Welcome back to part 14, this post covers the letters for August, September and October of 1944. Peter is still in South Rhodesia training to be a pilot.
On the 9th August the battle of Studzianki began in Poland, and The Lodz Ghetto, which was a Nazi ghetto established by the German authorities for Polish Jews and Roma following the invasion of Poland, started to be cleared by the SS and police units. They moved around 60,000 Jews and an undetermined number of Roma from this day until the 28th August to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Peter’s mum wrote on the 9th August 1944, with a note added to the last page on the 10th August 1944:
“ My Dearest Peter, We were so thrilled to know you had passed your exams with such high marks. Hearty congratulations dear, we are very proud of your achievements, you must have done a lot of swotting! Certainly it must be a load off your mind! Sincerely hope you will as successful in the next part of the course, am sure it must be very arduous work. I am often in the plane with you! In my thoughts!! Perhaps some day, you will take me for a trip!
Joan and I had a most enjoyable week together and I stayed the second week at the Boarding Est near the Post Office, so was able to enjoy the view of the sea from the bedroom window, and pop to the cliffs very quickly. I was very loath to return home!! Especially at present!
Thurs August 10th ‘44
Darling! Your cable arrived yesterday afternoon, Dad has arranged with the Bank to cable £15 for you to the Standard Bank of S Africa. I believe in any case you will have received the money before you get this, as Dad is sending a cable to inform you today. The money may be a little more, or less according to exchange rate. Hope this will be enough for you, are you going on the giddy to the Victoria Falls? Wish I could come! ”
We hear Peter’s news next as he writes to his sister Joan on the 11th August 1944:
“ My dear Sis, I feel guilty indeed at finding myself with two of your Air Letters to reply to, but I will endeavour to make some excuse for myself, by pointing out that I have been under canvas for a short time, during which period I resolved to favour no one with my correspondence!
I was very pleased indeed to know that you and mother have had such an enjoyable time at Bude. I can imagine how much you both enjoyed the change. Thank you for your news of Auntie Nance and Uncle Will, whilst mother wrote to me and told me of the Taylors. Was the dance at Stratton a success? My handwriting in this letter is pretty ropey, but it is due to the fact that I am sitting or lying on my bed, stripped to the waist and enjoying the glorious sunshine which is streaming in through the open window!
As I said, we have been under canvas and it made a most enjoyable change. I slept outside the tent in the open air, a pleasant experience, though the nights were frosty, in contrast to the heat of the day. Most evenings we had a camp fire and beer was available in sufficient quantity, more than sufficient for some people! Many and varied were the ditties sung by the fire worshippers!
Bob is very well and wishes to be remembered to you. He returned last week from leave at the Victoria Falls and he certainly had a wizard time. He stopped in the small town of Livingston in North Rhodesia, when he finally returned to camp, he was loaded down with Tom Toms, Native Pianos, Vegetables, Ivory, Knives and necklaces etc. A mobile curio store in fact! Last Sunday afternoon we spent at the Searles and as is usual when we visit these kind people, we spent a most enjoyable time. They have about 8 calves of varying ages and fascinating little chaps they are too! Their dog is loveable but is handicapped by a very weak leg that is taking a considerable time to mend. He was kicked by a cow some time ago.
On two afternoons this week I’ve been into town to partake of the wizard banana splits attainable at a certain café. I will not describe them in case you accuse me of cruelty! Cheerio sis, and tons of love, Peter.”
On August the 26th Charles de Gaulle headed a liberation parade in Paris, laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier, and ceremonially relighting the eternal flame at the Arc de Triomphe. Then marching to attend a service at Notre Dame to give thanks for the liberation of the city. Sniper fire rang out during the parade, which de Gaulle ignored. On the 27th august 1944, Peter wrote to Joan again, this time an airgraph:
“ Very many thanks for your Air Letter of 12th Aug, I’m glad to know you are well and still existing under the stress of wartime conditions in Buxton. You seem to have had an enjoyable August Bank Holiday. I wish I could have been with you. When this business is over and I get back home again, I shall be making a bee line for the moors and lakes of Derbyshire, the lanes and valleys of Bucks and the fresh downland of Berkshire and Wiltshire!
In less than three weeks now, I hope to have my wings and stripes and if the powers that be permit, I shall be at the Victoria Falls. I am hoping my friend Tom Searles will be able to accompany me as he’s applying for leave at the same time. Harry will be with us too. Yesterday evening we had our usual Saturday evening in Salisbury and we saw ‘The Pied Piper’ which I expect you remember. Bob is very well and working hard for his exams. He sends his best wishes to you. “
The last letter for August is from Peter’s mum on the 27th august 1944, she lets Peter know she has received his letters and updates him on news at home:
“ We were so glad to have your letter no. 39 and to know you were hoping to soon get your much anticipated holiday at the Falls, expect by now, you have returned to stern duty! I hope dear, you have had a lovely time and that you have written me a good descriptive letter! We were amused with your camp life! It must certainly be very interesting to see the natives dancing etc. I expect Bob had a thrilling holiday, will you try and get us some mahogany necklaces!
We also were glad to know you received your cash safely, I thought you could easily do with the extra £5. I know what an unholy way money has of disappearing, if you want any more, you must let me know.
Well my dear, events seem to be moving rapidly now and let us hope it will be over before the winter. We have had two days and nights free from unwelcome visitors, but they turned up on the outskirts at 6.45 today, nothing locally. One came down in the canal between Denham and Harefield last week! It has been a marvellously hot day and Dad and I have done a spot of clearing up in the garden. It takes pop a long time to keep the lawn in order! We have not been very successful with tomatoes this year, they had a bad start with the drought etc. You would be amused to see our ostriches! They really are monsters and go for Frisky! Also Mays bare toes!
Aug 28th Monday
Your letter no. 40 arrived today, so glad to know you are ok and that your flying is improving! You certainly make our mouths water with your lovely banana splits! Peaches are still 2/6 3/6 each, small green figs 6 each. Robbery! Plums are just coming along. Glad you enjoy the films, we are going to see ‘A Canterbury Tale’ with Eric Portman. It is good, I believe. Last week we saw ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’ very good photography and acting. Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman. Also an amazing film ‘Up in Arms’ Danny Raye, Dinah Shore “
A list jotted on the back of a letter
All of the letters I have for September and October of 1944 are from Peter’s mum to Peter. It is a shame we don’t have Peters letters, but we still get to find out a lot of information from what his mum says. The first one is 7th September 1944, she says:
“ My Dearest Pete, your last cable arrived on Friday afternoon, and Dad came in at 2.30 so he dashed up to the bank, and arranged for £15 to be sent you, also next day sent a cable from C&W Ltd Electra House. The charges this end are pretty steep! I was afraid you were underrating your expenses for replacements etc. Not leaving much for holiday at Falls! Which I expect and hope you have enjoyed by now. Have received your letter no. 40 with your description of spring etc! We are having very unsettled weather, in fact, quite weird! One day really hot, then four icy cold and much rain, making up for the dry spell we had early on! Our tomatoes are hopeless, Dad has not displayed any interest in them! The fortnight I was away, they had no attention, the garden is well scratched over by the ostriches!!
I wish you could see them, they are absolute monsters, especially the cocks, May is quite frightened of them as they rush up to her and drop their wings and sidestep towards her!! The hen is smaller, but very well shaped, she has started laying, and has produced 6 eggs during the first week! Weighing 1 ¾ oz each, not a bad effort! The other four chicks are growing big and we hope to get some more eggs for Xmas! Pop is in Glasgow until Friday, he will enjoy sleeping in a bed! As he has used the couch for two months, we shall have a good electric bill, although it is not supposed to consume much. May and I had started sleeping upstairs again, as with the advance of our army, it will soon end we hope! Although they have just said on radio that the 78 hour bill had been broken! But I don’t think they can now reach Ruislip! Although apart from the horrors passing over, we have only had a few on farms and canals.
The news is certainly remarkable now, and guess we shall soon be able to take the blackout curtains down. As our chimneys are still standing, am having the sweep on Thursday! I think I told you that Vera and John are staying in Scotland, Edwin is back again and staying with Aunt Belle and Betty. Geoff’s wife and child are also up there. May and I have seen some fine films of Paris release and many others. We went last night and saw Abbott and Costello in ‘Hold that Ghost’ crazy as usual but good mirth makers.
Had a letter from Bing today, he is back from sea and waiting to return home. No news from Des, it certainly seems a long time since he went away. Fancy, Frisky is seven years old soon, he behaves at times like a pup! I seem to have a busy time with feeding my large family!
Well my darling lad, the home is very quiet without you, quite lifeless! I suppose you will soon be chasing those damn Japs!! Guess they will soon wish they had stuck to toy making! Take care of yourself, crowds of fondest love and kisses galore, mum “
The next letter is 17th September 1944, I think at this point Peter must have been moved, because his letters have the address crossed out and have been re-routed to another address in Queenstown South Africa instead of Salisbury. Since he left home, he certainly has been sent to a lot of different places in a short time. It must have been tiring and also difficult not being able to see family for so long.
This letter must have been forwarded by friends, because they left a note on the back!
“My dearest Pete, We were delighted to receive your telegram today, hearty congratulations dear, how proud you must be! It certainly represents a vast amount of concentrated study. Well my dear, you have achieved your ambitions and now we wish you the very best of luck in your future training. We have not had a letter since the one dated 27th August, but know how busy you are, also perhaps you are now on holiday.
We are glad you received the money, and that you were able to obtain a suitcase and pyjamas! I wear the coat of your old ones over my silk nightie! As it is quite chilly now, with slight frosts. We hope you received the 2nd £15 which you sent for, only you don’t mention it in the telegram! But perhaps there will soon be a letter. It would be very nice if your friend Tom Searles were able to accompany you. I was very interested to hear about them, you certainly have been lucky meeting such kind folk.
Desmonds friend Bing Crosbie turned up today, also another pal from S Africa called Goddard, they stayed to lunch. Also Charles Mollard was in London, so he also arrived! We had a gay lunch, luckily our joint just went round! Only wished you both had been with us.
Our cockerels are quite aggressive! One especially so, and he goes for strangers! We call him Monty! The hen is laying well and don’t we appreciate them, we have not seen a dairy egg for 3 weeks! And often they all stale. Betty came over yesterday afternoon and we three went to ‘Mad Bens Wood’ and collected a nice lot of blackberries, so had a nice apply and blackberry pie today, very good for the face! But not so good as your banana splits!! Peaches are 5/- this week in Waltons, grapes are usually 25/-!
Well my dear, the war seems to be progressing at a hectic rate, and the news today that the troops are now in Holland is great. The Germans are certainly taking a good beating! The planes went over early today for over two hours. Tonight, we have not had to put the blackout shutters up! For which we are thankful, we only hope the Japs will soon give in.
No news of Des returning yet, May is getting fed up! Joan is ok, we phoned her tonight to tell her your good news, she was delighted. She is coming home next Friday for a few days. Well my darling son, this is all for now. Frisky is still going strong! We all send fondest love and kisses galore, most from your loving mum!
p.s. Very sad about L.A.C. Leslie Beddows, saw it in the Telegraph. “
I tried to look up Leslie Beddows, but couldn’t find anything about him. On the 8th October the battle of Crucifix Hill was fought outside the German village of Haaren, resulting in American victory, also the battle of Tornio ended in German retreat. The next letter written 8th October 1944 by Peter’s mum:
“ My darling Pete, I’m afraid my pen work is a fortnight behind! Shame! Having caught a heavy flu cold from pop, I had to retire to bed for a week! Luckily for me, but not for Joan, she having just arrived for four days leave, insisted on my taking the cure in bed, and she obtained the extra time. She is a grand nurse, but the poultry were the bane of her life, as our cockerel ‘Monty’ is so aggressive, he used to go for her legs every time she went in the garden! He is a really marvellous bird, really as big as a turkey! Also the other two! The others turned out to be two cocks and four hens, but one died next day after purchase and the other after I came back from Bude. Anyhow the remainder will be useful for the pot!
Well dear, we have received your letter no. 44 Sept 18th telling us your news. How proud you must be of your hard earned wings. Hearty congratulations dear, and although you did not get your commission (as you deserved) you, and we have much to be proud of, and now I expect you are enjoying your trip to the Falls and visiting your friends.
Tom Searles wrote us a nice long letter, which I have answered, how lucky, both of you and Des are, in meeting such jolly decent folk. Your surface letter arrived today, I see it is dated Sept 5th, it is now Oct 8th. We were delighted to have the snaps. You look much about the same, not any fatter! Despite all the banana splits etc! Bob looks well, Harry certainly looks a jolly soul. Is that a river reflected in the window glass at your back? It looks like one to me! What strong sun. We could do with a spot ourselves! It is getting quite chilly here and we have already started dining room fire. The garden is looking untidy now, with flowers over blown with wind, a few roses still in bloom.
I only have two cock canaries and one hen left, also one hen budgie, for whom I have borrowed a mate from the pet stores, but all they do is nibble each other and eat my pots of seed! Devils. Mr and Mrs Watts ask after you and send best wishes, also Egertons.
Pop is off to Glasgow tomorrow, until Friday. Business is as difficult as ever. Des is still hoping to get home for Xmas. I wonder if you will go to Cairo for the next part of your training, Edwin says some chaps have, from your base.”
Peter wouldn’t have received a commission in that way, he is now a sergeant, but I believe he corrects his mum in a future letter. She next writes on the 22nd October 1944:
“ My darling Peter, We were delighted to have your lovely long epistle. You seem to have had a marvellous time, and are indeed lucky to visit such wonderful places. We were sorry to hear about Noris mishap, am afraid he will suffer quite a lot with split muscles. Rotten luck. I sent you a cutting about another RAF boy who was unfortunately killed there.
Isn’t it amazing how you bump into folk from ye old home town. We were amused with your description of your visit to the chapel! How wonderful seeing Livingstons letters etc. And that marvellous tree, good sketch, expect you found the monkeys very amusing. Also the native girl! They have not any laundry worries!
May and I are thrilled about the necklaces and bags, and hope we shall get them safely. It is very good of you dear, and we shall value them. I will send your letters on to Joan, and Aunt Clare, in fact, it will go the family round. Your letter card came the same time as letter on Thursday. I’m afraid the blackout relaxation does not help us much! No street or station lighting here, and the only difference for us is, we don’t put up dining room boards, for which we are thankful, but still put up kitchen just in case we have to go down. We are still getting alerts, but lately, have had quite a quiet time locally. Pop said it was quite a treat in Glasgow, not to have to grope about. Also at places like Aylesbury it is fully lighted! In fact such complete blackness must make us quite a target! They have announced tonight, that it is not to be fully relaxed until peace is declared! Lets hope it won’t be long, but it looks as though it will be another six months! And of course the damn Japs have to be mopped up!
On looking at your big map, I see there is a place called St Peter, near to Queenstown. Shall look forward to your next letter. I hope dear you will be very successful in the next part of your training, no doubt it will be full of thrills! Is there any chance of Bob catching you up? Hope your cold is better, suppose you get chilly nights?
Des is still hoping to get home for Xmas, he says he may come by plane! It has been a long three years since he sailed away. May keeps as bright as possible, we still go to the cinema quite often. Last week we saw ‘White Cliffs of Dover’, quite good. Also ‘Home in Indiana’ A grand film of race horses, quite thrilling! Seacombs have sold their house, it was advertised at £2,750! They have taken a fruit and poultry place at Broadstairs. The new tenant is a lady Dr from Camden town! They move next month.”
To be continued...
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