Letter posted Tuesday 6th August 1940
Southern Command Central Gymnasium
Tidworth
Hants
My Darling Cho-cho,
As you will see from above address, I am now at Tidworth. I regret to say I was swindled as regards this course. The C.O. told me it was to be a two week course, but here I am told it’s three weeks! – which means I can’t get leave for at least another month. I’m rather fed up as I’d expected to be home again after a fortnight. There’s a chap here who was in the B.E.F.* and has had 48 hours leave in 10 months!
Tidworth is rather like Aldershot. Rows and rows of barracks with suburban houses alongside for N.C.O.’s wives & children. As I am now a Junior N.C.O. how about getting married?…
The place is like a miniature town, with shops & cinemas – also a swimming-pool.
I had to travel here in full kit, carrying kit-bag, in fact everything that I possess. I felt quite warm when I got to Salisbury.
Whilst still at Bemerton, I met an interesting bloke of 6ft 4½, who is taking a commission in the guards. I later found out that his father is Lieutenant-General Sir – Barnes**, who, during the last show, commanded the 4th Hussars! – and he finds himself in the 6th Dorsets.
I’m told that life on Devil’s Island is luxury compared with this course. They say it is three weeks of living Hell! I want my mummy…
I must close now, Darling, as I have to write home as well.
love & kisses
xxxxx Dicker
P.S. Je vous félicite ou votre français. C’est très bien***
P.P.S. I tabulate, herewith, full address (pro tempus):-
L/CPL Williams R K.
5731671
Southern Command
Central Gymnasium
Tidworth, Hants.
Je t’aime encore de tout mon coeur****
Dicker
*The B.E.F. - the British Expeditionary Force were the army sent across the Channel in September 1939. They were defeated in Western Europe in June 1940 and evacuated from Dunkirk.
**Major General Sire Reginald Barnes KCB DSO
*** “I congratulate you on your French. It’s very good.”
**** “I love you with all my heart”
© Chotie Darling, 2010.
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