大象传媒

RTR\SHOREA3.DOC
formerly RTR\3N007.DOC RH.87 3RTR

Letter from G Forty, TANK magazine, 23.6.95, to Mrs Eveline Shore, 2 Poplar Grove, Albert Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs, ST5 1JW, phone:01782 616380, saying he was sending her husband鈥檚 wartime letters on to BTM.
Photocopy of 4 sheets manuscript, dated 17.2.43.
NL wrote to Mrs Shore in January 1997 and was lent a large file of letters, now copied into this file, and her husband鈥檚 service book and other memorabilia of the war.

ALBERT EDWARD SHORE, born 4.9.1916. (No 1)
Called into active service March 1940.
Joined Royal Armoured Corps at Tidworth Hampshire.
Drafted to the Middle East Oct 1940, with 3RTR.
Was part of the force which cleared the Middle Easy of Italian Armed Forces. Some 300,000 prisoners in the first two months.
Was sent to Greece in March 1941 to try to delay the German Army when they decided to invade.
Lucky to be rescued by the Royal Navy and dumped on Crete.
Organised an escape after a few days and got away in an old Greek cargo boat, landing in Alexandria after 100 hours sailing.
Losses made up, some 700 more men needed to bring our strength up to 900.
Equipped and sent up the desert again only to be sent back to El Alamein, then the Great Finale all the way to Tunis and sent to England to prepare for the invasion.
Over on D-day plus 3 and held up at Caen for five weeks, but the breakthrough came and Flers, Lille, Antwerp, Eindhoven, Venlo, were ours by Christmas.
Sent to the Ardennes where the Germans were threatening to make a mad dash for the Channel ports.
Back in Poperinge in Flanders to re-equip for the great Rhine crossing and Minden, Osnabruck, Celle, Hamelin, Lubeck on the Baltic, Schleswig-Holstein, Flensburg and a peep at Denmark.
Slightly wounded, came home, convalescent, and as I was declared fit, the company I had worked for asked for me back as a much needed key worker (Fame at last). It lasted a week, then we were all much the same.
After 5 years I could not settle, so I bought a grocery business, reared three children, Raymond, Peter and Marion.

Newspaper cuttings, Evening Sentinel August 15, 1941, re escape from Crete; see letter for 25.6.1941. Evening Sentinel 27.4.1987 - Memories of Siege of Tobruk, ref to Mr Kite, who is Sgt Kite 3RTR who received MM three times. Christmas card to family 1941. Other cuttings.

1940. First letter
A E Shore, 26 Squad, B Squadron,
53 Light Training Regt, Mooltan Barracks, Tidworth, Hants
Dear Eva,
Arrived safely, but what a journey, we had to change four times and arrived at 5 o鈥檆lock. We haven鈥檛 got fixed up yet with uniform etc or a number.
I palled up with 4 chaps from our place, 3 married, 1 only a month ago and the other 2 since I did. I can鈥檛 tell you much about the life yet, but its windows open all the time in the barrack room and no heating.
We should have that awful uniform tomorrow, but still there鈥檚 thousands here with it.
I met Aunt Polly at Birmingham and had an hour to spare with her.
Well, Eva, don鈥檛 worry about me. I shall be all right and don鈥檛 send anything at all until I tell you to.
I travelled along from Brum to Cheltenham with a woman from Singapore, she had come over by plane (fare 拢163 single) and what a thrilling time she had, she travelled across India, Palestine, Italy, Spain, funny thing she had been to relations at Matlock.
I will write again soon Ev, so keep your chin up.
Your loving hubby,
Albert.
PS Remember me to Mum and Dad, Kathy and all.
Burn this because of scribble.
(9 o鈥檆lock, 25 April 1940)

30.4.40. No 7909285 Trooper Shore, B Squadron 26 Squad
53rd Light Tank Training Regt
Mooltan Barracks, Tidworth, Hants.
Dear Mum and Dad,
Note the new official address, it will fill an envelope won鈥檛 it? Well, it鈥檚 the Army all right, plenty of spit and polish and hard work. We shall have hardly a minute to spare for 5 weeks at least. We鈥檝e got to fetch our boots up like patent. I鈥檝e spent more time on these boots up to now than I鈥檝e done on all the boots I鈥檝e had since I鈥檝e been born. I鈥檓 getting used to it a bit better now, but I shan鈥檛 get to love it. It puts me in mind of Germany; you have to get good results out of nothing.
Tidworth puts me in mind of Princetown. There鈥檚 nothing for miles around and we shan鈥檛 have enough time to go to Southampton or any other big place. We鈥檝e been inoculated you know on Friday, but there鈥檚 two or three more to come yet and this afternoon we had to visit the dentist. It was not very pleasant believe me. We marched up at 1.30 and came down again at 5.0. there were 5 dentists and the 34 of us went in as our names were called. I had 2 out and 3 drilled and stopped, not very nice, especially when it鈥檚 got to be done. It isn鈥檛 left with us you know. If they say it鈥檚 got to come out, well it鈥檚 out. There鈥檚 another visit or two to come yet, but we get that way that we鈥檙e not worried if they kill us.
I鈥檓 with a nice lot of lads. One comes from Mile House (Reeves Avenue), one from Penkhull, one from Cobridge. In fact 6 of them are local and 5 of us married. The only single one is a bus conductor and he鈥檚 a bright lad, just like Sidney Howard in looks, ways and physique so he keeps us alive.
Well, bye-bye, Mum, Dad and Levi. xxx. PTO
Don鈥檛 worry about me. I鈥檓 alright and don鈥檛 send anything because I am pretty certain I can manage until I鈥檓 over on leave. Best love to all. Uncle Sam and family.

April 1940; 10th day at barracks. Tuesday night 8.0 Tidworth.
Dear Mother and Dad,
Have just had my hair cut by that Greek. This morning the sergeant told 8 of us to get one for morning, so as you can never get a chance for a free Army haircut, we asked him to do it, and just gave him a copper. This Greek has been having it rough lately, because he doesn鈥檛 quite understand English (Army) language, but he鈥檚 got more in him than we have. He went to see the Squadron sergeant-major about the treatment he鈥檚 having and got off with it. The Sergeant and Corporal are treating him better now. It takes an English chap all his time to learn about the Army. Do you know, we鈥檝e only been here about 10 days and we know all about a rifle, how to clean it, dismantle, aim, load etc, same with revolver (that鈥檚 what we use), know how to drill, goose step, ceremonial marches, etc. (Have all passed out on gas drill, map reading, physical training and endless other things. There鈥檚 so many things in 20 weeks of training that we are changing clothes about 12 times a day.
We get up and put a canvas suit on (a kind of overalls), clean the room, change for breakfast, change after breakfast for gym, change and for gas drill, change again rifle drill, change again for lecture, change for dinner and so on.
I don鈥檛 know whether the Corporal鈥檚 got it in for us, but none of us went out on Sunday. We had to Blanco and clean the brass of an infantryman鈥檚 complete kit, valise, haversack, blanco can, pouches and whatnot. It took us until 8 o鈥檆lock to get it done. Then on Monday night we were spud peeling for 2陆 hours. Tonight, apart from haircuts, there鈥檚 the room to be scrubbed, windows and a general good clean up. Wednesday we have to have that kit fitted to us and an officer is coming to inspect it at 7 o鈥檆lock at night, so we鈥檒l have to stop in again.
I hardly have time to write a letter so all them addresses won鈥檛 be any good at all. There鈥檚 hardly time to spit.
I have only been out of barracks for 2 hours up to now, that was for a ragtime football match on Sat afternoon. It seems a bit far-fetched but it鈥檚 quite true and all of us are fed up to the eyes.
As for the menu, that鈥檚 pretty bad. For breakfast we get a small quantity of bacon (99% fat) and no dip because it鈥檚 boiled, 1 round of bread and egg, or onions or beans; for dinner, dirty rotten potatoes, peas and fatty meat; for tea, 2 rounds of bread, marg (陆 lb between 12 men) and syrupy jam or Golden syrup. No supper.
There鈥檚 12 at a table so whoever get near or at the far end is lucky if he gets a decent meal or any at all sometimes. There鈥檚 always margarine. For Sunday tea we had 2 rounds of bread and marg and a small piece of slab cake, a mug of tea and nothing else. Monday morning we had fat bacon and haricot beans, 99% of which went back to the cookhouse. So if you are partic about food it鈥檚 going to be too bad. The plates are never dried, they鈥檙e just dipped and brought out again, all sticky and wet.
It鈥檚 self first and last in the Army; it doesn鈥檛 matter whether your neighbour got any at all so long as you have. I鈥檓 not doing too bad at all.
The shoes, well they鈥檙e pretty heavy and stiff, but you鈥檝e got to get used to them, there鈥檚 no others. Mine are quite all right now.
As for seeing anybody when I鈥檓 over I can鈥檛 promise but I鈥檒l map a programme out and see how I go on.
I have had more trouble with my teeth since I went to the dentist than I have ever had. He鈥檚 left a hole in my gums, it almost goes up to my eye and I can feel what I think is my jaw bone, because that鈥檚 where he fetched two bits out that Penson left in, and I鈥檓 awaiting my name to be put up for another visit, scraping them I believe.
There鈥檚 a NAAFI up here, but I鈥檝e only been up once, it鈥檚 too dear. Chips (about 陆 a dozen), eggs (one), cup of tea and a mouthful of bread and butter (I think) all for 9d.you need two for a decent meal so I don鈥檛 patronise it.
Anyway, don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 having a very bad time because I can put up with a lot and I鈥檓 getting along quite well considering. Please don鈥檛 send anything at all because I can manage, I have told Eveline the same.
We have wages on Thursday dinner, a paltry 5/- and you can spend where and when you like, there鈥檚 no objection. But with a bit of scheming it鈥檚 enough.
Well I shall have to close now so here鈥檚 wishing Goodbye. Remember me to all.
Love from Albert. Xxx.

27 April 1940.
Tidworth., Hants.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I鈥檓 getting a bit used to it now but what a life. If you know anyone who volunteers, or about to rather, tell them not to. It鈥檚 a dog鈥檚 life. The only good meal you have is when there鈥檚 a cookhouse inspection. Friday we were about to enter the cookhouse, when everyone in the barracks was ordered to go and put tin hat, overcoat and gas mask on and line up in the square. Why, I don鈥檛 know, we stood to attention for an hour with gas masks on the alert, then were dismissed.
The Corporal is a swine, he just tells you a thing once and that鈥檚 that. We鈥檝e got to polish our heavy boots for an hour every day for a month until they鈥檙e like patent. To take too much notice of them would drive a chap daft.
We鈥檝e got a volunteer in our room, he鈥檚 from Cyprus, a Greek. They are having a time with him because he can鈥檛 talk or understand English quite enough, but we saw him cutting hair this morning, much to our surprise for he isn鈥檛 sharp enough to fasten his buttons, but there鈥檚 a future for him now he can cut hair.
While we had that false alarm on Friday one chap fainted and it was a good job he had his tin hat on or else he may have been having a good time now.
Well that鈥檚 all for now. So long to all, Albert.
PS. Note the proper address.

May 1940. Monday 7 pm. Tidworth.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I received your letter at 4 this afternoon, the 10/- note was enclosed. Thanks very much. It is certainly a very nice and welcome surprise, but don鈥檛 think that I am very hard up and having too bad a time because I know the run of things now. On Sunday, Mon, Tues and Wed, I have found out where to get a mug of cocoa and a cake for supper, free.
The reason they don鈥檛 give it all week is because we get paid on Thursday dinner and they think we should be able to patronise the NAAFI.
I think you received a letter off me today (Monday) but I don鈥檛 know whether I told you about a parcel from Wedgwood. Well, it consisted of - 30 Woodbines, 2 x 2d blocks of chocolate, 2 PKs, a nice pair of Meridian socks and one large silk khaki handkerchief; certainly a mixture but all very useful.
Eveline sends me plenty of stamps so I am not doing too bad. I told her it鈥檚 better to send stamps than a parcel, because the lads nearly always look at each other鈥檚 parcel and when they鈥檝e handed cigs and whatnot round, there鈥檚 not much left. It鈥檚 a nice spirit but there鈥檚 two or three chaps who have whatever they ask for. They鈥檙e well-to-do, have a car each and whatnot. Well, these chaps started the ball rolling and the others naturally follow suit, although I suppose they don鈥檛 want to.
All leave was stopped on Friday at 11 am, but on Sat it was stated that those who should have had a long weekend could take a short one, so it looks as though things are settling down again. I think we should be able to have ours on Friday May 21; we hope so anyway.
Eric Mulliner is certainly very lucky, his camp is only 4陆 miles from here.
I went up to Tidworth station a day or so and enquired about trains and fare. There鈥檚 a train at 2.35 via Cheltenham and Birmingham and one at 5.35, same route, so we don鈥檛 actually finish until 3.30 on Friday afternoon, so we should have to beg off to catch the early train, and I don鈥檛 know if they would let us, and that train doesn鈥檛 get in Stoke until 11.20, so I don鈥檛 know what time the later train would get in, probably 3 am.
The fare, that is 3rd Class Soldiers鈥� Return, is 23/-. Eveline enquired about the fares from Stoke station and they told her 39/-, but our fare is much cheaper and is billed up on Tidworth station. This station is a dead end and specially built for soldiers; all the porters and staff are soldiers, or rather dressed in khaki.
I am going to try and hire a car if possible for 5 of us and it would solve all problems, and perhaps be cheaper. Anyway there鈥檚 plenty of time yet, and I鈥檒l let you know what we鈥檙e doing a few days before I should come over. I have the fare (apart from the 10/- you sent me) and shall have to pay it myself the first time.
Jimmy Daniels isn鈥檛 worth bothering about apparently, and if I was you, I shouldn鈥檛 encourage him anymore; he doesn鈥檛 seem to be worth it.
I am quite well now and have got over the inoculation, but it hurt while it lasted.
Eveline told me about the 鈥渓ost keys ceremony鈥�. I鈥檒l bet you were in a fix. Thanks for looking after her as you do. She asked me to thank you as she says she is shy.
Well I must close now so I鈥檒l say cheerio. Love to Mum, Dad and Levi.
From Albert. Xxx
PS. Our post goes at 11 am and 3.45 pm so this will catch the 11 am Tuesday

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