Scarborough- again with a view to some permanence.
Wednesday evening.
My Dearest,
Now for another pleasant session with you at the end of the typewriter. The flags twinkle on my arm as I type. That’s done with anyhow. Its half past seven, since tea I’ve been rounding up and parading No. 11 Platoon of the Piquet of which I have, surprisingly, the command, and as I have to call them out at ten o’clock, unbeknown to them, I had to trace them and find out where they all live. We have a Company in-lying now, one platoon sleeping in full kit in E Block ready to dash off and shoot landing Jerries at once, and two platoons ready to come out at ten minutes call. So we are hoping for the best. It seems that Higher Command thinks Jerry might try Commando raids here, and we want to give him a welcome if he does. As well as rounding up my platoon I’ve had to sew flags on my best jacket, a long and painful job – I have a prinked thumb – and make my bed and do odd things. But here I am.
The snow has frozen deeply and all is white and wintry. We have been out all the morning and all the afternoon, deploying as a battery, and tomorrow we go out and do it on the moors. Its great fun. We have our Gun positions and O.P.’s (two troops) with wireless at each, and our Command Post and Exchange and Battery H/Q and wireless to Regt. H/Q and line to all points and we do shoots, all is there except the guns. Today and tomorrow I was George Ack – which is radio operator at the Troop end, at the A. Troop guns. Rather exciting and realistic, except for the bangings. I have my balaclava to wear but today I didn’t bother. Two pair of socks and two pairs of gloves and my camel hair scarf make me a warm signaller.
We are also reading Morse now with two other sets sending in the same room and someone dropping fenders and slamming doors and singing!
The drafts are worked out. They all go to different places on Saturday, seven Field Regiments are taking three or four or five, all over the place, some in the South, some in Scotland. Some for overseas though no one knows which is which. OCTU- candidates remain. Though three in 76-77 are going, but together, as though they are being held back at a unit. But one can’t be sure. However, the prospect is calmer now and we all breathe again. Poor 75 are on Draft leave now and leave next week for Somewhere or Other. Poor Eric and Billy and all. I don’t know what is happening to George.
My cold is just a normal small cold, and all the fresh air and sunshine and clean freeze seems to be doing it good, my nose is neither red nor sore.
Your Monday letter came, beflagged on the back, cuckoo, this morning and Chadwick, the fatheaded idiot didn’t collect this afternoons post and it was too late when I went maybe there’s one for me there. I’ll have it tomorrow if there is. Yes I did admire the way you stood up straight and slim to Mesdames Green and Beare, and loved the sudden flank attack, shattering both in surprise and grammar, of Mrs. Anderton. I did admire it and it was an oversight and no more not to have mentioned it.
Harry, Dickie, Barry and I saw my new love – celluloid one – Greer Garson in When Ladies Meet. Not so good as Saturdays of course, but she was charming and the story was neat and gay with smart dialogue, another M.G.M. of course !
I note your anxiety about calendars and things, and remain calm as possible under the circumstances. If things are odd find out what is best before February 2nd., shall I stay at the Andertons and talk over the hedge? Or shan’t I. You know best. Yarooks yalloy.
No fire, because I was slow acomining up so I’m to the Naffi with a book and perhaps chess with Andy, then to rout out twenty eight unwilling soldiers at ten o’clock just as they get into bed. The B.S.M.’s special orders so what would you. Harry won’t half cuss he goes to bed at half nine. I’ll quite like that. Dramatic, ghostly armed men in the half light on the snow. Brrrr. How I shall be disliked. Heigho, tis duty.
Is there a Home Guard Parade on Monday week? I’ll go and roar at them if they like !
All my love, ever.
