61ST RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT
Brandon
Suffolk
Sunday
Chotie Darling,
Have just read orders and find that the security ban as regards this address has now been lifted, so I can now tell you where I am and what the place is like.
We’re in a Nissen hut camp built on an estate, around a vast Georgian House, formerly the property of Dorothy Paget*, the racehorse owner.
The officers are billeted in the house which is very comfortable. We use the large square library as an ante-room. The only snag is that the mess is on the Regimental level which means that the Colonel*, etc are all here. Not so good.
Brandon is quite a picturesque little place, standing on the Little Ouse, but hopelessly dead as regards entertainment of any sort. There’s only one reasonable pub.
I went into Ely yesterday afternoon, and went over the Cathedral. This was quite interesting but the town itself is very drab – almost as dirty as Dover or Poole. The nearest towns of any size are Cambridge and Norwich both of which are some considerable distance from here. I get a day off on Wednesday however, so I may manage to get there then. I should find plenty to interest me as I’ve haven’t yet been to either.
I see now that my leave falls due on March 1st so if you could get a couple of days at home, I could come down to Parkstone. Let me know, won’t you.
I believe Brinner is on leave at the moment, though I’m not sure.
I don’t know whether you’re still at home or not so I’ll send this to your army address. Must close here for lunch. Don’t forget the leave question.
All my love, Darling
Dicker
P.S. I regret to say that I won’t be able to visit Eric now but could meet him in Town, sometime.
*Dorothy Paget was a famous and eccentric racehorse owner, daughter of the 1st Baron Queenborough who lived at Brandon Park. The house is now a care home, surrounded by a country park.
**Colonel Sir William Mount, David Cameron’s grandfather.
© Chotie Darling
31st January 1944 – Haute Savoie in the French Alps is placed under siege as Maquisards of the French resistance gather on the Plateau des Glières to collect supplies parachuted in by the Allies. Anyone carrying arms or assisting the Maquis can be summarily executed.
Eric Postles writes under February 1944:
“The regiment left 61 Division to become the Recce Regiment for 50th Northumbrian Division which had returned from action in Africa and Sicily to take part in the invasion of Europe. The divisional sign was 2 red Ts on a black background. We joined them at Brandon on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. We were inspected along with 151 The Durham Light Infantry Brigade by the Divisional Commander General Graham and by General Montgomery. We were also inspected by King George VI, and then by General Eisenhower wearing an immaculate midnight blue uniform.” (Extract from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)
3rd February 1944 – America completes invasion of the Marshall Islands. This group of atolls in the North Pacific Ocean, between New Guinea and Hawaii, had been held by Japan since the end of WW1 when it was ceded by Germany. In the Battle of Kwajalein Atoll the US Navy, learning from the carnage in the Gilbert Islands, destroyed Japanese aircraft and airstrips before landing the invasive force in heavily armoured Amtracs on 31st January. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)
4th February 1944 – German forces advance on the british sector of the Anzio beach-head, driving a huge flock of sheep in front of them through the minefields. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)
5th February 1944 – Operation Ha-Go, a Japanese counter-attack on the Allies advancing in the Arakan in Burma (Myanmar) results in the 'Battle of the Admin Box'. Casualties were heavy but the Allies eventually held their position and the Japanese had to withdraw.
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