12th December, 1940
Mrs Kenneth Penman
Maycot.
Commonside
Keston
Kent
SELLY OAK
8 15AM
13 DEC
1940
BIRMINGHAM.29
GROW MORE FOOD
DIG FOR VICTORY
Postage Revenue 2½d
(1) The Same.
12.12.40.
4 pm.
Dearest One.
Good afternoon, I’ve just had breakfast and we are all still feeling very sleepy. As you probably heard on the wireless this morning a town in the midlands had last night its longest raid so far, it started at 6:23 and went on solidly until just after 8am this morning, I do hope darling you have not been worried about me, especially as the news this morning mentioned that a sports pavilion had been hit, it was not ours. I’m glad…
(2)
…to say. We were rather lucked at 2 am this morning when we had a visit from the Brigade Major, he came over and knocked on the door of our cabin, he was accompanied by both the site officers and he congratulated us on our nights work and he said that he hoped they (the officers) realized how important our work was, had we any complaints? Yes the park’s railings were causing interference, we said could they come down, useful for armaments we thought. We didn’t mention how much easier it would…
(3)
…be for us to pop out and get – er – cigarettes.
I think darling I said that I should probably be able to tell you how the leave question was regarded by there officers. Well I’m sorry to say they don’t seem to have heard of such a thing as 48 hrs but we’re agitating strongly. The gun numbers all seem to have 24 hrs only.
I’m going to pop this in the post now darling, excuse this not being a very long letter but ’twas only to assure you of my safety and of course darling of my everlasting love.
Bye Bye Dingle your own Kenneth
Tuesday 10th December, 1940
- British Imperial forces intensify their advance in North Africa under Operation Compass, capturing the Italian stronghold of Sidi Barrani and inflicting heavy casualties.
Wednesday 11th December, 1940
- Continuing their offensive in the Western Desert, British units press retreating Italian troops, broadening territorial gains and undermining Rome’s strategic foothold.
Thursday 12th December, 1940
- Luftwaffe bombers launch a concentrated night-time assault on Sheffield, marking one of the most severe attacks on British industrial capacity and civilian morale to date.