1224/5  Shipworking  Sections  R.E.  C.M.F.

My Dearest. . . . .Today I have sent you off a letter by ordinary envelope and as I want to write again, for the sake of writing, I’ll send one of these and see which wins or if they make a dead heat of It.   Let me know.

Today came a letter from Thomson – I mentioned it in my envelope letter.   He sent one for Lanave which I took along and translated, and an enchanting snap of his small son Stewart, about eight or nine I should think, and his niece about the same, both sitting on picturesque rocks in a Scottish stream, quite naked, dabbling their feet in the water.   The trees, all fluffy and obviously green, the cold rushing water and the hills is very British as are the children.   He is delighted with his pictures and the portrait   Lanave did of him. The portraits of Channon’s wife and Evans wife are finished, signed and varnished and are very good indeed.    Bless the man.

Bertha sent a cheery letter, too, and I was ashamed to have done nothing for her, I must. She did not chide. I see that she has collected a half guinea royalty, too!   Just shows.   First swallow.

Also letters from Auntie and Mother, which were in a brighter vein than before.    So there we are, oh and a parcel of Lilliputs etc from D Sadgrove.   And your M.O.I, books came, and I remember asking you and they will be valuable as reference books if we refer to the war ever. I have not much inclination, but have got a lot of thoughts about the European peoples who are in a bad way and unhappy. Lanave was sad, he said when the British go from Italy there will be war again. The ignorant ones who like trouble because they cannot work of themselves, only as employees of political bodies, the ones who were Fascists are now Communists and are waiting to make everyone be communists or else to cause trouble.   He complains that there is no tolerance outside Great Britain, and that the masses are foolish and empty and must either create trouble because they are communists or else because they are anti. He wonders why peoples cannot be like the British, smile at life and let people go their own ways.  It was the same story the Yugo-Slav Gaon family had.   The British have a tremendous power just now, moral power and we must be patient and understanding and stand up for the rights of the Individual, just as we stood up against Nazidom.    If Russia refuses to be tolerant over Poland and allow really free elections we must either be prepared to fight, or else all these past six years are wasted. I think it will come right, if we have courage and if we think ourselves.    If Everyman at home will be as kindly and as wise as he is overseas dressed as a sapper a gunner or a sailor all will come well. If he changes into one of a crowd who will yelp at the bayings of “Leaders” who cash in on phrases, then the world will be lost, Lanave is a quiet honest craftsman, but he dreads the future.   But as I said in the other letter, War does not create Peace, It makes the conditions wherein peace can be won. It forges the weapon of peace, It has to be tempered by great wisdom afterwards.    The war is nothing, it belongs to the old wrongfullness, and the purpose of war begins now.    If only people will realise that and not consider that the defeat of a challenged aggressor is not the end but the end of the overture, but what can one do?   Faith is all.   Free and secret elections (Secret ballot I mean) and no fraudulent preaching is necessary.   Few peoples other than our own dare leave it to that.   But this is nothing to do with us, now.

Cricket tomorrow against a South African team and I am to open the bowling! It is a great thrill. I have always got the first wicket, the stickers, and have three a match and Ronnie, who is a Club cricketer and very shrewd, a class above ours, seems to think my attack can do things.    It remains to be seen.    Oh dear.

Yes, Trieste is difficult. The Italians are already tending to have Student Parades with banners! An old theme.  The Yugo-Slavs want it.  I think the New Zealanders should have it, they captured it. Britain should take Florence because the Florentines are different. Great Alne should remain Mill Property.  And Leonard to Barcelona. He’d better be careful.   Leonard Beare I suppose. I adopted two South African officers, Air Force, last night at the pictures (Laughton of the Bounty starring Henry VIII) and brought them back for beer. So very nice they were, both Captains, fly Liberators. Sane and intelligent about their problems. I sounded them deeply.    I do believe in this Commonwealth and New Zealanders and the British South Africans are the best I think. Not met many Australians yet. I’ll cultivate them.   Canadians are nice except they tend to chew gum. Johnny Feaver thinks the Russians are all quite disinterested and selfless and all British are selfish, place-seeking, Big Business, Fascistic and mean. Except Maxton and Gallacher. But he’s a Civil Servant and they’re all nervous of life.

Without Prejudice, without any knowledge, without any idea at all I believe I may get home in the early Autumn.    I don’t know but that’s I what I think.   So that’s not so bad.   You must get you mama end of the war conscious now, poor dear.   And tell Richard the days of Freedom are numbered and he’ll Have To Look Out One of These Days.    Bless us what is it like having him there.    I’ll try my wonderings on a Thing for Good Housekeeping.    But nevertheless I love you very very much. Ever. . David xxxx
Candy comes out well in the garden pictures.
Richard Dick is kind to bother about you. I wonder what confused mental picture he really has.