Thursday, 28th December 1944

Dear Dorothy,

Another Christmas has past and gone for me without the charming accompaniment of wine, women and song.  What a lot I have to make up for!  Our Xmas [holiday/meal?] was quiet for us this year, maybe because we had to to tighten our belts for some weeks before, but luckily parcels did arrive on the 20th and we all received half a parcel.  Usually we commence putting little things to oneside some weeks before, but this year we couldn't do that.  On the other hand, I think all of us expected to be with you again, but of course news was just the reverse.

School is taking up a lot of my time these days.  In two weeks time I sit for a preliminary examination in advanced German, and in four weeks time I am to take the Royal Society of Arts exam in advanced German.  IN February, I am going to start doing a little less German but more French with the addition of Bookkeeping.  The latter, of course, is in connection with my proposed future occupation mentioned in my letter of 10th inst.  I am very keen about this venture indeed, and do hope I can find an openiing somehwre.  I am not labouring under the illusion that it is an easy life and that one just has to stand behnd the counter and watch the money roll in!  On the contrary, I am prepared to work hard & long.  I am also aware that there are plenty of pitfalls for the beginner, but I am being put wise to a lot of things now.  I would like you to write to me as much as you can with ref. to the above.

Love to Mother & Dad & you,

Your loving brother,

Arthur.

On this day:

In Italy... The US 5th Army, fighting in the Serchio valley, has pulled back from the town of Barga in response to German counterattacks. 

On the Western Front... AEF Commander in Chief General Eisenhower meets with British 21st Army Group command Field Marshal Montgomery to coordinate the counteroffensive in the Ardennes.

Over Germany... About 1200 B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, escorted by 700 fighters, attacked Coblenz and other targets. Late in the day, Bomber Command bombs Cologne.

On the Eastern Front... In Hungary, Soviet forces report the capture of additional outlying areas near Budapest. 

In Athens... British Prime Minister Churchill agrees to recommend the establishment of a regency to the King of Greece. 

 

In the Philippines... Mindoro airfield becomes fully operational.

 www.onwar.com/chrono/

Sunday, 10th December 1944

My Dear Mother & Father,

After 4½ years of thinking and worrying about a future occupation for myself, I think I have at last hit upon an idea, which I will be in a financial position to carry through and to which, I am sure, I can reckon with your support.  My original idea of becoming a policeman I gave up quite a long time ago, chiefly owing to my age: 26 is the age limit for the force.  Fortunately, in this place one meets chaps from all walks and classes of life: from bank managers to safe breakers; from goldminers to ranch owners.  But I do not intend to become any of these!

During the past few weeks I have made the acquaintance of a chap, who at 30 years of age, owns three shops and a motor transport business in Charlton (London).  He tells me that for £150 to £180 I could purchase the “goodwill” of a sweets.tobacco.newsagent business, including perhaps a further £30 for interior fittings and existing stock; in all a layout of £200.  This would be a one- window, high street shop, with two or three living rooms; the rent should be about 35/- weekly, according to the site.  My idea is not to buy a new concern in some new housing-estate, that would be too risky for a beginner, but an old established business that has been in the same hands for a number of years, this alone is proof that it is a paying concern.

[I will continue this on another letter- I hope Mr Censor keeps them together!]

2

[This is a continuation of another letter-I hope you get them both together, otherwise you won’t know what I am talking about].

In view of the fact that Dorothy (from whom I expect much help) is already in trade, I wonder if she would check up the facts I have given with her employers, and write and tell me what class of a business I can expect? 

Of course my figures are 1939 peacetime.  Naturally, I am fully aware that in order to make a success of this it calls for long hours and hard work on my part, but the fact that I would be doing it for myself is a great consolation.  My savings at the end of this year (1944) I estimate at £400.  Please let me know, when you answer this letter, once again how much money you have banked for me.  I shall be receiving a statement of my army account from my paymaster shortly, so I shall be able to calculate an accurate account.   Well, so much for that!

I received an old August letter from you during the week- the mail service is bad, but we have been informed that our mail will now be sent from England to Switzerland via France, perhaps that will bring an improvement.

Both Jim & I are in excellent health & spirits, and I hope the same is the case at home.  Many happy returns to Dad & Dorothy, all my love to you, your loving son.

Arthur

On this day:

In the Philippines... On Leyte, the US 77th Division captures Ormoc, the main Japanese base on the island. Japanese forces are now mostly concentrated around Palompon.

On the Western Front... The US 7th Corps (part of US 1st Army) launches an attack west of Aachen directed at Duren. To the south, US 3rd Army continues to defend its bridgeheads on the Saar River.

In Moscow... Following a recent visit by the leadership of the French Provisional Government (including de Gaulle, Bidault and Juin), representatives of the French and Soviet government sign a treaty of alliance.

www.onwar.com/chrono

 

Sunday, 5th November 1944

 My Dear Dorothy,

I am in luck this week,  having received 4 letters: 2 from you 6/8 & 24/9; 1 from Mum 6/9 and 1 from Bill 25/8.  After receiving yours of 24th Sept, I reckon I must be about up to date with mail, although I do believe there is mail up to 15th Oct in the camp.  It has to be hoped that you are receiving my mail just as well; I write very regularly, as I know you at home do.

Well we are all settling down to spend yet another German winter-and are they cold.  We have had plenty of rain lately and cold winds, but yesterday and today we had glorious sunshine.  Naturally we are all disappointed and a little glum after such an excellent summer, but after enduring four and a half years imprisonment I am sure that the next six or eight months will not be difficult for us.  I am afraid I do not know the Edwards you mentioned, who had been repatriated, but a C.S.M from Jim's regiment went home in September who knows me.  Be he left he very kindly promised either to call on you or to write to you, maybe by now you have met him or at least heard from him.  

Well, we have just been discussing you all for the past hour - Stan Davies from Magazine Road just dropped in, he has gone now and sends his best regards to you all.  I showed him your wedding group and he said how well Mum & Dad looked and how pretty you were. 

All my love to you, and Mum & Dad, regards to Ken.

Wishing you a Merry Xmas and a Very Happy New Year.

Arthur.

 

On this day:

In the Philippines... Three groups of US Task Force 38 (Admiral McCain) strike Japanese targets on Luzon and in the nearby waters. American losses are listed as 25 planes and the aircraft carrier USS Lexington is badly damaged by Kamikaze attacks. The Japanese losses are estimated at about 400 planes, 1 cruiser sunk (by an American submarine) and another cruiser badly damaged and beached. 

In Greece... British forces land at Salonika.

 www.onwar.com

Sunday, 29th October 1944 (Postcard)

My Dear Mother & Father,

A few lines in reply to Dad's letter of 10th Sept which I received yesterday.  Very pleased to know all is well at home.  Jim & I are in excellent health and good spirits.  Today is a very wet, cold Sunday, but we manage to keep warm.

Les Knowles made two or three night visits last week, but was very quiet about it.  Rugby & Football is in full swing at the moment, but will soon be stopped by the snow.

Best love to you both & Dot.

Arthur

On this day:

On the Western Front... On Beveland, the Canadian 2nd Division reaches Goes in the ongoing battle for the Scheldt by Canadian 1st Army. Inland, Breda falls to the Polish 1st Armored Division.

In the Philippines... On Leyte, elements of US 24th Corps capture Abuyag, south of Dulag, while Catmon Hill is cleared and the advance to Dagami continues. At sea, carrier groups under the command of Admiral Davison and Admiral Bogan conduct air strikes. In two days, they destroy almost 100 Japanese planes for a loss of 15 American aircraft. The carrier USS Intrepid is damaged by a Kamikaze attack.

 www.onwar.com/chrono

Sunday, 22nd October 1944

My Dear Mother & Father,

It is two or three weeks since I last wrote.  I have been putting it off hoping to receive a letter from you, but so far none have arrived now for about five weeks.  

The weather is wet & cold and it is dark at 4pm.  We are all preparing to spend yet another continental winter in this camp, it will be my 5th Christmas here.  Still, it was a glorious summer in every respect, it definitely decided the ultimate result.  Providing food parcels continue to arrive, as they have done up to now, we need have no worries over the approaching winter, I have sufficient warm clothing.

The biggest winter problem is how to spend all this spare time.  In summer one can sit in the sun and read, but reading here in winter is difficult owing to bad light.  However, as far as I am concerned my time passes quite easily and comfortably at the camp school.  It seems very difficult to concentrate here, nearly everybody remarks about that.  Les Knowles has now become a regular visitor, have seen him face to face quite a few times now, he knows exactly where to find me, so worrying about what might happen is unnecessary.

Well save a Xmas pudding for my birthday, I should be with you by then.  Jim & I are both in the best of health and have promised ourselves to make up for this in a few months time.  Please remember me to the relations, etc and Bill + Anne.  

Love to you both and to Dorothy.

Your loving son,

Arthur. 

On this day:

In Finland... Soviet forces of the 14th Army (part of Karelian Front) reach the Norwegian border. On the Eastern Front... In Hungary, forces of the Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front (Malinovski) reach Baja on the Danube, south of Budapest. On the Western Front... Elements of Canadian 1st Army complete the capture of Breskens on the south bank of the Scheldt estuary. In southern Holland, the British 12th Corps (part of British 2nd Army) attacks toward Tilburg. In Italy... Canadian troops of the British 8th Army capture Cervia. In Liberated France... The administration of General de Gaulle is recognized as the de jure Provisional Government. In the Philippines... On Leyte, US 10th and US 24th Corps both record advances. The US 7th Division, on the right flank, approach Abuyog.  In North Borneo... The Japanese fleet assembled at Brunei sets sail for the Philippines with the intention of destroying the American invasion fleet. The Center Force (Admiral Kurita) includes 5 battleships (including Yamato and Musashi), 12 cruisers and 15 destroyers. The Southern Force (Admiral Nishimura) includes 2 battleships, 1 cruiser and 4 destroyers. It is to rendezvous with the 2nd Striking Force (Admiral Shima) from Japan. http://www.onwar.com/chrono/