Letter from Chotie written Tuesday 20th March 1945
W/242328 Pte. Williams B.E.,
‘B’ Troop. O.F.C. A.T.S.,
462 Hy. (M.) A.A. Bty. R.A.,
Fort Godwin,
Co. G.P.O. Easington,
Nr. Hull, Yorks
Tuesday. 20.3.45.
My darling husband,
This is my first opportunity of writing since I reached camp.
I had quite an eventful journey. Starting at 8 in the morning, I arrived at Waterloo half past 11. As I had 2 hours before catching the train northbound at Kings Cross, the thing to tie up was some lunch. Went to a Spanish sort of place, just off Piccadilly, called 'Martinez'. It was pretty expensive but I felt pretty ‘B.. so a nice lobster salad (loads of mayonnaise), and an ice afterwards, cheered me up no end. Had some sherry, that was really good, too. The lounge in this place was all tiled very colourfully and bags of wrought iron painted black. Every tile had a picture on it, besides many paintings hanging on the walls. All senoritas and flowers and fruit, - very gay.
I had a rush to get back to Kings Cross and just managed to miss my train by 5 minutes. Had my pass signed by R.T.O.* so I was covered. Then I had another 2 hours to wait, so I just went for a walk and made sure of getting back in time to catch the 4 p.m.
The train arrived in Hull about 10.30. so it was impossible to reach camp that night. A very kind lady in my carriage asked me to go home with her for the night as she lived in Hull. Well, I did strike lucky, - her husband was at Sandhurst and she had just been down to see him. At present she lives with her mother and has a little girl, aged 3. They, insisted on cooking me supper and I had bacon and egg for breakfast, a smashing comfy bed - what luck! I can go to visit them anytime I am off, which I certainly will.
This morning, the bus back to camp, went at 8.30 so I had to get up early. Got into camp about 10 o’clock.
Everyone is so excited about us apparently, it shook ‘em. Nan was at the other site but I should see her tomorrow. I seem to have told my ‘tale’, about hundred & one times, today. My tongue quite aches, so many people want to know so much.
Well, my darling, I am here safe and sound and I hope you are too. Take care and God bless you Precious.
I must write home now, so must close.
All my love, dearest,
Your loving wife,
Chotie
XX
*Rail Transport Officer
On 20th March Chotie received a letter from her friend Marion in Glasgow (255, Ashdale Drive, Glasgow, SW2) which includes the following:
‘I know you have passed your medical for overseas, so in case you are on the move at all I’m sending this to Betty and she will know best where to send it.’
Chotie seems to now have no intention of serving overseas.
© Chotie Darling
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