Chotie Darling

"uxoriousness" - 29th October 1940

Bemerton

Tuesday evening

Dearest of all, Cho-Cho,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                                                                    Loving you more than ever

                                                                                                your devoted hubby

                                                                                                            Dicker

                                                                                                            I.T.A.L.Y.

* uxoriousness = excessively or submissively fond of a wife.

© Chotie Darling, 2010

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

22nd October 1940

Bemerton

Tuesday evening

My Darling Cho,

Thanks for the letter which I got this morning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Je suis à toi pour la Vie,**

Your adoring,

Dicker

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

all yours

Dicker

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

All for you! (when I come home)

* Ingrid Bergman, the Swedish film star

** “I am yours for life.”

© Chotie Darling, 2010

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

On 28th October 1940 Italy attacked Greece.

Choosing Friends - 18th October 1940

Letter posted on Friday 18^th October 1940

Bemerton

Thursday

My Darling Chotie,

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

             tout à toi*

                    your adoring

                                    Dicker

* “All yours”

© Chotie Darling, 2010

The other stripe - 14th October 1940

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

 

Telegram 7th October 1940

 HOME TONIGHT SEVEN DAYS LEAVE = RICHARD +

 

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

 

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

 

 

Bemerton, Salisbury

Wilts, Monday eve.

My Dearest Darling Little Cho-cho,

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

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

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

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

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

Still loving you every lickle bit,

your adoring hubby

Dicker

© Chotie Darling, 2010