26th October, 1939
Passed by R.A.F. Censor No. 149
On Active Service
Mrs. Kenneth Penman,
Maycot,
12 Commonside,
KESTON,
KENT,
ENGLAND
A Barn somewhere in France.
(1st Floor Flat, 37 Cows on the Ground Floor)
Letter No. II
October 26th 1939.
My Dear,
I received your letter last night and I can’t explain how grand it was to know that both you and Jill were well, and to have some news from home.
Since I last wrote to you we have moved again, our last for some time we hope, since we are now engaged on the Artilleryman’s favorite sport, digging blooming great holes in the ground.
The Major has arranged a slightly different technique this time, we dig twice as deep as necessary and then fill in to required depth, “Vive la Guerre”.
I shall be very interested to hear if parts of my letters are censored, it is very difficult to know what is legitimate and what isn’t, what will be censored and what won’t.
I am presently living with friends of Robert’s and Helen’s and (by) Jove can the(y) cook, there has been a great improvement in the grub since we arrived here.
We are now living in a part of the country that is full of memories of the last war. One of the boys found a British tin hat and a German water bottle the other day. I don’t mean by that we are unpleasantly near the present theatre of war, we can’t hear any guns for example.
Considering that our front in the last war was over 500 miles long and Jerry occupied many hundreds of square miles of French territory I don’t think there should be anything indiscreet in the above.
I was very glad to hear that Tris had been to tea. We have been at the above address for two days and Vic unfortunately was left behind at RHQ, as he had been very seedy…
…for some days with rheumatism in his head.
The conditions under which we are living are not conducive to a rapid recovery from anything. I think we have all had colds in varying degrees of thickness. I personally am the proud possessor of one of my favorite coughs, you remember how I used to keep you awake at night, but I am progressing satisfactorily.
Darling I wonder how long it will be before I have the opportunity of keeping you awake again (love Censor)
I was awfully glad to hear you had managed to go to the “Pics” with Jill and that you had enjoyed it. We may be allowed a little leave on Friday and Saturday in which we shall go.
The farm on which I am spending this vacation is extremely large and up to date. It has of course been extensively rebuilt since 1918, but the stock is of a very high quality, the farmer seems to have won may prizes for bonny cows and muscular Gee Gees etc.
The 37 cows downstairs, mentioned earlier on, have one husband between them. His name is “Pivolo”, we consider him a very lucky animal, his wives names vary from Mirabelle to Tulipe. Tulipe is rather a seductive name for a cow I think.
By the way you must pardon the writing paper, c’est la coutume francaise, the idea seems to be, apart from arithmetic, that you can write up and down as well as along.
We are all subscribing 3 fr. toward the deposit on a wireless set. It will be jolly fine to hear some English news and programs again.
You will have noticed that I have dated this letter. This is now allowed. Postal facilities seem to be becoming more regular now, taking approximately three days to reach you and six to seven to get here.
I was very interested to hear about the Christening of Master Harris, I must try and write…
…to Jim soon.
I am having great fun with my French, father would be very amused at it I fear. It is the custom for each Pub or cafe to have on its stand one prettyish girl to attract the boys custom. At the place that we were hitherto there was a cafe to which we went most nights, it was kept by an extremely charming woman and her daughter Jacqueline.
On leaving the last night I suggested to Jacqueline that it was the custom of the country to “embracer le Soldat ici et ici”, pointing to first one cheek and then t’other. The boys were very amused when she held out her hand and looking very demure said “Monsieur, por moi le coutume anglais”.
Well darling one, I must close now as the letters are being collected. All the love in the world to both you and Jill.
God bless you and keep you.
Yours very affectionately,
Kenneth.
October 26th, 1939
October 24–The crew of American cargo ship City of Flint are detained in Russia.
The ship, loaded with food and farming equipment, was destined for Britain. On October 9th she’s captured by Germany, her American crew replaced with a German one, and is seized as a prize of war.
The Germans tried to evade the Royal Navy by sailing for Norway but, although Norway is neutral, they are denied entry based on previous German aggression towards merchant ships.
The crew then sail for Russia and claim sanctuary there due to damage. The Russians detain both German crew members, and the captured Americans, stating that if the ship claim sanctuary the Americans can not be held as prisoners of war.
October 25–Jewish residents of Włocławek, in Nazi occupied Poland, are instructed to wear yellow stars on their clothes.
October 26–All Jewish men aged 14-60 in Nazi occupied Poland are required to perform forced labour.
Background notes:
- “Monsieur pur moi le coutume anglais” translates as “Sir, I choose the English custom.”
- “Vive la Guerre” translates from French as “Long live the war”
- “seedy” has an archaic definition meaning “unwell”
- “Gee Gee” is slang for horse.
- “c’est la coutume francaise” translates as “it is the French custom”
- “embracer le Soldat ici et ici” (embrasser) translates as “kiss the soldier here and here”.
- t’other, a British contraction of “the other”