Chotie Darling

Something to be fought for - Wednesday January 1941

Lee-on-the-Solent

Wednesday.

My Darling Chubby Little Cho-cho,

                                                                        Just a few lines to let you know I'm still here and still, as ever, thinking of you.

            I'm on Guard at the moment (24 hrs) with three men and a Lewis Gun.  (If it came to a scrap I'd sooner have the Lewis than the three men.)  It's quite sunny, though still very muddy.  We get our feet soaked for some 25 hrs every guard which accounts for the present number down with flu, etc.

            I went to the flicks last night for want of something better to do and saw "A Primrose Path”, which I'd seen before but enjoyed.

            Feeling rather good at the moment as I have an ounce of tobacco and a good dinner in my tum.  That's half the trouble with men, - they’re only able to do anything when they've got plenty of food.  (That is a hint for when we are married...  Darling, I’ll even buy you a cookery book and an oven to practice on!) 

            I can hardly wait for that glorious time.  Just imagine, Precious, when this is over and we can start again - swimming, sailing and just lazing in the sun... – what a time that will be. No worries about leave or bombs or anything else that keeps us apart.

           We have one great consolation Cho, and that is, it will seem much better having been apart so long.   It's something worth striving for.

            Even if I got out of the Army, I should have to join up in something again.  I couldn't be at home enjoying myself when everyone else is away from the ones they love and who I know, they'd die for, if necessary. This isn't an act Darling - it's so tragically true. 

            Chamberlain was only half right.  He wanted peace but went the wrong way about getting it.  It's something that has to be fought for - and won, after much bloodshed and toil - not something that is just written down on paper.

            Am I boring you Darling?  I think I must be. 

            It makes me feel so wonderfully happy to know you still love me after all this time.  It will be just ecstasy when I get back, Darling, and believe me I will be back.  That will give you something else to worry about...

 

            We just had another 10 minute raid.  That's the third in the last two hours

            Well, Darling, that's about all, I guess.  There is no news, as usual, except I'm still loving you every little bit, but then again that's not news, or shouldn't be by now.

                                                                        Bye bye Darling,

                                                                        your adoring

                                                                                    Dicker

© Chotie Darling 

 

29th January 1941 - US and British military leaders begin secret talks concerning a common war policy against Germany.

Blitz in Southampton - Monday January 1941

20^th January 1941 – compulsory fire watching duty introduced in Great Britain. All shops and office buildings had at all times to be attended and, at night or in any ‘red alert’ there had to be a ‘Roof Warden’ on duty.

As an employee of Beales, in Bournemouth, Chotie had to take her turn at night-time fire watching on the roof. Beales was later destroyed by bombing on 23rd May 1943, in the worst attack on Bournemouth during the war.

 

Rye Cottage, Marine Parade West

Lee-on-Solent, Hants. 

My Darling,

                                                                                    I'm writing as I promised as soon as possible to let you know that I arrived safely - but only just.  I got to Southampton at 8 o'clock and then the trouble started.  I didn't get back to camp until 3 o'clock this morning.  There was a terrific Blitz on* and we had to wait on the station from 8.15 until 12.30!  However the train eventually came and we reached Fareham, at about 2.30.   Here I met with some luck as there was a naval lorry going back to the camp.  It dropped me about a hundred yards from my billet.

             I had to go on Guard at 7 o'clock this morning so I didn't get much sleep - and if anyone catches me asleep to-night I'm for a court-martial. What a life! 

             Still I mustn't grumble as my little wife is all that really matters in this heartless world.  (Another proposal!)  I must really get down to this proposal business when I get back in civvies...You're not going to get out of it as easily as you think...

             I felt terrible this morning, Darling.  It's pretty chronic when you get back from leave and haven't anyone you can call a friend in the whole company. Apart from Clive there isn't one man whom I could ever get to know or like.

 

            Well, Sweetheart, I've just had supper, (2 zeppelins in a cloud**) and feel at ease once again. 

             I hope you got back from Bmth all right - and please Darling, do look after yourself, whatever you do. You'll never know how really precious you are to me.  I just can't help thinking of you the whole time here.

             I don't think I've ever felt so terribly depressed and lonely as I did this morning.  Cho Darling, I don't know what you must be thinking about me after coming home and being so terribly cold.  I suppose it's not my fault really, but I can't adapt myself to home life in a few hours.  I worry too much I suppose.

             Whatever happens, the next time I get home we must go to the Shipwrights’ or Norfolk*** or somewhere and get completely blotto.  At any rate I'll be home earlier next time, which will mean we can at least go somewhere in the evening.

 Well, Darling I must close here as the Orderly Officer is due any moment,                             

                                                                        night, night Precious

                                                                                    All yours

                                                                                                “Dicker”

* Southampton was the one of the most heavily bombed cities (7^th) in Britain during WW2. As Britain’s number one military port and the home of Spitfire production, just across the Channel from northern France, it was an obvious target.

** Army slang for canteen sausages in mash.

*** The Shipwrights Arms was a pub on Poole Quay (demolished in 1978). Dick had taken Chotie there before the war, much to her mother’s horror.  Pubs in Poole were then almost exclusively a male preserve and Chotie’s family were teetotal – even Chotie had signed ‘the Pledge’ - "We agree to abstain from all liquors of an intoxicating quality whether ale, porter, wine or ardent spirits, except as medicene.”

 

“My mother tore off down to the Williams’ house after she found out Dicker had taken me to a pub.  I had not even been in the bar but had played skittles and drunk one grapefruit juice”.  From ‘Grandma’s Story’ written for Chotie’s grandchildren. However another version of ‘Chotie’s Story’ has Dicker “sneaking me into pubs, taboo with my family in those days”!

There was little other social life besides the pubs during the war and, with war work giving many women more independence, pubs were soon frequented by both sexes.

 *** The Norfolk is still a fine Edwardian Hotel near the centre of Bournemouth.

 © Chotie Darling

 

January 22^nd 1941 - British and Australian forces capture the port of Tobruk, Libya from Italy.

 

22nd to 25th January 1941 – German minelaying off the Dorset coast.

Last week of January 1941 – the Telecommunications Research Establishment at Worth Matravers commandeered the BBC’s pre-war television transmitter, at Alexandra Palace in London, to jam the newly refined German radio beam system for night time location of English targets.

(From ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004).

Lonely Nights - Tuesday January 1941

Rye Cottage, Marine Parade W

Lee on Solent, Hants.

My Own Darling Chotie,

                                                            Many thanks for your letter received this morning.  I was just embarking on a 24 hrs Guard and was consequently feeling rather depressed, when along came your letter like a breath of Spring.  Darling, your letters have a wonderful effect on me.  Like morphia* they soothe my somewhat jaded nerves... - and like morphia too, they raise me from the depths of despair to heights of ecstasy.

            This is a tolerably decent Guard Room.  There's no fire as the place is electrically heated.  There's also electric light, & so for about the first time on Guard I am able to write in almost what may be termed comfort.

            In King's Regulations (the Laws which govern Army Life) it says that any man may ask for a pint of tea or cocoa (free of charge) which he has during the night if on a 24 hr guard.  By reason of this most noble law, I am now enjoying some steaming hot cocoa, which even if it doesn't taste like cocoa is at any rate hot...

            A man is also allowed a pint of beer, but needless to say this luxury comes from his own pocket!

            It's now 20.30 hrs (8.30) Tuesday evening and I am faced with the dismal prospect of staying awake all night until we dismount at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.

            I've just finished a very good book.  It is called ‘Magnus Merriman’ and it's by Eric Linklater (of ‘Juan in America’ fame).  You must certainly read it if you get the chance!  I was just reminded of it because I remembered where:

 “The girls who had been sitting on the sailor's knees, and had now returned to those warm seats began to sing: -

            ‘Morning never comes too soon, I can face the afternoon, But Oh!  Those lonely nights!’ “**

             I had to admit the truth of those lines.  It deals with the life of a poet, from when he joins the army during the last war, to when he finally ends up in a marriage of convenience.  It is brilliantly written in the usual Linklater style.

            I also re-read ‘Rebecca’ (Daphne du Maurier) - in my opinion the best novel of the last five years or so.  You should see the film if you get the chance as I know you'd love it.

(Lengthy pause whilst I fill my pipe).

            Remember in ‘Impatient Virgin’ whenever Ruth (the heroine) walks out of a room she always left behind ‘the blue tobacco smoke mingled with the scent of dried roseleaves’!  Perhaps my mind’s wandering... 

            How's the Guardsmen?  You'd better go careful you know.  I may turn up and catch you in the act – and 6ft 3 or not he's going to hit the deck mighty hard.  You can take that from me.

            Good to hear you had a good time at the ‘Haven’***.  It's not a bad place is it?  The only snag is that they can always chuck you in the sea to sober you up.

            Well Sweetheart, I must close here, as the Orderly Officer is due round.

            I'm afraid it's no good me trying to tell you how much I miss you.  It's so much more than words can convey.  I still love you with all my heart Cho Dear, as I know I always will.  I think it would kill me if I ever thought you were unfaithful - but I trust you, Darling as I hope you trust me.

                                                                        Goodnight Precious

                                                                                    Your ever loving

                                                                                                Dicker

 

* morphia – another name for morphine, a powerful narcotic painkiller.

** from ‘Happy Days and Lonely Nights’, a love song by Fred Fisher and Billy Rose.

*** the Haven Hotel, Sandbanks, Poole

© Chotie Darling

 

Telegram on Saturday 18th January 1941 from Lee on Solent 

BARBARA HOME TONIGHT = RICHARD

  

18^th January 1941

Dick and Chotie’s first meeting since October 1940

 

19^th January 1941 – Allied troops advance into Eritrea. Mussolini accepts German aid in North Africa but not in Albania.

Lorry collision - January 1941

“ Rye Cottage”, Marine Parade West, Lee-on-Solent, Hants.

My Darling,

            Just a few lines to let you know how I'm getting on and to give you the new address.  Did you get my P.S.?

            I wrote about a week ago, telling you of my demotion etc - I also wrote home but they don't appear to have got it.  I don't know whether you did.

            I'm afraid I've been laid up for some time as I had a bit of an accident and nearly managed to lose my left eye.  I was blind in it for three days - but the MO says it's OK now – I only hope he's right.  I was running pretty fast (Olympic Games Standard!) in the Black-Out early one morning, when I collided with a lorry.  I thought I was tough, but I rather think the lorry had it all the way.  I got a slight concussion and a deep cut under my eye - but it's all right now. 

            In case you didn't get my last letter, I'm now a L/Cpl having been busted by the Colonel (bless him).  Pete is now a full Corporal in ‘D’ Coy my original Company.  Eric has also been made up again.  The fortunes of war....

             However who cares?  I've still got my Tootsie (I hope..) and that's all I have to worry about.

             Well Darling I'm afraid I'll have to close here as this wretched NAAFI is closing.

                                     Still loving you every bit Cho Dear,

                                                                        your devoted

                                                                                    Dicker

© Chotie Darling

The Reconnaissance Corps was established on 14th January 1941.

Following Dunkirk the Bartholomew Committee was set up to review and learn from the defeat of the British Expeditionary Force. It recommended a new organisation for infantry divisions that included a reconnaissance unit. The light ‘cavalry’ regiments that had carried out reconnaissance for the infantry were now in the Royal Armoured Corps, so the new specialised Reconnaissance Corps would provide one unit per army corps, with specialised training at Lochmaben and Annan in Dumfries & Galloway and at Scarborough, North Yorkshire (from ‘Only the Enemy in Front’ by Richard Doherty).

 

Dick was to serve with the Reconnaissance Corps for three years including fighting in France, the Low Countries and Germany.

Lee on Solent

 

Saturday 11^th January 1941

Postcard of LEE-ON-SOLENT, THE TOWER ENTRANCE TO THE PIER

 Dear Tootsie,

                                                          Have moved and am now living in the town shown overleaf!  May be home for a few hours next weekend.  Letter to follow

love Dicker

PS Don't know address yet.

 

In 1935 the Lee Tower complex was built on the seafront next to the old pier and railway station. It was designed by architects Yates, Cook & Derbyshire, and comprised a white v-shaped Art Deco building with a 120-foot tower. The complex housed a cinema, ballroom and restaurant, as well as a viewing platform at the tower's peak.  The pier, unrepaired after breaching in aid of coastal defence in World War II, was demolished in 1958 and the complex was demolished in 1971, with its land now used for the promenade and remembrance gardens (Wikipedia).

 Dick was based at Lee-on-Solent

until February 1941

 

 

Demotion

 

Dick was demoted to Lance Corporal

on 1^st January 1941

and transferred to ‘C’ company of the 70^th Dorsets

 

Copy of Record

Statement of Service  Army No. 5731671 Richard Kelner WILLIAMS

THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT

Order 2/40 70^th Y.S. Bn Relinquishes appointment as A/Cpl Army Rank P/L/Cpl 1-1-41

 

 

‘C’ Company, Corsham, Wilts

 2/1/41

 

My Darling,

 

     Thanks for the letter. I’m afraid I’ve some not so good news in this letter. I’ve been chopped from full rank to Lance Corporal, and Pete has been made up.

  

During the last few months, discipline has been neglected and I was the only rank to charge anyone. Today I was hauled up in front of the Colonel and calmly told that I hadn’t any control over the men! I was amazed.

As usually happens, I have been transferred from ‘A’ Company to ‘C’ which is at Battalion Headquarters; actually at Corsham about 10 miles from the Aerodrome. This Company, which was the old ‘L’ Coy, is junior to ‘A’ and is consequently still training. This is a pleasure as it means no more guards, better food and generally better living conditions.

Pete, for some mysterious reason, has been transferred to ‘D’ Company which is also here. I don’t think he’ll last very long as I have just seen him and he isn’t feeling too good, being generally fed up.

 

I don’t give a damn myself. All I want to do is to get back to my little Cho-Cho. Nothing seems to really matter in the Army. All I do is live for that glorious day when this will all be over and just a nightmare best forgotten. If only you knew how much I miss you Tootsie, and how often I think of you, you’d know just how I feel.

 

 I don’t know whether you remember me telling you about J P Clarke (“JP”) who went on a 48 without permission. Well, he’s here, at the Headquarters. At the moment he’s on his first Seven Days. He is, I think, the only bloke here who I really understand. He’s so crazy about his Toots. He’s the only one I’ve got something in common with. All the rest seem so shallow and so far from genuine. He was busted from L/Cpl to private by the Colonel.

 

Corsham is a village of sorts, having a few shops, one half pint sized cinema & a small YMCA. We get very little time off and consequently I haven’t had much chance to see it yet.

 

I’ve met many of the blokes I knew six months ago in the old ‘D’ Coy. Most of them are pretty fed up with everything. There’s no chance of a Commission as the new Colonel hasn’t passed a soul since he’s been here. Toni was passed by Col. Heseltine, the previous C.O. I wish he was still here. At least he showed a little interest in the junior NCOs.

 

Well, Darling I must say Au Revoir here as its lights out.

Goodnight, Tootsie Darling,

all my love

 

Dicker.

 

P.S. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon…

 

New Address : -

L/Cpl RK Williams, ‘C’ Company, 70^th Dorsets, Corsham, Wilts.

 

9th January 1941 – the Allies began their attack on Italian forces in Eritrea, Somaliland and Ethiopia.

 

January 1941 – Poole attacked with incendiary bombs on six of the first twelve days.

9th January – Incendiary bombs caused 37 fires in Poole. 248 houses were damaged and two men were killed by high explosive bombs at Canford Cliffs.

 

(From ‘Poole and World War II’ written by Derek Beamish, Harold Bennett and John Hillier and published by Poole Historical Trust in 1980 and ‘Dorset’s War Diary - Battle of Britain to D Day’ by Rodney Legg, Dorset Publishing Company 2004 Tel. 01963 32583).