ON ACTIVE SERVICE

PASSED BY R.A.F. CENSOR No. 168

Mrs. Kenneth Penman,
Mascot,
12 Commonside,
Keston,
Kent,
ENGLAND

No. X

IN BED S.I.F.

24.11.39.

​

My Darling,

Thank you so much for your two letters Nos. 1 and 2 dated 14th and 16th respectively. I received N^o. 2 this evening and N^o. 1 the day before yesterday. I can’t understand why my letters should reach you out of order. I try to spread them out with gaps of between 2 and three days, maybe sometimes four, but this is of course defeated probably by lack of organisation at BHQ. There certainly leave us every day.

I am so very, very sorry that my enclosure was so disagreeable. Actually I discovered it in a little stationers shop here whilst trying to buy some more ink. It is the Froggies idea of a Valentine, they seem to have two such days in the year, one for the boys and one for the girls. Yesterday was…

…“le fête pour le jeunes hommes”.

I know of course that Wyn would have at once recognized it for what it was and I am deeply sorry that you should have imagined it was anything else. I can see now of course that my inane comments made it worse.

Some of the boys say that they ignore the censor in their letters but I don’t think that they can entirely do so. I personally find it impossible, one cannot for example descend to personalities, nor can I discuss with you things that I should like to discuss. I think I should feel almost the same were our letters read by someone with whom we were not in daily contact. Censorship is of course an abominable job, as bad if not worse for the censor as it is for the censored.

By the way, I think your cribbing of my numbering system is a good idea. I don’t think I have missed any of your letters darling, I have certainly had all those you…

…mention in No. 1.

Sidney Cheal having lost his arm in, and served right through, the last war would of course feel a sense of comradeship with us out here.

We didn’t go to any of the recent concerts to the troops. They are, I imagine, held a long way from where we are. Probably in the hinterland of the Maginot Line itself. We did however go the pictures on Monday night, the film was “Merrily we live”, with Constance Bennett and Billie Burke. I enjoyed it very much, I think it was about two years old, one that we missed. By the way is it true that Billie Burke died recently?

I was very touched by the Petalinda-Pixie story. She is a darling. The troop bit is rather choice too.

The day before yesterday we were issued with a couple of wooly pussies each. They are certainly very warm, albeit very necessary.

I am afraid I have not yet written to Jim, my letters to you are of first importance,…

…although after I had written my last letter to you I wrote five others to mother, to Dad, to Jack and Joan; to Edie and to Daddy—it’s his birthday tomorrow.

25.11.39 Before Breakfast.

Darling, I do hope you will be able to read what I wrote last night. It was written in a very poor light and in such relation to it that what I wrote was continually in shadow.

I think I got your meaning with regard to “things French had a leaning that way”, I rather think however that Froggie more than gets his own back. I was buying some tooth powder the other day and happened to notice that even unmentionables are “anglais”.

I was very interested to hear of Nero’s triumphant effort in the A.F.S trials. I expect they were very annoyed to leave Keston PO after the pains they had taken with their position. If you see “Nero” at any time you might give him Fred Karno’s congratulations.

I was so glad to hear that you had managed to get over to see Mwohlah last Wednesday. Do write and tell me what Jill’s reactions were not having seen them for such a long time. I was so glad to hear (not a test darling) that she has now settled down.

The blasted roof is leaking, I have moved.

The petrol tin on which I am enthroned “if you have tears, prepare to shed them now”. Sorry, I was talking to the roof.

I am so very glad that you enjoyed your day in town with Ellis. It wasn’t necessary Darling to go into minute details. I was of course very interested, but I love you so much that complete trust in you is an integral part of my love. For my own part le jeu d’amour does not appeal very much at the moment. Our living conditions rather make for idealism in this respect. Anyway I think French mothers remember too well the behavior of our fathers.

Another point that isn’t I think apparent to those at home, is…

…that the areas in which most of us are stationed are either partially or wholly evacuated.

On reading the above I am afraid you will think it is a case of “I would if I could but I can’t” instead of “I can’t and I wouldn’t if I could” as I should prefer. Perhaps I shouldn’t joke about serious things but it is better to laugh that to… hang it! Forgive me dear, I’m getting morbid and I will try another tack.

I had a letter the other day, addressed from the base hospital, from Vic. It seems almost sure that he is on his way home. We have also lost another man to Blighty, another curse of not being quite fit enough for the conditions which are not good yet not too bad. I do hope Tris brings him to see you, he can tell you such a lot which I can’t.

This business of laying mines by aircraft is an entirely new departure in aerial warfare. It must be causing some grey hairs in…

…Whitehall.

I am afraid I have very little permissible news, things have been a little less boring the last few days. One day was quite exciting in fact. Not dangerous you know, just exciting.

The weather all this week has been unspeakable, although this morning is glorious. The sun is shining and part melting the ice over the sumps in our trenches.

I shall be writing you again Darling in a few days. Meanwhile all my love to you both and remember always that I love you always and in all ways.

Yours,

Kenneth.

PS. Darling about the knitting, do you think you could manage a pair of mittens, like this:-

[ILLUSTRATION]

Not like this,

[ILLUSTRATION]

Sorry to be funny,

Love,

K.