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Extracts from Arthur’s Letters to his wife, Gladys, March 1945

6-3-45 Since writing to you last I’ve received two letters from you, Nos 32 and 33 and also a ‘News Review’ — thank you darling.

As to why I had no adequate covers and shelter, as the French would say ‘C’est la Guerre’ — owing to the condition of all residences in this part of the country there really is no shelter dear — not a single building remains undamaged anywhere and the majority are reduced absolutely to rubble. It’s devastation on such a scale as I’ve never witnessed before anywhere. Consequently we live in improvised canvas structures and, on the whole, fare very well since we’ve managed to salvage dozens of stoves and piping from the ruins and there are large quantities of coal in this part of Europe. Everywhere one goes, in fields and woods or the shells of battered buildings, one finds strange, brown, canvas erections partially underground with just the conical tops showing and the inevitable iron piping vomiting its smoke. Some with more time, or skill, have succeeded in building wooden shacks for themselves but really you’d be surprised how warm and comparatively comfortable the canvas homes become when a stove is burning within. Tarpaulin sheets are placed on the ground to keep out the damp and the beds are placed on top. Though comfortable enough within our tents however it’s horrible without, everywhere being a morass of sticky, churned up mud an done wears rubber kneeboots — and needs them.

I told you that it was cold in the C.P. but in the meantime we’ve salvaged a stove which gives it a welcome warmth and have also found two upholstered chairs so we are quite comfortable there also now.

Today I saw Bill for the first time in several months and he goes on leave on the 24th and is very pleased as he will then see his baby for the first time — she is 6 months old now.

8-3-45 I am very glad to learn that you now have sufficient coal and can therefore keep warm. We are equally lucky in this respect because when we need any fuel we merely take a truck into a town nearby — or into the ruins of a town to be more accurate — from whence plentiful supplies are obtainable.

I do hope that you are keeping cheerful my dear. I think constantly of the happy times we enjoyed together during my leave but now look forward to the time when we shall always be together.

11-3-45 I’m quite alright now dear and my cold is almost a thing of the past… It’s rather warmer out here at present though dull and gloomy still. The ground is somewhat drier since we’ve had little rain during the past few days.

We now have another openair C.P. with are quite comfortable with our stoves going at full blast and a plentiful supply of fuel of which there appears to be no shortage in this country.

I wonder if Marian walks yet. I dreampt that she could the other night. I seem always to dream as soon as I get to sleep these days and the subject of these dreams is you and home but I imagine it’s the psychological effects produced by the conviction that the end of the war in Europe is imminent…

I hear that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has published news of the clearance of the west of the Rhine so you must know all the news relating to the war.

At this moment our operational wireless set is tuned in to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and there is some rather nice music being broadcast. Of course we can’t often use the set for this purpose which, of course, is nearly always in use operationally.

The news from every source is good isn’t it darling. Let’s hope it will soon be at an end so that we can find our home.

12-3-45 I see that Miss B. is getting married in April … It is a poser to know what to buy them for a wedding present when there is such a shortage of everything.

15-3-45 Here the weather these past two days has entirely changed and has been perfect … Oh Gladys as I sit in the warmth writing you this letter I keep seeing, in imagination, pictures of Kew Gardens where we’ve so often spent happy days under a smiling sun; it would be wonderful to be there now with you my darling wife and I look forward to the time when this will be possible again.

There’s not a great deal to write to you about beloved wife as life goes on in its usual dreary, routine way.

I still think a lot about the leave dear but it seems ages ago now, and, as with you, I find it has assumed a dreamlike character. Well sweetheart we must look forward to the happy days ahead of us. Meanwhile take care of yourself darling…

17-3-45 It will be wonderful to have our own home dearest wife and I am looking forward to the happy day when this dream becomes reality. There is nothing to hope for in this present existence and one can only pin one’s hopes on the future — I am thankful to think that the long years of war are behind us and the most hazardous tasks are accomplished and we can now look forward confidently to an early peace.

Don’t despond dear Gladys but try to keep cheerful and one day we will make up for all these days of separation and longing… We aren’t really old yet and we have many happy years before us.

Yes Germany certainly is being frightfully devastated. I haven’t seen Cologne of course but all the towns I have seen are simply razed to the ground and nowhere can one see a whole house or building in this country. It seems madness for them to continue to resist but then the present arbiters of their fate are not in the sorry plight of the people in the front line. Surely soon the German people must come to their senses and put an end to their abortive show of resistance. I see in the newspapers that their losses are already far greater than those they suffered in the last war. When one sees the women and children wandering about in the ruins of their homes it’s impossible to feel hatred for them despite everything.

Are you having any of those wretched rockets near you darling? I hope not but it sounds from your letter as though you do and this is awfully worrying. I do hope that everything is alright at home my dear. I’m hoping that soon the Germans will be forced to evacuate north Holland when they will be unable to launch these terrible things against the south of England.

There isn’t much else I can say dear. Everything goes on as usual and the war is progressing well everywhere.

19-3-45 I thoroughly appreciate how you feel about this present existence darling wife because I have similar feelings. We know that the end of the war is not far off but day follows day, lengthening into weeks and months, and still we are at war and the obstinate Nazis continue to force their armies, at the point of the revolver, to resist, though they must realise the futility of their struggles. I wonder what Hitler’s peace offer to Britain portends — naturally its terms were quite unacceptable but it’s obvious that he is aware that the war cannot be won by Germany and that defeat is very near. As you say, any day now may bring victory and I am very expectant of it happening during the next few weeks so remain cheerful darling…

The weather has been fine today with some sunshine and warmth; it’s very changeable but I do think that spring is on the way at last. I’m glad to hear that you are enjoying some fine weather and hope it lasts.

There are quite a lot of animals here, cows, sheep and horses, and they are being rounded up and driven into Holland where most of them belong incidentally. Yesterday one might have been justified in thinking that one had been transported to the western states when a great herd of cows were driven past the C.P. shepherded by armed men and a bunch of civilians. Our fellows found two ponies this evening and it was amusing to watch them riding the tiny creatures.

We sometimes have the questionable benefit of the wireless but the majority of the programmes are so poor it’s not worth listening in. Mary of Arnhem continually butts into the programmes — have you heard her?

It will be wonderful when peace breaks out won’t it dear. I am so looking forward to finding our home and settling down with you my dear — I know that we shall be awfully happy together beloved wife.

Well darling there doesn’t seem to be anything more I can tell you in this letter. I was feeling depressed when I began it but I feel better now — perhaps the act of writing to you has brought me spiritually closer to you dear — at all events I am far more cheerful now so take care of yourself and God bless you dear.

Love from your devoted husband Arthur.

On March 23rd 1945 Arthur was killed in action.

Six weeks later the war in Europe ended.

The following letter, written on 3rd April 1945, was sent to Gladys from Arthur’s C.O.

Dear Mrs Allvey

I am writing to express the very real sympathy I feel for you at the great loss you have recently sustained by the death of your husband, who was killed in action by an Enemy shell.

His death was instantaneous and he could have known nothing.

I know no words of mine can, in any way, lessen your sorrow or alleviate your sense of loss at such a time, but I would like you to be aware of the very real pride with which you can always cherish your husband’s memory.

His record with the regiment, though not long, was a fine one.

He was loyal, conscientious and untiring and his steadiness and cheerfulness under difficult and very often dangerous circumstances was always an example to less resolute men.

Believe me I shall miss him greatly as will his many friends in the Battery.

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