Chotie Darling
Part 1 The Blue Cockade
Chapter 2 Guarding England – winter
Dedicated to the memory of my mother
and all those who hold the forever young of war in their hearts.
Dick was posted to the 70th Battalion of the Bath & Dorsets
on 1st November 1940.
He was in ‘K’ Company, based in Chippenham, until mid December.
The 70th or Young Soldiers Battalions were formed about this time to take volunteers too young to be conscripted. They were generally over 18 and under 20.
(Dick was 19 in July 1940, soon after he joined up.)
from Record
Statement of Service Army No. 5731671 Richard Kelner WILLIAMS
THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT
Order 198/48 Unit 6th H.D. Bn Posted to 70th Bn Army Rank A/Cpl 1-11-40
3rd November 1940 – British troops arrive in Greece to fight the Italians.
NB Change of Batt.
70 Bath Dorset Regt.
‘ K’ Coy.
London Rd
Chippenham
Wilts.
My Darling Cho-cho,
Well, at last I'm now able to write. It's been one long rush for the last week or so, I'll tell you all about it in a moment.
I was very sorry to hear that F W* has been forced to close down. It must have been rather a blow. I don't suppose you're very worried though! Nothing worries us does it, Darling? You can now join the ATS and get stationed near me. That would be just about heaven I reckon.
Talking about getting stationed near me, I'm now at a place called Chippenham, which is marvellous. We’re billeted over a Burton's (tailors) right in the middle of the town. I've just given the place the once-over, and when I say it's OK I don't mean maybe. It's got some marvellous pubs, teashops & everything. I don't know how long we’ll stay here but it's all right by me.
I was going down to dinner on Friday when Gurd (CSM) pounced on me and yelled “Escort to Birmingham!” whereupon I proceed to pack up my goods and chattels and, having conscripted a private, set off for Brum. It took us just about 8 hours to get there.
We got to Brum about 11 pm in pouring rain & blackout etc, with nowhere to sleep and no money (having lent all mine to Eric to go on leave with). Bombs were falling all over the place. Marshall and Snelgrove's (about as big as Bobby’s**) was reduced to an ash heap. I ended up sleeping in a cellar under some barracks.
I had two days in Brum arriving back via Bristol with the prisoner who was doing his best to escape (bless his little heart...). It was no joke, I can tell you.
Well, Darling, I'm afraid there's nothing else of interest. I may be able to get home this weekend, I don't know yet.
I’ll write again anyway.
Loving you more than ever
Your devoted
Dicker
* FW was Chotie’s place of work:
“At fourteen my Mum took me to Bournemouth for a successful interview in Mr F W Collins’ rather swanky dress shop, selling hats, furs and clothes ‘for every occasion’ in the arcade. Mrs Pitman, the rather sad manageress (her husband was a rotter) took me in hand and trained me to be a Sales Assistant and Window Dresser. Mrs Collins showed me how to make and trim hats.
Mary, whose parents kept the Anglo-Swiss Hotel, also worked there. We used to hide in the lower floor and cold store room (where furs were kept in summer), putting the evening dresses against us, which were lovely, instilling in me a love of beautiful clothes.
The errand boy took a shine to me and bought me a handbag (Mum made me give it him back). You could not, in those days, accept presents from ‘any old Harry’.
I forgot to mention, at thirteen I won the ‘Atlanta Cup’ for physique out of all the Poole schools. Must have been quite a dish!”
From ‘Grandma’s Story’ written for Chotie’s grandchildren.
** Bobby’s was a large department store in the centre of Bournemouth (later Debenhams, then Bobby's again).
© Chotie Darling, 2010
Recent Comments