No. 2

Maycot 12
Commonside
Keston,
Kent.

16.11.39

Darling,

I received your No VI this morning 1 1/2 days after No VII. As occurred last week your letters arrived out of order.

Although I am always most anxious to hear from you it is a pity the letters are not delivered in correct rotation, particularly so in the case of the two letters I had from you this week, as I was very lucked with your nice long, chatty No VII—and then came No VI with its revolting enclosure.

I’m not going to dwell on this but I can only imaging you may have thought it would amuse me. Actually it made me feel very sick and unhappy, and when little Jill (who was with me when I eagerly opened your letter) asked me who it was, I really could not bear it and took the first opportunity of throwing it into the fire.

Please don’t think I don’t realize how hard things much be for you all, I think you are all wonderful in face of hardship…

…and privation, but there is still such a thing as chivalry and I really don’t think it’s quite kind to send me anything like that.

You must not forget that husbands at the front are not the only lonely ones, but I do feel present circumstances afford an opportunity for development of character and firmness of will.

Please don’t take this as a sermon, but you know as well as I do that your character is not too strong and I am most anxious that you should not sink with the lowest. In this connection I expressed the hope that you would cultivate your friendship with Vic rather than Mac. The latter seems to me oversexed anyway, England or France.

Yesterday Tris came over for the day and looked after Jill while I went up to Town. Ellis met me at Charing X after which we proceeded to have a drink and a very nice lunch. After that we went to Bourne & Hollingsworth, also Woolworths, to purchase various articles for Wyn.

Later we went into the “Academy”, Oxford Street (where they have the continental films) and saw “Professor Mamlock”, a film made by…

…the U.S.S.R. (with Russian cast all speaking German) of the conditions in Nazi Germany leading to the present war.

It was, I imagine, originally intended as Communist propaganda as opposed to Nazism. The Communist talk was censored but translations of the Nazi dialogue were flashed on to the screen. It was extremely interesting and well done and, from what I have heard from Trude(?) and also read in various accounts, the conditions tended to be modified rather than exaggerated.

With it we saw a recently made film of Danzig and Gdynia, showing the increasing numbers of Nazi uniforms that were to be seen in the streets prior to its annexation by Germany.

On coming out of the pictures we had some tea and then proceeded to Charing X where I caught the 6:59 for home.

Incidentally we had a taxi to Charing X, and a taxi in the black-out—as you may imagine—presents interesting possibilities. However I’m sure you would thoroughly have approved as Ellis is extremely anxious…

…not to do anything that would jeopardize his chance of seeing me again.

We kissed once, for which he was terribly grateful, and then got out of the taxi.

I’ve told you this in detail, a truthful account, as I don’t feel under the circumstances it would be kind to leave things to your imagination.

I’m afraid however, after receiving your letter this morning, I don’t know whether I was virtuous or just plain silly!

Anyway it was a refreshing change to go out like that and when I arrived home I found Tris had managed Jill beautifully and also bathed her. It was certainly very kind of her.

I do hope darling you have now received your helmet, as the weather today has turned much colder and it’s been pouring in torrents all day. (Incidentally it was a lovely sunny day yesterday, for me.)

The prospect of leave which you mention is very thrilling but we shall have to wait and see. I do hope it soon materializes.

As I mentioned previously, I think it advisable to number my letters also so that you can see whether any go…

…astray. Except for the time I was awaiting your first letter from France and just prior to my sending your gloves, I have written you every three or four days.

This actually is my third letter this week, but you can always rely on two a week so please let me know whether they come to hand safely.

It was sweet of Ethel to send you the cigarettes and I expect they were more than welcome.

I expect you have now had mother’s letter. Unfortunately she has not been at all well and has asked me to try and take Jill over one day. We can stay overnight and travel back in daylight as Dad’s room is vacant. I have arranged to go over next Wednesday morning with Jill. I shall be so relieved to see Mother again.

Jack and Joan have been rather sweet to her and have spent one or two weekends with her, taking over their own rations.

I will not answer two little points you raised.

(1) I’m glad to say…

…that Jill has now settled down very nicely, though of course, she is growing up and is beginning to display a very determined little way with her.

(2) The rising food prices do, I’m afraid, make it difficult to make ends meet and I have to keep on revising my shopping and effecting economics.

I’ve not yet been able to send the October rent, but hope to be able to get it together in a week or so. Of course there is nothing for clothes, but I try to get wool at Ghinns(?) and makes Jill’s requirements.

Please darling don’t let this deter you from asking me to make you anything you need, as it is most important you should be warm and well. And wool doesn’t cost very much.

Well darling, I really don’t think there is anything more to say just now. I will write again in approx. three days. Meanwhile take care of yourself and be good.

Remember I love you very much and Jill wants her Daddy home too,

Yours,

Terry.