04 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

4 May, 1944        0930

Dearest sweetheart –

Yes – in answer to a recent question.

Well – darling – I got some more mail last night, the 19th, 25th and 27th of April, as well as two letters from my dad and a postcard from him, too. The service is really excellent these days and it certainly does help dear to make you seem closer to me – and that’s what I desire more than anything else in the world.

Darling you ask me if I love you and only you. I’m sure you’re asking because you like to hear it and not because you wonder. There’s no one I love – sweetheart – but you, and you shouldn’t have the slightest doubt at all. But I’m sure you haven’t. I know, dear, I may not tell you often enough – but you cannot help but realize that every thing I do, think, dream or plan – concerns you and me and our future together. Never forget that.

And while I’m on the subject, dear, I want to mention something you brought up in a recent letter – about rings, engagements and pledges. Darling – you misinterpreted my use of the word ‘pledge’; it does not mean ‘obligation’ to me, but rather a vow. Of course a ring doesn’t mean a thing in terms of obligation – but can’t you see that ring or no ring, the one thing I want to do when I come back is to marry you – and pronto! Now will you please take any other silly notions you have, open the window and throw them out – and furthermore, dear fiancée – I don’t want you to ever write like that again – even in passing!

Now – where was I? Oh – my father’s letters were very nice. They consisted entirely of you and how much my family loved you. They’re so pleased with everything and with you and your affection to them – that they’re really and truly happy. And my father is thrilled at your calling him “Daddy”. Darling I’m so glad that you get along so well with my folks; it makes things so nice and I know it helps them forget a little – that I’m away. But what’s this about kissing my father so often?? Incidentally – my father mentioned that you had a “cold”. He made it sound very casual – as if not to worry me. I probably wouldn’t have suspected anything if I didn’t receive your letter telling me about your sore throat. You do seem to have a sensitive throat, dear – but after we’ve been together awhile, darling, I’m certain you’ll get some of my immunity.

I was interested in your account of Verna’s party. Thirty-five people must have crowded that little apartment, it seems to me, but I’d love to have made it 36. So Herb Fanger is still at Salem? He’s lucky to have stayed so long. He happened to hit us when we were short of pathologists – and the Hospital has just continued to defer him. It’s a lucky break for him because he’s been able to continue his training and when he gets through he’ll certainly have something like a specialist’s rating. Well – sour grapes – or no – the fact is I’d rather be in this war than not.

Well, Sweetheart, that’s all for now. I’ve got a little work to do – still at the Dispensary. Remember darling that I love you very very much and always will. Love to the folks.

All my love forever, dear

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The Extremely Good Fortune of Jack Worsford

On the night of May 3rd into May 4th of 1944, 346 Lancasters, 14 Mosquitos and 2 Pathfinder Mosquitos of the RAF were on a mission to bomb a German military camp situated close to the French village of Mailly-le-Camp. The control of this raid in the target area failed to operate according to plan. The initial low-level markers were accurate and were well backed up by Lancaster marker aircraft. The 'Marker Leader', Wing Commander Cheshire, ordered the Main Force to come in and bomb. However, the 'Main Force Controller', Wing Commander LC Deane, could not transmit the order to do so to the waiting Lancasters because his VHF radio set was being drowned by an American forces broadcast, and his wireless transmitter was wrongly tuned. German fighters arrived during the delay and bomber casualties were heavy.

The main attack eventually started when the Deputy Controller, Squadron Leader ENM Sparks, took over. Approximately 1,500 tons of bombs were dropped with great accuracy. 114 barrack buildings, 47 transport sheds and some ammunition buildings in the camp were hit; 102 vehicles, including 37 tanks, were destroyed. The night-fighter attacks continued over the target and on the return route. Among the aircraft shot down was that of Squadron Leader Sparks, who had stayed over the target to the end. Sparks evaded capture and soon returned to England. The squadrons of No 1 Group, which made up the second wave of the attack, suffered the most casualties - 28 aircraft out of their 173 dispatched. No 460 (Australian) Squadron, from Binbrook, lost 5 out of its 17 Lancasters on the raid. A total of 42 Lancasters (11.6 percent of the force) were lost.

It was on this mission that Sgt. Jack Worsfold, aged 19, was a tail-gunner on a Lancaster of 101 Squadron out of Ludford Magna. Jack’s Lancaster, SR-Z, had just bombed the target when they were attacked by an ME-110 and riddled with cannon fire. Jack heard his (23-year old pilot) John Alexander Keard’s order to abandon the aircraft, but on exiting his turret he found his parachute pack destroyed. At that point the Lancaster broke up and Jack fell to earth trapped in the tail section. He woke up lying in a gorse bush a few feet from the wreckage. It seems that the tail had broken away and spiralled the 7,500 ft to the ground, crashing through power lines and fir trees before coming to a rest in some gorse near the village of Aubeterre, 10 miles south of Mailly. Miraculously, Jack had survived this fall without the aid of his parachute. Too badly injured to escape, he was rescued and looked after by a local French doctor before being captured by the Germans and taken away to captivity. The rest of Jack’s crewmates died in the crash. Jack was one of only two survivors of the 39 aircrew in five Lancasters lost by 101 Squadron that night.

More than 300 airmen failed to return that night, of whom 258 were killed; most of those killed are buried in the cemeteries of villages surrounding Mailly-le-camp. Recognizing that they lost their lives in the fight for the freedom we all enjoy today, these communities honour the dead airmen and care for their graves as if they were their own sons. On each anniversary of the raid; the local citizens including many school children and young people, the French Army, and representatives of the Resistance- many of whom assisted RAF evaders; attend a series of services, organised by the French "L'Association Mailly 3/4 mai 1944", which culminates in a military parade on the French Army base at the memorial erected by L'Association Mailly.

British and Commonwealth veterans, relatives of the fallen, and other supporters are made very welcome and seek to participate in these events to honour, not only the aircrew and French people who died in the raid, but also the gallant French Resistants who risked - and in some cases, lost- their lives helping survivors who came down in France. Jack's pilot, John Heard was buried in the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetary with the rest of his crew.  But Jack Worsfold, RAF Bomber Command veteran, passed away on the 18th December 2006 at the age of 81.

03 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

3 May, 1944        1020

My dearest darling –

I got three – no four letters from you last night, in addition to one from Mother B. They were all from the middle of the month of April – 14-17. One was mailed from Salem, and frankly, sweetheart, if you hadn’t reminded me to look at the post-mark, I would have missed it entirely. I recognize your handwriting and usually just tear right into your letters. And the letter postmarked ‘Salem’ had no mention of being in Salem. I haven’t received the letter describing your trip there – if you did go.

Darling, I do love your expressions of love – as I’m sure you realize – and when you write like that, I understand how you feel, too. You say I’m no way near as affectionate as you dear, but if I were you – I wouldn’t bet any money on it! If you mean I don’t express my affections as easily as you – you may be right – but we’ll have a fair and square contest – when the time comes, darling – and may I suggest, – no holds barred! I can already see myself crowned champ – so you see how much confidence I have in myself.

Seriously, though – sweetheart – I think you got to love me as much for my lack of expression as for it – although that sounds contradictory. What I mean is that with what I did express you grew to love me. That expression has developed, I think, but I still could do a better job with you right near me, darling. The fact is though that I love you more than anyone I’ve ever loved before and that successfully or not – I try to tell you that over and over again. If it were possible for you to follow me when I’m thinking of you – you’d know what I mean. I miss you and need you in every sense of the word, darling, but I try not to write you that too often – because it makes it a little more difficult to take. As for “lovin’” – well baby – what you need is what I need too – and – well you know, darling – you can’t put that into words!

Your mention of Ruth having a D and C was a surprise to me – although it shouldn’t be. The fact is that women do have those things done to them. No one at home had intimated anything like that – but I do hope everything went well and she’s home safely. I enjoy every mention you make of your getting along so well with my family, darling. It couldn’t have been any more perfect – because if we hadn’t had the support of our parents – we’d never have progressed so well and so far. And the fact that you feel they are sincere is what I like best of all – because I know they are and I’m glad you know it too. They do love you – all of them – but as I wrote before, Sweetheart – you are so easy to love anyway. As to your folks – dear, I haven’t the slightest doubt at all how I’ll feel about them; I know how I feel already. I’m really proud of them as in-laws and they’ve been wonderful to me. I certainly will try to make them love me as a son. I know I’ll love them as true parents.

Well – darling, I must stop now. I’m still at the Dispensary – and something has turned up. Never wonder for a minute – about my love for you, dear. It is strong, honest and sincere – and will always be so – you’ll see. For now – love to the folks – and

All my love is yours forever, dear

Greg

02 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

2 May, 1944        1235

Dearest sweetheart –

Well – the gang is back and things are humming again as usual. And the meetings, etc. have started again, reports, schedules – and oh well – it’s the Army. I guess I’m getting to be a veteran, darling. Tomorrow is 22 months for me – and frankly, when I signed up – I didn’t realize that things would be so long in developing. But because I was in the Army, I met you and I shall always owe the service that – if not much more. It is said that Army life makes a man hard and callous. So far I don’t feel that way – and I don’t see why I ever should. How I’ll be when I return will be for you and me to see.

Yesterday was another quiet, uneventful day, beautiful, calm – and the more I see of England, dear, the more I like it. Don’t get me wrong, though, it’s New England where my spirit is. I guess our outfit is just a lucky one. In the past few weeks we’ve had occasion to run into or hear of others and the great majority of them have billets that are terrible, and some are even living in tents, as we did on maneuvers. When we get to France – or wherever we eventually go – I shall insist on a tile fox-hole, so help me, dear

Darling, I got a big kick out of reading of your telephone calls about wedding photographs, trousseaus, etc. It reminds me of the days I was in practice. Hardly a week went by that I didn’t get mail addressed to Mrs. A. and the same went for telephone calls. I would often have to insist there was no Mrs. A – and usually I wasn’t believed. The calls were usually about starting charge accounts, fur sales, etc. It will be a happy day for me, sweetheart, when I can say, “Just a minute, I’ll call her.”

By the way – I don’t think I ever thanked you for the hair tonic – or at least not since I used it. It’s really very good for stopping dandruff – and that’s what I wanted it for. It ought to last me for the duration, too.

1630

Hello dear,

I got as far as about 1300 and then was called to a B.C. meeting. After that I met all the men in the detachment and decided I was getting into condition – and they weren’t. So 15 of them and we 3 officers got some Special Service bats, gloves and balls and went to the big park near here. In my training schedule I shall call it mass athletics; actually we had two men choose sides and we had a swell game of soft-ball. Needless to say, darling, my side or our side won 14-8. It really was a lot of fun. We’ll try to do it often. I want them to get in condition and develop their wind – they may need it. We’ll take some road hikes and do some double-time on the road.

I’ve just got back and plan to take a hot bath. I could go for a nice cold coke – but no soap. Occasionally, we get them – but they’re made and bottled here – and it’s nothing like it used to be. In connection with that, by the way, it’s interesting that coca-cola had never hit England. They have no idea of what it’s like and of course have never had a rum coke. They don’t drink much rum here anyway, although gin is as popular as Scotch. And one other thing – they never had the gum we have – in sticks – but only in the chicklet form. Now don’t you feel that you’re getting to know the English?

Well, Sweetheart, enough for now. All is well here, dear, as I hope it is with you too – and the family. Send them my love and all I can say to you, darling is that I love you more and more. I’ve been thinking so ‘hard’ about you these past few nights, and the more I think, the more I want you. And I’ll have you too, no fear about that!!

All my love for now, dear –

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The Crossword Panic of May 1944

As the invasion of France (Operation Overlord) was being planned, a great cloak of secrecy was thrown over it to retain the element of surprise. At the same time, civilians enjoyed completing the crosswords in the daily newspapers as they spent long hours sat in bomb shelters during air raids. Intelligence officers of MI-5 (Britain’s counter-espionage agency) were no exception.

While some officers were whiling away their spare moments doing the crossword featured in the Daily Telegraph in May 1944, they noticed that vital code names which were being used to hide the greatest invasion in history were appearing as solutions. In the May 2, 1944 edition, the answer to ‘One of the USA’ was Utah. In another edition (May 30th) Mulberry (the name of the floating harbors that were to be towed across the Channel to accommodate supply ships) appeared. Other answers included (June 1st) Neptune (the code name for the naval phase of the invasion), Juno, (May 22nd) Omaha, Gold, Sword (all code names for the planned landing beaches) and the clue ‘Big-Wig’ gave the answer  (May 27th) Overlord (the code-name given for the entire operation)!

Fearing that this was an attempt to tip-off the Germans, MI-5 officers immediately arrested 54 year old crossword compiler Leonard Dawe. After interrogation, they were satisfied that he had no knowledge of the coming D-Day invasion and released him without charge, concluding it was purely a coincidence.

Years later the crossword compiler admitted in an interview that the solutions were probably not a coincidence. He was a school teacher and he let the students suggest solutions to which he would attach a clue. Since pretty much every pupil had a relative in the military, he said it’s more than likely that kids heard the code names from their relatives (without knowing their significance) and put them forward. In 1984 a Ronald French, who was one of Dawe's pupils in 1944, gave his version of events. He claimed on BBC television that it was he who inserted the code names into the crosswords, having learned of the code words from US and Canadian soldiers. Richard S J Wallington, a student at Dawe's school at the time, explained it this way:

Mr. Dawe was and had for some time been the Headmaster of Strand School - originally a part of King's College, London. In 1939 the school was evacuated from its home in South London to the area of Great and Little Bookham in Surrey. The school buildings it occupied were in Effingham. Both boys and masters were billeted in that general area.

Mr. Dawe was a compiler of puzzles for the Daily Telegraph and it was often his practice to call in 6th formers and ask them for words for inclusion. At that time the US Forces were liberally strewn through Surrey, particularly in the Epsom area and there is no doubt that boys heard these code words being bandied about and innocently passed them on. I should know as I was then a 6th former there myself, although not involved with this particular matter.

Mr. Dawe was a disciplinarian and a man of extremely high principle and one could not imagine anyone less likely to be involved in anything incorrect.

01 May, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

1 May, 1944        1100

Dearest darling Wilma –

Here it is May already and before we know it the summer will come and go. I wonder what it holds for me, but whatever it is, I can’t wait for it to start and get over with. I don’t see how they can wait much longer, and yet I bet Charlie some time ago that nothing would happen before May 15th. Of course the bet was tremendous – 2/6 (50 cents).

Well last night, darling, I got some mail again, and it was all nice. In addition to the Salem News Letter and April 17th issue of Time, I got two letters from you, dear, dated April 21st and 22nd, a swell letter from Florence, one form Shirley F. offering her apologies for not writing earlier and also offering her congratulations, and finally a letter form Lawrence. Shirley’s letter was very friendly. She did mention Stan, saying I should know by now that she was no longer going out with him. She said only “it was just one of those things” to offer as an explanation.

Time Magazine cover of the issue Greg was reading

Lawrence’s letter was very nice. He said that despite his usual aversion towards women, he found he liked you very much for your frankness, directness and sincerity – all of which have apparently disarmed him. Don’t tell him, dear, that I told you that. He also went on to tell me how much he liked your folks and he finished by telling me how fortunate I was to have become engaged to a girl like you – with the prospect of having such swell in-laws. Really, darling, for Lawrence – it was quite a letter, because usually he is quite impersonal, and all the time I was going with you last summer, he had very little to say. Having passed his super-critical survey, sweetheart – is really something, because he finds very little good to say about women or people in general. I shall have to write him a letter today in appreciation.

Of course, dear, I love to read such things, because I believe them too – and what made me like you and love you was your complete lack of an affected attitude – something which I just can’t tolerate in a large percentage of Jewish girls. Anyway I love you for that and for a hundred other things, darling, and with all that, I have many other of your qualities that I don’t even know yet – to look forward to.

Florence, by the way, writes a very friendly letter and I’m sure she’ll be very easy to know. It was nice of her to write me again so soon.

Yesterday was a very quiet day here. I didn’t go down to the Dispensary at all. The afternoon was quite warm. We played Volley Ball (the officers beat the enlisted men) and then some ping-pong – both out on the spacious lawn at the side of the Castle. In the evening I just sat around and listened to the radio. Then of course – your letters came and the rest of the evening was very pleasant. That’s about all for now, dear, except to remind you how much I love and miss you – as if you didn’t already know. But I don’t want you to forget it for one second, dear. Send my best love to the folks.

All my love forever, darling

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The British Empire and its Dominions
and the First Prime Ministers' Conference

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference on 1 May, 1944
(L-R): Rt. Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King (Canada), General Jan Smuts
(South Africa), Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill (United Kingdom),
Rt. Hons. Peter Fraser (New Zealand), John Curtin (Australia).

The first British Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference was held May 1–16, 1944 in order to coordinate the war effort across the British Empire. In attendance at the May, 1944 conference were British prime minister Winston Churchill, Australian prime minister John Curtin, New Zealand prime minister Peter Fraser, Canadian prime minister Mackenzie King and General Jan Smuts, prime minister of South Africa. Representatives of the government of India and the prime minister of Southern Rhodesia also attended some of the meetings. No report was issued but a declaration made at the end of the meeting reaffirmed the determination of the countries of the Commonwealth to support the Moscow Declaration, and agreement was reached regarding their respective roles in the overall Allied war effort, with all needful exertions to achieve victory and an enduring peace.

Attempts had been made at previous times during the war to arrange a general meeting of prime ministers but it was not until May of 1944 that this was found to be practicable. A conference of delegates of the UK, Australia and New Zealand was convened at Wellington by the New Zealand government in August of 1939 to consider a number of defense and other questions of common concern relating to the Pacific. Shortly after the outbreak of war, the UK government invited the governments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa to send a cabinet minister to London to confer with UK ministers and with each other, with the object of coordinating to the best advantage the contribution which each could make to the common task. These discussions took place in November of 1939. Meanwhile, individual prime ministers and other ministers visited the UK from time to time and conferred with UK ministers. In addition, the prime minister of the UK attended the Quebec Conference in 1943. Oversea prime ministers and some other ministers who were visiting the UK attended meetings of the UK War Cabinet and from 1941 onwards Australia was permanently represented at its meetings.

From the Historical Atlas of the British Empire comes these excerpts about The British Empire's Dominions in World War II:

A Dominion refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, within the British Empire and British Commonwealth, from 1907. They have included (at varying times) Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, Union of South Africa, and the Irish Free State. Southern Rhodesia and Malta were special cases in the British Empire. Although they were never dominions, they were treated as dominions in many respects. After 1948, the term ‘Dominion’ was briefly used to denote independent nations that retained the British monarch as head of state. The term was phased out in the 1950's.

Empire troops from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa, India and other colonies served loyally in the Boer War (1899 – 1902) and in the First World War (1914-1918). In the Boer War and in the First World War, the Dominions were automatically at war when Britain went to war. However, after the passage of the Statute of Westminster in 1931, the Dominions could choose to serve or to remain out of Britain’s wars.

The self-governing Dominions came loyally to Britain's side immediately when war broke out. However, Ireland, which had declared itself a de facto republic in 1937, remained neutral. India, not yet fully self-governing, was automatically at war when Britain went to war, much to the anger of Indian nationalists who were demanding independence. Many Indians fought loyally with the British and others helped the Japanese.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

WWII Poster Showing Imperial Unity

At the start of the war, many thought the empire was finished. But the dominions had other ideas. The Australian Prime Minister, Robert Menzies announced, "We are in this most holy war with you; everything that we have of manpower or treasure or skill or determination is pledged to work and fight for you and with you until victory is attained ... One King, one Flag, One Cause." Australia declared war on the same day as Britain – September 3, 1939. The Australians raised more than half million men and women; 27,000 of them were killed.

WWII Australian Poster Supporting British Empire Effort

The New Zealand Prime Minister Michael Savage, asked the governor general for a formal declaration of war before proclaiming 'Where she goes, we go, where she stands, we stand'. New Zealand declared war on the same day as Britain – September 3, 1939. Two divisions of New Zealanders were in the Pacific and the Middle East.

The Canadian parliament took one week to debate and approve the declaration of war, which was issued for Canada on September 10, 1939. The Canadians contributed nearly 500,000 and their first contingents arrived in Britain by December 1939.

WWII Canadian Posters Supporting British Empire Effort

A bitterly divided South African parliament declared war on the same day as Britain – September 3, 1939. The South Africans, who at first stayed in their own continent, later fought through Italy. Tens of thousands of colonials went through aircrew training - much of it in Canada. Of the more than 30,000 merchant sailors who perished during the Battle of the Atlantic, 5,000 were from the colonies.

Elsewhere in Africa, as many as 200,000 became miners, carriers and laborers to harvest the natural resources needed to manufacture weapons and feed those who would use them. Ghana produced industrial diamonds and manganese for guns. Nigeria produced timber, palm oil, groundnuts, rubber and tin. Sierra Leone raised war funds for Britain "in grateful recognition of the great benefits which Sierra Leone has received during the past 135 years under the British flag." The ruler of Benin gave £10 a month out of his salary.

On September 3rd, 1939 in India, then Viceroy Lord Linlithgow declared war without consulting any of the major political or cultural figures. They were treated just as they had been at the start of the First World War. The India Congress Party, led by Mohandas K. Gandhi and Jawarhal Nehru, controlled the provincial legislatures. Rather than support the war, the Congress Party pulled their deputies out of the legislatures. Indian units gave good service in North Africa; but the Indian public, with only the Nazis to fight, did not initially mobilize to support the war.

By 1941, the men of the Royal Armies of the Dominions – Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, Indians, South Africans, Rhodesians, West Indians, West Africans and East Africans all were fighting together as part of the British Eighth Army under the command of General Montgomery. Likewise, in addition to the Royal Navy of Great Britain, 6 Dominion Royal Navies - Australian, Canadian, Indian, New Zealand, East African and the South African Naval Forces - were serving together, united though untied. Lastly, in addition to the Royal Air Force of Great Britain, The Royal Air Forces of Australia, Canada, India, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Southern Rhodesia and South Africa had thousands of men learning to use their wings in Canada. Even though they flew British flags, the Dominions had begun to use their own markings on their ships and fighter planes after 1940.

In 1941, India went from colonial combatant to potential battlefield when the Japanese attacked the Western powers. India then became the scene of political upheaval. Gandhi and Nehru tied Indian participation in the war to Indian independence. Rioting and strikes led to the outlawing of the Congress Party in August 1942.

Gandhi's political rival, Chandra Bose, went to Berlin and then Tokyo to raise an Indian National Army out of exiles and POWs captured in Singapore. Many POWs claimed they were coerced into joining. Bose raised 7,000 and joined the Japanese when they invaded India in March 1944. In Kohima-Imphal, the British and Indian units waged a running battle with the Japanese and Indian Nationalists, who were poorly supplied and far from their base of operations. By August 1944 the invasion was repelled.

Bose and the Axis powers had assumed that there was widespread contempt for England in India. In fact, Indians would support both England and the war effort. 2,000,000 Indians served in the Army, and 24,000 were killed. Major infrastructure was built to support both the Indian Army and the Allied Armies. By war's end, most of the Indian Army's officers were Indian. Sadly, with food shortages after the fall of Burma, some 1,500,000 Indians died of starvation during the war.

30 April, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

30 April, 1944        0900

Sunday Morning

Good Morning, darling –

And a good morning it is, too; nine o’clock is really only 0700 because of the double summer time – but already the sun is shining brilliantly and everything outside seems so much alive. I’ve just had breakfast – there were only a few of us down, the rest were sleeping late. I haven’t shaved as yet, but I’m going to take my time. We’re supposed to have a volley-ball game on later, officers vs. enlisted men, and after that – I think the money will be here for the men’s pay – and ours, too. Another month has slipped by. This month was a good one, sweetheart, although we were actually engaged in March.

Mentioning pay reminds me that with the close of this month – the gov’t is six months late in changing my allotment to myself – and still no word from the New Jersey office where the changes are made. Our personnel office has sent out a couple of tracers – but still no word. I’m not worried because it’s on the books and it will come thru in a lump sum – eventually. In essence I’ve been getting $150.00 per month instead of $200; so I have $300.00 coming to me as of today.

Well – darling – yesterday was the third day in a row without mail – and I hope we’re not off to another one of those delays. When I don’t hear from you – I go upstairs and take out a couple of letters of yours from some time past – and it helps a great deal, too. I got another good laugh when I re-read your account of you and Ruby in downtown Boston. Every time you go to town – it’s like Alice in Wonderland; I never know what to expect. When we get to Salem, darling, I’ll show you all around the main street, point out the high curbstones, the blind crossings – and in general do my best to completely orientate you. If you have to go as far as Beverly or Marblehead or Peabody – I’ll insist on going with you. I’m only kidding, dear –

And according to your letter of April 9th – today is the day my folks are visiting yours. At least – I haven’t heard that the date was changed. Gee – it sure would be swell if I could be there and share in the general get-together. Usually I don’t like to be at things like that – particularly when I’m part of it; but you’ve done your part so admirably, sweetheart, I feel as if I should be along to help you. Anyway – I hope that all goes off well and that everyone gets along well.

Darling I’ve got to run along now. I’ve just had a call that the money has arrived and I want to pay my men before they go off on pass. They’re all ‘broke’. There’s nothing new to tell you about things here. Things are still status quo – and for the time being – that suits me. Remember, sweetheart, that I love you deeply and sincerely and whatever my present status is – it’s a temporary one and must eventually end with both of us together. Love to the folks.

All my sincerest love, darling

Greg

29 April, 1944 (to her mother)

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

29 April, 1944

Dear Mother B.

First – thanks for your swell letter which I received a couple of days ago. I like your letters for they help me to feel closer to all of you and I like that sensation.

I spend pleasant hours these days dreaming about life after the war – and what it will mean to me – and to all of us. Becoming engaged to Wilma has made so much difference in the way I can sit back and think of the future, and – well – it’s just very very pleasant food for thought.

You recall very nice memories when you mention the Copley. I do remember meeting the Shribmans – although I don’t remember the name – Gwen. I wish I were around to be congratulated – but so long as Wilma is happy about everything, I feel fully satisfied.

CLICK ON POSTCARD TO ENLARGE

Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston, 1930s

Before closing – let me substitute this letter for a card. A Happy Mother’s Day, to you – with many more – at which I hope to be present to pay you my respects as a son – in every sense of the word. Best regards to the family.

With love

Greg.

29 April, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 578 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

29 April, 1944       1045

Dearest sweetheart –

Another fresh start this morning, dear, this time from the Castle. Perhaps I can finish this in one sitting and make the letter sound a bit more connected. At the moment it is quiet here, and I’ve just been sitting by the window looking out over the back lawn and lake and thinking hard of you, darling. It’s really a continuation of my thoughts last night. I felt particularly mellow then. I was alone in my room for most of the evening – and as usual – I got to thinking of home, and you, and us and I felt so nice about everything. It’s really paradoxical, dear, how I can feel so contented about things, and yet be in the Army and 3000 miles from those I love. I guess it’s because I feel so certain that everything will work out so well for us once I get back. It is absolutely the most satisfying and comforting feeling imaginable to realize that I have you to come home to, – a sweetheart, a fiancée, a girl who loves me as I love her – who wants to be married to me and is willing to wait for me. Well, darling, I just can’t tell you what that all means to me. Only after the war, when we’re married and alone, when we’re sitting around of an evening relaxing – then I’ll close my eyes, sit close to you with my arms around you and think back to these days in England. I’ll tell you then what I used to think on these quiet nights; I’ll tell you what the knowledge of your love meant for me, and how the war and separation were tolerable to me because of what I knew was in store for me when I finally got home.

I have no fear or apprehension of what may lie ahead because my mind seems to transcend that and jumps beyond it, and even when the immediate future becomes the present – I won’t be living in the present – but only in our future. And I owe all this ability to you, sweetheart. And again I say I’m thankful –

It didn’t get dark last night until 2230 and soon it will be 2300 and more before it gets dark outside. It is most peculiar – and quite difficult to think of going to bed. If it weren’t for the shutters that we have for black-out – I don’t know what we would do. And it gets light out very early too. I awaken each morning to the sound of cuck-coos (if that’s the way you spell it) right outside my window. I don’t recall ever hearing that bird in the States. There are many of them here and their notes are soft and musical. The whole countryside is really beautiful here and I know what they meant when they wrote about England in the Spring. It really has something.

Well, darling, I’m afraid I didn’t write much in the line of news – but the truth is – there isn’t any. The only news I’m interested in is you, anyway, and that’s the way it will always be. I’ll close now, dear. Love to the folks – and to you

All my love, sweetheart

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The Cuckoo

Greg mentioned listening to the cuckoos each morning, saying that their notes are soft and musical.

In his book Say Goodbye to the Cuckoo, Michael McCarthy speaks of the cuckoo's place in the lives of its citizenry:

"In two or three weeks' time, you should be hearing it if you get out into the countryside – the unmistakable two-note call, perhaps the most distinctive sound in all of the natural world, that tells you spring is well and truly under way. Even people who have never heard the real thing know the call of the cuckoo.

It's partly its sheer musicality, for those two abrupt, liquid notes – cuck-coo! – form an exact musical interval in a way hardly any other bird calls do: it is a descending minor third. At its simplest, in the key of C major, it is G to E. (And C major, you may be interested to learn, is a favourite cuckoo key.)

It's partly also its ethereal, disembodied nature. The cuckoo is a shy, secretive bird. You don't often glimpse it, you simply hear it, so you can't see where the call is coming from; but it also has a sort of ventriloquial quality, so you can't hear where it's coming from, either. It doesn't seem to come from anywhere. It exists, disembodied, in the landscape, in a quite magical way, captured by Wordsworth, who called it "the wandering voice". Put them together – perfect musicality and a mysterious, floating resonance – and you have something unique: there is nothing else like the wandering voice in nature. And when, down the years, it was paired, as an aural signal, with the eagerly awaited change of the turning year, the coming of spring, it's not an exaggeration to say that in Europe it became one of the most significant, evocative sounds in human life. It produced a stream of folklore in every country, sayings and stories, proverbs and legends; it inspired composer after composer, from Handel in his The Cuckoo and the Nightingale to Beethoven in his Pastoral Symphony, to Saint-Saëns in his Carnival of the Animals, to Delius with On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring.

In Britain, it was firing musical imaginations more than six centuries before Frederick Delius; the cuckoo inspired the oldest extant song in English, "Sumer is icumen in" (with its rousing chorus of "Lhude sing cuccu!") written in about 1250, probably by a monk in Reading Abbey. And in this country it did still more: it triggered what is perhaps the most celebrated newspaper correspondence in history, the "first cuckoo" letters to The Times, those succinct missives from gentlemen who, for a century or so, from about 1840 to 1940, laid claim to being the first to hear the double note echo across the woods and fields in any given year. These engaging pronouncements – sometimes challenged, sometimes topped by rivals – are evidence above all of the real elation produced by hearing the call, the supreme signal of the soft days coming again and the burgeoning of new life, usually in the first two weeks of April. From about the 10th onward, say. A typical date would be 14 April. Two or three weeks from now, you should be hearing it."