My Dear Bessie (16 page)

One thing, please do not seem to think that I think you are unintelligent or dumb. I think you are intelligent and no fool. That is not to say that I think you have got the right slant on the social life, insofar as you know the working people are being ‘done', but you cannot really see much good in doing anything about it. I think you'll come to see the use of action as time passes, but in the meantime, please don't write as though I think you are silly. I think you are at least up to my own standard, and you'd probably agree if you knew how low it was.

I have just had a couple of hours on deck, ‘under starry sky' as the poets would say, watching the phosphorescence on the water. Grand sight as the ship speeds through the dark waters. Would I have liked you with me on the deck? Would I! I am leaving the
rest of this page until I land, to let you know the latest position that I can. Sorry this writing is so small, but expect you'll tire your eyes with great joy! Elizabeth, I love you.

Chris

26 October 1944 [Second letter]

My Dearest,

Today is your birthday, and I am thinking of you. I got up at six o'clock and my first thought was of you. I commence this at 7.30, on a very fine, Spring-like morning. The limited view from the window as I sit at my desk discloses trees, mostly pine, and in the distance, mountains. I am glad that we defeated distance in telling of our love.

I wrote the above before 9 a.m. this morning. Now p.m., and two good things have happened. (1) I have received 42, 43, 44 and 45. (2) We are now allowed to mention that we are in Greece, and, too, that we have seen the Parthenon, Acropolis etc, and visited Athens. It's mighty fine of the Censor!

I have just returned from a visit to the nearby town, and am just starting a night duty as I write this. I have done a great deal of walking and feel a little tired and not too capable of telling you all that has happened since we have been in Greece. Tomorrow
I should be able to write you the first of a properly connected account of the welcome we have had, and what it feels like to be a ‘Liberator'.

SOCKS. – I am pleasantly appalled at your hard work on my behalf. Honestly the Army issue of three pairs is adequate, and it is all I have had for over a year, since I threw half-a-dozen pairs in a well in a Tripoli garden. But (aren't I good?) I won't throw yours away. I shall welcome them, wear them, and think of you. But, please, desist, my lady, desist. Please don't worry about sending me anything. I will tell you anything I need, without fail. Please don't send me your favourite book – but tell me what it is, so that I may know just that little more about you. Thank you for letting me have your measurements – your bust, your hips, your waist – lead me to them! is what I think, and I am sure you will lead me.

I love you.

Chris

27 October 1944

My Dear Bessie,

Athens is a city on holiday, a people celebrating after years of suffering, a great communal smile; laughter, happiness, joy,
jubilation everywhere. It would do jaded Londoners good to see what I, treading on the heels of the Germans, have seen. It would do them good to have the Athenian welcome as I have had it.

Imagine travelling with half a dozen other chaps in a truck, running through banner-bedecked festooned streets hung with bright coloured declarations of welcome and praise for England, being cheered and applauded, loud and long, by single individuals or groups of people, as we rushed along. Imagine everyone sitting outside a cafe getting to their feet and clapping. Imagine that happening at a hundred cafes. Turn a city into a stage, make the British Army the players and hear us warm to the genuine joyous proud applause of the appreciative audience. Imagine every house flying flags, sometimes only the Greek, but generally our own, the US, and the Red Flag. Imagine every wall painted with well meant slogans and salutations, many in English (some pidgin English!) and many in Greek: ‘Welcome Our Liberators' – ‘Greetings Allies' – ‘Wellcome to our Dear Allies' – ‘Good Luck to our Greit Allies' – ‘Hip Hooray for the British Army' – ‘Welcome Heroic English' – ‘We salute our Heroic Liberators'. Imagine having flowers thrown into the truck.

Imagine walking along a street, receiving the full smile and the frank staring admiration of every passer-by. That is our luck as we make our way through the beautiful avenues and squares, the first non-goosesteppers since 1941. Whatever commercialism may do tomorrow, today the soldier is receiving his reward, on behalf of those in the British Isles who have not been beaten by German ingenuity. We may like to make our
own reservations about the value of certain British policies and politicians, but in their naive trusting way these folks think of us all as a wonderful collection of people. It is a great feeling.

Have been to the Parthenon and Acropolis as well as seen the Parthenon floodlit. Currency here has been ruined by the Germans. 500 drachma to the £1 in peacetime. Now, 6 cigarettes cost 2,000,000,000 (two thousand million) drachma. I have several billions worthless notes which I will send you later. All for now. Hope you are well and happy.

I love you.

Chris

29 October 1944

Dearest,

I am glad you find my letters worth reading. There is nothing ‘too good to be true' about this, our love. I know you have faith in me. I want you always to have the deep secure feeling that I love you and desire you.

It looks as though getting a place will be a harder job than either ‘getting married' or ‘living together'. I am afraid we shall be hard put to it to find accommodation. Have you thought
that we might have to stop apart until we did get somewhere? It makes me sweat! Do not get too many mental pictures of me ‘toddling round the house'. It is not good for you. I have already told you I have made a note of your measurements in my pay book. In Italy, as you say, there was a shortage, but it does not seem to apply here, though the prices are un-understandable at present, and we have to reorganise the currency for the Greeks. Until that happens, purchases are foolish and actually prohibited. But there are literally miles of all kinds of cloths and many other things which I will consider one day when the currency is stabilised. A little girl in Athens told me it cost her 10,000,000,000 (ten thousand million) drachma to pay for a seat at the pictures.

I cannot advise you on personal hygiene, and I am not going to presume to discuss the anatomical problems or marital difficulties. First of all, I am not competent to do so, secondly I should find it difficult to do so by letter. You will be silly not to see a doctor if you think he would assist. I should do so myself in similar circumstances.

I am a bit puzzled, too, about where we are to live. I hope to goodness that we escape Clerkenwell, or some such place, but it's a possibility. You'll be partner, assistant, follower, in turn, and I shall be very happy to perform for you as occasion demands. I have learnt much from you, and I am very ready to spend the rest of my time learning more. Remember, everything is mutual, and what we give we take back from the other, in some wonderful, satisfying fashion.

I can, when all is said, say no more than I LOVE YOU.

Chris

3 November 1944

Yesterday, I received a LC No. 47, and
Geology for Beginners
. Thank you for both. I am afraid that Geology will be a closed book to me for a little while yet, but my glance through the book confirms your intelligent choice of it, and when the hubbub has died down I hope to spend some useful hours learning from it. The scenery in this ‘verdant suburb' is wonderful. Pine is the predominating tree, but there are many others. The earth is golden brown but the mountains look grey, black, red, white, most exciting, inviting us to visit them soon. I omitted to tell you of my move into the present billet, a very high class hotel in peacetime. Room 95, 4th floor, holds me (and my brother) at present. We have beds, mattresses, wardrobe, washbasin, table, two chairs, mirrors, bath (only cold water) across the corridor, lavatory a few doors away. The climb up is a little irksome, but I suppose Heaven itself would need some getting into. The floors are tiled, very easy to sweep and wash. It is easily the best billet I have ever been in. All the chaps are in the same position, two to a room. You would have needed plenty of money to stop here in peacetime and I am not worried by the fact that only a few days before I commenced to use it, my mattress was nightly the cause of a German having a good night's sleep.

Of course I shall wear the socks – and with pleasure and thanks. But no more or your eyes will be playing you games.

Ignore the news of early war's end, then if it does, you'll get a pleasant surprise. Japan, I believe, is immensely powerful.

I love you.

Chris

7 November 1944

Dear Bessie,

I hope you are not too horribly downcast and depressed at the form of my present letters. I hope you understand the newness and difference of things and that you will realise that in a little while I shall be settled down and more demonstrably attentive. Tonight, though, I am feeling a proper old crock, as I caught a cold yesterday and have a sore throat, running nose, etc., for almost the first time since I left England. You know what a hot-lipped, running-nosed, fuzzy-wuzzy-ed feeling one gets in England. I have it tonight, and oh my goodness, how I would like you to be my nurse!