26 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 654 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

26 May, 1944        0730

My dearest darling –

I rather like the idea of writing you so early in the day. It puts me in the right mood. I felt so good all day yesterday – I was certain it was due to that. Although I didn’t hear from you, dear, I did get a letter from my father – as I expected – telling me about the Sunday spent at your house; also as I expected, the folks had a grand time, enjoyed meeting more of the relatives and thought everyone was very friendly to them. But best of all, darling, was what my father had to say about you, namely – that you are the loveliest, sweetest girl a guy could possibly pick for a wife and that he insisted, as did my mother, that I’d hurry up and come home – so that I could marry you. You know, sweetheart, it’s so wonderful to be in love and realize that you’re a lucky fellow to have the girl you’ve always wanted – but what makes me feel particularly content is the fact that my folks love you as much as they do. And I know – and I’m sure you do too – that they are as sincere as two people could possibly be. If you don’t know it – you will. I’ve never known them to be otherwise – and that’s why I love to read my father’s letter and see how much they love you and want you to be one of their children. Incidentally – my dad writes that you tried on the house-coat – or whatever you call it – and that you looked lovely.

The enclosed negatives and prints are all I was able to get back. There are 5 of the negatives and only 4 pictures – for some reason or another, dear, but you can do what you want with them. My folks will probably want 1 or 2 – but you can take care of that I guess. It’s an awful chore getting pictures censored here – and this is the first roll I’ve had any luck with at all.

I’m glad that knocker arrived, dear. It’s really a rare one and an antique. The house from which is was removed has been standing for 200 years and is the present cite of our Dispensary. The rest of the stuff was junk – but I had to get it out of the way. Incidentally you mention that you’re anxious to see the prints. Have I referred to them in any other terms than print? What I mean is that if I just mentioned the word print – I wonder if you think I’m referring to some cloth. If I didn’t make myself clear – I meant etchings. I just don’t want you to be disappointed, darling, although I think you’ll like these anyway. And while I’m on the subject – Silverware is practically non-existent here and even in London. What they had was gobbled up by the 1st troops to arrive here. The same goes for china, too, although I wouldn’t have been interested in that anyway.

Well well – sweetheart – it’s time I should be on my way, so I’ll close now. Remember that I love you and only you, darling – and that goes for always.

Love to the folks –

All my love

Greg

The following photos were taken outside
Sherborne Castle, UK:

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

Greg on the back lawn


Greg on the left railing by front entrance


Greg in casual dress


Greg in Dress Uniform


Part of the 438th AAA AW BN Medical Detachment


Greg looking out his bedroom window

24 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 654 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

24 May, 1944       0900

My dearest sweetheart –

Another month that I know you, dear, and time seems to have lost its significance for me. To have already been away from you for a longer time that I knew you when I left – doesn’t seem as strange to me now as it did just a couple of months ago. I think becoming engaged to you had as much to do with it as anything else – and I can hardly believe that we’ve been engaged for almost two months, dear. I still startle myself at times when I realize it and get the same kick out of realizing that I in fact do have a fiancée, who is waiting for me and who wants me as much as I want her. It’s a swell feeling, sweetheart, and it will always make me feel right on top of the world.

Again yesterday, as I wrote you already, there was no mail from you or home. I got one from Irv Fine – congratulating me and complimenting me upon my choice – all of which I love to hear, darling. He mentioned Stan’s going in Washington and running around with some Wave or other named Lt. Wilcoff. He assumed I knew her – but I don’t remember the name at all. Do you know who she is? Anyway – he’s probably having a grand time and impressing his companion with his usual charm. It’s too bad he hasn’t developed more substance to his personality, more depth. Irv mentioned that Verna was running around arranging for post-war jobs – so I assume she’s doing rehabilitation work of some sort – a lot of hooey, as far as I’m concerned. As you wrote, I agree – she ought to be at home raising a family and learning how to cook – but that’s their business after all.

We finally got our Medical detachment pictures back, dear, and I’ve already had 2 of them packed and sent out. Will you give one to my folks? After I had them mailed – I wondered whether I should have sent 3 of them – but your folks probably don’t want one of their own. It’s just a group picture of our men and not as if it were a photograph of me alone. Only 15 of our 17 men were present, but we did get the 3 officers in it – so it will serve as a remembrance. I wonder if you’ve received the box of junk I sent and also the prints. I’m particularly interested in the latter and hope they arrive safely.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

438th AAA AW BN Medical Detachment - May, 1944
In front of Sherborne Castle, England
Greg is seated in the center

Last night we saw “Reunion in France” which was fair – or a little better than fair – at best. We actually had 2 showings of it if you can imagine it – for so small an audience. If nothing more – we’re learning to be exclusive. Some of us wanted to play ball after supper – so they ran the thing off at 1900 and 2100. At the 2100 showing – there was an audience of 8 officers and 2 enlisted men.

Well, darling, that’s all again for this morning. It’s time to go over to teach the men something about bandaging – or rather to watch them while they do it. Everything is still just about the same here – and it’s O.K. with me – on that score. I miss you sweetheart and love you and think of you constantly no matter where I go or what I do. Always remember that!

Best love to the folks and

All my love to you, dearest

Greg

Route of the Question Mark

A continuation of Page 20-21 from The Route of the Question Mark is transcribed below, telling a little more about life in Sherborne.

page 20

The problem on Salisbury Plain, when all the crows made life miserable for us... The early morning drilling on Dancing Hill... The day we had our picture taken... Bill Smith's wedding in the Abbey, and we all marched down to attend it... The classes in map-reading and air-craft identification... The girl that Capt Peterson used to bring to the dances... The two mangy sheep-dogs at the castle...

11 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

11 May, 1944       1040

Dearest darling Wilma –

I’m back at the Castle now – a little bit earlier than usual but I have a few things to take care of before tomorrow and I wanted to get an early start.

Yesterday, dearest, I got your letter postmarked May 3 and 4th – and really when you asked me if I were in England, I really had to stop to think. Your getting a letter of mine in 4 days time is really amazing. The best in this direction has been 5 days – and that was once. But where I used to hear regularly in 2½ to 3 weeks – now it is usually 7-10 days. It certainly does help to make things easier, darling, and it’s a pity I can’t call you as easily as I can write you. I haven’t left this place – and it is impossible to make a call from here – and as I wrote before, my chances of getting to London – are very, very slim. But I love you very much, anyway, sweetheart – even if I can’t call you now – and that is really what matters most.

So you thought my eye incident was funny, huh?? Well you wouldn’t have thought so had you seen it! Anyway – it really was funny and did have to do with the Reverend.

Darling I’m glad you went over to visit Ruth and I’m glad you like her. I know she does you – as do all my family. Irv must really be busy from what I hear. I don’t suppose I was ever that busy. And as for planning whether to do general medicine or surgery exclusively – I guess many factors will enter into that and what medicine will have to offer post-war – is still a question to be answered. I’m not too concerned, though – and whatever comes, I won’t let it run me or you into the ground. We’ll both love life too much for that.

Yes, dear, I remember the Cohens. They seemed like a jolly couple – he rather slim and she – shall I say, heavy set? Say you really ran off a list of liquor that your Dad has. What a brawl that would make! I guess it’s getting quite difficult to get it all over the world. I’m the proud possessor of ½ a bottle of Haig and Haig – and I’m treasuring it.

Yesterday – in addition to your two letters, I got one from Barbara – written all over the page – and urging me to hurry up and come home so that I could marry Auntie Wilma. I also got one from Mrs. Gardner – who is now back in Salem, Dr. Gardner – by coincidence on the same day – who is back at San Francisco, and finally one from Barbara Tucker. The latter told me about your visit to Salem which she said she enjoyed. She thought you very O.K. and that’s a lot from her, dear. The Gardners just had local news etc. – but it was nice hearing from them. Gosh – darling – I have a bunch of letters to answer – and I just feel too lazy to or don’t get the time. I’ll get around to it, though.

Well – sweetheart – I’ll stop now. It’s so wonderful to hear from you regularly and to know that you still loved me only 5-6 days ago! It makes me love you even more than I do already. Altogether – it’s a satisfying feeling and I know darling that we’re going to be very, very happy. Love to the folks and

All my love forever, dear

Greg

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

26 March, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

26 March, 1944 1100

Sunday Morning

Dearest Girl –

Most of the fellows have gone down town to church. I was alone up in my room at about 1000 and so I took out my clarinet and played it until a short time ago. I was joined by a fellow – one of the officers – who bought a violin some time ago and between the two of us – Walter Raleigh must have had a tough time in his grave. Likewise for whoever occupied our room in the past. The name over our door by the way is “The Chintz Dressing Room”. I’m not sure what Chintz is – but I don’t think I find any in the room. All the rooms, by the way, are named.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

This oil painting of Sir William Strickland
and his Family by Charles Phillips
once hung in the Chintz Dressing Room

When we have a piano available – Charlie Wright plays – and one of the boys plays the guitar and you should hear that ensemble! It stinks! But the boys sing loud and cheer us on – so everything ends up well, dear. After the war – when we end up having our own house (as soon as I can earn enough money to get one) we’ll have a piano in it, darling, and whether you like it or not – we’ll play together. Do you think that child psychology would frown on the effect upon growing children, dear?

Last night – when I finished writing you, sweetheart, I wrote my folks and also Bea. I thanked her for her letter and asked her to continue to write. I hope she does. It was about 2020 when I got thru and just then my driver came up to my room to tell me there was a patient for me to see at the Dispensary. So I went down and sent the fellow in with a possible diagnosis of Measles. It was too early to say definitively, but you can’t take chances in the Army when so many men sleep in the same barracks. I’ll drop up to the hospital later today and see if the rash is developing or disappearing. Neither would surprise me.

While I was looking the fellow over – half a dozen fellows dropped in and wanted to know if I were going to have a couple of beers. Pete was there, and a fellow named Hughes, Poirier, Davey, Ray – and a couple of others. So we all went off to the Half Moon and had a few beers. No hard liquor (which is called “bitters” here) was available. We got back early – the pubs close at 2200 – hung around the room, listened to the radio – and went to bed.

  
Half Moon Pub Outside and Inside

Breakfast this morning was between 0800 and 0900. I got downstairs at 0845. We eat at a very long table – long enough to seat 38 officers around it and we have a lot of fun at meal times. It’s the first time in a long while all the officers have been together – and it’s enjoyable. This p.m. as I wrote yesterday, I believe – Lord Digby is going to take us around the Castle and estate and point out things of interest. That’s as far as our plans go at present.

This morning I was alone for awhile and re-read a very nice letter of yours written February 28th. It’s a sweet, thoughtful letter in which you talk of us being married and confiding in each other and sharing our problems. I’m glad that you do think of marriage as being a serious business. So many girls these days don’t. It has responsibilities for both husband and wife that are more than most people realize. I found that to be true when I was practicing and various married people came to the office with problems of all sorts. In addition, darling, being a doctor’s wife is no sinecure, believe me, and yet I have so much confidence in your ability to make a good wife. But there are compensations, too, and I know you’ll be happy too. Most important of all to start out with – is a good reputation, sweetheart, and I’m sure we already have that to start out with. I’m sure also that we will have the respect of the community, and that gives you a sense of responsibility and bearing that makes life worth living – and together, darling – we will make such a life. You have made me happy already, dear, don’t fear about that – and you will always keep me so.

I’ve got to get dressed and ready for dinner – so I’ll stop now dearest. I feel so fortunate in having you love me that the thought never leaves me and whenever I’m blue, dear, I think of you and me and the future – and I feel better immediately – because this separation is temporary – an interlude before we are together forever.

All my love for now, darling

Greg

Regards to the family

Love

G.

Route of the Question Mark

Page 19 and some of page 20 from The Route of the Question Mark are transcribed below, describing part of the life at Sherborne.

"Sherborne and Sherborne Castle... The pond with the lilies and the swans... The magnificent lawns and the elegant landscape... The deer on Jerusalem Hill... The rabbits... The colt... "Time Please!"... "Sorry, No Beer!"... The Coach and Horses... Mitre... Plume of Feathers... Digby Tap... Castle... Cross Keys... Swan... Queen's Head.. White Hart... Antelope... The George... Half Moon... and The Mermaid... The sweet English beer... "Any gum, chum?..."

Every pub visited by these soldiers is still serving beers as of this blog posting. Here are photos of them all:

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

The Coach and Horses


The Mitre Inn


The Plume of Feathers


The Digby Tap


The Castle Inn


The Cross Keys


The Swan Inn


The Queen's Head


The White Hart


The Antelope Inn


The George


The Mermaid

24 March, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

24 March, 1944          1715

Dearest sweetheart –

Another beautiful Spring day, darling, and what I wouldn’t give to be with you these days! It’s so beautiful and mild here, dear, that it’s very hard to concentrate on anything except you and me and the future. I walk to and from the Dispensary – a distance of perhaps 3/4 miles – merely to get the exercise and see the view. As you leave the Castle – there’s a large driveway to the right which skirts the pond.

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

This photo shows the "new" castle and its driveway skirting the
pond in the foreground, the "old" castle remains across the pond,
and the town of Sherborne beyond.

After a while you pass out the main gate and walk along a road which leads down a hill to the town.

Sherborne Castle - Restored Main Gate

While on the hill you overlook a good bit of the countryside, darling, and it’s a pretty picture to see. It’s really prettier than most of New England – with the possible exception of some parts of Vermont. It’s a good deal like Upstate New York and Tennessee.

A view of the countryside around the castle

I’ve just returned from a busy afternoon, dear, and one I didn’t enjoy. You remember I once wrote you I was going to prefer charges on one of my men. Well – I never followed it through and let it drop. I must prefer charges now on another one of my men, because I’ve warned him about different things before, but he has persisted in getting into trouble. Now I’m going to have him court-martialed. Maybe if he’s fined some money and confined for a few months – he’ll really learn. This will be the first charge I’ve followed through since I’ve been with the outfit – but I think it will help some of the other boys toe the mark, too. This particular fellow was supposed to be on duty and came in 2 hours late – and drunk – really a disgrace to the medical detachment. Nevertheless I spoke with him, warned him and told him to go back to quarters and sleep it off. In the evening he asked my sergeant for a pass and was told to see me – Instead – he went off and didn’t show up until early morning. He must be disciplined or all the men will get ideas. He’s now under arrest awaiting trial.

Other than that, Sweetheart, I’m fine – but terribly lonesome. No mail from you today. No Air-mail seems to have come through – for some time now – to all the fellows. Every now and then they do that. I got an announcement of a marriage of a girl – non Jewish – that I once knew, just a good friend. She married a Lt. In the Navy – and in Oregon, for some reason or other. The announcement was mailed from Boston. Also I got a Salem News Letter from the Salem Police. I don’t know why I didn’t get one before – but apparently I’m now on their list. I haven’t read it yet – but it’s a one page printed affair and I suppose I’ll get one weekly now.

But, darling, it’s you I want to hear from more than anything else and my day isn’t a complete one – unless I have heard from you. You know, I’m sure, how I feel and particularly the past couple of weeks have been so long and stretched out. There must be some mail on the way for me from your folks and mine, too, and that’s what I’m anxiously awaiting. The upshot of it is that I love you and now that everyone knows it – especially you and I – I’m impatient – but no doubt you too, are – so I guess I’m not much help – am I, dear? Well anyway, you know how I feel – don’t you?

That’s all for now, darling. Take good care of yourself for me, have your Dad give you a terrific hug for me and best regards to the family. All my love for now, dear.

Greg

P.S. Happy Passover

Love,

G.

22 March, 1944 (2nd letter)

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

22 March, 1944     1930

Dearest darling –

First and foremost – I received your letter this p.m. of March 9 in which you accept my proposal, sweetheart, and although I knew you would – it made me very happy to read it. I’m surprised your folks hadn’t heard from me by that date – but they certainly must have by this time and I hope to hear from them soon. So they’re going up to 20% tax on jewels, are they? Well, darling – I don’t care as long as I can manage to get a ring you like on the correct finger. I don’t know what’s been happening back in Newton these past few weeks, dear, because the mail has been spotty – but I know I’m going around as if I were already engaged and I just hope everything is going along towards that goal.

I wrote you a V mail earlier today, sweetheart, in which I told you our official APO number is 578 and not 230, although anything you wrote with 230 will get to me – as will the 527’s of course. As I wrote you – it should be obvious that we’ve moved. You’ve probably gathered as much already. Whenever we move – we don’t know what the next set-up will be. In all the moves we’ve made – including those in the States – we have never been more amazed on arrival than we were when we got here. We are occupying a 17,000 acre estate that goes with a Castle. The officers are living in the Castle. Charlie Wright and I are sharing a room together – although the Lord knows there are enough rooms for everybody. There are actually 90 rooms in this Castle and believe it or not – in recent years it was fixed for central heating, although most of the rooms have enormous fireplaces. But let me start at the beginning – and this is all authentic, darling. This castle is one of the finest in this part of England. It is 400 years old – and believe it or not – was built or at least lived in by Sir Walter Raleigh when he was in Queen Elizabeths’ favor. She is supposed to have visited him here. When he was beheaded – the Earl of Bristol took over the Castle. He was the Lord Digby and the present Lord Digby owns the estate. It has been rented to the British gov’t for the duration and how we happened to get here – is beyond me.

There’s a large pond or lake behind the castle. It has courts, towers, a tremendous dining room – just like you’d expect in a Castle. (We have our meals there.) There are supposed to be 200 deer on the grounds and all in all it’s certainly the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived in. All along the corridors and stairways – there are beautiful oil paintings. One wing has all the furniture in it and it’s the most exquisite furniture I’ve ever seen, with gold leaf and fine handwork. The nearby town is extremely old and its Cathedral is 700 years old. I say again – it’s the most amazing set-up you could imagine. The post-card I’m enclosing gives the back view of the castle. I bought it in the town this morning. I’ll try to take some snaps of the place. Incidentally, darling, I tried having some snaps taken some time ago – when I was in London on my first visit and I had trouble getting the roll developed. When I finally did – they told me the roll was spoiled. But I have another plan now and will try again.

Well – Sweetheart – that’s all the raving now – but really it’s all that I say it is. Still I’m more interested in our own Castle that we’re building – darling – and I just am waiting for the day we can start on it. I’ll write tomorrow, dear. Charlie sends his regards. Best to your folks – for now

All my love

Greg

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

Postcard of the castle
with "Sherborne" crossed out for censors.
The postcard was sent in an envelope with the letter.
Greg writes, "My room is on the second floor and
overlooks the pond you see in the foreground."

* TIDBIT *

about Sherborne Castle

Sherborne Castle across the "pond" in 2007

The following was copied exactly from the Sherborne Castle web site, maintained by John K. Wingfield Digby, whose family has owned the castle since 1617.

Sherborne has had a castle since the 12th Century. Roger Bishop of Salisbury built a castle to the east of the Town to administer the western part of his large diocese. In early Tudor times the Bishops built a small Hunting Lodge in the deer park attached to the Old Castle from which to observe the chase. Sir Walter Raleigh acquired the Old Castle in 1592. At first he tried to modernize it, but then he built a new house in 1594 in the deer park. It was on the site of the Hunting Lodge which he incorporated into the foundations. His house was rectangular and four stories high, with large square-headed windows filled with diamond pane glass. In 1600 he added hexagonal turrets to the four corners of his house, topped with heraldic beasts. The house was rendered from the outset, in the latest fashion.

In 1617 the diplomat Sir John Digby acquired Sherborne Castle and he added four wings to Raleigh’s building, giving the house its present H-shape. He copied the style adopted by Raleigh, of square-headed windows, and balustraded roofs with heraldic beasts, and added hexagonal turrets at the end of each wing, so the house looks of one piece.

In the Civil War the Digbys fought for the Royalist cause and the Old Castle was garrisoned and suffered two sieges. After the second siege in 1645 Col Fairfax and his Parliamentarian army systematically demolished the Old Castle. Thus the name ‘Sherborne Castle’ came to be applied to the new house in the park. In the 18th century later generations of the Digby family modernized the Tudor house, adding Georgian sash windows, paneled doors and white marble fireplaces and filling the house with fine furniture. In 1787 an extension was added to the west side of the house which provided more bedrooms and improved staff accommodation and kitchens.

The Victorian period saw only one major re-modelling, in the Solarium (Raleigh’s Parlour), reflecting the respect the Wingfield Digby owners held for the antiquity and historical associations of the house. In the First World War the Castle was used as a Red Cross Hospital and it was requisitioned by the Army in the Second World War.