Chotie Darling
Part 3 Lieutenant Williams
Chapter 10 D Day and Preparations
Dick was in the 61st Reconnaissance Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant until 1st May 1944 when he became a full Lieutenant. He was the Commanding officer of No 5 Troop (an armoured car troop) in ‘B’ Squadron.
Posted to the D-Day Marshalling Area Camp C16 or C17 in Nightingale Wood near Romsey, Hampshire from early April 1944 to late May 1944, Dick’s address was now 61st Recce Regt RAC, APO England.
Chotie (Private Chalkley B.E W/252328) was in the ATS ‘A’ Troop at Markham Camp, Easton-in-Gordano, Bristol with
462 Heavy (Mixed) Anti-Aircraft Battery of the Royal Artillery.
Chotie had some home leave back in Parkstone, Poole,
around the middle of April but Dick couldn’t visit.
On Friday 19th May Dick and Chotie did manage to meet. Chotie went A.W.O.L.* for the first time.
They stayed for one night in the Haunch of Venison, Salisbury, Wiltshire. (They would not meet again until 1945.)
At the end of May Dick moved to the Aldershot area with the half of the Regiment not participating in D Day- 40% of the Regiment went over to Gold Beach with the D day landings but Dick did not arrive in France until D+7.
*Absent without leave
@chotiedarling
8th April 1944 - We’re under canvas at the moment …liability side shocking food etc, but lovely clusters of primroses to help the assets
13th April 1944 - My neighbouring subaltern came across a fox cub the other day and we’ve kept it ever since. # chotiedarling
16th April 1944 - I decided to cycle…It took me four hours each way, so I only had some three hours at home. # chotiedarling
21st April 1944 - James’ ‘Ghost Stories of an Antiquary’ which I’ve read in bed in the middle of a wood – quite the right atmosphere
27th April 1944 - I have to censor some fifty to sixty letters every night … these people write an astounding amount of pure drivel
1st May 1944 - Heard Caruso’s recording of ‘Celeste Äida’ *** half an hour ago so I’m on top of the world.
6th May 1944 - this Orderly Officer racket…I have to pay the Guard a visit – usually at about three in the morning. A particularly thankless job
9th May 1944 - the C.O.’s quite cheerful tonight as he caught a fish in the local river, having been vainly trying for the past three weeks
15th May 1944 - Just a few lines to tee up the leave question… I imagine we could fix up somewhere to stay in the Haunch town.
20th May 1944 - I intend to come out of this business, darling, if only to take the chance of making you very happy, which is what you deserve
30th May 1944 - The leave question is off I’m afraid… ‘We anchor in hope’, as the prophet has it.
5th June 1944 - I expect to meet Rosalind and Touchstone or even the melancholy Jacques walking up the path towards me
6th June 1944 - Weather here has brightened up after a serious relapse of some five days or so which were pretty miserable.
10th June 1944 - Had a lot of parties lately – out every night since D day… The invasion show seems to be going OK though it’s early yet.
People in Chapter 10 D Day and Preparations:
Phillip Brownrigg, Arthur Aiken, Corporal Billingham, Corporal Robert Black, Barbara Chalkley (‘Chotie’), Brian Williams (‘Brinner’), Sergeant Leslie Eric Carpenter, Major Cave, Brigadier Bernard Cracroft, Dilys Williams (‘Diller’), Don Aiken, Leslie Douglas William Dymond, General Dwight Eisenhower, Eric Brewer, Eric Kessler, Eric Postles, Ernie Brobbin, Eve Kessler, Geoff Winzer, Lt. Compton-Bishop, Bernard Cracroft, Gladys Dandy, Sergeant (Ron?) Griffiths, Sandy Handley, Frank Harding, George Ingram, Margaret Lewis (Chotie’s sister), Mother (Williams), Ronnie Jury (‘Junior’), Corporal Roy Howard, Sergeant William Richard Moss, Arthur Harry Newell, Dan/Don Polden, Corporal Polwin, Richard Henry Rainford, Anthony Rampling, Bruce Segler, Lt Soul, Sergeant Wheeler, Corporal Williams, Colonel Sir William Mount.
Books mentioned in Chapter 10:
‘Captain Foulenough’ by Beachcomber – “Are you reading Captain Foulenough’s résumé of his life story in ‘Beach-Comber’s Column in the Express? I never miss it.”
‘Ghost Stories of an Antiquary’ by M.R.James – “Haven’t read much lately – only James’ ‘Ghost Stories of an Antiquary’ which I’ve read in bed in the middle of a wood – quite the right atmosphere.”
‘Brighton Rock’ and ‘Ministry of Fear’
‘England made me’ by Graham Greene and ‘Clochemerle’ by Gabriel Chevallier – “I think the opening chapters of his ‘England made me’ are some of the best stuff I’ve read in years. I think in fact the only thing to beat them, is Gabriel Chevalier’s ‘Clochermerle’.”
‘The Bridge of San Luis Rey’ by Thornton River Wilder – “I’ve been reading ‘The Bridge of San Luis Rey’ for the umpteenth time. If you haven’t read it yet, I’ll send it on in my next.” / “I was going to send you a copy of ‘San Luis Rey’, but I’ll keep it now and bring it along on Friday.” / “I also learned quite by chance that the book won the all nations Pulitzer Prize Novel of 1927, which doesn’t surprise me in the least. I think Uncle Pio is one of the fullest-drawn characters in modern literature.”
‘Bach, the Master’ – “Rutland Boughton’s ‘Bach’, which I found good if only because he places this extraordinary genius in his proper place in the history of music and avoids eulogising him to excess.”
‘As You Like It’ by William Shakespeare – “I expect to meet Rosalind and Touchstone or even the melancholy Jacques walking up the path towards me….”
‘Life of Christina of Sweden’ by Alfred Neumann
‘Me – again’ by Naomi Jacobs – “The latter I heartily recommend. I’d read the original ‘Me – a story of other people’ but this later autobiography is even better. I’ll try to get you a copy and send it to you as soon as possible.” / “I managed to get hold of a copy of ‘Me-again’ so I’m enclosing it with this letter. Hope you enjoy it.”
Music mentioned in Chapter 10:
‘Schubert's 8th’ Symphony’ (unfinished) – “Have just heard Schubert’s 8th (unfinished), the best thing that has happened to me for weeks.”
London Philharmonic Orchestra concerts – “Glad to see it was the old L.P.O. who gave them. They’re exceptionally good and very courageous as they’ve been fighting financial troubles ever since I’ve first heard of them. There’s a very interesting book been written of their story – I believe by one of the ‘cellists, though the author and title eludes me for the moment.” / “I expect Benno was in good form – he’s playing better than ever these days. I personally would place him among the first five pianists in the world, today. He plays Rachmaninoff to perfection – certainly better than Sergei himself. The last time I heard any of the Leonard overtures was in Folkestone some four or five months ago – in fact apart from leaves, I’ve heard very little music at all since.”
Verdi's 'Äida' – “Heard Caruso’s recording of ‘Celeste Äida’ half an hour ago so I’m on top of the world.”
Puccini's 'Turandot' with Eva Turner (cf. Maria Cancellia and Rosa Ponselle) – “Also heard the second act of ‘Äida’ a few nights ago – Eva Turner gave a particularly brilliant performance. I think she’s still improving. I heard her ‘Turandot’ when I was in Scotland which is her best, plus I ‘m now beginning to think she ranks after Cancellia & Ponselle.”
Films mentioned in Chapter 10:
‘The Lodger’ – “We both thought that ‘The Lodger’ was on and went gaily in, to find that it was on next week.”
‘Bees in Paradise’ – “Geoff said it was the best leg-show he’s seen in years, but apart from that, it stank. I bitterly endorsed his words.”
‘Heart of a Nation’ and ‘Le Jour se lève’ – “I’m trying to get a grip on two films at the moment ‘Heart of a Nation’ and’, (Gabin). Both seem out of the question, though I could have seen the former at the ‘Academy’ when I stopped in Town on returning from Scotland.”
‘Jane Eyre’ starring Joan Fontaine & Orson Welles – “There was a film show in camp last night – Jane Eyre, but as I wasn’t in the mood (I should say the Brontë mood) ……”
‘The Bridge of San Luis Rey’ with Akim Tamiroff / Lily Damita – “….a film book cutting of ‘San Luis Rey’. Akim Lamiroff is having a crack at Uncle Pio.” “It was also filmed in the silent days with Lily Damita, etc”
‘Fanny by Gaslight’ – “I was going to see ‘Fanny by Gaslight’ but after reading James Agate’s criticism of it I decided to give it a miss.”
Theatre mentioned in Chapter 10:
Gertrude Lawrence – “We had Gertrude Lawrence at our camp last week – quite a good show.”
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