– 2 –

equipment in the process.   There were the air-raids on Naples.   He knew it was the last throw of an angry and defeated enemy, and that the bombs were aimed at the women and children, churches and hospitals, but quite a lot of bombs seemed to miss and hit the docks.   Then there was no need to worry about the Americans, they were richer and more depraved and Jew ridden than the British, and too far away to be any use while the German submarines were sinking every ship that sailed the Atlantic but it seemed rather a big country to Giro to have on the other side especially when you added it to Canada.
The next thing he didn’t understand was Sicily
______________________________________________________________________________
1021  Docks Operating Coy.,  R.E.  C.M.F.

Dearest,
sorry about the above, part of the latest Thing.   I have sent it off by this post, entitled THE PROBLEM OF CIRO (pronounced of course with a soft c – Chiro -)     I don’t know I’m sure. You might have the courage to try it on the Spectator and then Time and Tide and then…what?   What about the Hydraulic Engineers Annual or the Pigeon Fancier?   I don’t know, my poor persecuted and pestered dear. You could try it on the Guardian-Post circuit by cutting out from the fifth para on page 1 – (There were times when…….) right down to and including the third on page 3, ending (people were shot in the streets.) and substituting:- “All went well until one  by one, with increasingly bewildering speed, everything changed, until the Germans had gone and the British and Americans, now no longer enemies but co-belligerents, were established in Naples and all southern Italy.   Food was scarce……..” Then you’d take out para 2 and 3 on page 6 as well and ecco, 1100 words only.    It would mean some scissoring and sticking together by you or even retyping, which I would   not ask you to do. Forget it, perhaps you’ve enough to bother about with these pestilentialities of mine. The awful thing is that I’m now sitting down with the intention of writing another one for Good Housekeeping. I am sorry.  But I am fond of you, you thing above all Things.

Peloponnesian war, 500 BC. Good it is. Peter started back at the Dock today and is happy again, Allan is dark browed at being at the camp, he hates forms and regimental affairs. The life of a dock rat is far far better, I couldn’t write even these rather dreadful Things if I were not a dock rat. Up The Rats and doesn’t San Antonio know best. He does, I shouldn’t wonder.

You will be careful if they start invading all over the place won’t you.   Don’t let paratroops in and don’t go out and about and don’t be rash.  I wish we could have you out here where its safe. Bombs, too, don’t interfere with them.   Leave them strictly alone.    Oh dear.

The Italian for goose is Oca!  And Geese is Oche!  Just shews. Dickie is watching me from his drawing on the wall – I am writing in my room.   Is he watching you from anything.

Had a letter from Auntie Edie who had been down on a flying visit to see Mother. She says she’s got blood pressure worse than she realises, and just MUST take tablets, diet and rest.  I am writing to her saying how important it is, look at Mrs. Erskine, because she diets.   You back me up. I’ll say I want her to be well when I come home. She’s got to cut down meat and things- you might ask Mrs. Erskine for her diet which is so successful.   Mother must ease off and not do so much, dammit we’ll pay for one lodger but she needn’t, because she can dip into the bank and not save and squeeze for us.    I wish you or your mother could get over but I know how impossible travel must be. If only you could get into a car with Richard and his belongings and spend a week making her sensible and making her happy with seeing the boy. But there we are, things are so difficult.   If she does come by train could your mother or you meet her in Brum and escort her to the bus and put her in and then put her in a taxi at Alcester or even Eileen her out?    Oh dear, I’m so helpless out here, and not much good really, only with and for and by you.

But I am fond of you, and its no good just saying so.   I want a good happy simple and healthy home for you and the little boy, and to work hard and usefully and build a hut and garden and saw wood and take you out sometimes to show you off and collect nasty jealous looks from other men.   All selfish you see.