ON ACTIVE SERVICE

PASSED BY CENSOR: No. 621

Mrs Kenneth Penman
MAYCOT
12 COMMONSIDE
KESTON
KENT

No. 21

B.E.F.

S.I.F.

January 24th 1940

Good Evening Darling,

Sergeant Ascolie has just left the billet. We threw a little party for him and one of our number who is also leaving for home tomorrow. Lucky chaps, but our turn must come soon I hope.

Thank you so much for the scarf darling. I had forgotten that I had asked you to send it. It is, as you may imagine, very welcome indeed.

I want you to know that I am very fit indeed, in fact I don’t think I have ever felt so well in my life, but if I ever fell sick and couldn’t write myself–I can’t imagine it happening mind you–one of the boys would certainly write for me.

Apart from the news about leave being stopped and its subsequent carrying on with, which I told you all about in my letter yesterday, the consequences of the recent tension as it affected us were orders to be to move within four hours. I think you know that our instruments are connected by electric cable with the guns and the powers that be decided that this cable should be dug up just in case. As the ground was, and is, frozen a little harder than re-enforced concrete…

…to a depth of ten feet, the job was far from easy.

I can imagine that little Jill’s enquiries about me are sometimes a little unbearable for you. I am so glad though that she thinks about me sometimes. I’d adore to know her actual words.

Do you remember ringing up Mrs Jackman before we went abroad? Apparently Master Jackman announced the other day that when his daddy came home he was going to sleep with him because he loves him so. I’m afraid I can see difficulties.

I was so very sorry to hear of Spencer Lewis’s death. Was he, do you know, killed in an accident or in action? I’ve always imagined him a very careful pilot. I expect you’ve expressed both our condolences to poor Helen.

In the second paragraph of your No. 13 Darling you say “you do love me don’t you?” Instead of saying “Of course I do, how can you ever doubt it.” I’m going to ask you to read again my letters to you of like number. It came straight from my heart.

Do you ever re-read my letters? Sometimes when I’m feeling a bit lowly I do yours and they make a very lovely book by now!

I was terribly sorry to hear that little Jill had got another cold. With the weather as it is at present it is a wonder that anyone is free from them. Do you remember Ted (Garrelt)?

He is at the moment busily engaged in eating my cough sweets and has just announced that it would not suffice him in the least if a return was made to BHQ tomorrow, to the effect that Gnr Garrelt (EWA) has fallen on his sword because he was so —ing fed up with his cough.

By the way, we set up a new low record a few nights ago (I am afraid you will have to give it to us that we inhabit the coldest place in Europe), the jolly old temp fell to eleven degrees below, 43º of frost. Shades of Shackleton and Scott!!!

I was so glad to hear that you had made yourself a new frock. I am longing to see you in it darling. As soon as I let you know my leave date I want you to make an appointment for a perm. I shall be able to manage it, I’ve been worried to think that you should not have had one for so long.

I was so sorry to hear the news about Vic. He much have had a very tough time. It’s nonsense him thinking himself a failure. I will certainly write to him, and I intend to try and get together a little letter of good cheer and good wishes signed by those of us who know him.

Dearest, since you asked me, it’s very, very sweet of you, I should like you to make a scarf in 3 ply khaki wool. I don’t want you to hurry with it, now I have my club scarf it is not necessary. I should like to think you just picked it up occasionally in the evenings when you are thinking about me. You could then get the wool a little at a time, and if it doesn’t mean making too much of a job of it I should like it in either moss or blackberry stitch so it is nice and thick. It will be grand for later on when perhaps my things will need to be rather smarter.

I saw Ralph Reader’s concert party the other night, it was their 78th performance. Ralf Reader is an airforce officer, his whole job being the entertainment of the Air Force and any military that may manage to wangle in. RR reminded me rather of Bert. He was at the bar before the start of the show, with him he has eight men, they take women’s parts where necessary thus they do very well—the dressing being good—and they are quite convincing.

The show was typical concert party as we know it (it made me quite homesick for a bit), opening chorus, straight number, male humorous quartet, sketches, melodrama (old fashioned) etc.

One joke I quite liked:

Father asks daughter “Where did you get that watch?”

Daughter (and what a daughter)…

…“My boyfriend gave it to me”

Father “But it hasn’t any works?”

Daughter “No, he’s going to give me the works tomorrow night.”

Taking into account the disadvantage of only having one sex in the cast under which they labored, the old meters would have knocked spots off them.

I’m going to close down now sweetheart, as I don’t seem to have any more news or anything more to tell you, except that I love you, adore you, long for you always—and that you are ever in my heart.

Yours (all yours)

Kenneth.