"Just relax Lulubell" - Sunday 3rd January 1943

Address as usual

Sunday Eve

My Darling

                        Having been on the range all day – and a Sunday at that – I thought I’d better write you to revive my flagging spirits.

            Well, I expect you’re getting just a bit worked up by now – just relax Lulubell…Things won’t be that bad – I hope. Is it the 7^th or 8^th you go?  When mother wrote she said the 8^th.

            I lent my pen to a colleague last night and the clumsy idiot promptly sat on it.  Some mothers have awkward children. Consequently I have to write this with my reserve.

            Hope you’ve got over Xmas by now.  It took me some little time.   

            Have just read a very good book – have meant to read it for some time now, and fate delivered the thing to me when I most needed something to read.  It’s called “The Bridge of San Luis Rey*” by an American Thornton River Wilder.  It’s really rather brilliant.  Published by Penguin.  Have had very little to read lately, having read everything in the Unit Library.

            Saw another Strip Tease last night – some woman called Arimand Banu who does her act with a 12ft python!  Pretty horrible.  Went with a bloke from this Squadron – comes from Soton – and plays the old “Warsaw”** like nobody’s business.  When I asked him his opinion of it he replied in one word – TINSEL!  Very sound bloke.

            I won a five bob bet on the Bizerte – Tunis Show*** which I placed some two months ago – which cheered me up a little – not so much for the cash as for sheer vanity…

            Well, Darling I must wish you all the best of luck on your entry into the Forces. I don’t intend to give you a sermon – I’ll spare you that – but be very careful won’t you?  I know we’re not even engaged but you’re very very dear to me Chotie and I couldn’t bear thinking of anything happening to you.

                        Must close here as I owe letters to Brinner, Diller and Home.

                                                            God bless you Darling

                                                                        Dicker

* A Pulitzer Prize winning novel set in Peru.

** The Warsaw piano concerto written by British composer Richard Addinsell for the film ‘Dangerous Moonlight’.

** refers to recent events in the North Africa campaigns Battle for Tunisia. Tunis and Bizerte are important deepwater ports. 

 © Chotie Darling

 

43^rd Recce had Section Training every day from 4^th to 9^th January 1943. On the 4^th there was also a Regimental Cross Country run (see Dick’s next letter).  The Divisional Commander visited the training on Tuesday 5^th January and from 7^th to 9^th January the Recce participated in the 43^rd Division Exercise “Wyvern II”.  On the 10^th January there was a Regimental Loading Exercise.

 

5th January 1943 - the Japanese begin planned withdrawal from Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The successful evacuation had been completed by 9^th February when the US Commander declared the island secure for the Allies and the campaign over. (From WW2-net Timelines and Chronology of World War II.)