大象传媒

15th 1940. Thursday night. Albert, Tidworth.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I have had your letter this afternoon. I see you have had my photo, it鈥檚 good isn鈥檛 it? I was wondering whether to have a framed picture made of it and as Eveline says she is going to have two or three coloured, I thought if it would be possible to have that coloured too. Anyway, she鈥檚 going to enquire of the photographer.
We鈥檝e just come out of an air-raid, it鈥檚 8.15 now and it鈥檚 been on since 5.30. that鈥檚 three in succession. One on Tuesday night, last night and now tonight, all about the same time, 5.30 and lasting about 2 or 3 hours. No damage has been done on any occasion around Tidworth, I don鈥檛 know about any other places. Yesterday they dropped bombs, but not a 陆d of damage was done, they all fell on waste land
I鈥檓 on Main Guard tomorrow night. It鈥檚 not too bad, it鈥檚 just according to what shift I鈥檓 on. The best is from 10 - 12 and 4 to 6. I can get 4 hours sleep on that. I shall get over it on Saturday afternoon, we generally get in bed for a few hours.
We hear the news now. A chap in our squad has had a brand new set sent him and it is at present working off batteries, but it will also work off the electric. When we鈥檝e got time we will connect it up to the mains. It鈥檚 a champion set.
That Pathe Pictorial on the Capitol would probably be us. They took several pictures of us as we moved off the parade ground for the afternoon drive.
.

I went to the pictures on Sat and Sun night and very nearly Mon night, but I decided to do a bit of work instead. It鈥檚 very easy now, although we have a lot of spit and polish. We know how to do it and it doesn鈥檛 take long. I鈥檝e been doing a bit tonight, ready for guard tomorrow and now it only wants about 10 minutes for lights out,.
Good night all,. Cheerio and good luck, from your loving Alb. Xxx.

Aug 25th 1940. Sunday afternoon. Tidworth.
Dear Mother and Dad,
I鈥檓 having a very idle day, none of us got up till 7.45 this morning. The paper chap came up at 7.15 and we were smoking and reading until nearly breakfast time. I don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e ever done this at home, so you can see that we鈥檙e getting used to Army life.
We had the Gaumont News and a lot of press photographers here on Friday. I鈥檝e told Eveline where to look for me on the films. I believe it will be on the Regent when they change the news reel, so I told Eveline to try and go on Thursday. Of course it may not be shown on that day, but there鈥檚 a chance, and as it was written on the van 鈥淕aumont鈥�, I take it that it will be shown at the Regent.
This affair did us a good turn, we finished at 3.30 in the afternoon, but as there was a big kit and rifle inspection on Saturday morning, we did a bit of cleaning.
I was going to the pictures last night, but just as we were about to go to tea, the old siren went. It was a typical air-raid, no planes, no bombs and of course no damage. It lasted from 4.30 until 5.15. I believe the wireless went off about that time. We can鈥檛 grumble up to now, we鈥檝e only had half a dozen bombs dropped at Tidworth.
Well, after tea it was too late to go to the pictures, because they鈥檙e usually full up about 5.30. so we just lay on our beds wondering what to do, until from downstairs came familiar voices, talking about getting the main guard together, because those who should have been on it were out of barracks on other duties connected with the air-raid. This didn鈥檛 disturb us, until we heard the orderly corporal say that he would go upstairs and dig a dozen chaps out. That did it; some chaps pulled their blankets over the side of their bed and hid underneath; some grabbed all their kit and were still putting it on when they got to the guardroom; others, including me, dashed across to the lavatories for half an hour or so. The room was apparently deserted in 10 seconds, far quicker than when the siren went. He didn鈥檛 get any of our chaps, but he did get his dozen.
I don鈥檛 know whether I told you, but I鈥檝e sent Eveline the money for the picture, and that鈥檚 my birthday present for her. It鈥檚 rather early but I am too anxious and it鈥檚 done now. I never know whether I may be confined to barracks.
I鈥檝e just started to darn my socks. They鈥檝e lasted very well, 17 weeks now and never a hole. I think I may be having a leave in less than five weeks, because we finish our training in 4 weeks. I see that most of 22 squad have gone on their week鈥檚 leave this weekend. It is rumoured that they only get 5 days, but we shall have to wait and see.
I hear on the news that there were raids over the Midlands almost in every news bulletin. Perhaps it means Brum and the surrounding districts.
Well, I think I鈥檒l have a wash and shave and get ready for the pictures. I鈥檓 keeping fine and OK for everything. Love to all at home and Auntie Ethel and family. Alb. Xxx.

September 1 1940. Sunday evening. Tidworth.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I鈥檝e had a lovely time this week end. On Friday afternoon we went on manoeuvres to Burbage, a nice little Wiltshire village about a dozen miles away. We were under canvas, but the officers and NCOs lived in a manor the Government had acquired.
As soon as we settled down, it was supper time real army style, with billy cans and the long queue past the table where it was given out. We had cocoa and a nice piece of slab cake. It was so nice that I joined the queue again, this time with 2 pieces of cake. So, I did very well under active service conditions. At 9.0 at night, it was our troop鈥檚 turn to go out on patrol for 4 hours until 1 am Sat morning. There were six of us in a lorry with a light anti-aircraft gun, a machine gun and 4 rifles, and a car with 3 chaps and a wireless for sending and receiving.
Our first stop was a cafe for something to eat and drink, that over we went on our travels again. Nothing at all happened while we were out, at midnight we called at an all night transport cafe. It was packed with drivers and a few Army and RAF chaps who were probably hitch-hiking. We had coffee and a meat pie. Off we went again making our way back to camp. It was a bitterly cold night and it reminded us that winter was coming. I was well padded with puttees, greatcoat, and scarf. I got into bed just as I was dressed, except that I took my boots off, and awakened next morning to dash down, for breakfast at 8.0, without having time for a wash and shave.
It was a lovely meal, 2 rounds of bread and butter, fish, porridge, and tea. I leisurely had a wash and shave, took my ground sheet, writing pad and fags up to the top of the field, and part sunbathed, part wrote for a few hours until dinner.
At 1.0 we were on patrol again until 5.0 Sat teatime. Our tea was like dinner; there was stew, potatoes and bread, then pink rice pudding, nice and sweet. We had finished now for the rest of our stay. Three of us went for a walk over the fields and through lanes teeming with blackberries and elderberries. It鈥檚 a lovely district for fruit, nearly everyone has apple and plum trees, and they give them to us.
We could stop out until 12.0 and breakfast again at 8.0 am. I had another dash for this. I stopped in bed until just 8.0. it was more like a holiday. There were no parades, no inspections and we could walk about without hats or coats. They brought us back just before dinner today, the end of a perfect weekend.
We start tomorrow with a 1 and 3/4 hours cross-country run, but it鈥檚 very enjoyable in just our shorts and pumps. There are 5 squads, numbering some 150 chaps, so there will be plenty of dust flying about, that鈥檚 the trouble with this nice weather. The plains get very dry and dusty, and the tanks churn it up until we resemble colliers every time we come in off the plains.
I鈥檓 going to fetch my cocoa and cake now, it鈥檚 supper time.
Good night love to all at home.
Cheerio from your loving Alb. Xxx.

Sept 5th 1940. Thursday night. Albert, Tidworth.
Dear Mother and Dad,
I鈥檝e had a very, very nice birthday; the only trouble is that I haven鈥檛 the time to thank everyone as quick as I should like to.
I had two parcels off you and Eveline, cards off you, Auntie Ethel, Eveline, her mother, Kathy and Uncle Ted, Aunt Polly sent me a letter and 2/- postal order, Auntie Ethel sent me 10/-, you and Uncle Levi 拢1. Kathy sent me 20 Craven A. I think that鈥檚 the lot, so you can see I had a very nice time. My locker is packed out. The cake Eveline sent me is beautiful. I did hand it round last night, but I have over half left, thank goodness.
Thanks for all you鈥檝e sent me, Mother and Dad. Thanks to Auntie Ethel and Uncle Sam, also Uncle Levi. I will do my best to write to them all on Sunday.
Last night I was very busy on cleaning, because a General came to view us this morning and everything had to be just so so.
Now tonight and tomorrow, we are cleaning again, for a big kit and equipment inspection on Saturday morning/ it鈥檚 all cleaning and polishing here. As a rule it never troubles me, but with there being two in a matter of a few days and such a lot of writing to do, I am having a bit of a struggle. Never mind, all will be OK again on Sunday, I hope, that鈥檚 if we鈥檙e not on Church Parade.
By the way, everything, parcels and money, arrived quite safely and in no way damaged.
I鈥檒l write to Auntie Ethel, soon I hope, and I am very highly honoured to have a letter off her; it will be saved with the rest of them in my locker.
Fancy the Sentinel being 1陆d. I was surprised when I saw that. I bet that has knocked the sales off a bit. I have forgotten what Civvy Street is like. Eveline tells me lemons are 5d each; this is another big shock. Well, I hope to have time to see for myself very soon, probably in less than 3 weeks. We have nearly done one week of our last 3 weeks on gunnery. We鈥檝e not had any raids for weeks now. I鈥檓 sorry about you having them. You have had your share since they started, but this winter will bring them to a close, perhaps never to come again. Well, Mum, it鈥檚 nearly lights out now, so I must close much against my will. Fancy 10.15 and we have to go to bed.
Goodnight all, cheerio, and thanks again for all you have sent. Love to all at home, Alb. Xxx.
PS. I nearly forgot. Eveline wants me to thank you very very much for the coat, frock, skirt, etc, and I thank you too. Eveline doesn鈥檛 know how to thank you enough, so she asked me to explain how she feels about it. She鈥檚 very pleased with them and likes them very much. She says they鈥檙e very expensive too. Well, I know you always buy the goods. You always have done.
Well I must close now, thanks again. Remember me to Auntie Ethel and family. Cheerio and God bless you. Alb.

September 12 1940. Thursday 9.30 am. No 7909285, Tpr Shore, A E,
HQ Squadron,
3rd Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment,
c/o GPO Cambridge.
Dear Mother and Dad,
Here鈥檚 the new address, sounds good, doesn鈥檛 it. Well, it isn鈥檛. It鈥檚 under canvas. I think I鈥檒l start from the beginning.
We started from Tidworth at 7.30 am Tuesday and had to wait outside London for 1陆 to 2 hours because of an air-raid. When we got in London at Waterloo, there was another raid lasting about an hour. We never saw any planes or heard any bombs.
Then, getting on the Tube, we could only get as far as Mansion House so we had to walk to Liverpool Street station, a distance of over a mile, with full pack and kit bag. Then after a wait of an hour for the train, we pushed off for Cambridge, arriving 7.30.
No-one here knew anything about us coming, so there was tons of messing about. We had to get in a marquee already comfortably full. Then there was only enough blankets to go round 2 each, and we had the choice of boards or the ground to sleep on. I chose the ground after one night on boards.
They got us a bit of supper, which we had to feel for, because of no lamps in the dining tents, then decided to turn in. It was then 10.0. we鈥檙e 5 miles out of Cambridge and right in no-man鈥檚-land, away from bus routes, cinemas and civilisation.
Getting up on Wednesday, by the way reveille should be at 6.30 but no-one gets up until 7.30. breakfast should be 6.45, but it鈥檚 nearer 8.0. PT at 7.20, but no-one ever does it. That鈥檚 the way of living down here. No-one cares what we do, same as this morning. It鈥檚 10.0 now and I haven鈥檛 done anything yet. Yesterday morning we had a march to the Medical Office, about 2陆 miles away, and in the afternoon I was detailed to tighten guy ropes on the tents. That was the day鈥檚 work. No-one cares what we do as long as the camp is kept in order, spud peeling and cookhouse jobs, lavatories clean and camp area tidy, and a spot of night guard.
We have to use billy cans and mess tins, wash and shave in cold water, in fact it鈥檚 like active service with no fighting.
We can鈥檛 get to know anything about leave, pay, duties or why we鈥檙e here. There are half the Regiment away on a week鈥檚 leave. Among them are the Sgt Major, Quartermaster, Sergeants and other chaps in authority. Until these come back we will have to hang on. The address is one that is sorted at the Cambridge Post Office and a lorry from here collects the post and delivers it to the various tank camps around the district.
The food is far better than Tidworth and as much as we like. That鈥檚 one good point, the one thing that really matters.
I shan鈥檛 be able to write at nights because there鈥檚 only one dull oil lamp in the marquee, just enough light to see to get into bed.
There鈥檚 no lockers here and all our tackle is piled up behind our beds. It鈥檚 half an hour鈥檚 job to get anything we want, but we have plenty of time to get it, so far.
There鈥檚 a van that goes to Cambridge at 6.0 every night, and we have to rely upon the van driver to post our letters. I don鈥檛 know when you will receive them.
We saw a little damage when we were in London, but it was really nothing. Of course, London鈥檚 a big place and we may have been through the lucky area.
We haven鈥檛 any wireless or papers so I will have to rely upon letters to bring me news from the Universe.
Well, mother, apart from a few inconveniences, the life isn鈥檛 too bad. The meals are good, but there鈥檚 no hopes of keeping ourselves tidy. As son as we step out of the tent, we鈥檙e covered with dust, and are just as though we鈥檇 never brushed or washed ourselves.
It鈥檚 a good job there are no parades or inspections.
The Sgt Major comes back from leave today, so we鈥檙e going to ask him about leave for us tomorrow.
I must close now, hoping you鈥檙e having no raids like us.
Good morning and good luck. If you should write Arley, let them know my new address please. Here鈥檚 hoping for leave very soon. Love to all and Auntie Ethel and family, from Alb. Xxx.

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