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Extracts from Arthur’s Letter’s to his Wife, Gladys, November 1942 —January 43

19-11-42 I could not tell you much in my post card which I sent almost immediately I reached the barracks but now am off duty and can tell you a little more. The journey was uneventful and I arrived here [Canterbury] at about 10.30 am and easily found the barracks. I went through the High Street which reminded me of some of the London streets — almost all the shops and houses on one side are flattened. The cathedral which I passed appears to be intact fortunately.

Arrived here a lot of time was spent in the completing of multitudes of documents during the course of which I was transformed into a number as above (No. 14335833). Our sleeping quarters are a room about fifty yards long and twenty across, beds along the two walls and by the beds steel lockers containing our possessions. It has been cold here all day as fires are not lighted until the late afternoon, but when the real work begins we shan’t spend much time in the dormitory. Of course training has not yet begun — it starts next Monday.

Last night was so cold and the bed was so hard I could not sleep for half the night — the others were the same however. But this phase will pass and once our real training begins we shall be able to sleep on the proverbial clothesline.

We rise at 7. am and are allowed until 8 to wash, shave, etc. The hour is needed because four wash basins must serve 26 men. Breakfast from 8 — 8.15. then our room duties until 8.30, ie sweeping floors, cleaning windows, polishing taps, dusting lamps etc. We all have a duty arranged by rota — this week I sweep, next week clean windows.

Well sweetheart I am aching in every one of my joints but it’s doing me no harm. We get plenty of foot drill, arms drill, lectures, P.T. and so on, and hardly a moment of our on-duty period is wasted. Then after tea cleaning brasses, boots, mess tins and everything else takes place. Last night I was working till lights out at 10.15. pm. It’s a few days nearer leave now and I have spent one week in the army.

Of course the work is not difficult as it’s mostly what I have done in H.G. [Home Guard] but with a difference. One is rushed at breakneck speed from bed to ablutions, room jobs are sped through, down to parade 2 stairs at a time, a quarter hour’s drill then marched at a great pace to breakfast which takes 15 minutes only. All through the day speed is insisted upon. It seems that our 6 week course formerly occupied 16 weeks under the old army regime. However, when, as now on Thursday evening, one has a little time to spare it is very acceptable. Just at this moment the dormitory is more peaceful than I have ever known it to be. Only 3 of us are in here and we are all writing. As a rule there’s a terrific uproar.

23-11-42 Today have had a harder time but am off duty now and able to write to you. Have been at it all day, drilling, receiving instruction about guns, and physical training.

Laundry was collected this morning — six articles per week may be sent, and not charge is made. We have two towels and are given soap coupons to obtain one cake per week. Also we get a sweet coupon which entitles us to 3 pieces of chocolate or the equivalent.

Undated, Nov 44 These first weeks in barracks are difficult ones because everything comes unnaturally to one, where the experienced soldiers would do our jobs in half the time. Also I am told that we are taking 6 weeks over the training which used to take 16 weeks so everything is done in haste and very little time is left to oneself.

There are inspections daily of one’s person, equipment, locker, bedding etc and all must be in order or we suffer the consequential extras in the way of fatigues.

Well dear I will do my best not to keep you waiting for a letter but if at any time I must miss a day or so it will only be because my time is officially taken up and not because of forgetfulness or neglect.

Am glad to say food is still satisfactory. Breakfast at 8 comprises porridge (which I eat, and it’s good!), something cooked, such as bacon and fried potatoes, bread and jam and a pint mug of tea. Dinner at 1 — usually beef and 2 vegetables, afterwards a milk pudding and bread. Nothing to drink with this meal however.tea at 5 — something like sausages & mash or pilchards, plenty of bread and butter, jam, and sometimes a cake or two. Pint mug of tea. The two pints of tea are all we are allowed, but during a break of ¼ hour at dinner (which we don’t always get if we are busy) and after duty tea can always be bought at the canteen.

The other fellows, of whom there are 25 in my platoon and therefore in my dormitory, are quite a decent crowd. Some are 18 — 19, others in my own age group [Arthur was 26] I get on with them all quite well.

All equipment is now to hand and all civilian clothing, except hankies which are not issued, are retained in the Q.M.’s (Quarter Master’s) Stores.

Today for the first time I shall go out of barracks to buy a few things after I’ve finished this letter. On Saturdays we have dinner at 1 o’clock as usual and then are free to go out etc.

Well sweetheart for a short time I have the quarters to myself all the others having gone to town — the sun is shining through the windows just at this moment and I am writing on a wooden bench containing a Bren gun, between the rows of beds and lockers.

I hear guns and planes but probably this only indicates that raiders are coming over the coast which is only a few miles from here. We’ve had several day warnings but no raids.

7-12-42 Just a short note to let you know how things are going — I’m supposed to be
cleaning but am taking a little time off. Only four more days before I see my beloved wife — I shall catch the 6.15 pm from Canterbury to Bromley all being well.

Have had a strenuous day and feel tired — this concentrated training comes hard on people who, like myself, have had several years sitting at a desk without exercise. They make us travel at the double so much.

If it’s no trouble dearest could you get me a torch battery — flat 41/2 volts — and, if possible, a small nail brush — the latter I want for cleaning brass buttons.

Well darling I shall have to resume my work now so good-bye for the present — look after yourself.

9-12-42 This afternoon was devoted to recreation — a pleasant interlude — we played
hockey up to 4 o’clock. I have never played it before but found it enjoyable — we play in our gym things on a grass pitch the size of a football pitch and the rules are rather similar to those of football. The sun shone and we were playing on an elevated situation from whence we could look down upon Canterbury dominated by the cathedral, and the hills that rise all around.

After the hockey we were left to our own devices and thus I am able to write this letter to my own darling wife…

The fires have just been lit and black-out put up — lights have been put on though it’s almost dark as the light bulbs are so weak. Everybody is standing with their mugs and eating irons ready for tea and we shall soon be paraded and marched off to the mess. We are always paraded wherever we go — one can never go to any place naturally but is always drawn up into formation with the platoon and shepherded by brassy lunged N.C.O’s. It’s very irksome.

19-12-42 This morning — Sunday — we had no parade so three of us went to Canterbury Cathedral having obtained permission to leave barracks earlier than the usual time which is eleven o’clock. The service began at 10.30 and was an ordination service …the Archbishop of Canterbury was present in his robes with all the lesser acolytes in his train. The cathedral of course does not look at its best: nearly all the stained glass windows have gone and not been replaced, and the main part is not in use. The service was held at the back, and the windows were boarded up. It was interesting nevertheless

I am going to write to Mum after this and then to work cleaning my equipment in preparation for dragging it through the mud tomorrow. It seems silly to clean the stuff but one has to be spick and span for the company parade at 9 o’clock in the morning. After the officers inspection nobody bothers about how dirty you become and it’s impossible to keep clean in this job.

It’s cold in the dormitory as both fires have gone out and the few people indoors are too busy writing or sleeping to re-light them.

We will have Christmas Day free, also the Saturday which is Boxing Day and Sunday of course though there will be two church parades. Then we shall have to think of preparing for our new destination.

24-12-42 By the way I don’t think I told you about a series of lectures we have here —
the first dealt with ‘What we are fighting for and against’ then ‘The Social Services’ and ‘Information Services’. These lectures are a real step forward in the army teaching the men what democracy really means and how it affects their lives. Complete freedom of discussion is allowed at these lectures and I consider they are very useful.

A friend of mine, Harry H, is very melancholy: a parcel which he was expecting from his girl has not arrived. He despairs so easily. His young lady writes him daily, yet if a mail is delayed he walks about looking like Hamlet. He’s getting married shortly and is very fond of his Annie naturally — she is coming to Canterbury on Sunday to see him.

29-12-42 I am writing to you on my last day at Canterbury. Tomorrow I shall rise at
5 o’clock, breakfast at 6 and parade ready for marching off at 6.30 am. I am hoping to be able to ring you, but it looks rather impossible because I shall probably be in London early and you may not have reached the office. Unfortunately arrangements have only just been finalised and even now I don’t know what trains I am supposed to catch. I expect this is done so that we cannot arrange to meet our loved ones and thereby perhaps miss our connections. At all events I’ll do my level best to speak to you on the ‘phone for a little while.

These two days have been very much occupied with blancoing equipment, cleaning brasses and disposing of that part of our equipment which we leave behind us. But there’s plenty left and we shall have heavy burdens to bear. We’ve been on a fatigue this afternoon, collecting bathfuls of wood and distributing them to the different rooms. It’s finished now and I’ve had a slice of Harry’s cake.

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