‘C’ Sqn 52 (L) Div Recce Regt
BLA.
Wednesday 14th Mar.
Chotie Darling,
I’m with the unit once again, Darling, and have settled down to the old routine. Luckily, I’m in very cushy billets (no windows – but everything else is OK!) and managed to have a party last night – just four Bolshie subalterns.
Weather is holding quite well and I’m not being overworked so life is really pleasant enough.
There are plenty of horses around so I do a little bare-back stuff pretty regularly. Anything for a change.
Made friends with a subaltern in the Squadron by the name of Peter Evans*. He’s about 6ft 3 and goes about 16 stone, and has an Orson Welles** touch about him. He wears his hair an atrocious length – long black curls peep out from under his beret.
He’s married and lives in Suffolk somewhere – doesn’t give a damn for anyone, from the CO downwards. He also has an endless store of anecdotes and witticisms which endear him to me.
Incidentally, Darling I’ve shaved my moustache right off! Honest! I reckon I look much better without it. I now look eighteen instead of thirty-five…. I think I’d better grow another before I come home again, or I’ll be dodging the old rolling-pin….
There’s not very much to write about, I’m afraid.
I had a letter from Ronnie yesterday. He’s quite cheerful and is now doing Liaison Officer to some Corps or other. A pretty steady job but not much excitement. He’s almost sure to end up in Brussels – they always do.
Must close here Chotie, and try to write some of the aunts!
All my love, Darling
Dicker
*Lieutenant Peter Evans received the Military Cross as ‘a fearless leader, calm and cunning in battle’. In September 1944 ‘he led a most daring patrol’ into no-man’s land between the Maas and the Waal, capturing one SS man and two paratroopers and killing several other Germans while sustaining no casualties for his side despite heavy fire and lack of cover. In November 1944 he led his troop of 12 to engage with 40 Germans landing in North Beveland (on the Scheldt Estuary) and all the enemy were captured or killed. (From citation in ‘The Fighting Fifty-Second Recce’ by Carl Shilleto, Eskdale Publishing 2001.)
Peter Evans was also a leader of the troops that made ‘the almost copybook advance to the River Rhine at Ginderich. (From ‘Time Spent or The History of the 52nd-Lowland-Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment January 1941-October 1945’ by Trevor D.W.Whitfield, published by Mountain 1946.)
**Orson Welles was an American actor, director, writer and producer who had made his first film, the signatory ‘Citizen Cane’ in 1941.
© Chotie Darling
Dick’s 1945 diary for March:
14th Wed– Supper with Peter Evans. “Hullo!”
15th Thurs – Supper with Peter Evans. Wrote Audrey.
Don Aiken’s troop had an unhappy experience with the horse riding:
“March 1945
After a few happy days at home, I bade a tearful farewell and returned to my Unit.
The whole force was now intent on pressing on into Germany. After some heavy fighting on all fronts (because the Germans were desperate to prevent us doing so) we, the leading troops at that time, eventually succeeded in reaching the Rhine.
The Infantry were then brought through to hold the line and we were pulled back about a mile from the river. We settled in the cellar of a cottage and awaited our next mission, which we knew wouldn't be long because of the intense and heavy build up of men and equipment in preparation for a crossing.
During a lull in the gunfire one of the lads in my troop spotted a horse in a paddock alongside the cottage, and decided to ride it. He mounted the horse and had a great time trotting around. Then came a single shot (probably from a German 88 mm. anti-tank gun) which blew his head off.”
(Extract republished from 'From the Rhine to Civvy Street' by kind permission of Don Aiken)
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