So this is it; Dad goes overseas. In this last in the series of the letters before he reaches Palestine, he goes training in Wales; is scathing about Brecon; tells us the winter of 45/46 was foul and wet; describes what it is to be jumping over Salisbury Plan and at peace with the world; and deals with the frustrations and ennui that attends his much postponed departure. He even includes a description of the talk he received on the dangers of VD and the small pox problem that delayed his departure.
Some points to note:
- SWALK – sealed with a loving kiss
- 36 – a 36 hour pass
- sweet Fanny Adams – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Adams
- DZ – dropping zone
- plain – Salisbury Plain, hom of, amongst other things, Stonehenge
For the next in the series, Palestine, I will change the approach and copy, as PDFs, the letters so you can see the originals. Partly that is a function of time (there are 75 that he wrote while overseas), partly to give you a change and partly because his record will now form part of the Paratroop Regiment’s permanent record and this is the easiest way to make sure they have the originals. I have posted the first for you already under the new page ‘Dad in Palestine’. Hope you enjoy them.
And finally, a poem from his frustrated period in barracks, another frustration of the fighting man – the jobsworth:
Psalm of the Pay Clerk
The day I left old Pudsey
I never thought I’d be
A mucker of the CSM
Pay clerk – two IC.
Of course I work extremely hard
– I fetch his tea at ten –
And it’s really manual labour
‘Cos it’s a very heavy pen.
I have lots of ink and paper
A desk all on my own
And old Dick says that one day
I might even use the ‘phone!
The amount the chaps get paid
All depends on me
Yes, I’m really quite important
Pay clerk – two IC!!!
Lovely picture of your mother!
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Thank you. Dad said the other men thought she was a film star!
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I bet they did! Great hairstyle and outfit, and wonderful smile:-)
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Wonderful words and pictures. I love your dad’s poem.
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thanks Willow
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