A.F W3078.
C & Co (B) Ltd.

ACTIVE SERVICE

This envelope must not be used for coin or valuables. It cannot be accepted for registration.

NOTE:
Correspondence in this envelope need not be censored Regimentally. The contents are liable to examination at the Base.

The following Certificate must be signed by the writer:

I certify on my honour that the contents of this envelope refer to nothing but private and family matters.

Signature
(Name only)
C.R Penman

Address:
Mrs Kenneth Penman
Maycot, 12 Commonside
Keston, Kent

No 4
Gnr Penman 1440280.
Sec 4 194/60 HAA
BEF

April 15, 1940.

My Dearest,

In my last letter dated the 11th I promised to enclose some seeds that madame gave me and then like a chump forgot to put them in, anyway here they are; four for you and two for Jill. I’ve been a wee bit worried, I know it’s silly, but I haven’t had a letter from you for nine days now. I hope you and Jill darling, are quite fit. I expect it’s only due to postal delays, missing you so as I do now, having just come back it seems more than usual, perhaps it seems longer than otherwise.

We’ve been terribly busy on the Gun Position lately, up there every day from 5.15 (it is now) to 8. the time in billet has been very limited thus making letter writing a bit difficult. I’m writing this however (in billet) having got the day off after being on guard last night. Jacko was also on guard with me and he too is busily scribbling away.

I’ve been busily engaged for the last week in building a dugout, that is the timber and galvanized part of it. Ted has been helping…

…me, we have made it on a sectional basis, using wire brackets to clamp it together, previously wherever we have moved a lot of timber and material has been unloaded ripping it out of the ground; we have come in for a lot of chaff, gentlemen coming down the steps and enquiring how the Buckingham Bungalow people are getting on, etc etc rude blighters. A lot of the boys have become a bit fed up with building the position during the last few days, events in Scandinavia are in the view of many, making a move on our part seem possible, actually I personally am of the opinion that the position we are now in is such an important one that a move is unlikely.

There are very few amusing or interesting experiences to relate since I last wrote to you; the day of the Norwegian invasion coincided with Mac’s first wedding anniversary and as a precautionary measure the five of us offered all the tins in our provision, primarily to lighten the load we might have to carry. We supplemented our tins by a visit to the butchers, enquiring for a lamb cutlet, only to find that it was a pork day (the French idea of rationing) so pork it had to be; thus was our menu: Hors D’oeuvres, Crabs with lobsters and celery hearts, Tomato soup. (I’ve got this and the…

…out of order, we did eat it in the right order), then we had pork chops with asparagus tips, sauté potatoes, spinach and green peas, fruit salad and cream and coffee to finish off with. Mon dieu, we all found after this was very difficult and we slowly relapsed into a coma.

After lunch I have just come back from the cookhouse whilst I was having lunch. I was handed your parcel containing the cake and hankies; it was a gift from Mrs Wood. It was very kind of her and sweet of you darling to send it; if he is ever nice enough to give you anything for me again I want you not to send it out to me but to keep it for Jill and yourself. I know you will hate doing it but I absolutely forbid you dearest one to expend 1/6 on postage again. It’s out of all proportion and as you can see from the preceding paragraph we really get tons to eat. What we’ll do, is for you to write and tell me he has given you so-and-so and I’ll write and thank him; you should have seen me feverishly searching through all the little paper bags for a letter, however I’m banking on receiving one in the letter mail tonight. It was a relief to know that you were alright, the parcel incidentally was postmarked the 12th which is remarkably quick…

…work, I think.

When Jacko and I came out from lunch there was a very “petit garçon” passing by carrying a huge sheaf of cowslips; Jacko went up to him and offered him Fr.2. for them. He was very shy but seemed highly delighted with the deux francs and as soon as it was in his hand ran off as fast as he could; probably to explain his good fortune to his mother; they now adorn the mantelpiece in the billet and are just underneath your picture.

I am beginning to get over just a little bit the awful feeling of loneliness that I’ve had since I’ve been back. I haven’t been lonely really, of course but I’ve felt better when I’ve been alone. I love you so very much. I can think about you much better when there’s no one else around, anyway here’s to our next leave darling; by the way, as you probably know leave has not been resumed; we still have five men in the section still to go; I feel so very sorry for them, they seem so terribly miserable about it.

If there’s a letter in the mail tonight for me I’ll try and answer it tomorrow; meanwhile darling, sweetest weeny one all my love and everything,

yours Kenneth.

P.S. I had forgotten to mention that I have written to the Poole people and will of course let you know their reply. I don’t think I mentioned I had a letter awaiting me on my return from leave from Poole saying that he had received the account every month for the last eighteen months!