ellis would be glad to see you. I know I would. You talk of cold
weather, we have got snow here, can you beat that. Fortunately it's a
long way off but still it does not look too promising. You will no doubt
have already noticed that the powers that be have been slinging bits of
tape about again. It's unpaid so it's not much use yet. I've sent a
registered envelope containing a watch off to you today. I hope it gets
through although I'm rather pessimistic. If you have to pay duty on it
see that the duty value is not over five quid and please draw the
necessary cash off Dad to pay it.
Keep smiling,
All my love
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
CMF ? 11. 43
Joanna darling,
A wonderful change in the weather this morning, the sun's out and
making the snow capped mountains look very beautiful. They are not so
nice at close quarters though and I'm speaking with the rather bitter
voice of experience. After over a week of incessant rain it makes a nice
change. Thank goodness we have got a roof over our heads, the last few
days must have been hellish for the blokes who are actually in the line.
The peasants are making the best of the sunshine and are busy ploughing
with cattle, the womenfolk are following the plough, breaking up the lumps
and sowing the corn by hand. They will be at it until darkness so thank
your lucky stars you were not born in this benighted land.
The locals are thawing out of their original indifference, they have
discovered that we don't intend to pinch their miserable belongings and
that we pay cash for goods. The result is that they are offering a
variety of useless rubbish for sale at ridiculous prices. Yesterday,
after a lot of argument with an Iti, who, of course I could not
understand, I bought a fowl for three bob instead of the original price of
10/-. I should have known better though for it must have been the
original Italian fowl. It was so tough that I had bully instead so you
can guess what it was like.
The trees have all turned a golden brown now, reminds me of home and
the beech trees in the Dene. The bird's don't sing when the sun's out
here for there are only a few sparrows to be seen. There are no rabbits
either, definitely not much of a place to spend my usual Saturday
afternoon in.
The locals had a bit of a scare the other day. Some of them spread
the rumour among them that the Germans were coming back again and believe
me they were scared. After being reassured they settled down to their
normal existence though.
Well darling, I guess that's about all, there's nothing happening here
and I'm quite content for it to stay that way.
Keep smiling and keep your chin up,
All my love, Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Copy of letter to Betty
4805498 L/Sgt WR Ward
D Coy 6th Seaforths
CMF 2.12.43
Dear Betty,
I've just received your letter and photos for which many thanks. They
are certainly very good photos; I think they are the best of Joan I have
ever seen, also they have told me that I have never met your husband which
is a thing I have often puzzled over. I have another batch of Les's
wedding on the way so I shall have a stack soon. The weather was very
kind to you, according to the photos. It's decent here today, which is
rather strange.
There is a saying of "See Naples and die", I've never seen Naples but
"see the mountains and faint" must be quite as true. They are tremendous,
snowcapped and very steep; except for an accident I should be on one now.
After several days shivering on the opposite hill to Jerry, I came into a
back area and fell when getting my breakfast. It's nothing really but the
powers that be decreed that I stay here for a few days. If the guns would
be quiet, it would be very peaceful, it's a change anyway. The Italians
are a very disappointing people, they are miserable hungry creatures
dressed in filthy rags and the most persistent scroungers I've come across
yet. The average person is so dirty that I doubt if I will ever be able
to face ice cream again.
You are hardly right when you say I won't think much of you for not
having written before, after all am I in a position to blame you. In any
case writing is not my strong point and I could not blame you if you had
not written now.
From Dad's letter I see that Les is on his way out complete with
tropical kit. He's not coming here at that rate, both here and in North
Africa it's bitterly cold at night and just cold during the day, more
weather for scarves than KD now. At that rate he must be going further
east but I hope that he does not get too far.
Your suggestion of a tandem does not tempt me, watch any pair and you
will see who does all the work. Not for me, no thanks.
On rereading the first part of the letter through - about the photos-
it struck me that it was hardly complementary to you, please read it the
other and right way.
Well, I guess that's about all. Keep smiling and the best of luck to
you both.
Yours very sincerely,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
CMF 3.12.43
Joanna darling,
Yesterday I received a letter and three photos from Betty; you are
looking very fit and nicer than ever, if possible. Whatever have you been
doing to your hair, it certainly looks good. I also received two letters
from you dated 10th & 21st Nov and one I got a day or two ago of the 14th,
shaking down into the routine again after leave isn't too pleasant is it.
At present I'm on light duty after a couple of days in dock as a
result of a stupid accident. After missing all that was going, or rather
coming from Jerry for a day or two I came back here and slipped on the
cobbles of a village when getting my breakfast, result a bruised and
swollen knee, it's about right again though.
We have had a few dry days lately and so the ground is a bit firmer
now. The clouds look rather threatening this morning so we are hoping for
the best. It's still very cold, there's a sharp frost every night.
The chances of meeting Jack Higton are very slight; I don't know what
Div. he is in but I suppose that he will be somewhere on the East coast
which is miles away from here. According to the news they are busy over
the Sangro in that sector.
Les is on his way out complete with tropical kit; evidently he's not
coming to this land of mist and snow. I hope that he's not heading for
India, perhaps he will finish up in Iraq, there are some big dromes that
way more like towns than barracks. Evidently Eric's grown up now, a pipe
eh! I did not know that he had started to smoke; I shall soon be the
juvenile member of the family at that rate.
I know very few of the people on the group photo, suppose they are
relations of Bob's or a stack of your unknown relations. I hope so or I
shall be a stranger at home when we eventually do get back.
I'm afraid that we shall not have such a good time this Xmas as last;
no hope of sitting in the sunshine of Palestine this time, more likely to
be bully and rice in the rain, I'm afraid.
Aunt J wrote me that you had been to see her and was very pleased
about it. I'm afraid I don't write as often as I ought.
Well dearest, I guess that's about all, keep young and beautiful, I
shall not be long.
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
CMF 16.12.43
Joanna darling,
Dad has not had a letter from me for goodness knows how long and I
suppose that you are the same. Mail is very bad both ways at present but
if you don't hear, for goodness sake don't worry, I'm alright. As I told
you I have been in hospital with my knee. It was nothing much and is
better now and I'm back with the unit. I was dodging from one hospital to
another for several days and getting back was the same.
In one place I stayed two days at I saw a cinema show and a couple of
concerts, the whole lot were very good. One of the shows was in the local
opera house, a fine building, beautifully decorated and planned - rather a
change from the usual housing of a show.
When I arrived back here I was very surprised to find an Imperial
Tobacco parcel containing 500 Players waiting for me. I've no idea where
they came from, have you? If you do know, let the person who's
responsible know how much I appreciate them. No one had fags so you can
guess I was not the only one to be thankful.
At the moment I am able to write in comfort as we are in a flat
containing beds, tables, chairs and all the necessaries for comfort. This
is how wars should be carried on.
The weather is much warmer too, how long that will last I don't know,
it's a nice change at any rate.
Dad tells me you were getting a 48 hour leave at the end of Nov; how
did you enjoy it? It's hardly necessary to ask really, I suppose. Keep
it up, you are doing fine. My last leave was eighteen months ago but it
really makes very little difference out here.
Dad tells me that this and that person wish to be remembered to me.
It makes me think that I ought to be writing all day and night but that's
as far as it will get I suppose.
Well sweetheart I guess that's about all, keep smiling and darling
never forget, I love you.
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
CMF 29.12.43
Joanna darling,
Well that's another Christmas by and taken altogether it was not a bad
one. It's usual for officers and sergeants to act as waiters on Xmas
dinner so imagine me trotting up and downstairs, carrying piled plates of
grub. Fortunately we were not in the front for the day so we were able to
have a comfortable day. There was stacks of grub, pork and some tinned
turkey, Xmas pudding, mince pies and plenty of fruit. Beer at the rate of
two bottles a man was especially welcome. For myself I got a bottle of
really good Scotch for 8/6. You might tell your Dad that, it will
certainly make him envious. Of course there was plenty of local wine so
towards evening things were getting rather lively. I'm afraid everyone
did not do so well for the artillery were firing intermittently all day.
Most of it was going the right way though.
Were you able to get home for the day. It would be very nice if you
were.
Mail has not been too good lately. I've not yet received the parcel
Dad sent, but there's still stacks of time for it to come.
So Eric's car has fallen through, has it? What the devil are wages
like in Blighty now. If the cost of living is in proportion I can't
imagine army pay going far.
Frank Oldfield's letter must have taken a devil of a long time, I had
given it up for lost long ago. I have had a letter from Aunt J. She told
me of Mrs Gee, I guess it shook 'em.
Dad has been so busy lately that he has had to deputize Betty to write
his letters for him. She tells me that Les has not been heard of yet, it
won't be long now though, I expect.
Italy is definitely looking like winter now, all the trees except the
olives have shed their leaves. There's snow on the hills and until today
the ground has been very muddy. Today it's dry and there's a good wind so
it's getting a bit firmer.
That's the fifth time I've had to leave this letter, let's hope I can
finish it off now.
It's surprising how little there is to write about; days are long and
full but I'm hanged if you can remember what you have done at the end of
the day.
Sweetheart, it won't be so very long now I hope so cheerio and keep
your chin up.
All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
4805498 Sgt WR Ward
D Coy 6th Seaforth
CMF 2.1.44
Joanna my darling,
I've been so irregular with letters lately that I think I had better
come back to the idea of writing every Sunday. It's a bit difficult
sometimes but I can't remember when I wrote before as a rule.
I've just received your letter of Dec 20th. I see that you were able
to get home at Xmas time as you hoped. I told you in my last letter that
we had quite a decent time but New Year was no good at all.
I understand that I am now a paid Sergeant and that I never was a
Lance Sergeant. It's been a point I never was sure of before and of
course the extra pay will be welcome.
At present we are undergoing an orgy of beezing up, you can't move for
brushes and so on. Do you get all that in your mob or are you all good
little girls and do it as a matter of course.
We have had a heavy fall of snow here, it was a foot deep yesterday
but thank goodness half of it has gone already; it's bad underfoot as you
can imagine though.
Did Keith and Hilda manage to get for Xmas? I would like to see that
kid of theirs now. I bet he's growing into quite a big lad, he's three
years old, isn't he. Does Keith grow more and more important? I have
never heard from him since I wrote telling him to be thankful, not to moan
about what he has to put up with. I have a letter from Mrs Stanley which
I must reply to.
What's the idea of the car? I should not have thought that there
would be much work for it or that with the present restrictions on petrol
that it would be much use to them.
Well sweetheart it's 1944 and I reckon that this year will see the end
of the war and also see me back in Blighty. Admittedly we are not two
years out here yet but it seems a hell of a long time. John Bembridge has
been out about 2« years now.
I shall have to hurry up, the dinner pipes are playing and it gets
dark almost immediately after.
Have you any idea where Cyril Webster is these days? We have never
written to one another. I expect he will be alright somewhere or other.
Well dearest, that's the lot, cheerio, keep smiling,
All my love,
Reg.
Sorry for dilapidated state. In my pocket two days.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
CMF 12.1.44
Joanna my darling,
When I get four letters in two days from you it makes me wonder why I
can't write more often and why I have got so little to say for myself.
The letters were written on Xmas Eve and Day and the big New year one. I
also got your newsy letter with the Xmas card.
Thanks very much for clearing up the mystery of the cigarettes. I
could not think who they were from but then it was no surprise to find
that you were the responsible person. Thanks a lot sweetheart, they came
at a time when we were all out. Dad's parcel has just arrived, he sent
fags but why must he buy them and send them when he could do it tax free.
Hanged if I know.
At the moment I'm living in unusual comfort; there are three platoon
sergeants in our billet. The locals are very nice folk, even if they are
Itis, and make us very much at home. We look after them of course, such
jobs as getting wood are easy, for we just pinch other folk's stuff. We
have a big fire, use their table and chairs at meal times and for letter
writing. They wash up for us and clean up after us, smashing time.
Glad to see you were able to get home at Xmas, makes all the
difference, doesn't it.
I can't understand why Dad tells me on the 27th that nothing had been
heard of Les and on the 25th you tell me that Betty had heard, what's
wrong?
I must write to Aunt J tonight, I've been guilty of not writing for so
long and I know she likes to hear. She always tells me when she hears
from you. I know she thinks a lot of your letters. Please remember me to
the Husbands, that's another letter. I must write to all these good folk
soon.
Dad has certainly been busy lately, how he managed to get through so
much work, I just don't know. Admittedly he works very hard and likes it
but that lot must have tested him.
In your long Christmas letter you wonder if this year will see me
home, the answer is definitely, I think. Even if this damned war is not
over, I believe we shall be home. We have been out a long time you know
and a good many folk who came out after us have already arrived in
Blighty, so here's hoping.
I never thought about the kids not knowing what a real Xmas is, rather
pitiful isn't it but even they are better off than the kids here.
There's a bambino in this house, he's a grand little chap, an evacuee,
whose father is dead. I don't suppose that he had ever seen chocolate
until I gave him some today, he went into a corner by the fire and munched
away happily. He can say "thank you" in English but otherwise never makes
a noise. That's hardly true though for one of us gave him a pencil this
morning and when someone tried to borrow it, he went for the "sergenti".
Well goodbye darling, All my love,
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
ITALY: SEAFORTH'S PART IN ITALY FIGHT
The Seaforth Highlanders have been living up to their great tradition in
Italy, it is officially disclosed.
During October and November the regiment was constantly in action in the
central sector of the Eighth Army's front.
It came under command of the Fifth Army in January when it was engaged in
fierce fighting on the line of the Garigliano. For a week the division of
which it was a part beat off some of the hardest pressed enemy assaults of
the campaign.
The regiment previously distinguished itself in Sicily and in North Africa
where it fought at Mareth, Enfidaville and El Alamein.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Reg's father
Rock Cottage
Carsington
Feb 12th
Dear Joan,
I hardly know how to write this letter to you but you will have to
know so I may as well tell you. I am more than grieved to tell you poor
Reg was killed on the 18th of Jan.
I know how you will feel about it, as I do myself. Don't worry too
much darling I cannot write any more now as I am too full up.
Yours, W Ward
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent to Pte J Stevenson
Kedleston Hall. Derby.
Darling,
I am leaving this with Aunt J and I hope you never get it. All I want
to say is that you are to forget all about me as soon as possible.
Dearest, don't worry, keep that chin up and don't forget to keep smiling.
No tears now sweetheart.
Reg.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kedleston Hall 15th Feb 44 02.00
Dear Ron,
Forgive me for being so long in writing to you, but since coming back
from leave I've not had chance to do much. My leave, though I've been
back less than two weeks is a mere memory & seems months ago.
I little thought then that I'd have to tell you that Reg was killed in
action in Italy, on January 18th, and we only knew on Saturday and I
didn't even know until I was on the way home on Sunday. His last letter
written on the 15th was full of his new civvie billet; three sergeants
shared the billet, were looked after by the people in the house who were
apparently very good to them. He said he was having a super time, but it
didn't last long - three days later he was killed. I can't really believe
it yet. In that letter he was hoping to be home soon, yet before it
reached me all chance of that happening had gone. Little did we think
that on his last leave , just about two years ago now, that two years from
then the war would still be on with even worse to come, and though we
realised the possibility of his not returning, never dreamed it could
actually happen. Well, it has, and at the moment, I daren't think ahead.
I'll miss him terribly; his letters & the hope of his return are all I've
been looking forward to since he went. All his letters have been cheerful
and uncomplaining. I guess we'll never know what he's been through out
there and maybe it's better that way.
His dad & Eric are terribly upset as you can imagine though they've
both been marvellous about it. On Sunday night there was a memorial
service for Sam Matkin, the HG sergeant who was buried at home last
Wednesday, and when the news came it was made into a joint one for them
both. Mr White was very good indeed, and I was so glad I was able to go;
the church was more full than it has been for ages and HG & Mr Woodward
were there representing the Company. Mr Ward took the parade & was
marvellous all through. I don't know how he did it; I couldn't.
It's rather strange, but in the normal way I would never have been
able to go home on Sunday because we're on night shift this week, but I
changed shifts with a girl on ?A? watch on Sat night, worked her evening
shift for her, which left me free from 1am Sunday to 1am Monday and for no
apparent reason I decided to go home though when I was getting up after
four hours sleep was inclined to change my mind. However I left camp at
9am and met Mr Redfern, Betty Ward's father, in the milk lorry just beyond
Weston Underwood. He'd a letter for me from Mr Ward & was bringing it to
camp for me. I didn't really need to ask what was in it, I knew.
Well, I got home somehow, and stayed until 9pm. I saw Mr Ward in the
morning & went to church at night. For once, I'm glad to be in camp; at
home I could settle to nothing whereas here there isn't time to brood. By
all the rules I should have been tired out yesterday & slept the clock
round considering I was awake at 6am on Sunday & didn't sleep again until
8am on Monday, but strangely enough I woke up at 1 pm today & couldn't
sleep properly again.
I expect your mother will awfully worried about your brother since the
recent facts from the Japs have become known. It must be dreadful for
her, & poor Aunt Nance was in an awful state when I saw her on leave. Can
you wonder?
Forgive me for rambling on like this, but I can't help it and 3am
isn't the best time of day; you're helping me to pass the night pretty
well.
I can't write any more Ron, so au revoir and the best of luck,
Sincerely, Joan
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Rev Frank Clark C.F.
HQ C.R.A.S.C
10 Corps Troops CMF
Monday 29th Jan 1945
My dear Miss Stevenson,
I am grateful for your kind letter and for the good wishes you send
with it. It is most thoughtful of you to send a parcel of cigarettes as
an interpretation of Reg's wishes. When they arrive I shall distribute
them among my men, as you suggest, and I am sure they will appreciate as I
do, the sacred associations of this generosity. Please accept my humble
thanks.
It is just over a year since the sad event happened which brought
sorrow to you and to all to whom he was so very dear. I have been
thinking much of those times as I look back and recall the terrible price
paid for our successful advance across the Garigliano. Tragic happenings
took place so quickly and over so wide a field that even now it is
impossible for me to fit together all the pieces to form a true picture.
Such was the rush of duties that it was not permitted to me to be at
every man's side in his direst need, or to close the eyes of all who
meant so much to us in our wonderful fellowship of the front line.
It was not I who found your boy and buried him, but I gathered as much
as I could for our records. He was buried in a little cemetery I have
constructed on the Southeast bank of the Garigliano river near the tiny
village of PONTEFIUME [Photo 15] and that must have been within a few yards
of where he fell.
By this time, it is likely that all graves have been gathered into a
permanent British Military Cemetery. When this is done, photographs are
sent to next of kin.
It is not easy, when writing, to remember all, but if and when in the
Providence of God, I have the opportunity to return and visit you at home,
perhaps I shall be able to tell you more.
Noone can take away from you, I am sure, the fragrance and inspiration
of his memory. May God, to whom you give thanks for him, bless, protect
and keep you always.
My warm good wishes to his father and to yourself.
With thanks,
Yours sincerely
Frank Clark.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
ALIEN EARTH
In a foreign soil my dear one rests;
In alien earth he lies.
Not for him the last long slumber under friendly skies.
Not for him the final sleep beneath an English tree;
In a grave in God's green acre, sleeping peacefully
But his spirit has come back.
I see him everywhere.
In everything he knew and loved;
Fields, woods and gardens fair.
He has returned unto his own;
The dear land of his birth.
Could so great a patriot rest long in alien earth.
Patience Strong.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Inscription on gravestone
Military Cemetery at Minturno, Italy
4805498
W.R.WARD SGT.
6th SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS
18th JANUARY, 1944
I GRUDGE NOT MY LIFE
IF IT GIVE GREATER LIFE
TO THEM THAT DO LIVE
--------End of Reg WARD's wartime letters----------------------------
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