Jammed by the Boche - Sunday 22nd October 1944

POSTCARD Naarde Markt - Sunday 22^nd October 1944

Monday 22^nd (sic)

Chotie,

                        Still trying to get …id of these things!  I’ve had to cross the …lace name out on this …ne for security reasons.  Letter posted with this, and there’s …lenty more to come!

                                    Dick

 

Letter written on Sunday 22^nd 1944

61^st Recce Regt RACBLA.

Monday October 22 (sic)

Chotie Darling,

                                    Have just received your letter of the 18^th, which is pretty good going.

            Your hope that things aren’t going to badly is reasonably justified.  I’ve had three days’ rest – it’s been pretty deadly as I’m the only officer here, but it has been rest nevertheless.

            I go up to Squadron HQ tonight to take over duties of 2^nd in command as Ted goes away for 48hrs leave in Antwerp tomorrow.  It’s my turn next but I don’t know how things will turn out yet.

            Solomon*’s over here somewhere – he was playing in Eindhoven a fortnight ago, so with luck I might see him.

            Missed Pouishnoff** yesterday, when the programme was jammed by the Boche at the last moment.  Was I mad!  I’d waited all day to hear him.  We’re so near Germany that it’s easy for them to jam English stations.

            Glad to hear about your leave - might as well get all you can.

            Thanks for posting some tobacco Darling, it was certainly very welcome.

            Have been doing a little reading lately and at present am struggling through a massive tome entitled – ‘The Arts – Man’s Quest for Beauty’ by Rothenstein and Henry Wood**.  Quite a fine piece of work, though a little deadly in places.

            (They’ve just brought me in a cup of coffee which is made from acorns!  Surprisingly enough it’s considerably better than pukka coffee as made in England.) 

            This book includes Chapters on painting, drawing & design, Sculpture architecture, Music and Dramatic art, so it’s quite comprehensive!  I’ve only got as far as sculpture, so there’s a long way to go!

            Must close here to pack things for tonight.

                                                love

                                                            Dicker X.

 

*Solomon Cutner - a British pianist known simply as ‘Solomon’.

**’The Arts – Man’s Quest for Beauty’ by Sir William Rothenstein and Sir Henry Wood, published in 1935.

 © Chotie Darling

 

 

WAR DIARY of 61 Recce Regt RAC October 1944

– Lt Col P.H.A. Brownrigg

Date 22nd     Place DRIEL

'Normal patrolling was carried out last night without incident.  Today has been very quiet except for the usual spasmodic shelling of our forward area.  “B” Squadron relieved “C” during the night without incident.'

 

I’m not sure Eric Brewer would agree that the night of 22^nd October was ‘without incident’.  He wrote in his diary:

“On outpost tonight Gerry came behind us – a small patrol of roughly 10 men.  I noticed them and shouted “Halt, who goes there?” when they were 25 yards away and they were 10 yards away when they stopped.  I wasn’t half scared but they only opened up with Smisy (small arms?) and our Bren gun and grenades soon got rid of them.” 

(From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)

 

 

Dick and ‘B’ Squadron were now on the front line,

east of Driel on the south bank of the Lower Rhine

until 28^th October 1944.