61st Recce Regt RAC
BLA.
Wednesday October 18th
Chotie Darling,
Nothing much to write about I’m afraid, but here goes in reply to yours of the 12th.
Weather has been very variable of late, but after a bad start this morning things have cleared up no end, and this afternoon it’s sunny – in fact, autumn at its best.
Was very pleased to read that you were on leave again and that Mary* was home at the same time. I expect you had plenty to talk about….
I had some rather bad news yesterday. My old friend “Chunky**” was killed in the Falaise Gap, some time ago though I’ve only just heard. It’s very sad for his wife (whom I met once in London) as they’d only been married some 18 months or so, and Chunky of course, has spent all that time in the Army. They had a baby son David, who was about a year old. I’m the only one of the trio left, so it’s my turn next.
Just received a letter from Brinner. He’s still at Base but it appears he may have to go into the Infantry – which won’t do my nerves any good, as the Officer Casualty rate with them is appalling.
Reference ‘demobbing’ I make the 32 group and Brinner the 42 group so we both beat you – Yah!
Haven’t shot any Germans lately or anything else of interest. We’ve been working all the time but haven’t had many encounters.
The NAAFI van*** has just turned up – for the first time since Normandy and even now, they’ve got no tobacco. Apart from what Brinner can get at his RHU, I get nothing at all. Makes me mad to think of it, especially when people in England imagine that the fighting soldier gets everything he needs. We’re always hearing talk of “Officer Shops” but in four months over here I haven’t been able to buy a collar stud even!
Must close here, Precious to do some work on the car.
All my love, Darling
Dicker.
*Mary Dakin, Chotie’s best friend at home.
**Chunky, the 5 ft 2” tall ex chef of the Trocadero in London, shared a room with Dick and Brian ’the Ham’ when they were training to be officers in summer 1943.
***Reg Harper describes “the occasional appearance of ‘Towrope’ Joe Meredith with the NAAFI truck …his opening gambit puffing smoke from his pipe – ‘Sorry Corporal, no pipe tobacco. Stuff it with Woodbines; we have plenty of bootlaces, blanco, brasso, etc!’ So I settled for toothpaste.” (From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)
© Chotie Darling
POSTCARD of town with canal and bridge – 18th October 1944
Wednesday
Chotie,
Visited ….. town house! H(?)….. but quite a pleasant little picture. Teutonic pseudo-Georgian (?). Have sent a letter with this card so you’ll prob… get both at once. Just had some tabac from Belgium so the wolf temporarily ceases to lurk at the door lock. Richard
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