Letter written on Friday 17th December 1943
In the field
Friday
Chotie Darling,
I got back from leave last night to find I was on a long scheme at 5 o’clock this morning. I’m endeavoring to write this during a lull in the battle (?).
I’m very much afraid that I won’t be able to send you anything in time for Xmas.
I’ve just met Chunky (we’re both on the same side!) and he doesn’t get back until Xmas Eve. I’ve no idea how long we’ll last but don’t suppose we’ll get back much before then.
Went up to Purley on leave and stayed with Gramp for a couple of days. Everyone’s got brand new babies – awful! I’m beginning to think I’ll have one soon…
My God, it's COLD! My fingers are just about freezing not to mention my poor bottom.
I’ll try to write you again in the next few days. Let me know if Eric’s home, won’t you?
All my love, precious
Dicker
P.S. Did you get 7 days or 14?
*In December 1943 61st Division (reinforced, for the exercise by the 31st Tank Brigade) played the defending force in Exercise Vulcan; a four-day training exercise aimed at improving the attacking process of the 43rd Wessex Infantry Division (Dick’s former Recce unit).
© Chotie Darling
Eric Postles remembers December 1943 with 61st Recce:
“We had a 3 day exercise with 59 Division just before Christmas that was notable for incessant rain. Once I had a 48 hour pass to Ashford staying in the Salvation Army hostel. Lympne Castle was cold and we slept on the floor which was not a very good way of spending Christmas day.” (Extracts from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)
19th December 1943 - evacuation of Tyneham Valley in Purbeck to extend Lulworth’s tank gunnery range in practice for Operation Overlord. The beautiful Dorset village is still occupied by the army.
20th December 1943 – Allied air attacks begin on the V1 flying bomb ramps in France – the V1 was not used against Britain until June 1944.
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