5731671 Room 28
3rd Technical Training Group
Preston Barracks, Brighton, Sussex
Sunday Morn.
Chotie Darling,
Many thanks for letter of a couple of days ago. There’s no Church Parade this morning, so I have a good chance to catch
up on my mail.
Feeling pretty low this morning. Went out yesterday evening and met some half-dozen French-Canadians, and I’m wondering now whether it was good luck or misfortune. They’d only been over here a few months, and spoke no English, but I managed to hold my end up for a couple of hours. There were two barmaids there, who, knowing they couldn’t speak any English, and thinking I was also French, were saying things …those girls almost made me blush… Unfortunately, when I rolled out of the place, it was pouring with rain, and I had no alternative but to walk, as the last bus had long since gone. It was about 3 miles, and sobered me up not a little.
Went to the jolly old Ballet again last week – twice in fact – Allied Ballets, allied to whom I don’t know. The Prima Ballerina, Mela Carter, was almost as good as Fonteyn, but the rest were indifferent. Not as good as Anglo-Polish. Saw “Le Lac des Cygnes” (Swan Lake) and “Les Sylphides” the former Tchaikovsky, the latter, Chopin. Also saw a Tod Slaughter film – “Murder in the Red Barn” – one of the old dramatics…
Was going to see “Joan of Paris”* yesterday, but after one look decided against it, even after your advice on same. I knew America would ruin Michèle in the same way it ruined Boyer and will probably ruin Babin**. Shakespeare said, ‘a good wine needs no bush’***, but America would have us believe the contrary. It’s not necessary to shout the qualities of an actor from the roof-tops, to impress people of his ability. The best French films were always the most unoffensive and unsung.
What about this engagement, Darling? Kindly express your sentiments
per return… We’ll have to see what can be done (If anything, can be done). I suppose it’s about time we did something about it, before tongues start wagging, etc.
I was going home this week-end, and rather wish I had now. But I suppose I
should get my leave soon, hope so anyhow. Well, I’d better close here, Precious.
Don’t forget about the jolly old engagement will you. (I haven’t said anything about it yet …)
Son amoureux mari****
Dicker
PS Love & kisses xxxx etc
PPS Ich liebe dich, meine geliebte*****.
*A 1942 film about a waitress helping RAF pilots stranded in Paris to escape. It starred the French actress Michèle Morgan.
**Charles Boyer, a famous French actor
***A 15th century proverb quoted by Rosalind in Shakespeare’s play ‘As You Like It’ – “If it be true that ‘good wine needs no bush’, tis true that a good play needs no epilogue” (Act 5 Scene 4). Taverns claiming to sell fine liquor bore the sign of an ivy bush above their door.
***** ‘Son amoureux mari’ (French) = 'Your loving husband’
***** ‘Ich liebe dich, meine geliebte’ (German) = ‘I love you, my sweetheart’
© Chotie Darling
30th August 1942 – Germany’s annexation of Luxembourg is resisted with a General Strike. (From WW2-net Timelines.)
31st August 1942 - Rommel begins his final attempt to break through at El Alamein with an offensive on Alam Halfa ridge (between El Alamein on the Mediterranean Sea and the Quattara Depression to the south). However, the Germans are forced to withdraw back to their start lines. The deciphering of Germany’s secret Enigma code played a critical role in the Allies successful defence – Montgomery was now aware of Rommel’s plans through the Ultra decrypts. (From WW2-net Timelines and ‘Phantom at War’ by Andy and Sue Parlour.)
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