Mucking about now - Saturday 23rd October

As before

Saturday

Chotie Darling,

                                    Many thanks for letter.  I didn’t get it until yesterday as we were out on exercise for a week.

            Firstly, as regards leave I definitely get it on the 30^th inst. Though I don’t know, as yet, for how long.  It’s almost sure to be 9 days but you know the army.

            I’ve received my final reports and have only a week of mucking about now.   I’ve also got my clothing coupons…I bet that made you wince!.  Thousands of ‘em. 

            Anyhow let me know whether you can manage anything as regards leave won’t you?  Brinner may be home on the 5^th before he goes to OCTU but nothing definite as yet.

            Had glorious time on exercise in the Cotswolds.  Went to Cheltenham and Gloucester, etc.

            Can’t write anymore now as dinner’s up

                                                                                                Love

                                                                                                            Dicker

P.T.O.

Do your damdest to get leave, Chotie.   

© Chotie Darling

 

24^th October 1943 – The Soviet Army takes Melitopol, near the Sea of Azov in the Ukraine, breaking the Wotan line (part of the Germans’ hastily constructed defensive position from Smolensk along the Dnepr River to the Black Sea).  By 1^st December the entire line had been broken and the German 17^th Army were isolated on the Crimean Peninsula. Only the German’s Panther line in the north between Lake Peipus (now between Estonia and Russia) and the Baltic Sea along the Narva River remained intact.