Autumn propaganda - Monday 12th October 1942

Address as before

 Monday

My Darlingest,

                                                            I have just arrived back from a four day scheme, so I'm writing you at the first opportunity.  Don't be surprised if you don't get a letter for some days, for I spend a fairish time away on these stunts, during which I can't write, as all letters have to be posted in the Regiment box.  It's rather a nuisance but I'm afraid it can't be helped.

            I’m in bed at the moment, just about dead - have only had about 6 - 8 hrs sleep in four days.

            Did quite a few miles - and saw several new places.  The countryside looks really wonderful - especially the farms here.  It's quite surprising to find so many period farmhouses - the timbered, rambling Tudor and Elizabethan and the severe, formal Georgian, Eric's pet grudge, (can't we ever make him appreciate this style?) - follow one another in rapid succession. 

            The haystacks here appear a real work of art. They are always round with a conical top and are usually finished off at the top with a spriggly, plaited bit, each a different design, apparently the “signature” of the farmer who built them.

            Everything is rapidly becoming that beautiful tone of golden - especially the horse chestnut trees, always among the first.  (Just ignore me, Darling,- I'm trying to get over some autumn propaganda...)

            Met a very decent subaltern* a few nights ago - in a pub of course.  He was in the 70th Buffs (East Kents') originally, and joined up the same day as I did.

            He said, “Don't ever take a commission - stay in the ranks!”  He's had one night off in the last month. 

            He used to live at Chislehurst next to the house (mansion...) where Napoleon III** spent his last days.  He also lived at Orpington*** (a mile or so from Chislehurst) the same time as we did. He was studying art, pre-war, at the Royal Academy.

            The Squadron-Commander was also there with his wife (?),- tall, dark very Hedy Lamarish - overcheck suit with brown velvet lapels, Paisley silk scarf wound round her hair, which was done ‘up’, and light brown pigskin bag.  That's all I can remember - not bad for me, eh!

            Managed to read Warwick Deeping’s “No hero-this,” whilst on the scheme.  Quite good.  Try it.

            Well, Chotie Dear, no news so will close here.

                                                             all my love, Precious

                                                                             Dicker

P.S.  I wrote Eric, (did I tell you?).  You might tell him I'm impatiently waiting for a reply.  I told him in the letter, but I don't suppose he took any notice of that.

 

*Possibly Ronnie Jury who became a close friend of Dick's in Belgium and went on to teach at the Slade School of Fine Art.

**Napoleon Bonaparte’s heir who was elected President of France in 1848 and quickly seized power as dictator and Emperor. He was the last monarch of France. Captured at the Battle of Sedan during the Franco-Prussian War he was exiled to England and died at Camden Place, Chislehurst in South-East London.

*** Orpington in Kent - where Dick was born.

 © Chotie Darling

 

43^rd Recce - on 14^th October Lieutenant Colonel McIntyre gave a lecture on ‘The First Battle of Burma’.(From the War Diary of the 43^rd Reconnaissance Regiment held by the Archive and Reference Library, the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset.)

 

18^th October 1942 –Hitler’s 'Commando Order' instructs German troops to shoot all captured Allied commandos. (See War in Dorset - October 1942 and WW2-net Timelines.)

19th October 1942 – with Rommel on sick leave in Germany, Allied forces in Egypt prepare to attack from the northern sector of the El Alamein line with an elaborate but unsuccessful feint on the south and the bombing and strafing of Luftwaffe airfields. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

 

21st October 1942 – Eisenhower’s deputy, Lt-General Mark Clark, is landed secretly in Algiers to meet with French Vichy leaders in North Africa, trying to persuade them not to oppose the imminent American landings. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

22^nd October 1942 – the call-up age for British men was reduced to 18 by Royal Proclamation requiring all men to register at their local Employment Exchange at 17 years 6 months. . (From WW2-net Timelines and World War 2 Talk ).

23^rd October – beginning of the second battle of El Alamein, with Montgomery’s Allied Forces attacking the German lines in the north.  General Stumme, Rommel’s cover, became lost on the battlefield and died of a heart attack.  Rommel returned on 25^th October to find that, although the line had held, half his panzers had been destroyed and the tanker bringing vital fuel and ammunition supplies had been sunk. (From WW2-net Timelines and ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)

44th Recce played a critical role clearing minefields before the offensive and 51st Recce  were involved in the assault. (From ‘The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II’ by Richard Doherty, Osprey Publishing 2007)

The RAF bombed the Italian cities of Genoa and Turin on the night of 23rd October.