16th May, 1940
[Envelope:]
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
[Censor stamp: “No. 821” with crown]
[Field Post Office postmark: “20 MY 40”]
Mrs KENNETH PENMAN
MAYCOT
12 COMMONSIDE
KESTON
KENT
No 10
Gnr Penman 1440280
Sec 4 194/60 HAA
B.E.F.
May 16th 1940.
Darling,
Thank you so much for your No 9 dated 9th instant. I got it this morning when I came off guard at 3.30 and what a guard, the most exhilarating exciting night I think I’ve ever had; nothing personally dangerous I promise you. Your reply to my rather premature hopes about leave made me a little sad, I’m afraid anything of that sort is quite out of the question now, we’ll just have to think a great deal about one another and I’ll send you big thought waves of love every night. My night is from about 10 till 3, so you will know that after that the telegram shop will be shut. Sorry I’m such an ass, I cant help it, I love you so and anyway I’ve always adored talking nonsense to you darling, especially our own special sort of nonsense.
I have come to the conclusion that I don’t like this country at all, apart from the language difficulty, the people are not…
…as charming as our old Madame was, although in the mass the people treat us rather like saviours insisting on coming up in the mornings with large jugs of coffee.
I adored Jill’s typing effort I am writing her a little letter which might interest you also. All my love my dearest sweet I’ll try and answer your letters a little each day.
Yours very own
Kenneth
16th May, 1940
German forces breach the Dyle Line in Belgium, compelling Allied troops to retreat behind the River Scheldt. French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud orders Frédéric Joliot-Curie’s atomic energy team at the Collège de France to evacuate. Hans von Halban flees to Britain with crucial research papers and the heavy water supply from Norway.
US President Franklin D. Roosevelt requests Congress to appropriate $1.2 billion for the military and calls for 50,000 planes, a 280,000-man Army, and a Two-Ocean Navy (Congress will appropriate $1.68 billion).
Winston Churchill flies to Paris to meet with Paul Reynaud and upon inquiring about the strategic reserve, he receives the answer “Aucune” (“There is none”).
Remy Van Lierde, future Belgian Flying Ace, is shot down by flak while flying a reconnaissance mission over Belgium and is captured.