At the start of April 1944, the entire Irish Brigade was positioned on the Cassino massif with a perfect view down onto the Monastery built in the 6th century by St Benedict, but which was now in total ruin. Both the Skins and the Irish Rifles were close to the summit of Monte Castellone and the Faughs and the Brigade HQ on the lower slopes near to the village of Caira. After a most uncomfortable three and a half weeks, the brigade withdrew to a rest area several miles to the south near to Formicola.
During the month, the newly promoted Major Lawrence (Lawrie) Franklyn-Vaile continues to be in reflective mood as he writes home to his wife, Olive, and imagines what his family must be thinking as they listen to the BBC news.
In his letter home on 8th April, Lawrie writes to his wife:
“I hope you were listening to the 8 O’Clock News this morning. It gave a very graphic description of conditions on the Cassino Front. The broadcaster said how ‘Nothing to report’ gives a completely wrong impression in people’s minds. He described the ordinary night routine – the mule trains, the Jeeps coming forward loaded with rations, water, mail, etc, the unloading in the dark, the almost continuous sound of machine gun fire, the artillery and mortar duels as the Germans try to put crumps down on our positions and our supply routes and we, of course, do the same with them. The patrols going out into ‘No man’s land’, and all this occurs every night, even when the official communiqué says ‘Nothing to report’ and it is always a time of anxiety, excitement and strain.”
In another letter home later in the month, Lawrie further describes conditions in the line for the Faughs:
“I am writing this letter in a small dug out on the side of a mountain. There is very little room to move around, but it has been made fairly snug by hanging blankets abound the sides and over the entrance while the roof is covered with logs. This afternoon, it poured with rain and, after a time, the water started to drip through the roof and we were threatened with disaster.”
Thus, the fate of an infantryman when not in action.
On 19th April, Lawrie tells Olive that he has now been able to take leave on the Amalfi coast, before returning to the Faughs by the end of the month. By this time, the Irish Brigade were back in the serenity of Formicola, and awaiting orders to move forward for further front line action.
They didn’t have to wait very long for these orders…
2nd April 1944.
My Dearest Olive,
Here we are in April. The war still continues, but the news from Russia is very hopeful. They seem to be able to keep the offensive going and I feel there is a reasonable prospect of finishing the war this year provided the Second Front is not too long delayed. Here in Italy, as you have no doubt gathered from the news, the fighting is still very desperate and bitter and the German is taking a tremendous amount of dislodging from the high ground to which he clings.
It is curious in a way how, each time one goes forward after a break, it takes a little time to settle down again. The whistle as the shell comes through the air always has a distinctly unpleasant sound and it never really improves in one sense, as one does tend to become slightly more nervous, to wince as shells land near at hand, and not to feel quite so calm and collected as when first under fire. At first, I felt no sense of fear and did not know when to duck and when one can carry on. The Trigno experience and being wounded was rather shocking and I have never felt quite as comfortable since. However, in some ways, one’s perceptions are sharpened and one’s judgement improves enormously.
Fortunately, I am always at my best when I have others around me and there is a need to set a good example. We were having a discussion on this question the other day and I think the CO expressed the position very ably when he said, “When we are being shelled or mortared I feel just frightened now, if not more so, as I ever have but a couple of minutes after it is over, I have completely recovered”. That is the crux of the matter: the question as to whether nerves are good or bad. While the shelling is on, there is an uncomfortable sinking feeling in the stomach and a rather dry taste in the mouth, but the moment it is over I feel perfectly happy and comfortable again.
One night recently, we were shelled fairly heavily when the four Coy Commanders were going forward to meet the CO for a recce : the splashes of light as the shells landed were an eerie sight, and the dull crump as the sound went echoing through the Valley made us all feel somewhat uneasy but, once we reached our destination, all that went and one felt quite happy again with a job on hand. Of course in an attack, it is rather different as there is so much to be done that one has no time to think about personal safety.
The other day I had to go to Bttn HQ in broad daylight. Douglas (Room) was with me as he was out on patrol that night and was coming down for extra information. It was an uncomfortable journey made partly in full view of the Germans and they eventually decided to shake us up a bit and started to drop a few shells round about. It was not a particularly cheering time and neither of us unduly enjoyed it but we managed to preserve our sang froid. Bttn HQ got quite a few near misses that afternoon and when we were leaving, the CO said to me, “You can sympathise with poor Bttn HQ so close to the front, Lawrie”, and I replied, “When I am back and sitting cosy and safe in my rock cave, I will provide you my heartfelt sympathy, Sir,” and he laughed heartily and said, “You are a sod, Lawrie”.
Douglas is very cool and steady and is a great contrast to what Edward was like. Poor Edward was rather a trial up at the front, as he was always worrying and would keep on worrying me and asking questions. Douglas, on the contrary, keeps very calm and collected, but does not worry at all and takes things very much as they come. A good man to have around in a tight spot. My Coy HQ is in a very deep cave on the side of a mountain and it very cosy and safe, and it’ll take a lot to get us out of here.
Do not worry, darling, if letters are a bit more erratic. The service is naturally not quite so good from here, and also to make matters worse, most unfortunately in coming forward, I left my small reserve stock of airmails behind and consequently have to rely on issue which is only three a fortnight and although we get them alright the supply problem sometimes makes the distribution difficult and we may have to wait. I will send you some airgraphs if I cannot get hold of any airmails. They are not, of course, nearly as good but sometimes appear to arrive in reasonable time. I received two from you a couple of days ago dated 22/3 and 24/3.
Curious that my letter of the 6/2 should have been so long delayed. The same has occasionally happened with letters of yours, sweetheart, but never to quite that length of time. I got an airgraph from Mother dated 27/2 – they were very pleased over my promotion. Apparently, it has been a very hot summer with plenty of bush fires. Helen seems extremely happy, Tapley is somewhere in the north of Australia. I am hoping there will be some letters from you when the rations come up tonight.
All my love and kisses to you both, most precious and adorable of wives. I miss you both a tremendous lot.
Lawrence
5th April 1944.
My Dearest Olive,
Last night, I received your letter dated 28/3 in which you start off by saying, “Many, many congratulations”. In a sense, you seemed more pleased than the first time and, in some ways, I was also. Not quite an inwardly excited perhaps and naturally very much more used to wearing it and being referred to as “Major” but I was very pleased because the competition was much greater on this occasion, as so many fairly senior people had arrived in recent months and that as a Captain there was only one other junior to me, so I jumped over the heads of a number of people and I certainly did not anticipate being promoted before Neville Chance.
I am told he went very white when he was told of my promotion and retired to rest but, in all fairness, he congratulated me very warmly the following day. It is only natural that it must have been a rather bitter blow for him as a regular of some years’ service and he is by no means inefficient. I think he is very much better in every way than Collis and we get on very well together. Actually, as far as I can judge, my promotion does not appear to arouse any jealousy, and everyone is always very friends towards me and I get on extremely well with people in the battalion.
Yes, I am very keen on the battalion and think the first just does it. In fact, it was quite a joke that they could not even persuade me to go on leave. My Company is a very good one with a fine spirit, and I still have a very soft spot for ‘B’ Coy and a warm affection for the men of that Company, but I am very pleased with ‘C’ Coy. One of ‘B’ Coy said to me in a very plaintive voice that it seemed all wrong to see me cheering on ‘C’ Coy at football and Fellowes tells me that many still cherish a hope that I will return but I would not change now even if the opportunity occurred because they are a young and enthusiastic crowd in this Coy, who seem to like me and I consider myself very fortunate in having officers like Douglas, Dicky and Pat Howard.
Had rather a bust up with Collis recently.
A patrol of mine that goes out near his area has to report to his Coy HQ and, the other night, when it was commanded by a Corporal it reported first to a platoon of his and then the patrol commander went on to see Collis. He promptly got the most violent abuse for not coming directly with his patrol which was utterly absurd as the platoon lay on the route. He was cursed up hill and down dale. I was absolutely furious when I heard about it and promptly told the CO I was not pleased to have my NCOs treated in such a manner – patrols are not particularly pleasant jobs, and everyone is naturally a trifle keyed up and to be abused just before entering No Man’s Land is not the greatest encouragement and shows a complete lack of imagination on the part of the individual concerned. The CO agreed with me that even if the NCO had made a mistake that was completely the wrong time to speak to him about it and in any case he did not see how he had made a mistake.
The upshot was that he promised to investigate the matter and the next thing was that orders were issued that there was no need for my patrol to report to his Coy HQ – all they need do was to report to the nearest platoon and then proceed on their way. Collis and I don’t hit it off very well as it is, so I doubt if this will improve relations.
Incidents that live in the memory. One night some little time ago three of us listened to the 9 o’clock BBC News in a small ruined hut. The announcer was speaking of the bitter fighting at Cassino and I thought of you very probably also listening in and outside was the tremendous roar and thunder of our guns and the darkness was punctured with flashes of light as tracer bullets winged their way. And through the roar of artillery, came the rat tap tap of British and German machine guns and the sound of explosions.
I listened to the news and I thought of you sitting quietly at home with Valerie probably sleeping and it seemed strange indeed that the same voice was probably speaking to both of us and how different were our surroundings. Out here, it seemed a grim and terrible night with death on every hand and I thought it would be very nice sitting at home with you by a comfortable fire.
Did I tell you that Tony Pierce is back in England? Apparently, his wound did not heal very well and he was evacuated home. You remember Desmond Fitzpatrick? He went on a draft from the 6th to the 2nd, but I hope he did not reach them in time. Several of my old Coy in the 30th are with me here and, talking with a couple, we were recalling the days at Mourne Park a year ago. Very happy times they were too, darling, and I am extremely glad you were able to come there with me and we had such a pleasant finish to our stay in Ireland. The only consolation at the moment is that our bank balance is in considerably better shape than it was then. Algy is a Brigadier in Abyssinia and McCarthy just commands a Coy in a drafting battalion of the Skins.
Heaps of love to you and Valerie, my own dearest most precious of wives.
All my love and kisses,
Lawrence
8th April 1944.
My Dearest Olive,
Received your letter dated 30/3. I don’t quite know how your cousin has managed to buy all the articles he apparently does. Did you say he was in the RASC ? If so, that presumably accounts for a lot as naturally they get around very much more, as the last time I saw a town was when I visited Naples with Douglas early in February. Since then, the only towns I have seen have been almost devoid of life. I am glad you agree with me over the shoddy articles, I certainly do not feel like buying indifferent articles at the scandalous prices which are demanded. It is a disgraceful state of affairs that we conquer the country for that is what it amounts to and then allow these miserable people to exploit us. As far as fighting is concerned, the Italians have been of no use whatsoever to us – in fact, most of our misfortunes seem to have occurred since they came over on our side. There was a very witty poem along these lines in “The Eighth Army News” the other day.
One heard a lot about the glories of Fascism and the magnificent new manhood being reared. Naples impressed me as a decadent city, but the façade was hollow beneath the glittering sham. The shops were full of luxury goods of very poor quality – sweetmeats were abundant but one saw scarcely any substantial foods, and the streets were crowded and, on the whole, the people were reasonably well dressed but occasionally one saw some shocking malformations. The city is, of course, absolutely rife with VD, and every few yards some old man would sidle up and whisper, “Me got sister, 17, very nice”.
You will smile at my innocence but for a long time I could not make out what they were saying, with my ear not being very quick as you know, and thought they were begging. The Via Roma is a magnificent thoroughfare and the Bay with its two distinct halves is very beautiful. In the distance, Mt. Vesuvius presents a superb sight long to be remembered when it was in eruption, and the whole sky was lit up in the most glorious fashion. I saw very little damage, indeed, and we gathered quite an extensive area. It is one of the few cities that has had electricity restored and expect that there are no trains or trams and life seems to function fairly normally.
I hope you were listening to the 8 o’clock News this morning. It gave a very graphic description of condition on the Cassino Front. The broadcaster said how “Nothing to report” gives a completely wrong impression in people’s minds. He described the ordinary night routine – the mule trains, the Jeeps coming forward loaded with rations, water, mail, etc, the unloading in the dark, the almost continuous sound of machine gun fire, the artillery and mortar duels as the Germans try to put crumps down on our positions and our supply routes and we, of course, do the same with them. The patrols going out into “No man’s” land, and all this occurs every night even when the official communiqué says “Nothing to report” and it is always a time of anxiety, excitement and strain.
You know how I have always tended to worry a good deal and anticipate events, but now I have developed quite a calm philosophy and just refuse to get anxious or excited over things. The CO has two great sayings, “Nothing is ever as bad as it seems”, and “Everything comes right in the end” and it is surprising how right he is. He is very fond of saying, “There are enough people worrying about this war as it is, without my doing so” and I have slowly tended to adopt that attitude. Added to that, I know my job pretty well by now and do not get easily thrown out of my stride. Neville Chance has had to go back for a rest as he refused to sleep at night with the result that his own nerves are very bad and consequently other peoples as well. The Adjutant said to me this morning, “Every time I ring you up, Lawrie, your Signallers always seems to say “Well, Sir, I think he is asleep, do you urgently want him?”. Of course, that is a gross exaggeration, but I still have a good routine and consequently keep fit and lively and the Company are all the steadier for it.
Let me know if the £40 was paid in alright this month. I should be glad to occasionally receive a good book and I think there are still some good Penguins published. I have just started “Claudius the God” after finishing “Disraeli” by Andre Maurois. You never sent me “War and Peace” by Tolstoy which I asked for many months ago. The papers arrive regularly. Would you like to send me a parcel containing toothpaste, toothbrush, Brylcreem, notepaper and envelopes? I don’t think there is anything else I require, and I have far more cigarettes than I need. I hope your cold did not develop darling, and that you and Valerie are both very well.
I miss you both very much indeed. All my love and kisses, it will be grand when we are together again.
Your devoted husband
Lawrence
12th April 1944.
My Dearest Olive,
I am writing this letter in a small dug out on the side of a mountain. There is very little room to move around, but it has been made fairly snug by hanging blankets abound the sides and over the entrance while the roof is covered with logs. This afternoon, it poured with rain and, after a time, the water started to drip through the roof and we were threatened with disaster. However Fellowes is very good with his hands and, in a short space of time, the leak was mended and our house was dry again. Others were less fortunate – Pat Howard shares a dug out with his platoon sergeant, Frank Higgins, and they had to bale out, while the roof of Sergeant Major’s dug out caved in, but very fortunately he was not inside. A number of others were swamped. I had thought that the bad weather had finished but it looks as if we are in for some rain. During the day, the sun is quite hot and everything dries very quickly.
I write by the aid of a hurricane lamp beside me and my torch shining down from the roof. Outside is the constant sound of machine gun fire, and at the moment someone is firing Tommy Guns some distance away and our mortars are firing. Every now and again comes the crump of the German mortars and then perhaps a short spell of silence. Just as I wrote this, there was a tremendous burst of MG fire on our left and the crash of mortars on the right. More MG fire has just started, and also the rain which is more annoying to us at the moment than the MG fire. Everything is having a go at the moment, and this, incidentally, is a normal uneventful night “in the line”, and no special attack is occurring. It is just what happens every night. (Our artillery has just opened up).
It is curious that, unless one is being affected by the actual attack, one can take no notice and, in fact, just sleep through it. Last night, the Germans put down six mortars in quick succession about 100 yds away and I never heard them. Yet, if one of my platoons had opened up fire or being fired upon I would have been awake instantly. That, I suppose, is experience and it is a good thing that one’s mind can become attuned to the surroundings and seem to realise what is important and what is not as, otherwise, it would be almost impossible to gain any sleep. (More MG fire). Actually, our positions here are very secure and we are not overlooked by the enemy.
Incidentally regarding casualties, at times, they are very nasty but in order to get the matter in the right perspective, I may say that I commanded ‘A’ Coy during the last 3 days on the Sangro; ‘B’ for two months, five weeks of which we spent in “the line” and ‘C’ for 7 weeks and I have not had one solitary casualty during the whole of that time. It just indicates that, while war is obviously very dangerous and highly unpleasant, at the same time one has very reasonable chance of survival.
Douglas is very well and doing quite satisfactorily. He is a great man for his comfort even under the most adverse conditions and he and my Sergeant Major are rather apt to clash on occasions. Douglas does tend to interfere a bit in what is not his job, and he occasionally forgets that he is not still at Brigade when he had a Defence Platoon of his own. Sergeant Major Norton feels that he should not take orders from anyone except the Coy Commander and in that I quite agree, and the old story of, “too man cooks” and, in any case, there is naturally a special relationship between the Coy Commander and his CSM. Norton is a Welshman from Pontypridd, young and very keen and a non-regular – the first I have met who has risen that high. It is a very fine performance and he is a splendid fellow, is very keen and almost fanatical on the Company and he is responsible for a very good atmosphere. Douglas has just departed back on 48 hours leave. I was offered it but refused to go as, somehow, I feel I cannot leave the company in a forward area. The only thing that would persuade me to go was if I felt really unwell and my work was suffering in consequence. Incidentally speaking of health, would you send me some tubes of Veganin by letter mail? My supply of aspirin is almost out and there are many times when it is useful to have some handy.
I have not had a letter from you, darling, since the one dated 30/3. Some people received letters dated 4/4 yesterday, but not me. However I am very much hoping one will be up with the rations tonight.
All my love to you and Valerie, sweetheart. Don’t worry and write often.
Your devoted husband.
Lawrence
15th April 1944.
My Dearest Olive,
Received letters from you dated 5/4 and 7/4 and last night one dated 26/3. There was a gap between 30/3 and 5/4 so possibly there are a couple floating around somewhere, which will turn up eventually. I gather the mating of Sylvia went satisfactorily, and it will be interesting to await the results. I bet Valerie will be excited when the puppies appear and you will probably have some difficulty in keeping her away from them, and it will be certainly not be to Sylvia’s liking if she starts trying to handle them roughly. I expect she will be more jealous than ever of Sadi. I am sorry Sadi was not mated, and I hope you will be able to manage it next time.
I am very strongly in favour of us doing something along these lines in a small way at any rate after the war, and I think it might prove a very profitable exercise and remember I will have many contacts and they will be the right type of people from that point of view. I have talked it over with a couple of people interested in dogs and dog breeding and they feel there will be a big future in it after the war and a tremendous demand for dogs, as most people will have plenty of money to spend for a time and there will be thousands of men from the Services anxious to acquire a dog. That’s why I feel we should have the basics now and apart from feeding problems, which I realise will be very difficult, we are in the financial position to be able to do so and remember the rank of “Major” will be a big help and after being through all this I will feel well entitled to use it.
I received an airgraph from Lloyds informing me that they had paid £40 to you this month and in future would pay £30 per month. They informed me that after paying you £40 for April, I have a credit balance of £145/17/8, which seems a highly satisfactory state of affairs to me. There is every reason for it to steadily increase and, by the time I am demobilised, what with that and some sort of gratuity, which we are almost certain to receive, we should be able to do something.
I have had a various assortment of letters arriving the last few days – one from Mrs Glennie, who said how pleased they were to hear from you and how much they were looking forward to have us stay after the war. The poor woman said there were numerous questions she wanted to ask me about Johnny but she did not know how to do it on paper.
I also had letter from Muriel, Slowley and Jim Lawrence. Slowley is still a fusilier with the 5/Skins, and he said he went before an OCTU board the other day and was told he needed a little more experience in leadership. Well, he has been in the Army 2 years now and a L/Cpl a lot of that time and if he has not gained the experience by now, he will never do so. Jim seems to be trying to make the best of it and Army life, with its petty restrictions and sometimes irksome although usually necessary discipline, is bound to prove trying to one of his temperament. Once he settled down and adjusts his outlook, I should not be at all surprised to see him do quite well. I would certainly have Jenny up if you can – she is trying at times but she is very good hearted and if everything goes alright, she will make a very good mother, and as you said yourself, she does not have many friends.
You will be surprised to hear Edward (Gibbon) is back in England. He never wrote a word to anyone after he left the Bttn. Muriel told me she thought she saw him in Omagh one day recently and he did not look at all well and, yesterday, I had it confirmed. There are some doubts as to how he got home, and someone seemed to think he had volunteered for the Special Mission Troops and there is a story about a dead muscle in his leg. Poor old Edward…Dudley Clark has a job with AMGOT and is somewhere in this part of the world. You remember (Major Ronnie) Boyd at Omagh. He just arrived out and has gone to the London Irish as 2 i/c of a Company.
I feel a trifle off colour today. Last night was very noisy and one of those nights when one snatches a few minutes sleep now and again, worse than not having any sleep.
Look after yourself, darling, I am always most interested to read the family details in your letters.
All my love to you and Valerie.
Your devoted husband,
Lawrence
19th April 1944.
My Dearest Olive,
I am writing this sitting on the balcony of a hotel gazing out at the sea – the sun is pleasantly warm and the sea looks very blue. From this, you can conclude that I am having my first leave since I joined the battalion. As I told you in previous letters, I did not want to go but Dicky Richards, back from his course, was fresh and very keen to come up and relieve me for a short spell. I declined a couple of offers to go back for a break but the CO rang through one afternoon and said that Dicky was coming forward with the rations that night and bringing his kit so I had better go back for 2 or 3 days rest.
At present, there is a very strict rule that the Coy Commander and 2 i/c must not be in a forward area together. So, as I had already sent my platoon commander back for a rest, my conscience was fairly clear so I agreed to go to ‘B’ Echelon for a short break. About an hour before I was due to leave, the CO rang through again and said, “You know Jimmy (Geddes) the Red don’t you Lawrie, well you are going on 7 days leave to —–, good night,” and hung up without giving me a chance to reply. Subsequently, when I got back to ‘B’ Echelon the 2 i/c of the battalion told me that the plot was hatched about 24 hours before, but they decided to say nothing to me until the last moment in order that I would not have time to think up an excuse. I am rather glad my hand was forced because I was beginning to feel somewhat stale and I think the break will do me a lot of good, and already I am thinking up fresh ideas and things I will do when I return.
Most unfortunately, Jimmy moved to another area about 70 miles away only a few weeks ago. It is a great pity, as he would have undoubtedly given us a grand time as he has to several others of the Bttn including the CO and he had sent up repeated messages asking when I was coming down. However, I have a truck with me so I sent off a note to his people and if the reply is favourable, as it is certain to be unless he is away, I will go down on Friday and stay a day or so with him. I would certainly like to see him again and we will have tremendous amount to say to each other.
My partner in crime here is Capt Cammiade, the I.O. “Cammy” is an excellent chap – 31 years, half French, and very witty and intelligent. The hotel we are staying at must have been a very luxurious affair in peace time, and it has been taken over by the British authorities and is run as a hotel for British Officers. “Cammy” and I share a room with two extremely comfortable beds, a wash basin, with hot and cold water, with all the peace time amenities one had almost forgotten about. Last night I slept like a log. The service is quite good and apart from the number of people in uniform the atmosphere is completely non military. Run by our own people, the prices are very reasonable, 2/6d for a bed, 1/- for breakfast, 2/6 lunch, 2/6 dinner. I was looking around today to see what I could buy you but the town seems sucked dry. The shops are very empty, however, and when I know my way around a bit more I may be able to pick up something useful.
Today we saw Florence Desmond and Kay Cavendish in an ENSA show. It would have been rather indifferent but for Florence Desmond. They are staying at this hotel and, as is usually the case, do not appear quite as attractive off the stage. FD, in fact, looks distinctly bad tempered and rather older than I anticipated, especially in the morning. Kay Cavendish is quite attractive and very smart but I would not change either of them for you for one solitary moment, precious. I only wish I had you here with me.
You remember Mills at Omagh. I don’t think you liked him very much. I ran into him today, and he said he has been out since December and is engaged in some special work but remembering his ability to “shoot a line” I imagine it is probably some very ordinary kind of work.
Fellowes and Jarvis are both here at Rest Camp on leave. I have not seen them since we arrived but imagine they are having a good time. Fellowes has not had a leave since he became my batman and he well deserves one – he always places my interests first and gets me the best of what is going. Jarvis has had quite a grim time recently. It is no joke being a Coy Command runner in action and he is extremely good, very cool and absolutely dependable. He anticipates my every move which saves a lot of trouble. He is very popular in ‘C, and everyone likes him immensely.
I hope everything is going well for you darling. I would dearly love to see Valerie now – she sounds fascinating from your letters and I very much like reading about all her doings and sayings.
All my love and kisses to you both, sweetheart.
Your devoted husband.
Lawrence
23rd April 1944.
My Dearest Olive,
I am writing this in the lounge of the hotel after having just got back from a couple of days with Jimmy Geddes. He is commandant of a Refugee Camp in a quiet little town. The Camp is filled mainly with Yugoslavs and there are several of them in this country. Apparently bitter enmity exists between the Royalists and the Partisans and they are kept in separate camps. You will not be surprised to hear that the Partisans are in far greater numbers and that Jimmy’s camp is a Partisan Camp.
Most of the men had been fighting the Germans for the last couple of years and quite a number of the women have been doing the same. They are very good types, greatly superior to the Italians. The girls, for the most part, are fairly tall and have good figures and walk around with a free, athletic stride. They look to have character and Jimmy tells me that their behaviour is very good and they have a high standard of conduct. Of course, there is a lot of disease prevalent, and many of the women suffer from TB, due to the lives they have been leading.
Jimmy has not changed at all – he has put on some weight and now has quite a belly. He talks as much as ever and is just as hospitable and energetic as he has always been. The job with its organising and human contacts is ideal for him and, as he is due for a Majority, he is as happy as the day if long. He was delighted to see me, giving me a great welcome and we had some tremendous yarns. He sends his love to you and thought Valerie was making great strides from her photo. Kathleen is very well – they had hoped to have another baby but, like us, it was a rush job and did not come off.
He did not know about my Majority as the CO and Magginis, when they had been with him a couple of months ago, always just referred to me as “Lawrie”. He told me that the CO had spoken very highly of me, saying that he had two really good Company Commanders, Jimmy Clarke and myself and that I was a glutton for work and for looking after my men and could not be persuaded to take a leave. Jimmy said I looked extremely well and thought I was putting on a little weight. He said I appeared to be bearing up under conditions better than anyone he had met so far. He said my dash was now probably tempered with a certain amount of caution and that he had always maintained that, if I survived the first couple of months of warfare, I would become an outstanding Coy Commander. He was quite flattering in this list of my qualifications – coolness, commonsense, drive, care of men and that I had such a sound tactical knowledge I could hardly make a mistake in that direction, although I felt that was a bit too optimistic an outlook. He saw no reason why I should not rise higher – well it is a big step to 2 i/c and then Bttn Commander but I am as ambitious as ever. He regaled me with great tales of the various people he had browbeaten and outwitted. I could not resist a sly dig about Sgt Higgins and he took it in very good part and said he had always had a high opinion of Higgins’ possibilities and thought he might well make a good officer. I don’t agree with that but believe he may, with experience, become Sergeant Major. Jimmy said that he believed Dougie was not very successful as Adjutant of the 2nd and that although Dougie was his friend he did not really think him a good officer. Jimmy still has his “sleeping” habit and says he is liable to give absurd orders when under its influence, but otherwise he is very fit and I think he is happy at getting a job which he feels is safe.
I am glad I have had this leave, I was beginning to feel rather stale but now I feel full of life and energy and ready for anything. Actually, I think there must be something unnatural about me. I am quite eagerly looking forward to getting back to the battalion to all my friends, my Company and all the many interests I have there. I have not got you and Valerie here so all my interests are bound up with the 1st. I am lucky to have fallen on my feet so well out here. I am looking forward to a nice large pile of letters from you, darling, when I get back, and it will make some grand reading.
Look after yourself, darling, and don’t worry. Our immediate future appears quite good.
All my love and kisses to you and Valerie, dearest little wife.
Lawrence
28th April 1944.
My Dearest Olive,
On arriving back from leave, found a number of letters awaiting me and a couple more arrived in the last day. The dates are 1/4, 3/4, 9/4, 11/4, 13/4, 15/4, 17/4, 19/4. So I have had a considerable amount of reading and quite a lot of news to digest. Valerie seems to be in grand form and it is very interesting to read about the performances and behaviour of my small daughter. I am glad the doll and stockings arrived safely and that Valerie was pleased with the doll and understood it was from Daddy. I am now awaiting the news of the progress of Silva. Did you ever register her and Sadi? I hope so. I fully appreciate the difficulty in buying things in England nowadays but will be glad if you can keep an eye open for any likely books. A Pelican book I would like is “Democratic Ideals and Reality” by HJ Mackinder, and a book I would like to read is “The Devil in Crystal”, by Louise Marlow, published by Faber at 6/-. The aspros or veganins will be welcomed as, though I very seldom have to recourse to them, they are very useful as a standby.
On my way back, I called in to see Denis Haywood and spent the night with him. He looked very well and as quite happy in his job as an instructor. He has now got on the staff there and so seems settled for a time. He fully admitted he had no desire to get back “up the line” for sometime. He was very pleased to see me and was very hearty in his congratulations. He sends his love to you and thought it a splendid photo of Valerie and that she was making marvellous strides. Ingrid is hoping to leave the house in which she is living shortly and consequently he is rather worried. Don’t however think I expect you to rush out and invite her to stay with you unless you really wished too – my one desire is that you should be happy and comfortable and there is no reason on earth why you should have anyone to stay with you unless you wish. Actually, because of her operation, she is anxious to try and get a place hear at hand. Dicky and I are in all probability going across to spend Saturday evening with him and we hope to stay the night.
We have come out of the line for a rest and are in quite a pleasant area. Unfortunately, it has rained heavily and continuously for the last few days and the weather, after being warm, is now quite cool again which is not so pleasant under canvas. Still we are not complaining. It was a nice change after the noise of battle and it is very quiet and peaceful here and seems well away from the unpleasantness of war. The Company has been quite fortunate – we had a lot of shelling and patrol work but had only one killed and two wounded. The Company stood up to it well and it is the youngest Coy in the battalion in the matter of age and the least experienced in battle as ‘C’ Coy has a lot of casualties on the Sangro and had to be made up later. They were absolutely first class on training, but I rather wondered how they would shape up under fire and I had every reason to be pleased with them.
I was particularly pleased with Frank – on one occasion we were moving forward to a new position and there was a sudden very heavy crash which seemed near at hand. The forward section threw themselves on the ground and Frank, calmly without the slightest touch of bravado, said, “That was quite a distance away, the hills make it seem nearer”, and continued walking and the men, knowing this Sergeant has had long experience, promptly got up and followed. We have had various NCOs of recent times, who have complained of nerves and war weariness and are asking for base jobs but there is never a word of complaint or a request of that nature from him. He had to command a platoon for over a week as Pat Howard was back making arrangements in the new area, and both Dicky and the Sergeant Major thought he did splendidly. When I first arrived, he was a bit shaken having had a nasty experience in Sicily – his platoon was cut up on patrol and he extracted his section and got them back after 36 hours in a very fine performance. Then he went to Brigade and was afterwards sick and on arriving back was bit shaken to be back in the battalion but he had done splendidly and is very sound in his tactics. The CO is very fond of him and refers to him as “the local boy who made good”. In other words, overcame his own natural timidity. He was, I gather from the CO, rather timid when he first arrived in North Africa but under the influence of the CO, then his Coy Cmdr, he pulled himself together and put up one splendid show in North Africa which deserved a decoration and the Sicily episode.
Pat sent me her photo and it is a very good one. She is a fine kid and writes very regularly. I also got a letter from the Slowley boy serving with the Navy – they all seem to have decided to write. We gather things are being tidied up for the invasion but I should not be surprised if it is not until another month or so. The feeling between the Russians and the Poles seems as bad as ever, I thought the Russian terms were very generous to Finland and the Finns will use their referral.
I hope you are well, darling. I miss you very much and will be very happy when we are together again.
All my love and kisses to you and Valerie.
Lawrence