Leeds 6
11th June ‘40
My Darling Mum
Many happy returns of the day! It’s impossible for me to get hold of a card to send you, dear, so this letter will have to do instead. I’m very sorry too, that I’m not able to send you a present, but directly I visit a shop, I shall get something for you. If there is anything in particular that you want please let me know, & I’ll do my best to oblige. Otherwise I shall choose something for you.
I don’t delude myself for one moment in thinking that you will have a very happy birthday.
Italy’s declaration of War will cast a gloom over the occasion that cannot be lifted. All the same, though you may not have had much happiness in your heart, dear, you may rest assured that your own dear ones are thinking of you especially, & lovingly, at the same time giving thanks to God for such a wonderful mother, selfless, considerate & kind. So as I give you a big written kiss X, I praise God for your like & pray that you may be preserved in Heavenly peace to enjoy those many years you will spend with us if the Lord tarry. And remember dear that “God’s tomorrow is a day of gladness” & His joys shall never fade, though the weary earth be grey with age & a barren wilderness where no birds sing & no flowers bloom & the voice of Man silent because of condemnation. How good it is that we have anchored the barges? Of our lives in the Seas of Eternal Love, just waiting for the glorious moment when we are summoned to enter the Desired Heaven & embark on he evergreen shore. No withdrawal there, dear! “What a day of rejoicing that will be” Hallelujah!
And now, dear, I must say a very big `thank you’ for that delicious parcel that you sent me. One might have thought that it were my birthday on seeing the lovely fruit & chocolate. When I first saw the parcel, I wondered what on earth there was inside & half suspected that it contained a very large game. I was jolly thankful when I found it didn’t, as I shouldn’t have found room for it.
You probably knew that I had more than a lurking affection for tomatoes eaten as fruit, so you need not have worried at the thought that I might laugh. The laugh may be on the other cheek, but assuredly the tomatoes (or rather quite a few) are inside! That was subtle, wasn’t it? Groans.
As for my not feeling too great, you will be pleased to know that I feel a good deal better now, & my chin doesn’t ache now. In fact it has practically healed, so I should think that I shall soon be out of this place. And I shan’t be very sorry either.
I have received your letter dated Sunday for which many thanks. I don’t see anything, however, about Olive. Apparently you have got something to tell me about her.
I haven’t got the time just yet to reply to the Riddies? Tell them that I shall write tomorrow.
I’m so glad that you had such an enjoyable week-end. Did you write that a Lord Thorold gave the message at the church? Is that his Christian name or is he a peer? I believe I’ve read about a Rev E.H. Thorold somewhere, but can’t quite place him. Probably in the obituary notices!
I didn’t have he Daily Telegraph on Saturday as the news vendor had sold out all the D.T.s, so you can send on that article by Mortlock.
Was that siren you heard, the one from Colchester, or has Gt Horkesley one of its own? I think that I would rather have an air raid than hear that Colchester siren. Its moral effect is far worse than any bomber.
The parcel of fruit, by the way, arrived yesterday morning, Monday, but as Sunday I like every other day here, its late arrival didn’t matter in the least.
Regarding the photograph which you suggest, you will realise that I can’t have it taken until I get out here & even then I may be moved too quickly for the photo to be developed. Like everything else, I shall see what I can do later.
And as that’s about all that I’ve got to write, I’ll say Good-bye & God bless you dear.
With lots of love
Your very devoted Son
John xxxxxx
Wednesday 9 June 2010
Monday 31 May 2010
9th June 1940
Leeds 6
9th June ‘40
My Dearest Mum and Dad
It’s so terribly hot that I can’t think without literal sweat. For the past few nights I’ve been on the top of my bed with only pyjama trousers as a covering. Not many windows in this ward permit of opening, therefore the heat has been almost unbearable. The Colonel has given us permission, if we so want, to take our beds out onto the roof so that we can sleep up there in that rarified atmosphere, & I may take advantage of that for tonight. He is a very decent chap, rather unlike the other sisters & orderlies. The higher the rank, the better the chap, seems to be the fact obtaining in the Army. One of the sisters & one of the orderlies I abominate. But as I know that all kinds make up the world, I’m quite prepared to suffer the fools gladly.
This ward is overcrowded at the moment. When I came here there were eleven beds, two of which were occupied. Now there are seventeen beds jammed in. The new patients are mainly B.E.F. & they are suffering from scabies owing to going weeks on end without a wash abroad.
Thanks for your kind offer of a game, but as we were given two or three yesterday, there’s really no need to trouble. And if I increase my kit anymore I’ll simply burst. I’ve got too much as it is.
How simply grand it must be for you to be in the country in such hot weather, with the shades of trees. I really envy you your cool spots just now.
With reference to leave, I don’t think that there is any possibility of it. Nothing is given away by the Army these days, & we have to make the best of things. But it will be lovely when I do have another leave. I wonder when that will be?
By the way I am wondering if Pansy has heard from Tommy lately. You don’t seem to have mentioned the fact, & I should like to know that he is O.K. Of course, Rouen has been evacuated so I shouldn’t think that he is still there.
According to your arrangements I understand that Iris and Walter are with you now. I do hope that you are all having a good time.
Re. my Iris, I don’t think she has any great desire to meet Arthur again, as apparently he seems to have insulted Christians in general & her in particular. She was so upset about the whole affair she says “Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so upset, but I managed to well-water a handkerchief before I finally went to sleep”. She also wrote, “Never in all my life have I knocked up against such an unbelieving infidel – Oh John dear to think that my Jesus died for him”.
She feels things like that very keenly & not knowing Arthur so well as we do, I consider that she is perfectly correct in what she thinks of him. And she consequently dreads the thought of meeting him again. And that appears to be that. What I say is this, you must try to get Arthur muzzled if you want to maintain a reputation of sanity & decency.
Thanks a lot for all the papers sent. There doesn’t seem so much in the religious papers these days. I think that the C. Herald has sadly declined. There’s not much in the Christian either. Still it must be a terribly hard job for these papers to exist in such hard times, & we must be thankful for the smaller mercies.
And now about those iced cakes. In three words – they were horrid! If my teeth had been pneumatic drills I might have attacked them with more success. I sincerely hope for your sake that your efforts don’t always effect the same results. It must be awfully difficult for you to manage to cook, but perhaps you have not conquered the art. It’s not like you to fail, I’m thinking. All the same, I ate them. Trust me for that!
On Thursday & Friday nights we were awakened because of Air-raids, & were told to dress. It was all a lot of rot as they only had the yellow light. The Colonel has put a stop to it & in future we shall have our sleep shattered solely in the event of the red light showing. Having to get up in the middle of the night quite destroyed the night’s rest. & having it happen 2 nights running I thought we might be able to expect the same thing without end. I wonder how you have been getting on with these bombing raids. Essex seems to have had a fair share of them, though in what locality I don’t know. If you know anything interesting, relating to these raids, I’ll be glad to get the low-down on them.
The Colonel has been in & said that we can go out in the grounds from 5-7p.m. And that, incidentally is the most distinguishing thing about this Sunday, this Lord’s day.
I hope that you have spent your Sunday to more advantage & have been able to get along to a Church.
And now I must leave you again cast upon the mercy of God which never fails.
With much love
Your devoted Son
John xxxxxxx
9th June ‘40
My Dearest Mum and Dad
It’s so terribly hot that I can’t think without literal sweat. For the past few nights I’ve been on the top of my bed with only pyjama trousers as a covering. Not many windows in this ward permit of opening, therefore the heat has been almost unbearable. The Colonel has given us permission, if we so want, to take our beds out onto the roof so that we can sleep up there in that rarified atmosphere, & I may take advantage of that for tonight. He is a very decent chap, rather unlike the other sisters & orderlies. The higher the rank, the better the chap, seems to be the fact obtaining in the Army. One of the sisters & one of the orderlies I abominate. But as I know that all kinds make up the world, I’m quite prepared to suffer the fools gladly.
This ward is overcrowded at the moment. When I came here there were eleven beds, two of which were occupied. Now there are seventeen beds jammed in. The new patients are mainly B.E.F. & they are suffering from scabies owing to going weeks on end without a wash abroad.
Thanks for your kind offer of a game, but as we were given two or three yesterday, there’s really no need to trouble. And if I increase my kit anymore I’ll simply burst. I’ve got too much as it is.
How simply grand it must be for you to be in the country in such hot weather, with the shades of trees. I really envy you your cool spots just now.
With reference to leave, I don’t think that there is any possibility of it. Nothing is given away by the Army these days, & we have to make the best of things. But it will be lovely when I do have another leave. I wonder when that will be?
By the way I am wondering if Pansy has heard from Tommy lately. You don’t seem to have mentioned the fact, & I should like to know that he is O.K. Of course, Rouen has been evacuated so I shouldn’t think that he is still there.
According to your arrangements I understand that Iris and Walter are with you now. I do hope that you are all having a good time.
Re. my Iris, I don’t think she has any great desire to meet Arthur again, as apparently he seems to have insulted Christians in general & her in particular. She was so upset about the whole affair she says “Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so upset, but I managed to well-water a handkerchief before I finally went to sleep”. She also wrote, “Never in all my life have I knocked up against such an unbelieving infidel – Oh John dear to think that my Jesus died for him”.
She feels things like that very keenly & not knowing Arthur so well as we do, I consider that she is perfectly correct in what she thinks of him. And she consequently dreads the thought of meeting him again. And that appears to be that. What I say is this, you must try to get Arthur muzzled if you want to maintain a reputation of sanity & decency.
Thanks a lot for all the papers sent. There doesn’t seem so much in the religious papers these days. I think that the C. Herald has sadly declined. There’s not much in the Christian either. Still it must be a terribly hard job for these papers to exist in such hard times, & we must be thankful for the smaller mercies.
And now about those iced cakes. In three words – they were horrid! If my teeth had been pneumatic drills I might have attacked them with more success. I sincerely hope for your sake that your efforts don’t always effect the same results. It must be awfully difficult for you to manage to cook, but perhaps you have not conquered the art. It’s not like you to fail, I’m thinking. All the same, I ate them. Trust me for that!
On Thursday & Friday nights we were awakened because of Air-raids, & were told to dress. It was all a lot of rot as they only had the yellow light. The Colonel has put a stop to it & in future we shall have our sleep shattered solely in the event of the red light showing. Having to get up in the middle of the night quite destroyed the night’s rest. & having it happen 2 nights running I thought we might be able to expect the same thing without end. I wonder how you have been getting on with these bombing raids. Essex seems to have had a fair share of them, though in what locality I don’t know. If you know anything interesting, relating to these raids, I’ll be glad to get the low-down on them.
The Colonel has been in & said that we can go out in the grounds from 5-7p.m. And that, incidentally is the most distinguishing thing about this Sunday, this Lord’s day.
I hope that you have spent your Sunday to more advantage & have been able to get along to a Church.
And now I must leave you again cast upon the mercy of God which never fails.
With much love
Your devoted Son
John xxxxxxx
5th June 1940
Leeds 6
5th June 1940
My Dearest Mum and Dad
I am enclosing the pages you sent me as you requested. They were very interesting, especially the one of Morris Levett & Alf Williams. It’s lovely to look at their strong, happy, manly faces once again. Wouldn’t it be just heavenly to meet them & to enjoy their fellowship with the Beatties thrown in. Perhaps we shall have this opportunity given us, & before many months are past. Anyway, we’ll hope.
I hope by this time that you have received my letter. If you haven’t, I must have gone astray. I’m glad that Auntie May has found a place for you. The description of it sounds very homely & doubtlessly, once there, you will imagine that you are on holiday. The names of the landladies reminds me of `Happy Family’. Bunn & Drinkwater, & I see no reason why you shouldn’t be happy there with them. I gather that Auntie May won’t be very far away from you, & I know that you will like that. And you certainly won’t feel lonely with the girls with you. I suppose that by this time you have wired Auntie May the time you will get there. Don’t for goodness sake have a last minute rush getting your things ready. For a long journey like that, you want to prepare things very collectedly & calmly, otherwise you will feel all `het up’ & won’t be able to enjoy the journey at all.
Of course Herefordshire is too far for Iris to go. Whatever next! We haven’t got wings yet, dear, neither have got legs the same shape as greyhounds. If I do get any leave, which of course is very problematical, I don’t think I can spend any of it with you. As a soldier, you know, I’m not allowed to chase all over the show & I’m only allowed to go to my home town. If Colchester had been out of the defence area I might have managed it. But it’s no use talking, as it were, for as I said, “We’ll keep you here for another day or so”, so I should think that I’ll be out Mon or Tues.
You don’t tell me where Arthur’s Mother & father are, though you tell me that they are all happy. That’s something, anyhow.
I’m sorry about Frank Halls. But as your writing isn’t too clear at that point in your `cherries’ letter, I’m not certain that you wrote “they said he was too good for the RAMC. If that was what you wrote who are “they”? And why too good?
In closing I assure you of my love & prayers. May it with you that all things shall work together for good.
Your loving son
John xxxxxxx
5th June 1940
My Dearest Mum and Dad
I am enclosing the pages you sent me as you requested. They were very interesting, especially the one of Morris Levett & Alf Williams. It’s lovely to look at their strong, happy, manly faces once again. Wouldn’t it be just heavenly to meet them & to enjoy their fellowship with the Beatties thrown in. Perhaps we shall have this opportunity given us, & before many months are past. Anyway, we’ll hope.
I hope by this time that you have received my letter. If you haven’t, I must have gone astray. I’m glad that Auntie May has found a place for you. The description of it sounds very homely & doubtlessly, once there, you will imagine that you are on holiday. The names of the landladies reminds me of `Happy Family’. Bunn & Drinkwater, & I see no reason why you shouldn’t be happy there with them. I gather that Auntie May won’t be very far away from you, & I know that you will like that. And you certainly won’t feel lonely with the girls with you. I suppose that by this time you have wired Auntie May the time you will get there. Don’t for goodness sake have a last minute rush getting your things ready. For a long journey like that, you want to prepare things very collectedly & calmly, otherwise you will feel all `het up’ & won’t be able to enjoy the journey at all.
Of course Herefordshire is too far for Iris to go. Whatever next! We haven’t got wings yet, dear, neither have got legs the same shape as greyhounds. If I do get any leave, which of course is very problematical, I don’t think I can spend any of it with you. As a soldier, you know, I’m not allowed to chase all over the show & I’m only allowed to go to my home town. If Colchester had been out of the defence area I might have managed it. But it’s no use talking, as it were, for as I said, “We’ll keep you here for another day or so”, so I should think that I’ll be out Mon or Tues.
You don’t tell me where Arthur’s Mother & father are, though you tell me that they are all happy. That’s something, anyhow.
I’m sorry about Frank Halls. But as your writing isn’t too clear at that point in your `cherries’ letter, I’m not certain that you wrote “they said he was too good for the RAMC. If that was what you wrote who are “they”? And why too good?
In closing I assure you of my love & prayers. May it with you that all things shall work together for good.
Your loving son
John xxxxxxx
Saturday 15 May 2010
5th June 1940 - preparation for evacuation from Colchester
Leeds 6
5th June 1940
My Dear Mum and Dad
I have received the two parcels which you kindly sent me. Many thanks dear for the gifts. I somehow don’t think that I shall run out of reading matter, do you? I duly noted the places which you marked over for special attention. By the way, I suppose you must have read about Mr. Bett dying. It was in the `deaths’ column of the Telegraph.
As there are seven of us now in this ward, I’ll think that I’ll save the sugar for later when I am on my own again. Otherwise the chaps will feel entitled to share in the packet & then the sugar wouldn’t last very long.
The M.O. allowed me to go in the grounds for two hours this afternoon. This was the first time I’ve been out of the building & I enjoyed the change. The sun was brilliant in a cloudless sky & the breeze was sufficient to save one from heatstroke. I sat watching some cricket & writing to Iris. I was in my hospital blues & as I’m infectious I had to remain isolated from the many chaps who were using the Sports Field. Not that I worried. To get out in the fresh air was sufficient for me. I felt uncommonly weak in the legs, chiefly I should say though lack of exercise.
There are two chaps in this ward who are B.E.F. One was in one of the three destroyers which the Germans sank whilst conveying the men from Dunkirk. He had to swim for it, but was rescued.
It must have been a change for you to miss going to church on Sunday. What a pity that the church is such a long way off. I don’t suppose, though that Uncle Reg will often be without a car for week-ends. It wouldn’t be like him.
I, too, think that Mr Bertin’s sermon was very excellent. In fact I don’t remember reading a more topical, practical & telling address from the pulpit since the beginning of the war.
I was very interested in what you had to say about Frank Mills. I know of nobody quite like him in purity of mind & singleness of vision. I do so hope that he will get something amenable to his conception of rights.
Re. the B.E.F. & German cruelty. Some of the stories would make your stomach turn over. The press very mercifully, tries to dilute the sheer incomparable devilishness of the Germans. But the fellows know, & their experience is best summed up in one word `Hell’.
As you say the Germans have managed to get a spot of petrol oil from somewhere. Do you remember how we used to be derided for saying that Germany was very well off for certain resources? We weren’t so far wrong, were we?
Also remind Dad of the little argument we had while I was on leave respecting the size of the Belgian Army. One evening paper estimated it at a round million. I ridiculed it at the time. Now Mr. Churchill in his speech states that it was nearly half a million. Rather a difference isn’t there? Which just shows you how much reliance can be put on any figures mentioned in the paper. Sheer eyework my dear. Except of course the official Allied communiqués & bulletins. They are largely correct.
How thrilling to have a machine gun emplacement near Nightingales. Do you mean shop or house? I presume the latter.
As I haven’t tasted the buns yet I can’t give you the verdict on them. I have had though, the orange & apples. Very nice too. And those biscuits are really splendid.
It would be queer if Derek were to be arrested with the 5th Column. I don’t think they would do it though as the F.O.R. isn’t quite so suspect as the P.P.U. Middleton Murray I believe, only belongs to the P.P.U. They are certainly getting it where the chicken got the chopper. I’m sorry for the sincere Christians who might suffer, but there are relatively few in the P.P.U. from what I know of the movement.
And now I think I’ll close.
With many prayers for you all & much love.
Your loving son
John xxxxxxx
Leeds 6
5th June 1940
My Dearest Mum and Dad
I am enclosing the pages you sent me as you requested. They were very interesting, especially the one of Morris Levett & Alf Williams. It’s lovely to look at their strong, happy, manly faces once again. Wouldn’t it be just heavenly to meet them & to enjoy their fellowship with the Beatties thrown in. Perhaps we shall have this opportunity given us, & before many months are past. Anyway, we’ll hope.
I hope by this time that you have received my letter. If you haven’t, I must have gone astray. I’m glad that Auntie May has found a place for you. The description of it sounds very homely & doubtlessly, once there, you will imagine that you are on holiday. The names of the landladies reminds me of `Happy Family’. Bunn & Drinkwater, & I see no reason why you shouldn’t be happy there with them. I gather that Auntie May won’t be very far away from you, & I know that you will like that. And you certainly won’t feel lonely with the girls with you. I suppose that by this time you have wired Auntie May the time you will get there. Don’t for goodness sake have a last minute rush getting your things ready. For a long journey like that, you want to prepare things very collectedly & calmly, otherwise you will feel all `het up’ & won’t be able to enjoy the journey at all.
Of course Herefordshire is too far for Iris to go. Whatever next! We haven’t got wings yet, dear, neither have got legs the same shape as greyhounds. If I do get any leave, which of course is very problematical, I don’t think I can spend any of it with you. As a soldier, you know, I’m not allowed to chase all over the show & I’m only allowed to go to my home town. If Colchester had been out of the defence area I might have managed it. But it’s no use talking, as it were, for as I said, “We’ll keep you here for another day or so”, so I should think that I’ll be out Mon or Tues.
You don’t tell me where Arthur’s Mother & father are, though you tell me that they are all happy. That’s something, anyhow.
I’m sorry about Frank Halls. But as your writing isn’t too clear at that point in your `cherries’ letter, I’m not certain that you wrote “they said he was too good for the RAMC. If that was what you wrote who are “they”? And why too good?
In closing I assure you of my love & prayers. May it with you that all things shall work together for good.
Your loving son
John xxxxxxx
5th June 1940
My Dear Mum and Dad
I have received the two parcels which you kindly sent me. Many thanks dear for the gifts. I somehow don’t think that I shall run out of reading matter, do you? I duly noted the places which you marked over for special attention. By the way, I suppose you must have read about Mr. Bett dying. It was in the `deaths’ column of the Telegraph.
As there are seven of us now in this ward, I’ll think that I’ll save the sugar for later when I am on my own again. Otherwise the chaps will feel entitled to share in the packet & then the sugar wouldn’t last very long.
The M.O. allowed me to go in the grounds for two hours this afternoon. This was the first time I’ve been out of the building & I enjoyed the change. The sun was brilliant in a cloudless sky & the breeze was sufficient to save one from heatstroke. I sat watching some cricket & writing to Iris. I was in my hospital blues & as I’m infectious I had to remain isolated from the many chaps who were using the Sports Field. Not that I worried. To get out in the fresh air was sufficient for me. I felt uncommonly weak in the legs, chiefly I should say though lack of exercise.
There are two chaps in this ward who are B.E.F. One was in one of the three destroyers which the Germans sank whilst conveying the men from Dunkirk. He had to swim for it, but was rescued.
It must have been a change for you to miss going to church on Sunday. What a pity that the church is such a long way off. I don’t suppose, though that Uncle Reg will often be without a car for week-ends. It wouldn’t be like him.
I, too, think that Mr Bertin’s sermon was very excellent. In fact I don’t remember reading a more topical, practical & telling address from the pulpit since the beginning of the war.
I was very interested in what you had to say about Frank Mills. I know of nobody quite like him in purity of mind & singleness of vision. I do so hope that he will get something amenable to his conception of rights.
Re. the B.E.F. & German cruelty. Some of the stories would make your stomach turn over. The press very mercifully, tries to dilute the sheer incomparable devilishness of the Germans. But the fellows know, & their experience is best summed up in one word `Hell’.
As you say the Germans have managed to get a spot of petrol oil from somewhere. Do you remember how we used to be derided for saying that Germany was very well off for certain resources? We weren’t so far wrong, were we?
Also remind Dad of the little argument we had while I was on leave respecting the size of the Belgian Army. One evening paper estimated it at a round million. I ridiculed it at the time. Now Mr. Churchill in his speech states that it was nearly half a million. Rather a difference isn’t there? Which just shows you how much reliance can be put on any figures mentioned in the paper. Sheer eyework my dear. Except of course the official Allied communiqués & bulletins. They are largely correct.
How thrilling to have a machine gun emplacement near Nightingales. Do you mean shop or house? I presume the latter.
As I haven’t tasted the buns yet I can’t give you the verdict on them. I have had though, the orange & apples. Very nice too. And those biscuits are really splendid.
It would be queer if Derek were to be arrested with the 5th Column. I don’t think they would do it though as the F.O.R. isn’t quite so suspect as the P.P.U. Middleton Murray I believe, only belongs to the P.P.U. They are certainly getting it where the chicken got the chopper. I’m sorry for the sincere Christians who might suffer, but there are relatively few in the P.P.U. from what I know of the movement.
And now I think I’ll close.
With many prayers for you all & much love.
Your loving son
John xxxxxxx
Leeds 6
5th June 1940
My Dearest Mum and Dad
I am enclosing the pages you sent me as you requested. They were very interesting, especially the one of Morris Levett & Alf Williams. It’s lovely to look at their strong, happy, manly faces once again. Wouldn’t it be just heavenly to meet them & to enjoy their fellowship with the Beatties thrown in. Perhaps we shall have this opportunity given us, & before many months are past. Anyway, we’ll hope.
I hope by this time that you have received my letter. If you haven’t, I must have gone astray. I’m glad that Auntie May has found a place for you. The description of it sounds very homely & doubtlessly, once there, you will imagine that you are on holiday. The names of the landladies reminds me of `Happy Family’. Bunn & Drinkwater, & I see no reason why you shouldn’t be happy there with them. I gather that Auntie May won’t be very far away from you, & I know that you will like that. And you certainly won’t feel lonely with the girls with you. I suppose that by this time you have wired Auntie May the time you will get there. Don’t for goodness sake have a last minute rush getting your things ready. For a long journey like that, you want to prepare things very collectedly & calmly, otherwise you will feel all `het up’ & won’t be able to enjoy the journey at all.
Of course Herefordshire is too far for Iris to go. Whatever next! We haven’t got wings yet, dear, neither have got legs the same shape as greyhounds. If I do get any leave, which of course is very problematical, I don’t think I can spend any of it with you. As a soldier, you know, I’m not allowed to chase all over the show & I’m only allowed to go to my home town. If Colchester had been out of the defence area I might have managed it. But it’s no use talking, as it were, for as I said, “We’ll keep you here for another day or so”, so I should think that I’ll be out Mon or Tues.
You don’t tell me where Arthur’s Mother & father are, though you tell me that they are all happy. That’s something, anyhow.
I’m sorry about Frank Halls. But as your writing isn’t too clear at that point in your `cherries’ letter, I’m not certain that you wrote “they said he was too good for the RAMC. If that was what you wrote who are “they”? And why too good?
In closing I assure you of my love & prayers. May it with you that all things shall work together for good.
Your loving son
John xxxxxxx
Monday 10 May 2010
5th June 1940 - A Skin Complaint delays training
Leeds 6
5th June 1940
My Dear Mum and Dad
I have received the two parcels which you kindly sent me. Many thanks dear for the gifts. I somehow don’t think that I shall run out of reading matter, do you? I duly noted the places which you marked over for special attention. By the way, I suppose you must have read about Mr. Bett dying. It was in the `deaths’ column of the Telegraph.
As there are seven of us now in this ward, I’ll think that I’ll save the sugar for later when I am on my own again. Otherwise the chaps will feel entitled to share in the packet & then the sugar wouldn’t last very long.
The M.O. allowed me to go in the grounds for two hours this afternoon. This was the first time I’ve been out of the building & I enjoyed the change. The sun was brilliant in a cloudless sky & the breeze was sufficient to save one from heatstroke. I sat watching some cricket & writing to Iris. I was in my hospital blues & as I’m infectious I had to remain isolated from the many chaps who were using the Sports Field. Not that I worried. To get out in the fresh air was sufficient for me. I felt uncommonly weak in the legs, chiefly I should say though lack of exercise.
There are two chaps in this ward who are B.E.F. One was in one of the three destroyers which the Germans sank whilst conveying the men from Dunkirk. He had to swim for it, but was rescued.
It must have been a change for you to miss going to church on Sunday. What a pity that the church is such a long way off. I don’t suppose, though that Uncle Reg will often be without a car for week-ends. It wouldn’t be like him.
I, too, think that Mr Bertin’s sermon was very excellent. In fact I don’t remember reading a more topical, practical & telling address from the pulpit since the beginning of the war.
I was very interested in what you had to say about Frank Mills. I know of nobody quite like him in purity of mind & singleness of vision. I do so hope that he will get something amenable to his conception of rights.
Re. the B.E.F. & German cruelty. Some of the stories would make your stomach turn over. The press very mercifully, tries to dilute the sheer incomparable devilishness of the Germans. But the fellows know, & their experience is best summed up in one word `Hell’.
As you say the Germans have managed to get a spot of petrol oil from somewhere. Do you remember how we used to be derided for saying that Germany was very well off for certain resources? We weren’t so far wrong, were we?
Also remind Dad of the little argument we had while I was on leave respecting the size of the Belgian Army. One evening paper estimated it at a round million. I ridiculed it at the time. Now Mr. Churchill in his speech states that it was nearly half a million. Rather a difference isn’t there? Which just shows you how much reliance can be put on any figures mentioned in the paper. Sheer eyework my dear. Except of course the official Allied communiqués & bulletins. They are largely correct.
How thrilling to have a machine gun emplacement near Nightingales. Do you mean shop or house? I presume the latter.
As I haven’t tasted the buns yet I can’t give you the verdict on them. I have had though, the orange & apples. Very nice too. And those biscuits are really splendid.
It would be queer if Derek were to be arrested with the 5th Column. I don’t think they would do it though as the F.O.R. isn’t quite so suspect as the P.P.U. Middleton Murray I believe, only belongs to the P.P.U. They are certainly getting it where the chicken got the chopper. I’m sorry for the sincere Christians who might suffer, but there are relatively few in the P.P.U. from what I know of the movement.
And now I think I’ll close.
With many prayers for you all & much love.
Your loving son
John xxxxxxx
5th June 1940
My Dear Mum and Dad
I have received the two parcels which you kindly sent me. Many thanks dear for the gifts. I somehow don’t think that I shall run out of reading matter, do you? I duly noted the places which you marked over for special attention. By the way, I suppose you must have read about Mr. Bett dying. It was in the `deaths’ column of the Telegraph.
As there are seven of us now in this ward, I’ll think that I’ll save the sugar for later when I am on my own again. Otherwise the chaps will feel entitled to share in the packet & then the sugar wouldn’t last very long.
The M.O. allowed me to go in the grounds for two hours this afternoon. This was the first time I’ve been out of the building & I enjoyed the change. The sun was brilliant in a cloudless sky & the breeze was sufficient to save one from heatstroke. I sat watching some cricket & writing to Iris. I was in my hospital blues & as I’m infectious I had to remain isolated from the many chaps who were using the Sports Field. Not that I worried. To get out in the fresh air was sufficient for me. I felt uncommonly weak in the legs, chiefly I should say though lack of exercise.
There are two chaps in this ward who are B.E.F. One was in one of the three destroyers which the Germans sank whilst conveying the men from Dunkirk. He had to swim for it, but was rescued.
It must have been a change for you to miss going to church on Sunday. What a pity that the church is such a long way off. I don’t suppose, though that Uncle Reg will often be without a car for week-ends. It wouldn’t be like him.
I, too, think that Mr Bertin’s sermon was very excellent. In fact I don’t remember reading a more topical, practical & telling address from the pulpit since the beginning of the war.
I was very interested in what you had to say about Frank Mills. I know of nobody quite like him in purity of mind & singleness of vision. I do so hope that he will get something amenable to his conception of rights.
Re. the B.E.F. & German cruelty. Some of the stories would make your stomach turn over. The press very mercifully, tries to dilute the sheer incomparable devilishness of the Germans. But the fellows know, & their experience is best summed up in one word `Hell’.
As you say the Germans have managed to get a spot of petrol oil from somewhere. Do you remember how we used to be derided for saying that Germany was very well off for certain resources? We weren’t so far wrong, were we?
Also remind Dad of the little argument we had while I was on leave respecting the size of the Belgian Army. One evening paper estimated it at a round million. I ridiculed it at the time. Now Mr. Churchill in his speech states that it was nearly half a million. Rather a difference isn’t there? Which just shows you how much reliance can be put on any figures mentioned in the paper. Sheer eyework my dear. Except of course the official Allied communiqués & bulletins. They are largely correct.
How thrilling to have a machine gun emplacement near Nightingales. Do you mean shop or house? I presume the latter.
As I haven’t tasted the buns yet I can’t give you the verdict on them. I have had though, the orange & apples. Very nice too. And those biscuits are really splendid.
It would be queer if Derek were to be arrested with the 5th Column. I don’t think they would do it though as the F.O.R. isn’t quite so suspect as the P.P.U. Middleton Murray I believe, only belongs to the P.P.U. They are certainly getting it where the chicken got the chopper. I’m sorry for the sincere Christians who might suffer, but there are relatively few in the P.P.U. from what I know of the movement.
And now I think I’ll close.
With many prayers for you all & much love.
Your loving son
John xxxxxxx
Tuesday 20 April 2010
A visit to see a famous radio personality and more adventures in Leeds
Leeds
Friday 26th April
‘40
My Dearest Mum and Dad
Here goes, & I shouldn’t be surprised if this is going to be a long letter. It contains nearly a week’s review & also answers, I think, six letters of yours. You mustn’t mind me collecting all these before replying, as I can’t help receiving them and not replying.
Let me see now. I think I left you on Sat. afternoon having had a bathe in the swimming baths. Well, after tea I went out & bought those photos of Becketts Park, went down to the YMCA & finished your letter, sent postcards off to Eric & Len & later on went round to the Soldiers Rest where I had a wee supper (The place is like the YMCA in function) came out & discovered I had left my respirator in the YMCA so I hurried round but found it had closed for the night as the time was now 10.45p.m. However a chap lent me his respirator to report back with, & I duly retrieved mine on Sunday afternoon. On Sat and Sun we are allowed out till 12 p.m.
Sunday morning we had church parade & the Padre took the service. I’ll describe the service as I described it to Iris.
The organ played before the service, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest Name I know, Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go”. “O for the Wings of a Dove”. “We would see Jesus” & a church voluntary.
The hymns were “Soldiers of Christ Arise” “Be thou my guardian and my guide” & some other hymn which I’ve forgotten. The Psalm was 46. Before the sermon a male vocalist rendered, “If with all your hearts ye truly seek him”.
The sermon was excellent & was about he houses that were built, one on sand & the other on the rock. The main points are obvious, & he explained them very well to my mind.
And as the daffodils had reappeared, in the vases beside the wooden cross, the service reminded me of the first one that I attended.
In the afternoon we had our little time together, but as a good number of chaps were on week-end leave, there wasn’t a large number present. But still we had a good time. Directly this had finished, I went into Leeds for my g-mask & got back in time for tea.
In the evening, & this Dad can tell Mr. Nightingale, I went to Headingley Methodist Church on the occasion of children’s Anniversary to hear Romany. I learned later that he had lectured there on Saturday evening & being an extraordinarily clever lightning artist had illustrated his lecture by making sketches. I wish I had known beforehand as I might have been able to work a visit in.
The church was packed long before the service began & chairs had to be brought in. As a matter of fact, I arrived in good time, abt 15 mins early, & yet could only secure a rotten seat where the vision of the speaker was almost shut out by a pillar supporting the gallery. Still, I got several short glimpses of Romany & will describe him to you as best, as I can. He stands a fairly good height, abt 5ft 11in to 6ft I should say, & wore on this occasion a grey suit which reminded me of my best one. He has a striking appearance & one can detect the Gypsy strain. He has deep, lustrous eyes, & dark lean features. But the part I like best is his great tangled stock of raven hair which reveals him as a poet straight away. He is going bald now, but only slightly.
His language is beautiful & flashed with gems of nature illustrations & exquisite imagery.
Here are a few things which he said in the opening prayer.
“We can never look upon a good thing & be the same again”.
“There is no Geography with God. Whether we are in Norway or in France it is all the same. We are all in the hollow of his hand”.
“Nothing is worth anything unless it is given away; not because it is worthless but because it is priceless. If you could buy it, you can’t” etc
Then in his address he spoke of the way in which men seek happiness. The way of Business & so on. Then he spoke of The Way & said after describing the narrowness & difficulties of that way “and so we journey on, and do we find happiness? No”. Of course everyone felt rather startled. But then he added “No , we don’t find happiness, but that happiness finds us”. And then he elaborated on that theme in a way that it would be foolish for me to try & replicate. His text was from the first Psalm, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water”. He, being the happy man, who is mentioned in the first verse.
It was a lovely sermon & altogether a memorable occasion. His knowledge & interpretation of Nature is really wonderful and I am wondering if he has written any books along this line, as they would be worth reading.
The service over, I stayed to a little meeting arranged for the troops at which somebody sand “Bless this house”, & there were some violin solos etc. So Sunday came to a close.
Monday evening I went to the News Theatre for my weekly relaxation & saw pictures of the German Invasion of Denmark, a film of the French troops, one of the Pottery Industry, another of the Australian Life-Savers & small Australian Sailing Craft & a comic strip.
On Tuesday evening I went with Ken Ballisat to Fuller’s Café, Bond St, Leeds & heard Bryan Green & Howard Guinness speak. I’m enclosing an invitation card, which has got a bit grubby. It was very interesting to listen to them though between them they spoke for 2hrs. The audience was of the University type & was quite large. Bryan Green you know is the chap who speaks on the Wireless quite often. Today, if you read the Daily Telegraph you’d read the report of the marriage of the Queen’s niece, the Hon – Bowes Lyon at Holy Trinity, Brompton & the Rev. Bryan Green officiated. So he wasn’t present at the Thursday meeting in Leeds.
Weds I couldn’t go out as I was put on Cook-house fatigue very unexpectedly so Ken went alone. I spent some of time afterwards in continuing a letter to Iris, a letter which owing to the little time available each day for writing, I didn’t send off the letter until yesterday Thursday, though it was started Tuesday. There was a concert here on Weds but I didn’t go, though I heard that it was very good, with conjuring & so on.
Thursday evening I went down to the Headingley Post Office & bought some stamps posted your post-card & the letter to Iris. Coming back I watched a football match for ¼ hour then went in late to the film show in our Main Hall, which didn’t last very long. There was a film of Princess Mary (Royal) inspecting our A.T.S. She was, by the way, dressed like they. Also a film of our Church Parade. I must have been on there, but of course everything passes so quickly, & with 1000 men on parade, it’s hard to pick yourself out. A couple of medical films, one on sterilization, the other on the heart, a Pop-eye comic & a Mickey Mouse. Tell Joan that the Mickey Mouse film was the same one that we saw at Page’s Garage in the Morris show, with Donald Duck reciting “Little Boy Blue, Come blow on your horn” at Mickey Mouse’s Orphans’ Party.
The last film was a news review of 1938. Rather late, what? It was amusing though sad to see Chamberlain on his return from Munich holding aloft the paper, “No war for 25 years”.
Tonight Friday I’m staying in writing to you. I’m afraid that you won’t get this letter until Monday, after all. Never min, dear, I do write long letters when I do get going, don’t I?
Tomorrow morning I get another tetanus inoculation. There is no sick-leave as it is painless in its after effects.
Your letter written last Thursday, by the way, I only received this Tuesday evening, but the letter written on Friday I received on Monday. Queer world, isn’t it?
Those Elim fellows are C.O’s as you thought. I haven’t been able to see them lately, unfortunately. Ken Ballisat hasn’t been out to tea with me. I’ve only been out twice myself though I’ve been asked on several occasions to go to this & that home for tea. But dear, where’s the chance? I simply can’t find the time, with everything crying out to be done. Ken was at the `Romany’ service on Sunday. He attends all of our meetings at Becketts Park, but doesn’t go to the Brethren, as he prefers C of E.
It’s very nice of Mr Compton to recommend Derek like he did. You’ll tell me how he gets on, won’t you? I’m glad, too to know that Mr Cross is not so cross when it come to conscientious objectors.
I suppose by now that you’ve found out what was wrong with Mr Littlewood. Do please let me know.
I’m returning Joan Rose’s photos which I think are grand.
Re. my photos I ordered 6 & the one enlargement. Total cost 4/6. I hope that 6 will do instead of 9. (P.S. I believe I ordered 12 after all).
Re. Lord Haw-Haw. I had heard several times that Colchester had been bombed & destroyed, but living in Colchester I didn’t quite believe the stories.
You needn’t worry about me wearing the summer dress. For one thing the trousers are a little too long in the leg & for another the weather has been most extraordinary these last few days. Just two or three days ago it turned remarkably hot from extreme cold & at the moment of writing there is a terrific overhead thunderstorm which is making the whole building tremble.
It’s now Saturday afternoon & I’ve just come back from the second tetanus inoculation. This morning we had another medical list and were re-graded. I came out again as A1.
As I said before when I leave here, I haven’t the faintest idea as to where I shall be sent anywhere in England or abroad for that matter, & as for further training, the only kind we haven’t had is the actual practical training with real cases, but as far as the theory is concerned, we’ve been taught all that anyone would ever want to know without specialised training in any special branch of the medical work. As I’ve explained before the grass hasn’t been growing under our feet & the ground covered would astonish you. But I do hope that I shall be moved nearer home.
I think that Pansy is bearing up wonderfully considering her sorrows. Tell her that she needn’t worry about the insurance of the furniture whilst stored at Joslin’s, as it’s covered against everything. I too, will be glad when she has settled down once & for all. She deserves it, poor girl.
I should think that Dick could kick himself for being such a fool as to join voluntarily, especially as he would have been exempt. Did he ask Joan’s advice & permission?
Re. money bag, I didn’t wear it round the neck after the first week or so for the very good reason that I was changing into P.T. kit & so on & as we are only allowed two minutes in which to change, on can’t very well stop to think where to put it for safety whilst I’m away. So I keep it in my back trousers pocket now, & when I want any money it’s easier to get hold of, & handier to lock it away when I leave my trousers in my room. Don’t please think that it’s no use. It’s very handy on the contrary, & cannot be missed or lost like a leather purse or wallet.
So you heard the gunfire from the Thames Estuary. What a pity you heard it so loudly & were so frightened. I don’t hear any guns here, but I think this present thunder is making more noise than gunfire.
Won’t Bubbles & Wilfred feel proud of themselves now? I’m glad that they’re settled at last & that they have such a splendid wedding to look back upon. They seem to be making a big splash with the honeymoon at Bournemouth. I wonder where they are going to live.
Tell Joan not to worry about writing as it doesn’t matter for I fully understand all that she has to do, & writing is no end of a fag (sometimes). I’m glad she liked that card, or rather the sentiment.
If the girls feel like they would like to join up to see if they can get a lot of lovely parcels, they can try the A.T.S. but I hope that they won’t waddle the same as most of these girls.
My thigh is O.K. And arm, for that matter, The medical work is very interesting.
I think Mr. Boyden is a dear man behind his sometimes dignified exterior. It was so kind of him to think about Pansy like that. All the same it doesn’t speak much for the other teachers at the Mission. The next thing would appear to be that the Mission people will have to buy Mr Boyden is a new suit. Perhaps all his money I tied up in `Defence Bonds’.
Concerning the cartoon you sent me of Musso called `Doubtful Attitude’, I think that the question, “What do you think of Musso’s parents” is a doubtful question. The thing is, what does Musso think of them, & is the shape of the ?? the shape of Things to Come? As a Revelation Frog, he appears to be poised for the jump.
I fully understand how difficult Steph must have found things now that there will be such a rise in prices. Also the newness of the job & her natural reserve. I hope that she’ll grow to like the job, as I’m sure se really will when se has been there a little while. The job must be interesting, I know.
The Sunrise Demonstration with Jenny co-starring with Howard must have been a special treat for you. Jenny seems destined to follow in your melodious wake.
Re. the increase in postage, if you like you can send me a letter every other day, as I’m sure that 2 ½ d is too much to pay. I shall try & retrench, but where, I don’t know. All I know is that prices are ruinous & having a pre-war mind, I think that everything isn’t worth half of the price demanded.
Thanks for sending me Tommy’s letter. I’m returning it herewith, & would say that I’m thankful that he is making the best of things where he is, & seems to be quite cheerful. I trust that he can see the Hand of the Lord in the altered circumstances of his life as much as he hopes you can see it in my case.
The Jews meeting must have been disappointing for you with your sensitive mind. It is terrible, I know to hear about such wicked persecutions, but we can’t close our eyes to them, & realising the truth of it, we get interesting insights into our delightfully Christian Nazi friends.
You didn’t spell Ideology write (This is how you spelt right when you wrote the question. However, we all make mistake, that is when we write quickly, as we do.
It must be a relief to you for Mary to be recovered from G.Measles. One trial less, anyway. Mary must be glad, also.
I was sorry to hear about Suzanne. She does seem to be always falling down & bashing her head. The poor little mite, how careful Iris must be with her to prevent a recurrence.
I was ever so pleased to hear from dear old Dad. I’ll try & answer his letter tomorrow. The same goes for Iris B. Pansy & Mary.
And now dears, I wish you every blessing until I can write again, & better still, until I see you again when I have my leave. The blessing of God be upon you both.
Your ever loving Son
John xxxxxx
P.T.O.
How sad to learn of the unfortunate circumstances of Mr Dennis’ death. He was a man who always looked at noble ideals & made them his own. I hold him in reverent memory for his helpful messages, & Colchester is poorer by his passing.
Friday 26th April
‘40
My Dearest Mum and Dad
Here goes, & I shouldn’t be surprised if this is going to be a long letter. It contains nearly a week’s review & also answers, I think, six letters of yours. You mustn’t mind me collecting all these before replying, as I can’t help receiving them and not replying.
Let me see now. I think I left you on Sat. afternoon having had a bathe in the swimming baths. Well, after tea I went out & bought those photos of Becketts Park, went down to the YMCA & finished your letter, sent postcards off to Eric & Len & later on went round to the Soldiers Rest where I had a wee supper (The place is like the YMCA in function) came out & discovered I had left my respirator in the YMCA so I hurried round but found it had closed for the night as the time was now 10.45p.m. However a chap lent me his respirator to report back with, & I duly retrieved mine on Sunday afternoon. On Sat and Sun we are allowed out till 12 p.m.
Sunday morning we had church parade & the Padre took the service. I’ll describe the service as I described it to Iris.
The organ played before the service, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest Name I know, Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go”. “O for the Wings of a Dove”. “We would see Jesus” & a church voluntary.
The hymns were “Soldiers of Christ Arise” “Be thou my guardian and my guide” & some other hymn which I’ve forgotten. The Psalm was 46. Before the sermon a male vocalist rendered, “If with all your hearts ye truly seek him”.
The sermon was excellent & was about he houses that were built, one on sand & the other on the rock. The main points are obvious, & he explained them very well to my mind.
And as the daffodils had reappeared, in the vases beside the wooden cross, the service reminded me of the first one that I attended.
In the afternoon we had our little time together, but as a good number of chaps were on week-end leave, there wasn’t a large number present. But still we had a good time. Directly this had finished, I went into Leeds for my g-mask & got back in time for tea.
In the evening, & this Dad can tell Mr. Nightingale, I went to Headingley Methodist Church on the occasion of children’s Anniversary to hear Romany. I learned later that he had lectured there on Saturday evening & being an extraordinarily clever lightning artist had illustrated his lecture by making sketches. I wish I had known beforehand as I might have been able to work a visit in.
The church was packed long before the service began & chairs had to be brought in. As a matter of fact, I arrived in good time, abt 15 mins early, & yet could only secure a rotten seat where the vision of the speaker was almost shut out by a pillar supporting the gallery. Still, I got several short glimpses of Romany & will describe him to you as best, as I can. He stands a fairly good height, abt 5ft 11in to 6ft I should say, & wore on this occasion a grey suit which reminded me of my best one. He has a striking appearance & one can detect the Gypsy strain. He has deep, lustrous eyes, & dark lean features. But the part I like best is his great tangled stock of raven hair which reveals him as a poet straight away. He is going bald now, but only slightly.
His language is beautiful & flashed with gems of nature illustrations & exquisite imagery.
Here are a few things which he said in the opening prayer.
“We can never look upon a good thing & be the same again”.
“There is no Geography with God. Whether we are in Norway or in France it is all the same. We are all in the hollow of his hand”.
“Nothing is worth anything unless it is given away; not because it is worthless but because it is priceless. If you could buy it, you can’t” etc
Then in his address he spoke of the way in which men seek happiness. The way of Business & so on. Then he spoke of The Way & said after describing the narrowness & difficulties of that way “and so we journey on, and do we find happiness? No”. Of course everyone felt rather startled. But then he added “No , we don’t find happiness, but that happiness finds us”. And then he elaborated on that theme in a way that it would be foolish for me to try & replicate. His text was from the first Psalm, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water”. He, being the happy man, who is mentioned in the first verse.
It was a lovely sermon & altogether a memorable occasion. His knowledge & interpretation of Nature is really wonderful and I am wondering if he has written any books along this line, as they would be worth reading.
The service over, I stayed to a little meeting arranged for the troops at which somebody sand “Bless this house”, & there were some violin solos etc. So Sunday came to a close.
Monday evening I went to the News Theatre for my weekly relaxation & saw pictures of the German Invasion of Denmark, a film of the French troops, one of the Pottery Industry, another of the Australian Life-Savers & small Australian Sailing Craft & a comic strip.
On Tuesday evening I went with Ken Ballisat to Fuller’s Café, Bond St, Leeds & heard Bryan Green & Howard Guinness speak. I’m enclosing an invitation card, which has got a bit grubby. It was very interesting to listen to them though between them they spoke for 2hrs. The audience was of the University type & was quite large. Bryan Green you know is the chap who speaks on the Wireless quite often. Today, if you read the Daily Telegraph you’d read the report of the marriage of the Queen’s niece, the Hon – Bowes Lyon at Holy Trinity, Brompton & the Rev. Bryan Green officiated. So he wasn’t present at the Thursday meeting in Leeds.
Weds I couldn’t go out as I was put on Cook-house fatigue very unexpectedly so Ken went alone. I spent some of time afterwards in continuing a letter to Iris, a letter which owing to the little time available each day for writing, I didn’t send off the letter until yesterday Thursday, though it was started Tuesday. There was a concert here on Weds but I didn’t go, though I heard that it was very good, with conjuring & so on.
Thursday evening I went down to the Headingley Post Office & bought some stamps posted your post-card & the letter to Iris. Coming back I watched a football match for ¼ hour then went in late to the film show in our Main Hall, which didn’t last very long. There was a film of Princess Mary (Royal) inspecting our A.T.S. She was, by the way, dressed like they. Also a film of our Church Parade. I must have been on there, but of course everything passes so quickly, & with 1000 men on parade, it’s hard to pick yourself out. A couple of medical films, one on sterilization, the other on the heart, a Pop-eye comic & a Mickey Mouse. Tell Joan that the Mickey Mouse film was the same one that we saw at Page’s Garage in the Morris show, with Donald Duck reciting “Little Boy Blue, Come blow on your horn” at Mickey Mouse’s Orphans’ Party.
The last film was a news review of 1938. Rather late, what? It was amusing though sad to see Chamberlain on his return from Munich holding aloft the paper, “No war for 25 years”.
Tonight Friday I’m staying in writing to you. I’m afraid that you won’t get this letter until Monday, after all. Never min, dear, I do write long letters when I do get going, don’t I?
Tomorrow morning I get another tetanus inoculation. There is no sick-leave as it is painless in its after effects.
Your letter written last Thursday, by the way, I only received this Tuesday evening, but the letter written on Friday I received on Monday. Queer world, isn’t it?
Those Elim fellows are C.O’s as you thought. I haven’t been able to see them lately, unfortunately. Ken Ballisat hasn’t been out to tea with me. I’ve only been out twice myself though I’ve been asked on several occasions to go to this & that home for tea. But dear, where’s the chance? I simply can’t find the time, with everything crying out to be done. Ken was at the `Romany’ service on Sunday. He attends all of our meetings at Becketts Park, but doesn’t go to the Brethren, as he prefers C of E.
It’s very nice of Mr Compton to recommend Derek like he did. You’ll tell me how he gets on, won’t you? I’m glad, too to know that Mr Cross is not so cross when it come to conscientious objectors.
I suppose by now that you’ve found out what was wrong with Mr Littlewood. Do please let me know.
I’m returning Joan Rose’s photos which I think are grand.
Re. my photos I ordered 6 & the one enlargement. Total cost 4/6. I hope that 6 will do instead of 9. (P.S. I believe I ordered 12 after all).
Re. Lord Haw-Haw. I had heard several times that Colchester had been bombed & destroyed, but living in Colchester I didn’t quite believe the stories.
You needn’t worry about me wearing the summer dress. For one thing the trousers are a little too long in the leg & for another the weather has been most extraordinary these last few days. Just two or three days ago it turned remarkably hot from extreme cold & at the moment of writing there is a terrific overhead thunderstorm which is making the whole building tremble.
It’s now Saturday afternoon & I’ve just come back from the second tetanus inoculation. This morning we had another medical list and were re-graded. I came out again as A1.
As I said before when I leave here, I haven’t the faintest idea as to where I shall be sent anywhere in England or abroad for that matter, & as for further training, the only kind we haven’t had is the actual practical training with real cases, but as far as the theory is concerned, we’ve been taught all that anyone would ever want to know without specialised training in any special branch of the medical work. As I’ve explained before the grass hasn’t been growing under our feet & the ground covered would astonish you. But I do hope that I shall be moved nearer home.
I think that Pansy is bearing up wonderfully considering her sorrows. Tell her that she needn’t worry about the insurance of the furniture whilst stored at Joslin’s, as it’s covered against everything. I too, will be glad when she has settled down once & for all. She deserves it, poor girl.
I should think that Dick could kick himself for being such a fool as to join voluntarily, especially as he would have been exempt. Did he ask Joan’s advice & permission?
Re. money bag, I didn’t wear it round the neck after the first week or so for the very good reason that I was changing into P.T. kit & so on & as we are only allowed two minutes in which to change, on can’t very well stop to think where to put it for safety whilst I’m away. So I keep it in my back trousers pocket now, & when I want any money it’s easier to get hold of, & handier to lock it away when I leave my trousers in my room. Don’t please think that it’s no use. It’s very handy on the contrary, & cannot be missed or lost like a leather purse or wallet.
So you heard the gunfire from the Thames Estuary. What a pity you heard it so loudly & were so frightened. I don’t hear any guns here, but I think this present thunder is making more noise than gunfire.
Won’t Bubbles & Wilfred feel proud of themselves now? I’m glad that they’re settled at last & that they have such a splendid wedding to look back upon. They seem to be making a big splash with the honeymoon at Bournemouth. I wonder where they are going to live.
Tell Joan not to worry about writing as it doesn’t matter for I fully understand all that she has to do, & writing is no end of a fag (sometimes). I’m glad she liked that card, or rather the sentiment.
If the girls feel like they would like to join up to see if they can get a lot of lovely parcels, they can try the A.T.S. but I hope that they won’t waddle the same as most of these girls.
My thigh is O.K. And arm, for that matter, The medical work is very interesting.
I think Mr. Boyden is a dear man behind his sometimes dignified exterior. It was so kind of him to think about Pansy like that. All the same it doesn’t speak much for the other teachers at the Mission. The next thing would appear to be that the Mission people will have to buy Mr Boyden is a new suit. Perhaps all his money I tied up in `Defence Bonds’.
Concerning the cartoon you sent me of Musso called `Doubtful Attitude’, I think that the question, “What do you think of Musso’s parents” is a doubtful question. The thing is, what does Musso think of them, & is the shape of the ?? the shape of Things to Come? As a Revelation Frog, he appears to be poised for the jump.
I fully understand how difficult Steph must have found things now that there will be such a rise in prices. Also the newness of the job & her natural reserve. I hope that she’ll grow to like the job, as I’m sure se really will when se has been there a little while. The job must be interesting, I know.
The Sunrise Demonstration with Jenny co-starring with Howard must have been a special treat for you. Jenny seems destined to follow in your melodious wake.
Re. the increase in postage, if you like you can send me a letter every other day, as I’m sure that 2 ½ d is too much to pay. I shall try & retrench, but where, I don’t know. All I know is that prices are ruinous & having a pre-war mind, I think that everything isn’t worth half of the price demanded.
Thanks for sending me Tommy’s letter. I’m returning it herewith, & would say that I’m thankful that he is making the best of things where he is, & seems to be quite cheerful. I trust that he can see the Hand of the Lord in the altered circumstances of his life as much as he hopes you can see it in my case.
The Jews meeting must have been disappointing for you with your sensitive mind. It is terrible, I know to hear about such wicked persecutions, but we can’t close our eyes to them, & realising the truth of it, we get interesting insights into our delightfully Christian Nazi friends.
You didn’t spell Ideology write (This is how you spelt right when you wrote the question. However, we all make mistake, that is when we write quickly, as we do.
It must be a relief to you for Mary to be recovered from G.Measles. One trial less, anyway. Mary must be glad, also.
I was sorry to hear about Suzanne. She does seem to be always falling down & bashing her head. The poor little mite, how careful Iris must be with her to prevent a recurrence.
I was ever so pleased to hear from dear old Dad. I’ll try & answer his letter tomorrow. The same goes for Iris B. Pansy & Mary.
And now dears, I wish you every blessing until I can write again, & better still, until I see you again when I have my leave. The blessing of God be upon you both.
Your ever loving Son
John xxxxxx
P.T.O.
How sad to learn of the unfortunate circumstances of Mr Dennis’ death. He was a man who always looked at noble ideals & made them his own. I hold him in reverent memory for his helpful messages, & Colchester is poorer by his passing.
Friday 16 April 2010
16th April 1940
Leeds 6
16th April 1940
My Dearest Mum & Dad & others,
The letter I received from you today written on Sunday is just about as gloomy as the weather. It was snowing yesterday, also a wee bit the day before, but this morning we have had the real thing and no mistake. I’ve never seen such large flakes before & though the blizzards only last about an hour at a time, when it does come down you can hardly see anything else. I don’t know whether you are having the same weather at home but if so, my sympathy is with you.
I’m so sorry about the Baby proving such trouble. As if there wasn’t enough trouble about without that extra contribution. You do seem to be in the thick of it all, but so was Job, so keep on praising Mother dear.
I gather that Pansy is at last coming round to the view that I’ve so often expressed. If possible it’s wiser to wait about two years before starting a family, don’t you think, though of course I quite realise that circumstances alter cases, & there are circumstances in which it might be desirable to start earlier. However I don’t think I had better say any more in case I put my foot into it.
It’s news to me about Miriam. All I hope is that the baby won’t have T.B. which I believe Mim has got.
Yes, dear, Mr Sainsbury sent me some pocket testaments to distribute to enquiring fellows to whom they will prove helpful. I see that you guessed that the Testaments were in the parcel. I didn’t know that he was going on a holiday, & I suppose that he didn’t receive my letter until a few days later than he would have done. Which means that I needn’t have given his letter priority after all.
You might have known that I did not write to Iris last week, although I received a letter from her at the beginning of the week & another towards the end. I had to answer both of them in one letter which I sent off either Sunday or Monday of this week.
Today I received my summer dress consisting of a pair of trousers & a jacket, the style exactly like the ordinary battle dress. They are in Khaki & much lighter in weight, also a wee bit lighter in colour. I haven’t put them on yet, so I don’t know whether they will require alteration.
Last night after I had written to you, I went over to the Toc H room to post your letter. This was the second time since I’ve been here that I’ve been in the Toc H room, incidentally. When I got there I saw Ken Ballisat, so we went together to his room & there he told me that as he makes an allowance to his mother he only gets 5/- one week and 7/- the next. This came out when I asked him to go to Leeds with me for a change as we had not been together since going to St. Chad’s that Sunday evening. He said that he couldn’t afford to go out and when I asked him why, he told me the reason.
So I arranged with him to go out tonight as a little treat, especially as I think that he has only been to Leeds about once before.
Unfortunately we couldn’t go at the time we had agreed upon, as my section was suddenly called upon to wash all the dining hall tables & forms down & clear up the dining hall. This took us an hour and a half so I wasn’t free until 7.20p.m. Then we go away & I took him to the News Theatre which he enjoyed very much. We saw pictures of Norway with reference to the German invasion so you see that it was up-to-date. Another picture was on Archery, another on the Industrial Revolution and how the English countryside has been changed for ever. Yet another was called “A Lady’s Day Out”, which showed a young riding mistress taking a small party for a tour on horseback with two dogs, one of which was a Golden Retriever. Every time I looked at it, I thought of Sadie who is a dead image of that dog. It used to roam about on its own, and took a lively interest in everything it saw, in consequence of which it got lost & its mistress had to ride back to find it, which she did eventually. But you would have liked to have seen it, for the dog was so intelligent & alert, & your heart would have melted to see the dog running as hard as it could when it knew it was lost. It was all very sweet & the scenery was perfect.
And now another day has passed & there is a rumour about that Italy has entered into the War against the Allies. If this is true, I am the last person to be surprised, for I have been prophesying this for years in face of very strong opinions to the contrary & my views are at last (though very very unfortunately) vindicated. I wonder how the war will take shape. Everything is so uncertain except the certainty that God still reigns in the Heavens though not in the earth. So we mustn’t get depressed but hope on & trust in God FOR EVERYTHING. Just keep on thinking of the Eternal Glories which gleam afar to nerve our faint endeavour, and nothing on Earth can make us lose faith or separate us from the love of God.
To get down to private matters, how unfortunate to have Mary down with G. Measles. Just one more boil, so to speak.
I’m glad my clothes arrived safely. If you had seen the hundreds of pieces of string & odd bits of paper that I had to use it would seem very wonderful to you that the parcels were intact on arrival. Thanks for putting them away, also for cycle things stored away.
My company pay out quite well regarding money. I get 12/6 every week which is more than sufficient for my needs. Some companies pay out less than this, but I suppose, save more for the fellows.
Yes, one of the Poetry Books was for a fellow at the Brethren. The other for the University chap in my section. By the way, I believe I told you that I was going out Wednesday. Well, the other Brethren chaps have gone, but I haven’t gone after all as I feel rather tired & want to finish the letter. I shall probably get to the Bible Study tomorrow.
Regarding going into Leeds alone, you must realise that at the most, I only see my Christian friends once a week, apart from Sundays. And then I see a few of them by accident. The trouble is my dear that we have no time to arrange going out together. Where do you think that the time is coming from? I might be able to see a bit of them if I didn’t write letters, but I see that you still don’t quite realise the very few opportunities that we have for even taking a deep breath. And then of course, we are all in different companies, & again we are in different sections so the chances of seeing each other apart from Saturday afternoon & Sunday afternoon onwards are pretty remote.
I don’t know what I shall do, or where I shall go when I leave here. I may be a hospital orderly, maybe in an operating theatre, maybe a stretcher bearer & first aid man. There are hundreds of things that I might be, so it’s no use guessing.
And now to talk about the sad news. It came as an awful shock to me to read about poor Tommy. In fact I am dumbfounded. You needn’t think that he necessarily cheeked a superior officer. Some of the fellows in the army if they took a dislike to anyone, could queer his pitch for good & get him sent to the `Glasshouse’. It’s very easily done & often done, & there’s no justice & no appeal. I can just imagine poor Tommy’s feelings as he makes his way to the front. We all make mistakes & how dearly we have to pay for them God alone knows. It’s far worse when we are punished unjustly as Tommy might have been.
But I’m sorrier still for Pansy. She has enough to bear without that. All I can say is that all our lives are in the Hands of God, & being there, we can rest in the knowledge that He in love will cause all things to work for our good. He knows, He loves, He cares, our burdens Jesus bears, whate’er betide, He’s by my side, He knows, He loves, He cares. Whate’er betide! What a testing for our faith this is, but what a great opportunity to glorify God in affliction & quit ourselves like the Heirs of Salvation.
So to all of you from your own John I would say, “Don’t let the Devil get you down. Don’t look down. Bear up & look up for your Redemption draweth nigh”. For aren’t the sunbeams gathering on God’s side of cloud for that wonderful dawning of Eternal Day? Oh, if only God would give us larger eyes to perceive the gentle mercy of the Lord, we shouldn’t be so anxious about the wrath of man. Oh that we might get up & plant our feet on higher ground & see visions of the Everlasting Kingdom & the Coming King. May God grant us these things for His Glory.
And now, dear ones, I must leave you content in the love which never lets us go. A big X for all of you especially Pansy.
Your devoted son & brother
John xxxxxxx
16th April 1940
My Dearest Mum & Dad & others,
The letter I received from you today written on Sunday is just about as gloomy as the weather. It was snowing yesterday, also a wee bit the day before, but this morning we have had the real thing and no mistake. I’ve never seen such large flakes before & though the blizzards only last about an hour at a time, when it does come down you can hardly see anything else. I don’t know whether you are having the same weather at home but if so, my sympathy is with you.
I’m so sorry about the Baby proving such trouble. As if there wasn’t enough trouble about without that extra contribution. You do seem to be in the thick of it all, but so was Job, so keep on praising Mother dear.
I gather that Pansy is at last coming round to the view that I’ve so often expressed. If possible it’s wiser to wait about two years before starting a family, don’t you think, though of course I quite realise that circumstances alter cases, & there are circumstances in which it might be desirable to start earlier. However I don’t think I had better say any more in case I put my foot into it.
It’s news to me about Miriam. All I hope is that the baby won’t have T.B. which I believe Mim has got.
Yes, dear, Mr Sainsbury sent me some pocket testaments to distribute to enquiring fellows to whom they will prove helpful. I see that you guessed that the Testaments were in the parcel. I didn’t know that he was going on a holiday, & I suppose that he didn’t receive my letter until a few days later than he would have done. Which means that I needn’t have given his letter priority after all.
You might have known that I did not write to Iris last week, although I received a letter from her at the beginning of the week & another towards the end. I had to answer both of them in one letter which I sent off either Sunday or Monday of this week.
Today I received my summer dress consisting of a pair of trousers & a jacket, the style exactly like the ordinary battle dress. They are in Khaki & much lighter in weight, also a wee bit lighter in colour. I haven’t put them on yet, so I don’t know whether they will require alteration.
Last night after I had written to you, I went over to the Toc H room to post your letter. This was the second time since I’ve been here that I’ve been in the Toc H room, incidentally. When I got there I saw Ken Ballisat, so we went together to his room & there he told me that as he makes an allowance to his mother he only gets 5/- one week and 7/- the next. This came out when I asked him to go to Leeds with me for a change as we had not been together since going to St. Chad’s that Sunday evening. He said that he couldn’t afford to go out and when I asked him why, he told me the reason.
So I arranged with him to go out tonight as a little treat, especially as I think that he has only been to Leeds about once before.
Unfortunately we couldn’t go at the time we had agreed upon, as my section was suddenly called upon to wash all the dining hall tables & forms down & clear up the dining hall. This took us an hour and a half so I wasn’t free until 7.20p.m. Then we go away & I took him to the News Theatre which he enjoyed very much. We saw pictures of Norway with reference to the German invasion so you see that it was up-to-date. Another picture was on Archery, another on the Industrial Revolution and how the English countryside has been changed for ever. Yet another was called “A Lady’s Day Out”, which showed a young riding mistress taking a small party for a tour on horseback with two dogs, one of which was a Golden Retriever. Every time I looked at it, I thought of Sadie who is a dead image of that dog. It used to roam about on its own, and took a lively interest in everything it saw, in consequence of which it got lost & its mistress had to ride back to find it, which she did eventually. But you would have liked to have seen it, for the dog was so intelligent & alert, & your heart would have melted to see the dog running as hard as it could when it knew it was lost. It was all very sweet & the scenery was perfect.
And now another day has passed & there is a rumour about that Italy has entered into the War against the Allies. If this is true, I am the last person to be surprised, for I have been prophesying this for years in face of very strong opinions to the contrary & my views are at last (though very very unfortunately) vindicated. I wonder how the war will take shape. Everything is so uncertain except the certainty that God still reigns in the Heavens though not in the earth. So we mustn’t get depressed but hope on & trust in God FOR EVERYTHING. Just keep on thinking of the Eternal Glories which gleam afar to nerve our faint endeavour, and nothing on Earth can make us lose faith or separate us from the love of God.
To get down to private matters, how unfortunate to have Mary down with G. Measles. Just one more boil, so to speak.
I’m glad my clothes arrived safely. If you had seen the hundreds of pieces of string & odd bits of paper that I had to use it would seem very wonderful to you that the parcels were intact on arrival. Thanks for putting them away, also for cycle things stored away.
My company pay out quite well regarding money. I get 12/6 every week which is more than sufficient for my needs. Some companies pay out less than this, but I suppose, save more for the fellows.
Yes, one of the Poetry Books was for a fellow at the Brethren. The other for the University chap in my section. By the way, I believe I told you that I was going out Wednesday. Well, the other Brethren chaps have gone, but I haven’t gone after all as I feel rather tired & want to finish the letter. I shall probably get to the Bible Study tomorrow.
Regarding going into Leeds alone, you must realise that at the most, I only see my Christian friends once a week, apart from Sundays. And then I see a few of them by accident. The trouble is my dear that we have no time to arrange going out together. Where do you think that the time is coming from? I might be able to see a bit of them if I didn’t write letters, but I see that you still don’t quite realise the very few opportunities that we have for even taking a deep breath. And then of course, we are all in different companies, & again we are in different sections so the chances of seeing each other apart from Saturday afternoon & Sunday afternoon onwards are pretty remote.
I don’t know what I shall do, or where I shall go when I leave here. I may be a hospital orderly, maybe in an operating theatre, maybe a stretcher bearer & first aid man. There are hundreds of things that I might be, so it’s no use guessing.
And now to talk about the sad news. It came as an awful shock to me to read about poor Tommy. In fact I am dumbfounded. You needn’t think that he necessarily cheeked a superior officer. Some of the fellows in the army if they took a dislike to anyone, could queer his pitch for good & get him sent to the `Glasshouse’. It’s very easily done & often done, & there’s no justice & no appeal. I can just imagine poor Tommy’s feelings as he makes his way to the front. We all make mistakes & how dearly we have to pay for them God alone knows. It’s far worse when we are punished unjustly as Tommy might have been.
But I’m sorrier still for Pansy. She has enough to bear without that. All I can say is that all our lives are in the Hands of God, & being there, we can rest in the knowledge that He in love will cause all things to work for our good. He knows, He loves, He cares, our burdens Jesus bears, whate’er betide, He’s by my side, He knows, He loves, He cares. Whate’er betide! What a testing for our faith this is, but what a great opportunity to glorify God in affliction & quit ourselves like the Heirs of Salvation.
So to all of you from your own John I would say, “Don’t let the Devil get you down. Don’t look down. Bear up & look up for your Redemption draweth nigh”. For aren’t the sunbeams gathering on God’s side of cloud for that wonderful dawning of Eternal Day? Oh, if only God would give us larger eyes to perceive the gentle mercy of the Lord, we shouldn’t be so anxious about the wrath of man. Oh that we might get up & plant our feet on higher ground & see visions of the Everlasting Kingdom & the Coming King. May God grant us these things for His Glory.
And now, dear ones, I must leave you content in the love which never lets us go. A big X for all of you especially Pansy.
Your devoted son & brother
John xxxxxxx
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