BIRMINGHAM
7 – PM
19 JAN
1941

GROW MORE
DIG FOR VICTORY

Postage Revenue 2½d

Mrs Kenneth Penman.
Maycot.
12 Commonside
Keston
Kent

Gnr Penman C K 1440280 E/F
c/o B & C Sections
183 Penns Lane
Erdington
Birmingham

Jan 19th. 1941.

My darling Dingle,
You’ll be glad to know that I managed to arrive in spite of the snow. It was absolutely continuous all the way and therefore the journey was far from comfortable. This morning we couldn’t get our hut door open, it was about 4 feet high outside where it had drifted and there is at least a foot all over our gun position. How are things with you? I managed the journey in two hops the first one being rather uncomfy in an army lorry which lacked windscreens and was bound for…

…Scotland, however we alighted for frequent Oxos along the way and it was not too bad.

I’ve got a lovely piece of news to tell you darling, the next time I come home it will be for seven days, a fortnight tomorrow, Monday February 3rd. I am looking forward to it tremendously.

I shall not be leaving here until 2pm so I shall not get home until the evening. I shall probably be longer on the journey coming by train. It would be lovely if you and Cecil could meet me at Euston. I could let you know my arrival time but if you think it would be better not to ask him I shall quite understand. Two things we must do darling, apart from going over to mother’s when I’m at home, is to see the Great Dictator and go to a dance. I was rather amused last…

…night by the remark of a little north country lad in our hut. We had all been down to cookhouse to collect bread dripping and cocoa for supper. It is the practice to make dripping toast for supper. Our fire however is so constructed that one can only make one piece at a time. When I got back to the hut I said “After you” to the fellow “in occupation”. Our Yorkshire lad was a little late returning and when he tried to push in there was a chorus of protest when he discovered he was about seventh on the list. He resignedly remarked “ee, I might as well sit down and write my biography.”

Darling, do you think you could ask Wyn to take my suit, (not my flannels and sports jacket) to the little cleaners near the 146 bus stop at Bromley North station as…

…I should like to wear it when I am home on leave.

By the way mother showed me the dolly she has now completed for Jill. It is rather sweet. I tried to persuade her to take it up to you saying you would be very pleased to see her, I don’t imagine though with all this snow about she will make the effort. If you care to you might drop in if you are walking that way at any time.

Well darling as you may imagine there is very little news other than the superb bit about leave, so I will close down now. Every bit of my love, take care of your darling self and give Jill a hug from Daddy.

Yours always,

Kenneth