Dug these out this morning Martin. A hand me down from pop. Grown up with the strop hanging up on the hook on the kitchen door, pulled taught by hand for honing. Used to shave the back of my neck with them up to a couple of years ago, until the inherited tremor called time on that - it's not the drink I tell you! Prior to I'd used 'em for fizzog too, but these days strictly a safety razor chap. They made for a great shave, a close shave no less, but practicalities have confined 'em to the "once was" drawer for keeps now, and in today's world I couldn't contemplate moving them on, giving them away, because the concern of possible nefarious use would always be there, so "keepers" till toes are turned up they are. Kind regards, lather me up, hose me down, always, Jim.
Thanks Jim. I remember my old barber shaving the back of my neck with one after a routine haircut, I always rather enjoyed the feeling, but I’ve never treated myself to the full works. I don’t go to the barber anymore. Invested in some clippers during Covid and the missus does a fabulous job on me barnet, best £12 I ever spent (on the clippers, not the missus you understand ).
The only way to go Martin! I've cut my own hair since I was twenty (a long long long time ago), cheesed off with the administered "boule à zéro", I thought given the outcome I might as well do it myself. Hand clippers, razor comb, razor, and nowadays like you and your good lady it's the electric clippers. More slasha dispel than Sacha Distel though Kind regards, something for the weekend sir, always, Jim.
No barber has ever asked me that Jim - I think one look at my face and they thought there was never any chance I’d ever need that something! "boule à zéro", I had to look that up (embarrassing given my French A-Level ). That’s one of the things I’m really enjoying in this thread, which I meant to say to John in my reply just now. I’m learning a lot of stuff, not just from the letters, but from you guys.
Random searches at IWM re place names and "92nd". { We had to do Jean-Paul Sartres "Les Mouches" for A level - a barrel of laughs. Our French teacher was a lovely chap called Monsieur Béar. ) Private Papers of K J Hewitt photograph photograph THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE 1940 Private Papers of E J Manley Private Papers of C G King https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80001049 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80023552 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060034155 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060034162 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060034147
I believe we read Camus’ La Peste, equally riveting. I won’t name my French teacher, but she was lovely (pause to swoon). Great links John, thank you for taking the trouble to look for them. I confess I’m hopeless searching for things like this on the IWM and TNA sites. This thread has been so beneficial in so many ways. Such a shame the audio and movie clips aren’t available to just click on, listen and/or watch. I see Gun Buster himself has a recording of his experience at Dunkirk! I instantly wondered if Grandad was going to pop up in any of the films, especially the Christmas clip, he was out there for the festivities as you’ve read, but logic dictates to me he’d have surely told my Nan that he might be in a newsreel and to watch out for him at the pictures.
Filmed on the same day BEF celebrate Christmas in France "CHRISTMAS B.E.F. Xmas party in France - eating & singing MILITARY B.E.F. Xmas party in France - eating & singing. Military - Rest and Recuperation; Celebrations - Read more Data FILM ID: VLVA7BIQVONG2BH4JBB582SX2C2YI ARCHIVE: Reuters GROUP: GAUMONT BRITISH NEWSREEL (REUTERS) ISSUE DATE: 25/12/1939 IWM version GUNNERS ON EXERCISES [Allocated Title] Description Object description Unedited and uncensored newsreel rushes filmed on showing artillerymen serving with the British Expeditionary Force on duty during the Christmas holiday period at the end of 1939. Full description Part 1. Christmas Day scenes shot from different perspectives to help the film editor showing two men serving in an anti-aircraft regiment filing along a trench and entering a small shelter made out of corrugated iron through a wooden door marked 'Cafe Anglais'; the men are wearing steel helmets and are dressed warmly to protect themselves from the frost and snow and there are Christmas decorations over the doorway. Interior shots showing at least five gunners huddled together inside the shelter enjoying slices of cake; pinned to the wall behind them is an aircraft recognition poster. They suddenly get up from their places and dash out of the shelter. Shots taken from different perspectives to aid film editing showing a look out on duty next to a range-finder (?) sounding the alarm as he spots an unseen enemy aircraft, at which point, his comrades run out of the corrugated iron shelter and another one nearby. The men are seen dashing across the snow-covered field to man their QF 3-inch 20-cwt anti-aircraft guns positioned inside neat square sandbag emplacements. The members of one 3-inch gun crew are seen closed-up at their action stations. Full description Part II. A single interior shot inside a field artillery troop or battery command post (possibly 92nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery) showing a gunner picking up a field telephone handle. Six artillerymen are seen closed up around their QF 25-pounder Mk I field gun and its ammunition limber as it fires smoke rounds; because of the cold, they are all wearing greatcoats and have their gas mask satchels slung around their necks in compliance with standing orders. A troop of four Ordnance QF 25-pounder gun crews is seen in action. At the troop or battery command post, a signaller puts down his field telephone receiver and takes down a message. The troop officer and his assistant plot target ranges using an ordinary wooden table as a desk; their truck is parked nearby. A 25-pounder gun crew is seen in action; the gun carriage has a split trail indicating that it was once fitted with an 18-pounder gun. The troop officer watches all four of his guns in action. Physical description 35mm Later Edit: Found the IWM version on YouTube: rather cold weather: frost.
Marvellous effort again. I tried to find the Gunners Celebrate Christmas one on YouTube too, but no luck thus far sadly. Found this one, though, the BEF Christmas film which must be the same one you mention above.
No spoilers Martin, just giving you advance notice that I'm sitting on a couple of February 1940 related items, and am resisting all temptation to post up before you start putting any of your February letters up. Keep 'em coming, but in your own good time, always. Kind regards, no teasers, no trailers, always, Jim.
Not sure about the no teasers Jim, I’m teased! Looking forward to your stash when I get to the February mail. Your wait won’t be too long - there are only two letters in January, dated 10th and 18th, and just the two for February too. You may remember from his record that he was admitted to the Field Ambulance/CCS on 14 January and transferred to 2 General Hospital on the 16th. He was discharged on 4 February. This may explain the paucity of letters for January, but the latter one must have been written while he was laid up, given its date. The two letters in February are dated the 6th and 24th, but, as we know, he talks excitedly and often of his leave being in February, so we can safely assume that he was at home at some point between those dates.
This letter is dated 10 January 1940 and is a bit shorter than the others, 3 pages only. He was still in Armentières at this point. Transcribed as usual, quote: “10/1/40 Wed. My Dearest Elsie, I hope you are feeling better than you said you were as I am quite o.k., so please stop worrying. In fact I am much better than a lot of our chaps as there are quite a number of them with flu, and about 7 or 8 have gone to hospital. ** I expect by now you have received the letters you have been waiting for, in which I explained the reason for the delay. Yes, I liked Violet’s letter very much and I bet they both enjoyed theirselves. You will find a ring card enclosed as you said. One of our chaps had a complete set of them and he gave me the size I wanted. Well I went to the pictures again last Friday and saw Jeannette McDonald and Nelson Eddy in ‘Maytime’ and it was a lovely picture. And now I have got a surprise for you. I expect you know that there are a certain number of concert parties from England out here. Well, I was chosen with 12 others to go and see one last night. Who do you think I saw. First there was “Jean Melville”, then “Lyle Evans”, or “your old friend Dan”, then “Jane Carr” and “Marion Davies”, then “Dennis Noble” the tenor. After that “Mrs Feather” in ringing up the Butcher. You’ve heard that on the wireless. Then “Lilian Heath”, a soprano, and last of all “Billy Russell” as the ‘working man’. It was a jolly good show and it would cost you a bit to see it in London. Well dear this place we are at is a big town although we can’t see much of it as all the place is in darkness, except for the cafes and there are quite a number of them. I think we’re off on a few days stunts (?) again shortly so don’t get worried if you get a letter late. As near as I can tell you dear I should be home between the 17th & 20th of February which is 5 weeks time and that will soon be here. By the way, when I come home I shall come to Victoria Station as we all do, so would you like to meet me there or wait till I get home, as I could probably let you know beforehand what time I will arrive at the station. I know this is all a bit previous but I am beginning to get a bit excited, as you are I expect. I’m very sorry to think that we shall see Billy & Violet for only 1 day, as if I had my way I would have them home for the time I am home, but we can’t pick and choose can we dear. Well sweetie I think this is all for the present so will close this letter and get to bed as it is past 9oc. So with Fondest Love I remain Your Ever Loving Husband Wally xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For the dear kiddies xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” Unquote. ** ironically four days later he was off to the CCS and then hospital himself! Another spelling puzzler, where would be without them - I’m not sure if the word I highlighted is “stunts”, but it could make sense I suppose, does he mean off on exercises, for example… I have found a few of the concert performers, not all, but most. The only Marion Davies was a comedic American star of the silent movies and into the 1930s and I am just guessing he was talking about the same performer, but I cannot swear to it. Would an American actress have been in a show for British troops in France in 1940? Or is there another Marion Davies? The gossipy Mrs Feather was a character created for radio by Jeanne De Casalis, and there are a few clips of her online. Dennis Noble, a baritone apparently, not a tenor: I believe when he refers to Billy Russell’s “working man”, he’s presumably talking about Billy’s “on behalf of the working classes” performance. Billy performed as that famous old WW1 character “Old Bill”. Voices of Variety » Billy Russell Jane Carr: Jane Carr | Actress, Soundtrack And how can we leave out our old favourites, Nelson and Jeanette: Jean Melville I couldn’t find at all, nor the correct Lilian Heath.
18 January 1940 and written in hospital. Now I know why he was in there, no great surprise really given what he’d said in his last letter, and for the first time he mentions by name one of his own mates, presumably in his Battery. Here’s what it says. Quote: “Thurs. 18th. My dearest Elsie, I’m glad to see that you got the letters alright, as I told you that you would get them sooner or later. Yes I received Aunt Beat’s cigs last Wednesday and have wrote to her. Also I received your parcel of shaving brush and gloves last Sunday together with the letter. The chap that gave me the Balaclava helmet is one of the gang named Hughie Wilson and comes from Newcastle. I thought it was too good of the Army to give any extra money for more than one week, still it helped you for Christmas didn’t it. ** About that rent, you are not going to let that worry you as I told you a long time ago, they cannot do anything about it. Next time you see him I should tell him to go to the Army Authorities if they want any extra so stop worrying will you. I’ve just thought of an idea. Will you send the Borough’s letter out to me and I will show it to the Major and see what he says. He will probably shut them up. *** Well I saw another picture last Friday, Spencer Tracy & Jean Harlow in “Riff Raff of 1930”, it was jolly good. Right opposite our billet is a big cathedral nearly new, replaced because the old one was shelled to the ground in the last war. I walked round the inside of it, and a more beautiful place you never saw. Different statues of priests they have, and in one corner there is the statue of Mary, with Christ on her lap, the lamb beside her, and the deciples [sic] giving presents, all done in coloured figures. It was worth going to see. I said that I may be going away for a few days in that last letter. Well some of the battery went but I didn’t. But I went away on Sunday in an Ambulance. Now don’t get alarmed and I’ll tell you what it’s all about. You remember I said that a lot of chaps had gone away with coughs and all that. Well it got me, and it is Flu. I should have gone to the local hospital, but that was being evacuated so about 300 of us were put on a hospital train and sent to the base at Dieppe, where we are now. I have had 2 days in bed and got up about 1 hour before I wrote this letter. It is No. 2 General Hospital, but you send letters to the usual address as I shall soon be going back to the unit. I feel all the better for the rest dear, it was a treat to be waited on in bed, real beds too, and hospital blue uniforms with the old red tie. Also I want to get back to the unit quickly to see how the leave list is going on as it won’t be long now, only about 4 weeks dear. Well dear I don’t think there is much more to say at present dear except that next time I write I hope to be back with the boys, so will close with fondest Love from Your Ever Loving Husband Wally xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For Kiddies xxxxxxxxxxxx P.S. Thank Francis for Shaving Brush.” Unquote. ** this presumably refers to his comment in his letter dated 15th November regarding an extra allowance, which I repeat here: “I see by the morning paper we get here, which is the Continental Daily Mail, that all married men’s families are getting an extra allowance for the children which will mean an extra 4/- on your money. This will date from the 13th Nov, but you will not get it for 3 or 4 weeks yet.” It seems it was no great surprise to him that the Army didn’t make this payment for long. *** I presume he would be referring to his Battery Major at this time, Major R. A. Martin. I love that he thinks his Officer will sort out the council. The film he mentions was “Riffraff” and was made in 1935, being released in the UK in 1936. (Image courtesy of IMDb). He gives a clue as to where he was billeted in Armentieres, although, of course, there would have been at least four sides around the cathedral that would be opposite it. The cathedral could possibly be either L’église Saint-Vaast or L’église Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur… Also, whilst he says he is currently in Dieppe, I understand from some threads on here that 2 General Hospital was, in fact, in Offranville at this time? That’s less than 10km from Dieppe, mind, so maybe that’s why he said he was there. One very nice thing I have also gleaned from all these letters - Aunt Beat was a bloody good old stick wasn’t she, as was Aunt Annie, always sending him parcels and fags! And I’ve no idea about either of them, sadly.
Excellent stuff again Martin. And yes, No.2 G H then at Offranville. Can't remember if I posted this up before, in another thread maybe? Screenshot from "Scarlet Finders" (dated 31st August this year). Why the heck would I have got that then? Dotage; only ten days since and I can't remember! Keep 'em coming, they are such a good read. Kind degards, always, Jim.
