Back at Coatbridge, on a fine summer’s day. My adventures are briefly :- To Peebles – To Inverary – To a ship, proper, cruise around – firing practice out at sea, – Back to an anchorage off Arran, activity – to a small boat – work – rough sea – couldn’t land – to Arran & ashore for food after 3 days on 48 hrs iron rations – boat – train – tram & home. All brown & happy, & very confident about the job all shall sooner or later do. If you knew the magnificent infantry we work with, grand fair, tall laughing men, quiet mannered, intelligent, kind & desperately efficient. For four years they’ve waited & now they’re on their toes. I’ve made some fine friends. The enclosed “Log” is vague & woolly & incoherent. I send it for what it’s worth.
Also four pounds, not to be ticked off the list. I’ll send £3 tomorrow for your “wages”. This is extra. I’ve only just read your letter of Friday. Of course you shall have it. And directly I stop being about the place draw £2 a week from the bank I’ll allow for that. You are so sweet, perfect & delicious a wife that you are given a 10/- raise. 30/- is not enough, I always felt it wasn’t. I shall budget for £2 a week for you. I hate like anything having to leave you with financial worries. I want to care for you & fight for you & cherish you. Fight for you is the order of the day & I’ll fight well. I do hope you can accept it well when I’ve gone. My only worry will be for you.
I may go to London on Wednesday, & come back in 2 days or after some quite a long interval. All that will happen will be silence & may be Mrs Thom, who will know my absence, will telephone you. Shall keep letters & deal with them as I eventually arrange. They must not be returned to you.
Have no fear for me. I have full faith in the future. All this is not based on fiction. But it may be soon, it may not. There can be no real leave taking. – There could not be, anyhow.
As for this child, I shall be thinking of you always. And you must devote your love & patience & fortitude to that.
Why did you send to the income tax form back – the abstract of my letter anyhow ? Has a letter come from them ? I’ll ask you tomorrow when I telephone. Perhaps again this evening.
I call in here as they are so kind to me & I can’t go, they insist on my staying. Jamie is revising science as I write. Maybe I’ll write again later, back in the billet.
Peter is a pet. He has the letters all numbered, & has mine – 1 – 7 at the Mess. I have them later. And my Candy ? And poor Mrs. Anderton & her pullet. And the rain. We had that & half a gale. “Laugh ? I nearly drowned.”
If I could leng it I’d have two days & nights with you -but what would it profit us ? Just as bad after. Lets be reconciled to the next meeting being afterwards, & the then with high hearts & full faith, let’s carry ourselves well in the days of separation. Its for Dickie Annes future I fight, & your part is as bitter as mine, the separation. But I’m in such splendid company. All young gods, touched with the magic of adventure, crusaders, gentlemen all. And very hard fighters with gentle manners
Our little garden must be lovely now. The sweet peas will be growing well & for the fruit forming. We’ll have fruit & an orchard for Dickie Anne – how I’ll love that child – to play in.
The laundry parcel (said he with great bathos) arrived today. Bless you. I may send some more. I’ll telephone you & write as long as I can – maybe for a long time yet. But I think we must stand by to get this parting over.
Bless you my own be happy and may, do not fear the future. Have faith, with Dickie Ann & you & I, its golden, no matter how mad and the rest of the world is.
