Sat. 2 September. Had breakfast at B.H.Q. and was told I was going as a platoon commander to A Coy; I explained, and have let it be known since, that I.O. is my niche; but they have one already - so here I am with a platoon.
During the morning I shifted my kit on a jeep to A Company, and started to reorganize the platoon. After dinner we did some practice in paddling assault boats, and had a lecture on booby traps.
After tea I wandered round a house where one of our companies is; it was once a Norman church, but has been clumsily converted into a house, e.g. where the stone walls end and the plaster walls begin, the plaster has been painted to represent stone. I met an officer from the 1st/5th who was in Ireland with me, an we talked for a bit; then I started to write this letter - it's now 8 o'clock.
At the moment I am in a lean-to attached to a barn; it is being used as a company office. It is very windy and squally outside. I don't know where I shall be sleeping yet: but I can sleep almost anywhere, because the M.O. of my last unit gave me his sleeping-bag before I left - he couldn't take it back with him.
I must say I rather miss the people of my old lot; the ones here seem a bit distant, especially as several officers I expected to see here are not here; the job, too, isn't too congenial; I want to be I.O. again. The strap-bar on my watch has come adrift from the watch; so I am having to use it as a pocket watch.
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1st Leicestershire
Regt.
B.L.A.
Letter 31. 3/4 Sept. 44.
I wrote only last night; but when you're on the move I think it better to write when you can, in case another opportunity doesn't occur for 3 or 4 days. So here goes:-
Sun. 3 Sept. Five years of it today, I can remember as well as anything hearing Chamberlain announcing the declaration of war on the wireless when we were walking along Cloister Crofts!
This morning we got up and had breakfast at 4 o'clock, and packed our blankets etc. onto the trucks and then went to sleep again. We had to get the transport loaded because today we were crossing the Rubicon and all vehicles had to cross by bridges further south than we are, and so had to start early.
I spent last night in the topmost attic of the converted church. The officer from the 1/5 that I know was also in the same room, which made things a bit more interesting.
At 8 o'clock we got up again, but had no more breakfast although we were beginning to feel hungry. We then went down to the road to await transport to lift us forward. At about 10.30 it arrived, and we had a very cramped journey north-eastwards - about 25 men to each truck. We passed a lot of German transport on the way which had been recovered by our people and towed into fields just off the road. We then
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entered a forest, and drove several miles through it; I should think lots of Germans are still hiding in it, it is so colossal - it can scarcely have been combed thoroughly. The next mile or two through open country took us to where we were going to cross. This mile or two showed what damage the R.A.F. had inflicted - burnt-out vehicles, carts, clothes, and about 300 horses roaming at large. The horses were some of them German-Army horses, and some of them French farm-horses that had been commandeered during the retreat. They all looked pretty gaunt and collar-galled, as though they had been hard-driven. They had been abandoned presumably because the Germans couldn't get them across. There were also a good many dead ones lying about. The local French people were coming out with halters, taking their choice, and leading them off home.
We next got off our transport, and had some biscuits and cheese while we were waiting for the 'ducks' (amphibious vehicles) to arrive. After 1/2 hour or so they came, and we loaded onto them and swam across the 400 yards quite easily, and then crawled out up on the other side.
We then turned left and drove 6 miles or so up the main road alongside the river until we came to a village called C-- where we debussed; and continued the march on foot. The march was rather tiring - west and northwest - as it all seemed to be uphill. It was mostly through woods and orchards, and although only 6 miles, felt more like 60. At last we reached St. A-, where we turned right into the grounds of a chateau, where we stopped and brewed some tea. The battalion then
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moved to the chateau itself - my company is on the topmost floor. It has been occupied by the Germans, but is still pretty well fitted out - panelling and huge mirrors. We got here at about 8 o'clock p.m., and had a hot meal outside on the grass at about 9.p.m., and then I went to sleep in a small attic-room with another officer.
I'm writing this, now, actually, on the morning of the 4th after breakfast, in case we move off today, and I can't write later. As today has scarcely begun yet and so there is no news, I'll close down.
1st Leicestershire Regt.
B.L.A.
Letter 32. 5th Sept. 44.
Mon. 4 Sept. This morning after breakfast I wrote the last letter (No.31) to you, and then censored some of the platoon's mail. During the morning we cleaned weapons etc., but didn't do much else. In the afternoon I read for the most part; I have nearly finished my 'Histoire' at last! I read a bit more in the evening, and then washed my feet and went to bed. It is an uneventful day because we are still at the same chateau and so nothing much is happening.
Tues. 5 Sept. This morning for breakfast I had an EGG and some fresh BUTTER which my batman got in Exchange for English cigarettes; the French go almost dippy for some of our cigarettes in fact the children line the road calling out 'Cigarettes pour papa'.
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After breakfast a situation map was shown to us, and we passed the news on to our platoons. After a period of weapon- training the rest of the morning was free, so I finished my 'Histoire'.
At 4 o'clock this afternoon we went for a route march so that we shouldn't stagnate too much; it was about 5 miles, and we made a ring round the area where we are quartered. We got back at about 6 p.m. and then had a meal - it was veal, potatoes, and peas (from a tin) followed by treacle pudding (lovely and clarty) and of course the inevitable Army tea.
I'm now writing this while we wait for supper at 8.30 p.m.
You are probably wondering where I am by now, I can't of course, mention places; but I'll try and do it diagrammatically:-
Imagine Leamington is Northern France with north in its proper position, i.e. straight up the Parade. Imagine I have been latterly in the area of the G.P.O., and since the advance started I have been going up towards Willes Road past the little doctor's. Recently I have turned into Willes Road, taken the Leam in our stride (as I mentioned in Letter 31) and have now turned into Holly Walk, making eventually for the Library at Boots! At the moment we have got as far as the Armathwaite Hotel. All the above is on the scale of 100 yards of Leamington = 10 miles of France, except that Holly Walk on this scale should be nearer to the Leam. You should be able to work out now where I am! Let me know if you have, if you can't work out this
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one I'll try again.
You'll remember to send some envelopes, won't you; I'm getting short now.
The chateau where we are is built in 18th century style, with huge paintings on the walls, and mirrors. The drive to it sets it off well; it is about 100 yards long flanked with trees 4 deep on each side; so that you look (from the road) down a tunnel of trees to the house itself. It must, of course, have a few statues scattered around the grounds. The Germans have evidently used the avenues between the four rows of trees as a riding-school; at any rate there are the remnants of adjustable fences (such as we should use for high-jumping) in them. In one of the lodges, apparently used as a billet, are painted the words 'Wir Siegen doch' - 'We'll conquer yet'; so what?
It's 1/4 to eight now, and as I'll have to censor the platoon's mail before supper I'll close down now, especially as I have run out of news.
1st Leicestershire Regt.
B.L.A.
Letter 33. Thurs. 7 Sept.
As none of my mail has been forwarded yet to the new address there is nothing general to talk about; so I'll get straight on with the diary.
Wed. 6 Sept. This morning I had sausage, an egg, and tomato for breakfast! In the morning I packed my things together because we were moving again in the
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afternoon; then made out a nominal roll of my platoon with next of kin, and got them armed to the correct scale; and at 11 o'clock we went for a short route march round some nearby fields, so as to keep our feet in trim Seeing that the move was being made by lorry.
At 2.45. we paraded for the move and got onto the trucks; but we didn't start till 3.45 p.m. We then made a very slow move for about 16 miles - it was slow because there was such a lot of stuff on the roads. At about 6 o'clock we arrived at the vil1age we are in now, after passing through two crowded towns (mostly refugees I should think by the numbers), which were covered with flags just as Stratford - on - Avon used to be; they were also swarming with children cadging chocolate and sweets and cigarettes.
On our arrival here we debussed outside the village and marched 1/4 mile or so to the orchards where our company was to be. We then dug slit-trenches against shelling, and while we were doing this we saw about 60 four-engined bombers flying overhead. They were fairly low, because it was so cloudy. We could see them bombing their objective in the middle distance, and then circle away again. About this time it started to rain lightly; so we looked around for a building for the platoon to go to. Just behind the orchard was a canteen for evacuees, and as that was only in use by day, we moved into it, and bedded down on the floor. It began to get really squally and during the night it pelted, so it was a good thing we didn't stay
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out to get soaked in our trenches.
Thurs. 7 Sept. Had breakfast brought to The Canteen where we were sleeping at 8 o'clock. After breakfast I went out to look around for some buildings to go to by day, since it was still raining.
There was nothing available in the village, so one of the other platoons cramped up a bit and we moved into the sheds they left; I myself moved into what had been a small coal - or wood - store - only about 4 foot square - where I should be by myself and get away from the racket.
During the morning I read a bit, and after lunch wandered round the village.
I went into the church, which had a Norman doorway and nave, but this had been 'repaired' as badly as the converted church we were at a few days ago, e.g. painted lines of mortar to resemble stone and mortar on the other side, and a sort of plaster of Paris to resemble stone.
I was then called away on a reconnaissance to view the country ahead We went forward A few miles in jeeps, and then walked across-country about 3/4 mile to reach our vantage point in a hanger, where you could see the slopes opposite through the trees. We got back at about 5o'clock, and at the moment (6 o'clock) I am waiting for suppers.
You are probably wondering where I am; if you remember in letter 32 I was going down 'Holly Walk' heading for 'Boots'; well we have now reached 'Queen Victoria's Statue' by the town hall, so let's hope the next few days will have everything straightened out satisfactorily, if you can guess what this all refers to.
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I haven't seen a paper for about a week now; we have to rely on the B.B.C. and a typewritten news sheet produced by Div. H.Q. for the news. I hear we're at Aix-la-Chapelle now, so perhaps it won't be long before the war ends?
I've just eaten supper - pork and potatoes and peas ( bags of runny pork fat over it), and rice and black-berries. I prefer the puddings out of tins to these 'fresh' puddings because the ingredients are better; e.g. the tinned rice pudding is made with creamy milk; but the fresh is made with water, and insipid water at that.
I'll close down now and read a bit till we move back into the canteen for the night.
1st Leicestershire Regt.
B.L.A.
Letter 34. 9 Sept. 44.
Fri. 8 Sept. This morning after break-fast there was a weapon inspection and a weapon training period; this was going to be followed by a route-march lasting about an hour; after we had gone about 300 yards it started to rain again, so we sheltered in a barn. The rain lasted till about 12.l5, and so when it stopped we merely marched back to our billets and waited for lunch; we didn't want to get wet unnecessarily, having; nowhere to dry clothes etc.
In the early afternoon I read a bit,
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and at 4 o'clock there was a conference which lasted about two hours; we then had a meal, and I read a bit more in the evening. An uneventful day - but it will be made up for later!
Sat. 9 Sept. After breakfast we did the same as yesterday; only this time we did a short march up the road and back again about two miles. It was raining intermittently all morning.
During the afternoon I collected two maps from B.H.Q.; I needed them to complete my set of maps of everywhere I have been. The rest of the afternoon I have been reading; it is now 4.30 p.m. and I am waiting for yet another conference at 5 o'clock.
As you see, we are still here. I am now sitting on my sleeping-bag in my wood hovel, with the coat of arms Bun made hung on the door, marking the spot. Since about 1 o'clock the weather has improved so perhaps the ground will dry out. I'll finish this off this evening.
By the way, I am enclosing the flower that was given me some 40 miles back, so that you can keep it as a souvenir.
I'll finish this off now - its just 9 o'clock.
The conference lasted from 5 to 6 and I then had supper. At 8.15 I had a conference with my own N.C.0's, which lasted till just now - 9 p.m.; in fact supper was cold when I cane to eat it.
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