No. 7925934. Sgt. Greenwood, R.T.
9th Battn. R.T.R.
B.L.A.
26.3.45
Monday evening.
Jess Darling: Another fairly leisurely day, and so once again I have little to report. Incidentally, I think I mislead you by using the word ‘leisurely’. In actual fact, some really hard and heavy work has been done on the vehicles lately, but it has been done without undue haste, and more or less without ‘official’ supervision. In other words, we – the crews – have known what attention our vehicles have needed, and we have simply done the work in our own way. This is much more satisfactory than having to do work, usually unnecessarily, simply because some semi-ignorant “technical officer” decides that it needs doing.
The day has been quite warm, as usual, but there have been a few clouds about… and a fairly heavy shower at tea time. This is the first rain I have seen for about a fortnight. Just now, the sun is shining again, and it is a beautiful spring evening… the air being clean and fresh after the shower.
This evening there is a ‘darts match’ in the sergeants’ mess… sergeants v. officers. I am not playing (I can’t play darts for nuts) but I have been enlisted as official scorer… so most of my evening is going to be occupied after 7.30.
The war still seems to be going very well. At the moment, I feel very much out of touch with events, and have to rely on the wireless for all news… not that I really mind being a spectator, as it were: I wonder what you think about Churchill’s visit to the Rhine bridgehead… and his cruise along the river. Whatever one’s political outlook it has to be admnitted that he is a courageous old bounder and a great leader. I feel sure that his trip to the ‘other side’ will have had a great moral effect upon our troops there, and must therefore be praised. But what a ‘pain in the neck’ he must be to the General Staff and those responsible for his safety. I’ll bet they were frantic with anxiety when he crossed the river… and probably more so when he went joy riding in his buffalo or barge or whatever it was. Just like a damned big school-boy, isn’t he? Perhaps that is why he commands such admiration from the troops. It has been said over here that Churchill is doing these things to earn greater popularity, especially among the rank and file, to gain support for the coming? election. This may be true, of course:- he is as artful as a cart-load of monkeys… but I prefer to think that he acted spontaneously and without any ulterior motives. After all, the man is human, and a great personality, even though he is a Tory. As a little side-issue, I think it is a pity that the press are making capital out of the pending divorce of his daughter, Sarah. I know it is not Churchill’s fault, but there are people who will gloat over this little domestic scandal.
Thanks for today’s letter, darling: it tells me about your visit to Manchester, and our little ‘poppet’s’ reactions to his further introduction to the great world. How terribly exciting life must be for him just now! I’ll bet his little brain is literally swimming with impressions and mysteries. Oh I do wish I could be with you dear. It would be so nice to be able to help you… so exciting for both of us to share the little fellow’s amazement… Perhaps, Jess, it won’t be long: I keep hoping and hoping… and dreaming.
It was nice to read of the presents and things which arrived for Barry on his first birthday. Fancy so many people knowing the date… and I, his father, had forgotten! I feel terribly guilty. But I won’t forget his second birthday. We will all be together by then… and it will be a real celebration. And I will be playing with his toys, not Kathleen Steele or anyone else!
Tuesday morning… 7.30 am.
No time just now – post goes at 8.0 am.
Love – You – plenty
Always
Your Trevy.