大象传媒

The following is a letter sent to my unclet and my mother plus friends in thanks for entertaining some wounded in Sheffield. The last paragraph is particulary memorable.
It is as follows:
RSM W.E. Constable
The Green Howards
Doncaster 17.9.1941

Dear Friends
Perhaps this letter will come as a surprise to you and you will have to try and recollect who I am. First of all I may explain that I am the person who replied to your very cordial invitation to 45 of us who attended the tea at the Fleur de Lis a week ago. That afternoon it was impossible for me to say the things I wanted to say. Your words of welcome were so wonderfully well chosen and spoken with so much feeling that it rather took my breath away. I was not prepared for such a welcome, neither was I prepared for such an entertaining afternoon and though I am addressing this to you personally it is intended for all those friends of yours who gave us such a wonderful time. It is hard to say the things one would like to do, but when I tell you that everyone had an enjoyable afternoon it will be some small recompense for what you did. To me, the day will live long in my memory. When I went to Sheffield I was a very sick man and though not yet up to standard I am back with my Unit awaiting to go on a period of sick furlough. I mentioned at the time that many of us had children like you at home and I especially felt very appreciative as I had not seen mine for a considerable time, in fact I have only been with them for 5 days since March 1940. You can imagine what I felt like to be entertained by you youngsters and you in particular who resembled my little boy. Your ideas of entertaining wounded and sick soldiers is a brilliant one and which deserves every assistance.
I was at Sheffield 6 weeks and during that time I received many kindnesses from all classes but Sept 8th will be long in my mind.It was one of those days when one could imagine you kiddies having a tea party and being entertained by older people, but no, you and your friends decided to entertain older people and right royally you did so too.
I hope you will convey to all your five friends my very grateful thanks for that day and also to those ladies who so nobly and willingly assisted you. I shall keep the cutting from the "Sheffield Independent" for my scrap book and as the years roll by I shall be able to look back with happy recollections of a really enjoyable afternoon with you.
I hope that, as some small recompense, I shall be able during the next few months to do a little towards bringing this dreadful war to a successful conclusion and that you and all your friends will, for the rest of your lives be able to live in a carefree way and no thought of war will again enter the minds of the peoples of this world.
Thank you all and may God give you guidance in the future to carry out such noble ideas.
yours very sincerely,

Wally E. Constable
The Green Howards

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