Chapter 5 Air Landing - summary, Twitter extracts, etc

 

Chotie Darling

Part 2   Reconnaissance

 

Chapter 5    Air Landing

 

1^st Air Landing of the Reconnaissance Corps 20th to 24^th April 1942, then 1^st Air Landing Squadron, Recce Corps from 24^th April 1942 (designation of unit changed) to 11th July 1942

Shaw House, Newbury, Berkshire from 20th April to 29th May 1942.

Bulford, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire 29th May 1942 to 11th July 1942 (Carter Barracks, Bulford in July 1942)

 21^st June 1942 – granted L.S. & G.C. Badge (Long Service and Good Conduct, given after two years service)

 

 

Twitter

@chotiedarling

 

22^nd April 1942 – Shaw House, Newbury

This is one hell of a crowd. Discipline isn't in it. Everything has to be blancoed up to scratch nearly every day. 

 

1st May 1942 – Home Forces

I'm at the place I expected to go to but I'm not of course allowed to write it down in letters, hence the address - Home Forces.

 

6^th May 1942 – From the Air

I made my first flight here, on Sunday last in a glider. Flying in my humble opinion is much overrated and can't be compared to Sailing

 

11^th May 1942 – Poor Margaret

we swapped yarns as of yore. Unhappily, he had to go back before the pubs opened and consequently we parted rather thirstily

 

17^th May – YMCA

I'm on the MT again and drive a 15 cwt truck. Unfortunately when you're on the MT, you have to do your ordinary training as well!

 

23^rd May 1942 – The King and Queen

Had quite a thrill on Thursday - when we were inspected by the King & Queen and a score of Generals. 

 

11^th June 1942 – Pagham

I'll meet you on Chichester Station on Saturday.  Remember, Chichester - not Bognor.

 

21^st June 1942 – The Lucky Horseshoe

I hope you got back all right, Darling, complete with Horseshoe...What shall we call him?  I'll leave it to you, Precious

 

26^th June 1942 – Transfers

There are transfers right and left at the moment, so I may get mine soon, which will be a relief to mother, I'm thinking.

 

28th & 29th June 1942 – Flat Beer

I haven't yet heard from home and am getting a little worried…There seem to be so many worries that separation brings so cruelly in its wake

 

6th July 1942 – The Divisional Commander

the Div. Comm. decided to pay us a call. Rumour has it he was once married to Daphne du M. He’s by repute the best dressed man in the Army 

 

 

People in Chapter 5 Air Landing :

Andrew, Barbara Chalkley (“Chotie”), Brinner (Williams), Major-General Frederick Browning, Diller (Williams), Richard Dix, Douglas, Enid, Eric (Kesler?), Johnny, Margaret (Chalkley), Mater/Ma/Mother (Williams), Monica, Norman, Pa/Dad (Williams), Pete, Philip, Ted.

 

Books mentioned in Chapter 5:

‘Portrait of a Village’ by Francis Brett Young 

‘Blood & Sand’ by Ibanez – “though rather dull gives quite a true appreciation of the life of a Torero.” 

‘Hudson rejoins the Herd’ by  Claude Houghton – “quite a good book.”

 

Theatre mentioned in Chapter 5:

‘While Parents Sleep’