My Dear Bessie (34 page)

24 September 1945

Dearest,

This is where we went today, a trip by car across Exmoor to the Doone Valley. It really was glorious, and the weather though
chilly was good, lots of sunshine. How about starting up a cafe in Devon with cars for hire? My goodness I should think you'd make your fortune in a season. 6 in the car at £1 per head for an all round trip of about 70 miles. The people who shared the car were very nice and we all enjoyed it.

My cold is still hovering and I am swallowing aspirins for dear life. I had a bath tonight, hoping it would help to keep it at bay. Felt disappointed to find no mail, am wondering how you are getting on with your course, the place looks delightful. It had a wonderful write up in the Encyclopaedia. I wonder if one day we will be able to go abroad. I have a desire to go with you sometimes, some place. It's rotten not sharing these things now, isn't it? To be doing things together. We have a retired chap here of 80, who works in wood for a hobby, lovely stuff, also he haunts antique shops and collects things, ivory, old silver etc. He lives at this place, and works in a garage, Tonight he is entertaining us with records of Tauber.
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I think he is retired Indian Civil Service. I felt inspired by his woodwork, want to do some myself, so satisfying.

I fell for a couple of books in an Ilfracombe shop. A new appreciation of Kipling by Hilton Brown – some of it is enraging me, odd how subjective our criticism is. Also one of Bertrand Russell's,
Conquest of Happiness
. Have only had a glance at that so far, but looks good, he is a wise old bird, one of the greatest minds of today, with real commonsense thrown in, an unusual combination for a scholar. Did you know he was more or less thrown out of one of our universities (Cambridge I believe, not too sure), but feel that is a recommendation. Excuse this rather
chatty epistle, but this is an evening of being surrounded by people. I hope tomorrow brings news of you, if only a note.

Goodnight Dear Heart. I Love You.

Bessie

*
'Python' was slang for army leave due after a particular length of service, usually four years. A soldier's ‘return' suggested a snake eating its own tail.

*
A second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on this date, three days after the first destroyed Hiroshima.

*
Richard Tauber, Austrian tenor.

9

What Is Truth?

25 September 1945

EVERY DAY IS ONE DAY NEARER.

My Own, Wonderful Woman,

Well, it is off my chest at last. I delivered my speech on ‘The Press' this morning and am now safe to contemplate returning to the unit without any ordeal yet to come. It went down fairly well, though I floundered and fiddled and didn't get half of the lesson done. But the teacher said it was very good, and I can't do anything about it. The trouble is that our teacher has praised all who spoke so far, and is not very discriminating. I have been selected to represent our class at a quiz, tomorrow night, so I hope I shall know the answers, or at least be able to think up some decent repartee. Tonight there is a Debate on the Atom Bomb. I could have been principal speaker ‘Deploring the discovery' – but decided not to do it, especially as I don't
agree it should be deplored any more than some other things. I hope to speak for three minutes against the motion this afternoon.

Regarding your weight, I hope you didn't feel I brushed the question too brusquely aside. I hope my short chance to worship you as you deserve to be worshipped will correct some of your little troubles. But have you tried regularly taking cod liver oil or some such help?

I am pleased you got the first leg of the stocking. I know jolly well it is one thing you really do want anytime. But the cost and my fear of your disappointment at me being ‘done' is the thing that has stopped me so far. I hope the second leg turned up OK, and depending on what you say about their quality, I will try to get some more if I pass through Rome on the return journey. I have another pair in my kitbag which I may decide to bring home with me – and put on your lovely legs with my own trembling, wanting hands.

My Darling, I hope we can get married within twenty-four hours of my arrival in London. I want you so much.

I love you.

Chris

26 September 1945

My Dearest,

The Debate went off well, with the motion ‘That this House deplores the discovery of atomic energy' being defeated 47–18. I made what I think would be described as an ‘effective' speech in opposition.

One thing I believe I have not mentioned in any letter so far is that several times since I have been here, I have felt tremors, caused by earthquakes of minor importance, which are always occurring in this part. It is rather strange to be lying in bed, and find it shake a good deal, as though a tram had passed by outside, or a 20 stone man was doing a tap dance at its foot.

Do you ever wake up in the night and, finding me not with you, feel yourself robbed? I think you must do, because it often happens to me. I wake up and am momentarily surprised you are not by my side. Then I feel, ‘Ooh-er, I have been robbed.'

INTERVAL. I am now able to tell you that I didn't disgrace myself in the Quiz, which is now over. Four questions were asked, 3 marks each. I got 7½ out of 12, my side scored 18½ altogether, so I was well up on the average. My team was second, the top team got only 24 (48 the max). My questions were: (1) Who said ‘What is truth?' and did not wait for the answer? Correct answer: Pontius Pilate. (Mine: jokingly, GB SHAW – for which I got two marks, ingenuity.) (2) Who was ‘Boz'? Correct answer: Dickens. My answer: ‘The artist who illustrated Dickens' work' (1½ marks).
(3) Who took part of Mr Chips? My correct answer: Donat, 3 marks. (4) What nationality was Columbus? I said ‘Portuguese' but he changed it to Scottish (we had a Scot adjudicating). He was Italian, I got 1 mark for cheek.

Now I must go on Guard, my darling, and in the night hours, think of you by yourself in bed. It will not be long before I am with you.

I love you.

Chris

1 October 1945

My Dearest, My Wonderful One,

Isn't it wonderful to see the days flicking past, October 10th coming gradually nearer, and our hopeful stage coming closer and closer? Even if it should be some time after October 10th I can bear it, as I shall know then that, any moment, someone may sing out ‘Chris boy, your LIAP's come through',
*
and that it will not be more than ten days before once again I am with the wonderful reality of your kindliness, your beauty, your softness and your love.

I am sorry about the non-arrival of both the legs. I posted one on the 15th, another on the 18th. Perhaps the second has gone by ordinary letter post, or been detected, and may reach you with some duty to pay. I doubt if it will really disappear.

We finished off today's proceedings with Community Singing. ‘Men of Harlech', ‘Hearts of Oak', ‘Lincolnshire Poacher', etc. (Hope you like the song book I sent you.) My class sang ‘Loch Lomond' – and came first! Despite my grunting tones, which I confessed beforehand.

Have thought just this moment: how about giving a few nuts to your postman? He (she) labours well for us.

I love you.

Chris

9 October 1945

MY DEAREST ONE,

I need no longer say ‘One Day Nearer'. By the time you get this it will be only a very few days before we are together, before we are communing, expressing, telling all.

I have to go for a medical examination at 2 o'clock tomorrow; and on Thursday the 11th, I leave here on the first stage of my journey home, across Europe by rail, over the Channel and land at Dover. It will take no less than 5 days, so I cannot be with you
before the 16th, and I doubt if it will take any more than ten days, in which case I shall for certain be home by the 21st. BUT, the last party that left here waited at the Transit Camp for a week before departing, and this must be borne in mind.

Nevertheless, I think you should resign from the office forthwith by handing in a paper indicating your intention. So I shall come to 27 Woolacombe upon getting to London, although I may ring Iris to make sure you have managed to resign OK. Have a word with her to let her know I may be doing so.

You will be able to go to the Registry Office, procure the licence, and ask how much notice they require of the marriage. If I arrived on the 16th or 17th for example, could we tell them at 4 p.m. one day we wanted to marry at 10 a.m. the next? Get that clear. Could we go there at 9 a.m. and ask to be married at 10.30 a.m. same day? You know what we shall require my dear.

Of course, you should not write me further. Or, at least, if you do write, hand me the letters, not post them.

I shall write Bert also tonight, telling him that I am on the way, but that he need not inconvenience himself to attend the ceremony. I want as little fuss as possible and the more people the more fuss one is likely to get. I suppose I shall now be compelled to attend his wedding. And you!

If you are as pleased and thrilled as me, you are very pleased and very thrilled.

Dearest One, I love you.

Chris