June 22nd 1940

Darling,

How are you? Thank you so much for your letter, since I’ve been here we have had tons of work to do digging trenches and air raid shelters for the civil population sand bagging and, quite fun this, an old iron fatigue, two men and a barrow and about four roads issued to each party. One had to knock on the door of each house in the road inquiring for old bed-steads etc.

I’m very proud of you darling, deddy deddy proud that you have decided to help the Keston ARP. I think the Penman war effort is a jolly good show. I hope you have taken very seriously my remarks darling about a tin hat, and remember always to take care of yourself just as soon as it’s possible after you have seen that everyone else is under cover. It would be as well I think, to find out which house in the road you are patroling have shelter, and make some arrangement to bring for covers think yourself.

I mean to remember that the ARP people thought they would shelter in doorways etc during a raid, this is of course fantastic, they will very soon find out that they’ll do nothing of the kind, just one tip, don’t imagine that because there are no guns in action, all is quiet upstairs, the enemy plane may be above or below angle, that is above the guns ceiling or flying very low or it may be that the enemy is here engaged by our fighters.

If you hear the thud and explosion of a bomb very near I imagine it is your duty to discover where it fell and report in order that the appropriate services may be summoned.

If this happens you should wait for a lull, it is absolutely suicidal to do anything else, and then make for St Andrews in a straight line, taking advantage of every bit of cover there is, by a straight line. I mean if you were at the bottom of Lakes Rd. you would cut through one of the gardens and out via old Davis’s house, it might not be quite so quick but it would give you much more visual cover.

I have a great respect for Jerry’s hedge hopping Dornier 17s. If ever you see one within 1000 yards, the golden rule is flop on your tummy and stay there. They generally fly in line ahead, that is one behind the other, in flights of six, about forty feet above the ground. They are big twin engined bombers and they can ravage the surrounding countryside with machine guns and small cannon, in fact they are quite the most unpleasant things I know. I do hope, darling, I haven’t frightened you with all this, but I don’t feel that the ARP people realise quite what we’re up against with the German Air Force. I haven’t said very much to you darling about our fun and games in France, but I would like you to have the advantage of every bit of experience I’ve got. Whenever you are going any place during a raid, let covers be always in your thoughts, always walk on the shady side of the road, and as you move along keep your eyes about twenty yards in…

front and consider where there is the most suitable place to lie down if it should be necessary. That’s all except that I’m terribly proud of you, the more so because I think from what I told you while we were together, you realise better than a lot of others what you are taking on.

Mrs Berry and her husband are here, they cycled down!!! She had a lot to say last night to the effect that the mothers of England…

…would, soon have the war stopped if our children were bombed. Jacko, this will surprise you, said he didn’t think that was any way to talk and if the fate of England and the fate of the children of England hung in the balance, the fate of England was the more important. I am inclined to agree with him although I believe the two are the same thing.

An improper story darling, I heard it yesterday, a lady went into a shop to buy a…

…maternity corset, on being asked, “what bust?” she replied “nothing, it was intended”. rather sweet don’t you think?

I was so sorry not to have been with you darling on Sunday, I thought of you a great deal, all my love dearest and a kiss for Jill

your own
Kenneth

PS I have not yet heard nothing from Lewis.