As Usual
Wednesday Nov 8th
Chotie Darling,
Still have some time to spare so here goes once again.
Been doing nothing much all day – except some work on the cars, etc. and tying things up generally. Weather hasn’t been too kind lately – high winds (which I don’t mind) and plenty of rain (which I heartily dislike).
I’ve been going for walks along the dykes which is very pleasant when the rain holds off – especially now when all the trees are at their best.
I’m hoping to hear Eva Turner sing ‘Turandot’* tonight at 7.30. She is I think the greatest ‘Turandot’ ever, and she’s in great voice lately. It’s not often I get the chance to hear a complete opera so you can imagine it’s quite a thrill. The only snag is that the light (& power) usually fails about this time, so I’m sweating on it staying on – tonight at least. They couldn’t manage, of course, without any of the Welsh contingent so I see that Powell Lloyd & Roderick Lloyd** are also in the cast.
We (the Armoured Car officers) ran a dance last night. Refusing to have anything to do with the dancing side of things I ran the bar, consequently having a very successful evening. The unhappy people who preferred to dance had a miserable time, as the women were few and far between, and generally a pretty scrappy lot. Needless to say the bar side of things was very well organised.
I still haven’t contacted either Brinner or Ted – and don’t see much chance of doing either. It’s pretty difficult to get about these days as the roads are rather deadly. Still, we must keep trying, I suppose.
I expect Ted’s getting himself in a state – or isn’t he the type***? I wouldn’t know.
Did I tell you I met a bloke called Gideon when I was on my 48hr? He used to be an old mate of Eric and myself in the Lee-on-Solent days. He’s been through the desert campaigns since then and is now an Army Lieutenant in the same Division as I am. We had a long chat on old times over a whisky or three in the Officers’ Club. Apparently quite a few of the originals were killed in the desert after they had left the Dorsets. He’s the first bloke I’ve met from the old crowd & I was the first he’d met.
I’m now writing this by candlelight as the lights have failed – hope they come on again before 7.30 ….
Hope you got the magazine I sent you some ten days ago. I don’t yet know how near that standard the German women keep, but the stuff looks OK by me.
I’ve also sent off a rough sketch that ‘Junior’ made of me, when reading a little Shaw. It was by candlelight – a tricky light to draw by – and was rather hurried. He’s always wanted me to sit for a ¾ portrait in oils – which he hopes to get hung in the Academy**** – but I’ve always staved him off….In any case he’s sold his oils now which has relieved me intensely. I could never sit still for hours on end looking at nothing in particular. I might manage it if I could smoke, but that’s not ‘on’.
Hope the weather isn’t too cruel for you, where you are in Cornwall. I expect it can be pretty miserable at times. Never mind – it’ll be over any Xmas now….
I’ve had two long letters from Monica – cynical and disillusioned, and generally full of woe for her unhappy lot. I knew at the time that her marriage could never be successful. Her husband – although meaning well, is hopelessly dull, and seems to have no interest outside of her – which is fatal.
She was soon bored with him – now she thinks him a fool. Being a staunch Catholic she won’t divorce him – but plans a separation as soon as circumstances permit. At present he’s in hospital in the North suffering from battle exhaustion – though she will have it that he’s OK. There I’m sure she’s wrong as you have to be pretty clever to work that one! Anyhow, enough of Monica – I won’t reply.
I’ve just received ½ lb of Sobranie***** but don’t know who it came from a there’s nothing in the parcel in the form of a name or address. It came just in time –as usual.
I’ll send you the three little books I bought – if you’ll keep them for me. It’s no good sending them home as mother always throws my books away when she gets a spring clean mood. They’re practically valueless but it’s not so easy to get them these days. I don’t know whether they’ll ever reach you or not. I would keep them myself but I simply haven’t room to accumulate stuff – much to my regret! As it is, I’m carrying an extra pack full of books and a radio….
I’ve been reading Hulton’s new efforts ‘The Leader’***** *(allied to Lilliput, Picture Post, News Review and Housewife) which seems rather a fair effort. It’s 3 pennies weekly and well worth reading.
Strangely enough I’ve got some beer left from the dance. This wouldn’t surprise you if you knew what calibre the beer was. The brewers call it “hop-less” – the boys - ‘hopeless’. It’s a chemical synthetic stuff and you can drink something like 20 pints without mental troubles. Of course there are other troubles – but we won’t deal with them here….
I’m hoping my two mates go out this evening for their usual game of Bridge with the Burgomaster and his wife. They’re a charming couple but their Bridge is deadly. This will mean that I can listen to Eva in comfort and quiet.
I seem to be rambling on without rhyme or reason so I’ll close here, Darling. Let me know when/if you receive the mag. and portrait. There’s nothing I can do about it if you don’t – but I should like to know.
All my love, Chotie
Dicker.
* Dick had seen Eva Turner in Turandot in Scotland in May 1944.
**Harold Powell Lloyd was an operatic tenor and Roderick Lloyd, a bass. Dick’s family were Welsh.
***Ted’s wife Margaret (Chotie’s sister) was due to have their first baby soon.
****Dick and Eric Kessler were based in Lee-on-Solent with the Dorset Regiment in January and February 1941.
****The Royal Academy of Arts – probably the Summer Exhibition.
*****Sobranie tobacco (and cigarettes).
******a weekly pictorial magazine published by the Hulton Press.
© Chotie Darling
The Belgian Liaison Officer , Capitaine Commandant B del Marmol, who had joined the Regiment on 7th September 1944 left on 8th November. He had done particularly valuable work at Oolen (south-west of the Gheel Bridgehead), Oeffelt (south of Nijmegen) and Dreumel. He was subsequently awarded the Military Cross for his bravery, zeal and efficiency.
(See 61st Battle Honour.)
Recent Comments