´óÏó´«Ã½

Extracts from Arthur Allvey’s letters to his wife, Gladys, July — August 1944

27-7-44 Yes, affairs inside Germany appear to be very confused and I’m hoping the rot has set in now that a section of the German army leaders has seen the red light and rebelled against Hitler. Everything points to a speedy ending to the war now — in the East especially the Germans have much to fear with the Russians within a stone’s throw of E. Prussia and still pushing remorselessly on. No wonder they send us appealing pamphlets showing what great friends we and they are, despite a certain rivalry, whilst the Russians are the root of all evil.

Everything is as usual out here and, at the moment, we manage to keep our heads above water nicely with the work.

Sometimes we have fresh meat and vegetables as a change from the tinned stuff and we always have bread now.

We’re in a very attractive piece of country just now and, if only the weather was clement, it would be delightful here but, the ground being naturally somewhat boggy, when it rains it’s just a sticky mess.

I’ve not seen Montgomery out here nor his famous caravan. I hear that Winston paid us a visit recently and watched an artillery shoot — I didn’t see him either.

2-8-44 This letter has already been interrupted three times as targets have come down which had to be plotted and engaged but this is customary and one seldom has the opportunity of completing a letter without some such delays. Like you I sometimes have to continue my letters on the day following that upon which it’s begun.

You know the news concerning the activity on this front: the Americans are only about 30 miles from St. Nazaire and the British Army is moving up at a very nice rate too. I can see the time coming when we shall have our work cut out to keep up with the advance — we never stay many days at a single position now. The Russians too are going ahead wonderfully aren’t they…

This is a record day for targets — every few minutes I have to leave this letter and it’s hours ago since I began it — it’s getting dusk so I may have to finish it tomorrow.

Am still in very fine country — picturesque, I should say, not so fine for fighting in though. Again we are on a farm abounding in animals including some enormous hogs.

Today we are on the move again as fresh advances have been made. This by the way is Thursday as I had to leave my letter last night. It’s rather a dull morning but I think it’s going to be fine presently. The cows have just been milked in the farmyard opposite and the eggs have been collected.

This country is full of orchards, chiefly apples, and the trees are well laden though the fruit isn’t ripe enough to eat. We have fresh food generally nowadays. We still receive plenty of books but have little time to read them.

6-8-44 I was awfully pleased to receive your letter of 1st August today, previously a day upon which we should have journeyed into the countryside together especially in such delightful weather as we are now enjoying over here [ie, it was the August Bank Holiday at home] Oh, if only we were back in those days how wonderful it would be … I must be patient until the happy day when we are no longer separated but will settle down in a peaceful world — soon now, I am confident beloved so don’t be depressed my dear…

I didn’t go to the rest camp because I don’t want to rest until this wretched war is ended. I think everybody feels the same because, of the C.P. staff, at least, not a single person volunteered to go. No dearest, unless I can come home I’d rather continue as I am — the work is sufficient to keep me occupied very fully so that the time passes, whereas at a rest camp I should have too much time to dwell upon things.

Yes dear as you surmise I am very busy and all is going well as you will have learned from the press reports, both here and on the Americans’ sector. The Germans are using their maximum forces and effort but without avail and the end is in sight. The Russians will soon be in the main part of Germany and it won’t be long then.

I’m sorry that my letters have been unsatisfactory but it’s so awkward having one’s own officers censor one’s mail- people with whom I work daily and so I can’t unburden my heart of all I feel. This letter will go in a green envelope which means it will be censored by the base censor.

9-8-44 With reference to your question we were told that the majority of French dogs had rabies and R.H.Q. issued orders that they weren’t to be touched even. However many of the dogs I’ve seen in the occupied farms appeared to be in good condition and one doesn’t see many stray dogs.

You certainly would enjoy this country my dear. There are no really big towns nor built up areas in this part of Normandy but numerous farmsteads and small collections of cottages built of solid, grey stone. Around them are fine orchards, meadow lands and woods spread over undulating country an bounded by hedgerows just as in England wherein one finds honeysuckle, foxgloves and other wild plants.

We are at present located in one of these farm buildings which has obviously been evacuated hurriedly everything being left as it must have been when its tenants were in occupation; the furniture we use and even have soft beds to sleep in — the curtains are still up at the windows and, in the living room which we use as our C.P., is a clock which still records the time correctly and chimes each hour. It makes me long for home more than ever when it chimes because it sounds just like our grandmother clock. The cows here are still living and you’d be amused by the sight of them solemnly ambling up to the C.P. at milking time and patiently standing, whilst our chaps obligingly milk them. We’re never without milk now and the cows quickly grew to acknowledge us as their new cowhands. In the garden we have peas, beans, potatoes and all kinds of greens. Our chickens are fast disappearing as we’ve had chicken for dinner three times in the last few days and eggs are a regular feature… As you can see we live very comfortably here and have no lack of nourishing food — I only wish you could have as good fare my darling wife…

11-8-44 There isn’t really a lot to tell you in this letter dear. Today we’ve been a bit slacker than usual so I’ve had time to do some reading and also played a few games of dominoes. The news continues to be excellent doesn’t it dearest and there’s evidently something radically wrong I German political circles which augers well for us.

How has your father enjoyed his holiday? I imagine that the unfortunate population of London are unable to enjoy their holidays in these days of flying bombs, but, at any rate, he will have a rest and a change from his usual dull routine and an opportunity to look after the vegetables on his allotment and in his garden.

I see that, after a great deal of controversy, the beaches are being opened to the public. It would be fine if you could get away to a coastal place…I suppose the Bank Holiday this year meant as little to you as it did to us out here. Well the next public holiday is Christmas and I’m hoping there will be a very different tale to tell then.

A little black dog has just run into the C.P. but was soon chased out as it may have rabies. However there’s a small kitten which is a regular visitor and we make a great fuss of it as it’s a very pretty little thing.

11-8-44 I’m very pleased to hear that you intend to go away for a while… It would be a great relief to me darling to know that you and Marian were in a safe area as your being in London is a constant source of anxiety to me. I know very well how bad things are as one of the fellows in this battery has just returned from a compassionate leave, his home having been destroyed.

Whether leave to England will be granted later I don’t know: nothing has been said about it as yet darling but, with the war going as it is, I don’t suppose we shall have leave because it should be over soon…

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.