Scotland
Tuesday 16 Jun 42

My Dearest :

Hullo !  8o/c & everyone’s gone to the Ball in Hamilton, save those on duty & Peter – telephoning his wife – & me, writing to you.  After this we’re going up to Hamilton & having 2 beers & then to the dance or 1 hour.  Back for bed by 11o/c. 2o/c is far too late in these busy days.  Neither of us are the least bit interested in the women, & so staying till 2 would be stupid.  Tony & Tom are with us, waiting at the Waverley, where they have Youngers, on draft – draught (?)

Your blessed Sunday letter came this evening, a nice happy letter, yet disturbed, quite justifiably, by the Harrisons pettiness.  If Nonie had liked my novel I’d have given up writing.

Good about the Samuel Browne.  It may not be alterable, of course, that we can only see.  The second strap doesn’t really matter. Swords are out of date any one snatches up a Tommy gun at such moments.  If they want paying for it I’ll do so, I’ll find out later on – provided it’s not more than 45/-, one can get them here for that & the Cook’s fatigue man polishes them for 5/-

Oh, S.O.S, studs.  2 front, one back & links.  A little box, not the present one, which is broken, & not the little gold dress studs.  Just front, back & links.  Links don’t matter really.  No, no links.  But studs S.O.S.  as we blossom out, I believe, this next weekend in shirts.  Old Powder Box would do, reminiscent of you.  Dear you.  Not long now.  4 weeks on Friday I leave to join you unless something dreadful happens.

Thanks for the lecturette material.  Jolly useful.  Just the dope I need.  Friday, 7.15 is my lecture.

A happy afternoon demolishing a bridge near here with dummy Gun Cotton slabs & real primers & detonators.  Nice Bangs at Zero hour, & no damage to the Bridge.  Sun shone, too

Afternoon off tomorrow, for uniform buying, but I’m down for dental so I’ll go then and come back for the three bears & then a good evening’s work at dem. calculation.

An N.C.O. is always right, right or wrong, an officer has to be right.
(especially with demolitions)

The purple & deep blue Chrysanthemum bushes are banked round these grounds, & there’s masses of pink and deep red May too.  Exhilarating sight.

I like this slight poem.

I love you.

Friday Night, July 16 -you to D’s.
Saturday, 06.00 . . .    me to D’s.
Visit Croft, Brookes, J.G.L, E.W.E. or who you like.
5o/c to Kettering.
Leave K.  on Monday for Gt. Alne.
O.K ?

I leave on the following Saturday morning for Longmoor, & then get posted somewhere.  Only a suggestion.

Oh, for kit I need still :-
Brown Boots
Shoes         (?)
Gloves (normal leather)
?  Puttees. (has Mr Jeavons got that)
Copious & practical washing case, set, a roll.
Map case.  Two shirts.
Battle dress (bring one of mine)