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Extracts from Arthur’s Letters to his wife, Gladys, November — December1944

5-11-44 Thanks for your letter No. 1, dated 31st October. I think it’s a good plan to number each letter as we used to do and shall also adopt this practice beginning with the present letter.

All these conflicting prognostications on the probable duration of the war are very unsettling, but event the Germans are now convinced that they cannot win — even Goebbels admits that it would be a miracle if they won the war. What can the morale of the nation be when its leaders admit they are beaten…

With reference to what you have heard about conditions in Brussels, according to what people who have been there say, things aren’t so bad. Leave parties occupy the best hotels and the usual staffs are employed. They have good beds with sheets, blankets etc., and hot water. The usual army rations are cooked by the chef and served up by waiters. There are plenty of canteens and cafes where there are ample supplies of cakes, ice cream coffee etc. However, it may be that in the suburbs of Brussels, and in other parts of Belgium, conditions are as bad as reputed.

Last night the weather was awful so we ‘spliced the mainbrace’ which means rum is issued. R.H.Q. send the order down but it is only ordered when the weather is very bad and one only has a spoonful. Usually I don’t drink it but last night I drank it when I was in bed and I had a fine sleep.

7-11-44 Things are proceeding much as usual here but it’s considerably colder and there is quite a gale blowing today. It’s difficult to keep warm during the day since we have no fire at present — coal is very scarce over here. Luckily I keep warm at night being still under cover. I hear that snow has already fallen in some parts of Holland and it must be darned uncomfortable for the fellows fighting under such conditions.

Have borrowed several books from a fellow, including two more of Thackeray’s works, so have plenty of literature.

This morning I visited the O.R.s’ [Other Ranks] club but found it pretty cheerless and obtained only a packet of cigarettes, though I had a cup of tea and an ancient sandwich. The club has deteriorated since it first opened and is now in a school in which most of the windows have been blown out. The cinema and ENSA shows are continuing so there’s something to relieve the boredom. I shall be very pleased when our armies get moving through Germany so that we can make an end of it all…

9-11-44 I see that you are already preparing for Christmas and are busy buying presents. Also that you are breaking your agreement with Mum not to exchange presents during the war but I expect she will do the same so it’s a peculiar sort of agreement. I’m afraid I shan’t be able to do any Christmas shopping this year so I will not be in a position to send any presents unfortunately. Ah well, I must make up for it after the war by getting special presents for everybody. It used to be so enjoyable when we went to Bromley to do our Christmas shopping in the old days didn’t it darling.

I don’t have much to do with the locals here though when I have occasion to deal with them I manage to get on quite well with my German which they seem to understand as their language is very similar.

Yes, Aachen must be in a terrible state after all the bombing and shelling which it has sustained…

It is awfully cold here now and yesterday some snow fell in large, sleety flakes. We have no fire as coal is unobtainable so it’s not very comfortable in the C.P. I found a stove yesterday which wasn’t being used — but it lacked the necessary piping so I obtained from the watchman in charge of the building an address at which he thought I might obtain suitable piping. Therefore I called at this place, a garage, and the man there was willing to do the job but required a requisition signed by an officer as the materials otherwise may be used only for work for the civilians. Alas, I had wasted my time for we could not obtain the requisition from the Town Major and so must remain in the cold. Of course, I admit that the civilians are in a bad way as so many of their windows have gone not to mention tiles and so on. Many of them wear only wooden sabots and lack stockings too so I suppose we ought to consider their needs first and will have to get used to the cold.

Yesterday I had a nice hot shower and for the first time became warm. The baths are at a power station and formerly were for the use of employees and they’re excellent…

On the way to the baths I saw a strange sight…. A hearse came down the road drawn by a black horse bearing a black shroud upon its back which reached to its ankles and covered all except its eyes and ears … As you know, during Victoria’s reign funerals in England were equally ceremonial but a great deal of the pageantry has disappeared from modern funerals. The undertakers here wear top hats, frock coats and trousers with a white stripe down them.

14-11-44 This is just a short note dear to let you know that I am quite alright, as I have nothing of yours to reply to at the moment and there isn’t a great deal to tell you about. The mail is being delayed owing to the foul weather. We’ve had snow, rain and extreme cold though it’s warmer today but dull and wet withal and the roads are in a very sticky state.

There is a great plague of boils breaking out in the regiment and other skin eruptions caused, I suppose, by the general conditions, the dirt and lack of variety in our diet — I’ve escaped this plague so far.

It’s likely that my letters to you will be delayed by the weather darling. I should imagine that henceforth, now wintry conditions are upon us, mails will be erratic especially towards Christmas, so you must expect this dear wife and not be anxious if you don’t receive letters regularly.

16-11-44 By the way dear did you learn that Hitler did not make his speech at Munich on the anniversary on the anniversary of the abortive 1923 putsch and this is strangely significant because of yore this was one of his most important dates. Himmler deputised for him and read a speech reputed to have been drafted by Hitler. It’s a long time since he made a speech and there are rumours that he is dead.

We still have our wireless set in action but it’s not very satisfactory as we can only get Arnhem on it. This station relays ´óÏó´«Ã½ programmes interspersed with propaganda.
The war news is still favourable isn’t it beloved and the new drive in Holland is making good progress.

Travelling across country recently — which was no pleasure, the weather being bitterly cold with snow and sleet — I noticed again the cordiality of the people and their evident desire to make us welcome in their gifts of soup, coffee etc. en route and they spontaneously offer us accommodation. Many of our fellows have rooms in private houses. They will do anything in their power to help us and to make our job easier.

With reference to the subject of Christmas presents darling, and your desire to know what I would like, there is something I think I should find of great service if it’s obtainable, namely a small pocket German dictionary, but perhaps these aren’t available now.

In the building where we are now quartered the Burgermaster has his offices and daily attends to the affairs of his community. He is dressed in a black uniform over which he wears a black cloak and his headgear is a tall, black, peaked cap: a typical continental dress very unlike the informality of our town mayors.

Last night I was on duty and we had one or two bombards, but later on I was awakened by a strange, wailing sound which at first I couldn’t account for but afterwards recognised as the air raid warning, a most unfamiliar sound to me these days since where we are usually raids are not announced. Nothing happened as a result of the warning however but it made me feel as though I was in London.

18-11-44 Yes, we have plenty of warm clothing now that our winter underclothes have been issued and, furthermore, we now have leather jerkins which are very useful for keeping out rain and cold. We are thus well equipped for the winter weather dear though it’s turned considerably warmer today and I actually went out for a walk without my tunic on this afternoon . In fact the weather today has completely changed and, unlike the past week of rain and snow, has been quite mild and sunny thus enabling the air force to resume its good work.

No, the civvies have not evacuated; they are very loth to leave their homesteads even in face of danger and, considering what often happens to these homes in their absence, I can’t say that I blame them. I’ve seen them cling to their homes — sometimes just the shell of their homes in fact — in places regularly subjected to shelling.

There’s an air raid alarm just across the road from us and the noise of it is deafening; furthermore the people in charge of it don’t seem to have accustomed themselves to the fact that Allied planes are not intending to bomb them and, from force of habit, they sound the wretched thing every time our planes approach.

What is the condition of the shops now that Christmas approaches? I suppose there’s very little to buy. Well there’s consolation in knowing, and I think this perfectly safe to assume, that this is the last war-time Christmas.

22-11-44 I have your two letters no. 5 and 6 to reply to darling. I’m afraid that I’ve had to neglect writing to you for a day or so owing to another move dearest but hope you will receive this by the weekend. Your letters have been reaching me very promptly recently within 3 or 4 days from the day of posting.

Am pleased to say that once again I am under cover and there is an excellent stove in the C.P. at the side of which I am sitting writing this letter so you needn’t bother about me being cold darling. Actually this C.P.is one of the best we’ve had in some respects being in a rectangular, brick room which is situated in a town where but little damage has been sustained.

With regard to your query as to whether I would like some cocoa, I have often intended to ask you for some but have refrained in case there is any shortage but if this is not so then perhaps you would kindly send me some darling.

You mustn’t think I am always cold dearest because we generally manage to have a fire; it’s when we are travelling chiefly that we are cold. Just this moment I have had to move away from the stove as it’s too warm…

I’m extremely glad to hear that you are more cheerful my darling. Yes, the war news is very good and I think we shall soon see the end of this war. I am eager for the time when we shall be inside Germany and thus on the very threshold of victory. It’s over two months since our guns fired their first shells onto German territory and, on a number of occasions I’ve overlooked the Fatherland.

By the way at the time of the airborne operations when Nijmegen was taken and Arnhem occupied - temporarily — I had an interesting time being in one of the fields where the gliders were landing. The skies were filled with aircraft in number such as I had never seen before and the large carriers came sailing over each trailing its glider which, at the most suitable height and position, was cast off from its parent aircraft and thereafter was self piloted. Gracefully they came sailing down and, noiselessly, circled around until a landing spot in the fields was selected when they alighted. The majority landed well but I saw one or two casualties. Many of them landed in the field next to our guns so I had an excellent view of them and, later, went inside a number of them.

This is a most depressing country at this time of year dear with many of the fields entirely covered by sheets of water which the wind lashes forming small waves. It’s strange to see trees standing amidst a miniature sea. The icy winds blow across these flat lands…

Rain seems to be the order of the day now; it’s Thursday morning and still raining hard. However, despite the foul weather the campaign is still progressing well and the French army in the south is doing some excellent work I hear. The Germans must be at their wits end to contend with six armies on this front alone and now thrusts impending in the east.
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