Sandy Handley continues the story of 61st Recce in the Ardennes:
“Later in the Ardennnes the snow came and curtailed any reconnoitring. It was bitterly cold but now and again we managed to stay in an empty house for shelter or sometimes occupy a spare room of a friendly person’s home. We found the Belgians so friendly and fortunately by far a most could speak English.”
(From Ex Trooper S Handley’s ‘61 Recce - Memories of Normandy 1944 – 1945’, unpublished)
61st Recce Regt
RAC. BLA.
Monday Jan 8th.
Chotie Darling,
I wrote you yesterday, but on reflection found it wasn’t much of an effort so, as I have a free evening today, I thought I’d tear up yesterday’s meagre missive and start again.
It’s very cold here and there’s still plenty of snow about, though not very much has fallen during the last few days. We’re in another village now – a very charming little place, about the size of Blandford.* The people, needless to say, are all exceptionally kind to us – I did all the billeting for the Squadron and found no difficulty in fixing up everyone.
I’m living with a very charming family who do everything they possibly can to make things as pleasant as they can be, under these circumstances. They press me to have all meals with them but of course I decline most invitations.
These “middle-class’ houses are quite pleasant but lack the ‘lived-in’ appearance of the English home. For example many of the ‘dining-rooms’ I’ve been in have tiled floors and everything very much in its place. Against this however, the people in the £1,000 per annum class have really beautifully furnished houses and a much better conception of interior decoration then we have. The house I was in at Iseghem falls into the latter class, where the Sintobins collected paintings and furniture. They also collected albums of Mozart recordings, but I digress….
I read in your last letter that Margaret’s baby is getting on well. I’m afraid I haven’t really had time to write her, but I will try to do so as soon as possible. I hope you’ll send her all my best wishes when next you write. I still haven’t managed to contact Ted, and now of course with this weather he’s miles away as they can’t use his sort of unit** in this snow.
Well, my Darling, I’ve just received your letter of the 3rd. Glad to hear you got the cheque – hope you can cash it without too much trouble. No, it’s not the letters that get behind so much as the parcels – they’re deadly. I haven’t had any tobacco for weeks and weeks and mother sends some very regularly. I’m now smoking cigarettes again which makes me very crusty. Always grumbling aren’t I?
No, again, I haven’t seen Madeleine, though she sent me a very nice letter at Xmas. Once more I’m afraid I haven’t found time to write her.
I must say, you’re a very naughty girl for getting all these charges*. I’ll write your C.O. suggesting he spanks you. That measure may prove beneficial. Alternatively I could send him my copy of ‘The Taming of the Shrew’****…
I haven’t had any news of Bryn since hearing that he was recalled from leave to go to Barnard Castle*****, which mother told me in her last letter.
My uncle, whom I believe I told you about before, died on Boxing Day. He was conscious until Xmas Day and able to recognise my Aunt. I can’t say I feel any pangs at his passing – though I haven’t said a word to mother on the subject. He hated Dad like poison and that was always enough for Brinner and I. He was always reckoned to be ‘so clever at figures’ but the old man used to make him look like a two year old. However, mother as ever turned the other cheek and went up to Nottingham to console her sister. She learnt that my cousin Dennis (“Denner”) is now a Lieutenant with the R.A. over here. His sister Doremy (‘Dommer’) is in the WAAF.
We must certainly come here after the war darling. The countryside is really very lovely and the food…!
I’m afraid I must fall out with you over “Greenery Street”******. I must have been in a very happy mood when I first read it, as on re-reading it some short time ago I found the whole thing to be mere sentimental canting. However, it’s of no importance….
Have I told you about Geoff? He’s had his first operation and was waiting for the second when he wrote. Says they’re pumping him full of penicillin. Frank Harding (the Squadron Leader) has been flown to England after a spin in the same hospital as Geoff following his jeep crash on Xmas Day. Apparently the frontal (forehead) was fractured – which may be serious.*******
There doesn’t seem to be much to write about, Chotie – nothing I can tell you anyhow, and that, restricts my writing by about 90%.
I’m hoping to see you again soon Darling – keep your fingers crossed, won’t you? You’re very precious, you know.
All my love, Baby,
Dicker
*Blandford Forum is a market town in Dorset.
**Ted Lewis, Chotie’s brother-in-law, was in a tank regiment in the Guards Armoured Division.
***Mum told me every time she was made Corporal or Lance Corporal she was ‘busted’ and put on a charge. She went AWOL (Absent without Leave) to meet Dick just before D Day and I think there were a number of other misdemeanours.
****Shakespeare’s somewhat misogynistic play.
*****a northern market town in Teesdale, County Durham.
******a novel of domestic happiness by Denis Mackail.
*******Major Frank Harding, MC survived until 3rd June 1981. He was a staunch supporter of the Old Comrades Association, often speaking at dinners or official visits re-treading the footsteps of 61st Recce in Europe. He published a book of poems ‘War Echoes Over Thirty Years’ in 1970. Colonel Brownrigg wrote on his MC citation:
‘The success of Major Harding’s squadron has been very largely due to his own example. He has never spared himself, and his cheerfulness in any difficulty or danger has been a great inspiration to his Squadron. It would be hard to overestimate the value of this officer’s work to the regiment.’
© Chotie Darling
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