No. 7925934. L/Sgt. Greenwood.
9th Battn. R.T.R.
B.W.E.F.
5.7.44
Wed. evening.
Jess dear, I have had another day of complete inactivity and have therefore very little to write about. At the moment, meals are the major operation in my routine: an operation which usually demands a tin opener… and boiling water. For a hot meal we simply boil the unopened tins for about half an hour and then dish out the contents. Today, for instance I have had steak and kidney pie, boiled potatoes, mixed vegetables… and all from tins. for breakfast we had tinned bacon… really good bacon. And we have quite a varied menu viz: tinned sausage, stewed steak, meat and vegetable, rice pudding, treacle pudding, fruit pudding, soups, margarine, jam, tea etc. It is a fact that we are having much better food than I anticipated… and there seems to be no shortage. Biscuits are a rather tiresome substitute for bread, but we are becoming more used to them… or rather our mouths are becoming more hardened to them. Our daily ration includes sweets, chocolate, and cigarettes… seven of the latter per man… so our needs are being pretty well catered for.
Occasionally, we hear the news via the wireless, but this is not possible every day. Newspapers are now arriving regularly, but they are usually three days late. In spite of this, they are much in demand.
the postal service is a bit unreliable as yet, but no doubt it will improve very soon. Meanwhile, we just go on hoping from day to day. I have been hoping for the last few days without luck… Perhaps there will be a batch of letters for me tomorrow. Fortunately for my peace of mind, I am always perfectly confident that everything is alright with you and Barry. This means an awful lot to me… and I am not unaware of my further indebtedness to you.
How is everyone at home dear? Is Johnny proving and apt pupil? Are you seeing much of your mother? Are you still having many visitors? Did you receive Aunt G’s invitation?
I suppose the answers to these and many other questions are already in the post… I will have to be patient.
I am enclosing a couple of press pictures… they may have some interest-!
Hope to write again tomorrow.
Au revoir, my dear.
Yours always,
Trevy.