26th February, 1941
BIRMINGHAM
7 – PM
27 FEB
1941
Postage Revenue 2½d
Mrs Kenneth Penman
Maycot
12 Commonside
Keston
Kent
The Same.
Feb 26th 1941
Darling,
You will be glad to know that I got back safely yesterday afternoon and that I had quite a pleasant journey, wasn’t it a lovely day, today also has been beautiful with us. I had intended writing you yesterday only to discover on my return that the huts were supposed to be in enemy hands and that we were spending the rest of the day and all night in the cabins. This morning we all felt very tired and we have been sleeping most…
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…of the day. As you may imagine I didn’t receive the news that we were to be up all night with very much favour, especially as I was already feeling a wee bit fed up at having to come back. I dont think I shall ever get over needing two or three days, darling, to re-settle down. It’s always so lovely being with you again even for a little while. Coming back is like having a very nasty jolt in the place where it hurts most over the heart.
I do hope you are able to see “The Great Dictator” next week, I will try and see it here when it comes and we…
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…can compare criticisms.
There was rather a sweet bit in the paper about the wops yesterday morning. The report was to the effect that we had taken 200 Italians prisoners and captured 40 mules. The mules put up an extremely good resistance.
The man who brought me most of the way yesterday stopped at a little pub on the way, where besides having a few drinks he collected a 40lb English cured ham, apparently it (I mean the pig) had been killed under what is called a domestic permit. Some folks seem to know how to get round the rationing restrictions. He was telling me about a new kind of bomb which was…
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…dropped on Hendon, a daylight raid, one plane, one bomb. Home-Office and ICI officials had been down to see the fragments and had pronounced that the skin was made of hand beaten aluminium and contained liquid air. I always treat word of mouth reports of bomb damage with a pinch of salt, however he told me that glass had been broken over an area of 4 square miles, 186 people killed and over 300 injured.
Things have been very quiet here whilst I have been home with you, darling, I don’t think they can in the nature of things, continue so much longer.
I made a tentative…
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…request on my return to have our next leave on Saturday fortnight and, I think it will pan out alright. I will let you know definitely darling when next I write meanwhile all my love. Think of me a lot darling, you know that both my dingles, especially the bigger one, are ever in my thoughts I love you so.
Kenneth
Friday 21st February, 1941
- British-led troops fortify their positions near the Ethiopian border, reflecting the intensifying East African Campaign.
Saturday 22nd February, 1941
- Italian forces attempt limited counter-attacks in Eritrea, but falter under mounting Allied pressure.
Sunday 23rd February, 1941
- Allied reconnaissance flights over Somalia gather intelligence on Italian positions, refining strategic planning for imminent operations.
Monday 24th February, 1941
- British units advance on Mogadishu, intensifying hostilities and depleting Italian resolve in East Africa.
Tuesday 25th February, 1941
- Greek forces maintain pressure in Albania, securing additional footholds against the beleaguered Italian Army.
Wednesday 26th February, 1941
- South African troops seize key checkpoints in Italian-occupied Abyssinia, signaling continued Allied momentum in East Africa.