大象传媒

May 26 1940. Sunday. Tidworth.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I鈥檝e just had a busy afternoon letter writing.. The weather is rotten now, it鈥檚 pelting down with rain and the chaps are either reading or asleep.
For what we鈥檝e done this weekend, they could have given us our leave and not missed us. We finished at about 3.30 on Friday and with the exception of one PT on Sat morning, that鈥檚 all we鈥檝e done.
Just after dinner on Sat, we went for our third inoculation, it didn鈥檛 hurt at all. The 35 of us were in and out in 15 minutes.
After tea on Sat, we (6 of us) were unfortunate enough to be called out to put up some tents about 3 miles away. They managed to get 14 more chaps from other squads and we went in a lorry. We worked like niggers for 3 hours and put up 19 Army bell tents. I think they鈥檙e for refugees. It was a last minute order from the War Office; but we had a very nice free supper when we got back; it was fried potatoes, peas, smoked bacon, bread, butter and tea, as much as we wanted, so we didn鈥檛 do so bad after all.

Things look a bit brighter this morning in the papers and this I think governs our leave to a certain extent.
I went to the pictures on Friday night to see 鈥淭he Stars look down鈥�. I had a surprise, it was a colliery picture taken at Tyneside. It was a great picture. While it was showing a flash came on the screen, calling 3 squads out to be ready for departure at 7.45; it was nearly 7.20 then so they would have a rush.
There鈥檚 a chap in our room from Thorneycroft Avenue, High Lane Burslem. He lives near to Rep鈥檚 girl, Cathy Jones, and he knows her; also our art director on Wedgewoods and the Modeller, Mr R Skellern and Mr Austin respectively. His name is Eddie Sambrooke.
You should see the paper kids around here, there鈥檚 about 8 of them that come to B squadron alone and every Sunday morning an elderly chap comes into our barrack room selling papers. I wonder how they go on with returns, because last Sunday this chap was beaten to it all round, and he wasn鈥檛 half in a way. He wanted to know who it was, what was he like and all the rest of it. It was a shame for him, because the chaps here don鈥檛 understand and the first here gets the order.
That Greek was told to go and whitewash the last post on Sat morn. What do you think? He came back and said we were kidding him. Of course we agreed with him later.
We should pass off the square this week and that would be one good job done. Then we鈥檒l get some driving and maintenance tuition; it should be much more interesting, and it鈥檚 half the battle when you鈥檙e interested in a job.
Well, now things are like they are, I don鈥檛 know when we will get a leave. I keep hoping and praying for it, but without results so far. Anyway, it will come along some day, perhaps as a surprise, so will have to be content for the time being. There鈥檚 thousands worse off than us.
Well, Mum and Dad, I will have to close now.
Cheerio and all the best. Love from Albert to you all. Bye-bye. Xxx.

May 31 1940. Friday. Tidworth.
Dear Mum and Dad,
We鈥檝e had a busy day today. We passed off the square after dinner in front of 5 officers. We had to be all posh, our suits pressed and clean, our cap pressed and clean, and our shoes looking like mirrors. We certainly looked smart and they all congratulated us and said we had passed, so that鈥檚 one stage over now, and we go on driving, maintenance, wireless and gunnery now.
Yesterday we were on the little range in the morning and the big range in the afternoon with service rifles. I didn鈥檛 do bad at all. On the little range I scored 6 bulls, 4 inners, 2 middle and 3 outers, and on the big range I was 3rd out of 35. I scored 57 out of 70. Top score got 61 and the next was 59 and I came next. Some chaps were terrible. One chap was shooting his mate鈥檚 target and two chaps only got about 3 shots on the target out of 15. There鈥檚 some kick in a rifle. When it fired it jumped a foot, but I held it very tight so it didn鈥檛 hurt my shoulder. We鈥檝e just had another inoculation and a vaccination on Monday. We鈥檙e having our share of it. That鈥檚 4 inoculations so far.
I鈥檓 sorry about the business going down, but we can鈥檛 expect much else, the price of things now. Fancy Swans being 3d a box.(This should really have read Swan Vestas鈥� matches. Albert abbreviated it. I had a good giggle imagining little swans flying out of a box. Albert鈥檚 parents had a newsagent and tobacco business. Eve.) It鈥檚 too much of a rise. We wouldn鈥檛 mind so much if we were making some progress in this war, but we鈥檙e having a real tough time at present.
We will win, but how long it will take us, we don鈥檛 know.
Our barracks are full of French, Belgian and BEF chaps. They鈥檝e taken a blanket off all of us to help, and we were putting tents up all last weekend for them. They鈥檝e filled our big gymnasium with beds and a lot of lecture rooms. The chaps look as though they鈥檝e been through it. They are nearly all tired and limping and have haggard faces. They think the worst is over now though.
Two French soldiers came in the Medical Centre to have wounds dress while we were being inoculated and while we were outside having a rest, about 8 lorry loads went past. They all waved and shouted greetings to us.

Where has Johnnie Hayes gone to? And has Sam Kent gone yet? Every Thursday about 40 fresh chaps arrive here and about 40 leave for the front.
I鈥檝e had a letter off Jack and a photo of Derek. Will you thank him for me please.
I鈥檝e told Eveline she can send me a parcel sometime next week or the week after, so you can put that 50 Craven A in if you like please. I told her to get the contents from you, because if she gets them from elsewhere and they鈥檙e the same price as here it would be very expensive.
The lead pencils are 2d, envelopes 2d a packet, writing pad 1/-, pens 2d, ink 2d, and I鈥檓 sure they鈥檙e charging too much for everything. But what surprises me the NAAFI is full every night and the chaps never seem to bother about the price.
This last week the weather has been very bad. It鈥檚 been raining quite a lot and a couple of thunder storms in the bargain. It鈥檚 picking up a bit now.
How鈥檚 Levi going on with his Home Defence? Is Uncle Levi working? Remember me to him and Auntie Annie and Arthur. I can hardly write for the noise (writing becomes a scrawl; Eveline says the scrawl was hers; the original had not been photocopied.) we鈥檙e confined to barracks owing to the inoculation and the chaps are having a sing-song. They鈥檙e all happy just as though they were going on leave tomorrow. The leave is pretty hopeless; the only leave at present is draft leave and we don鈥檛 want that.(no signature).

1940. Tuesday night, 9.50. Tidworth.
Dear Mum and Dad,
It only wants 25 minutes till lights out so I鈥檒l write a few lines. I had your letter this morning, I guessed you had been busy.
We are on a week鈥檚 wireless course now. Every morning we go and in the afternoon we do our ordinary duties. At the end of the week a number will be chosen to have a 10 weeks鈥� course and the rest will go on driving and gunnery.
Yesterday afternoon we had a good time. There was two officers in a car and our squad in three lorries. The officers took us to a certain place and gave us all maps. Then they gave us certain numbers to go by and sent us off. In the meantime they went a few miles away, the object being to get back to them.
Well, we travelled miles over the Plain and had a real good shaking up because we travelled over rough tracks and grassland. Anyway we did find our way and after about 2陆 hours came across the officers.
We were going down a valley with a wood on either side and an aeroplane gave us a thrill. It came up this valley, just like a bullet and only about 20 ft high. We all thought it was going to ram us but a split second before it reached us it rose and passed clear of us. We looked behind and the pilot waved to us. You should have seen us. We all ducked and the driver stopped the lorry just as though it had about 50 brakes.
Wednesday afternoon. 3.0.
Seems a very unusual hour to be writing. Well, we have the afternoon off because all the lorries are in use, and after tea we are off on another mystery trip. I鈥檓 getting to like it a bit more now.

You must have had a real thunderstorm on Tuesday. As Dad says it is like bombs and guns. You know, if air raids do start, the worst part of it will be the terrific noise, and if everyone takes cover, there should be no casualties unless a direct hit catches some-one, and this is a chance in 10,000.

I see Mr Chipperfield has some socks, a helmet and gloves. You had better save them until I come over as we were issued with three pairs of socks and mittens, but the mittens have been taken of us now because of summer time, and I have a pair of socks of Wedgwoods that are still brand new.
Etruria is looking like a fort, isn鈥檛 it. But still you can鈥檛 be too careful. Here right in our midst, there鈥檚 a spy in soldier鈥檚 uniform and we have been given a description of him and told to arrest him if we think he is the chap. These spies are clever and no-one would suspect him in soldier鈥檚 uniform, but he鈥檚 in for a rude awakening very soon.
On parade this dinner time, Eddie Sambrookes fainted and had to be carried off. He鈥檚 the 4th or 5th to pass out with inoculations and vaccinations. One squad has six in hospital and two with arms in a sling, but our squad has taken it all right, and as for me, I can say that they haven鈥檛 given me any trouble at all. If anything I feel better for it. Of course, we get a lot of fresh air and exercise in ideal weather, so this may have some effect.
I鈥檝e changed the Postal Order a week ago to be on the safe side.
I suppose the car is paid off now. It鈥檚 a good job. That鈥檚 a big worry and expense off your mind. Take care of it and we should reap the benefit when this war is over.
Levi seems to have got a good job. I suppose he has to use his own motor bike, but if he can get the petrol he should be in his element.
Good afternoon and cheerio to Mum, Dad, and Levi. Remember me to all that have asked after me. Cheerio again and all the best.
Your loving son Albert.

June 9th 1940. Sunday. Tidworth
Dear Mum and Dad,
I received your letter on Friday, the same time as the parcel. Thanks very much for the fags and choc, and also thank Auntie Ethel and Uncle Sam for the tobacco. They will keep me going for a few weeks.
On Sat morning we went to test our respirators in the Gas Chamber. It was tear gas. The respirators are fully protective and to prove it we were told to take them off just before we came out, and in no time our eyes were full of tears, we were mopping them up for 5 minutes or so afterwards.
After this we came back and then we were given our RAC badges; one for our hat. It is made of brass and the design is a crown on top, nearly a circle of laurel and RAC in the middle (sketch) this is something like it. And two shoulder badges like this RAC, these are cloth.
They鈥檙e having trouble with some of the chaps who have been vaccinated. One squad has had 7 in hospital and 2 with arms in a sling. Our squad have been fairly lucky, they鈥檝e kept out of hospital, but up to now 7 or 8 have fainted on the parade ground. One chap fell right on his face and you should see it. All his cheek was raw and scratched with gravel in it. He does look a sight now. The other chaps were lucky, they gave us warning, but this one just flopped over without a murmur, and he was on his face before we knew it.
Then there鈥檚 a chap from Sheffield who sleeps next to me. He鈥檚 in bed this moment. He reported sick yesterday and went up to the Medical Office again this morning. They found him with a slight dose of tonsillitis. He hasn鈥檛 eaten anything since last Wednesday, only a few biscuits, and I gave him some cakes and a couple of apples. Really he ought to be in hospital, he鈥檚 sweating an awful lot and he鈥檚 nearly always asleep.
His Dad owns the Broctons Gravel Company near Stafford. He tells me his Dad has visited Germany for business purposes before the war, and he himself had a month鈥檚 cruising around Scandinavia, Russia and the White Sea. On the way back they ran into dense fog off Norway and unfortunately rammed a little Norwegian fishing vessel, killing 4 and injuring 2. There was only those 6 in the boat, and they took them to Tromoe, a Norwegian port.
His mother sent a big tin box of McVitie and Price鈥檚 biscuits and Velveeta cheeses. We all had a 陆 lb of biscuits and a packet of cheeses (6 in a packet).
We鈥檝e just had a week on wireless. I was broadcasting on the short waves on Friday (49 metres) but the range was only a dozen miles or you might have picked me up.
We go on driving and maintenance this next week. We also had a half day last week on the Bren machine guns. It was only a lecture but we gathered that they were a very powerful weapon, firing 120 bullets a minute, with a range of 2000 yds.
I鈥檝e heard that Arthur Pickin has left Lichfield but I don鈥檛 know where he鈥檚 gone.
Our corporal has his wife down here for a fortnight and his little girl. There鈥檚 some nice little houses near to the barracks and he says they charge 拢2 a week board for an adult. He also got a soldier鈥檚 return fare for her. The reduction was quite a lot, such as Stoke to here would cost you 39/- but a soldier鈥檚 fare is 22/3.
He tells me any soldier may do this. He says that there will be no leave until the BEF have joined their old units and have re-organised. I believe this job is well on the way.
I told Eveline that I might write to Mr Chipperfield this weekend, but up to now I haven鈥檛 done so. It takes nearly all my spare time writing letters and copying lectures, so if you see him this next few days, will you thank him for me. I鈥檒l try to drop him a line before weekend next.

You ask about my suit. Well, it鈥檚 all wrapped up and it鈥檚 along with dozens of others down the stores. It will be all right. It鈥檚 quite dry.
Just as I write the sky as blackened and its lightening and thundering, it鈥檚 just started to rain, although we can鈥檛 grumble, out of 6 or 7 weeks we have had nearly all sunshine.
Did I tell you I had a leter and a 2/- postal order of Uncle Ted.
I鈥檝e just been to have tea and just as we got in the dining hall, the rain simply came down in buckets, it must have been a similar storm to that that you had, the thunder and lightning was about the worst I鈥檝e seen.
I hope Levi likes his despatch riding, it sounds a very interesting job.
Dad鈥檚 about like me, I鈥檝e lost a lot of weight with sweating, it鈥檚 been unbearably hot this last few weeks.
Well I鈥檒l have to close now. Cheerio.Love to all from Albert. xxx.

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