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May 18 1940. Sat 4.0 Tidworth.
Dear Mum and Dad, I’m afraid I am neglecting you, but I hope you’ll understand. You see Eveline likes a long letter and I’m not a very fast writer so someone has to suffer.
It’s a bad job about our leave; they cancelled it when Holland was invaded and up to now it hasn’t been resumed so if things don’t alter you won’t see me on Friday. The lads are going crazy for fear it won’t come through. We shall all be very very disappointed, but we can’t alter things, so we will just hope for the best.
Eveline sent me a big parcel on Wed, and in it was a pipe and tobacco, so I’m a pipe smoker now. I told her time and time again not to send food or anything but she seemed to think I was starving, so she sent me a lot of stuff. It was all very nice, but there was too many for it, that’s the only drawback here. Everyone looks on and expects something, and when there’s 17 of us it soon goes.
Hope you’re having the same weather as us. It’s lovely here and there’s tons of lilac out.
How’s the fag and tobacco trade? I have never heard anyone grumble about the increase here, and there’s just as many smokes as ever. It’s surprising isn’t it?
Did you know that Sam Hough’s wife had had a baby and Jack Lloyd’s wife too?
How’s Levi going on as regards keeping out of the Army? If he should have to join tell him to go in the RAOC, that’s the Ordnance Corps. They attend to repairs to vehicles, fetch food, clothing and pretty general knock-abouts. They’re a non-combatant force, but he would have to have qualifications, such as driving, maintenance, repairs etc. I know he can’t do anything like that, but he could say he could, because they would teach him.
Remember me to all. Auntie Ethel and Uncle Sam sent me half a dozen stamps on Tuesday, so just thank them, will you, before it is too late.
I am quite well and all right for money. Cheerio and all the best, hoping you’re all well, love from Albert. xxx.

20.5.40 Monday 8.0
No 7909285 Trooper Shore A E
B Sqn 26 Sqn 53 Lt Tank Training Regt
Mooltan Bks Tidworth
Dear Mum and Dad,
I had your letter today. Thanks for the 10/-, its certainly very good of you, don’t think I’m broke though. I’ve still got the other one and the £1 that I came away with and the original 4/- postal order, so I’m not doing too bad am I?
Uncle Sam sent me some stamps and he said in his letter if you’re short of anything, tell him so, because if I was anything like him, he was sending home for something every day or so. I’m hoping not to trouble anyone quite that much.
It’s very good of Levi’s to offer to come and meet me, I wish I could make the necessary arrangements, but up to now there’s no news at all about leave. Although the draft leave has been resumed this weekend, also WATS leave. We have WATS in our barracks you know, they do the cooking and cleaning about the cookhouse.
One of our chaps went to ask the sergeants about leave, and he said he would ask the Sgt Major. I don’t know how he’s gone on, but we’re hoping for good news tomorrow.
I’ve just had a Grecian haircut, that Greek’s cut about a dozen chaps’ hair tonight and they’ve all given him 2d or 3d, so he doesn’t do too bad and he helps the regimental barber at times, but he’ll never make a soldier.
I went to the pictures on Saturday night and what a show for 6d. We saw Thunder Afloat, Secrets Out, Our Gang, Mickey Mouse, News Adverts and the sales interval; we had our money’s worth didn’t we?
One of our chaps nearly broke his neck at gym the other day. He was doing a diving somersault and dived on his head. They rushed him to hospital for X-rays and was later taken to a big military hospital. He will probably be away for a few months.
What made Levi join up? Anyway it’s a good idea if he can get a good job, same as Jack Cashmore. Does he ever ask about me? Tell him I’m going on all right if he does.
Well thanks again for the 10/-, I hope I have to use this weekend. I must close now. Remember me to all. Cheerio.
Your loving son
Albert. X x x Good night Mum, Dad and Levi.

1940. Tidworth.
Dear Mum and Dad,
We have just been double inoculated this afternoon, and we should have been vaccinated too, but I suppose they’re saving that for when we go on leave. It didn’t hurt at the time, but we’re for it tomorrow because they have given us 48 hours off duty and they don’t do those things for nothing.
I am getting quite a good cross-country runner now. We went about 3 miles this morning with only shorts and pumps on and I was 5th out of 35. I couldn’t have done it at all about a fortnight ago.
The corporal’s come round now; he’s told us why he doesn’t get too familiar and why he has to curse us occasionally. Now he’s like an old pal and you’d be surprised how different the atmosphere is. At the same time he congratulated us on keeping the room very nice and clean and said what a good job we made of cleaning that infantryman’s full equipment. He now offers to help us with cleaning etc, and if we play up to him, he’ll do the same for us.
Sat Morn. They’ve stopped all leave from here now owing to the situation, but I suppose it will be normal again in a short time. They soon get flustered.
My arm is hurting a bit now, but the others are pegging out. One chap has gone off eating and is still in bed. 2 had to fall out of parade this morning and the rest are nearly all asleep, but it will soon go better we hope.
If you’re having the same weather as we are, you’re having it very nice. We haven’t seen a cloud for a week, but it’s not too nice for drilling. It tortures us; the square’s blazing white and the sergeants often ill tempered. In 5 or 6 weeks though we shall pass off the square and get on with driving and maintenance etc.
Well, I’m getting on all right now, apart from the arm, and hope to be with you very soon. So here’s saying goodbye. Remember me to Uncle Sam and family, Mr Chip and all the others. With love from Albert. Xxx.

May 23 1940. Thursday. Tidworth.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I had your letter today. It’s the first day we’ve had any rain and it didn’t half come down, it was a real thunderstorm.
I’ve never seen so many aeroplanes. There’s always one in sight all the day round. They’re as common as motor cars down Etruria Road. We’ve had several air raid warnings and 2 were real ones. Once 4 incendiary bombs were dropped near Salisbury. I don’t know whether you read about it ten days ago. And one this afternoon, we don’t know the result of it yet.
We have to carry our respirators and steel helmets everywhere we go, even to the lav across the square, so they won’t catch us unawares.
I suppose Eveline has told you about the leave, it’s hopeless this weekend, but there’s a rumour that we’re to be vaccinated tomorrow, and it takes about a week to come on. We may have about 4 days off next weekend so we’re hoping we’re going to be vaccinated tomorrow, then we can apply for sick leave.
You know Miss Price’s, Husband (Miss Price of Hubanks), well, he’s gone to Oswestry in the Artillery. I’m palling out with a chap from Penkhull, his wife works at Swinnerton’s Pot works, Clough Street, and we got talking and she knows Eveline. They have worked together so I think Eveline is going to visit her soon.
Don’t send Craven As yet, I’ll see what next weekend says, thanks all the same.
I’ll bet you know about Mr Rutter going down to see our wireless; he’s found two fused valves and recommends Alcocks to fix it, but Eveline has made a deal with a chap from Trent Vale, and he’s going to fix it just for the cost of the two valves, also a new condenser. He’s doing the job and giving us the condenser free, so it’s a real bargain. I think it’s done by now.
I heard off Arthur Pickin’s wife a fortnight ago, and he’s fed up. I can’t imagine him in the Infantry though, but for all that he’s lucky to be so near to home. He had a short weekend soon after he joined.
I see Tommy Hayes hasn’t gone yet. There’s a mystery about him. I think he’s been exempt, but he never said so.
Harry Knapper’s gone, hasn’t he. I suppose he’s in the Infantry.
The Rutter family are on “pins” now, well, we’re all in the same boat and at our barracks they’re all in the 20s to 25s, so we get on all right.
I haven’t heard off Jimmy Daniels yet, but I’m not worried.
Yesterday we were that bad on the square that the Sergeant said he would have us for an hour from 7 until 8, but he cancelled it on the last minute. Weren’t we relieved. Now today we were just the opposite and he was actually pleased with us.
There’s a chap among us from Coventry and he does so remind me of Arley, just the same dialect, “I ainter coming” and all that. Also a PMT conductor, just the image of Sidney Howard, he’s a jolly chap and keeps us all alive.
Remember me to Mr Rutter and family, Mr Chip and all. I’ll try to write to Jack Cash soon but I won’t promise. I’m going on all right for money and food so don’t worry. I shall have to close now so cheerio and all the best.
Love to Mum, Dad and Levi, your loving son, Albert. Bye bye, xxx.

May 24 1940 Friday dinner
this letter is faded along the folds and therefore difficult to read.
Dear Eva,
I was upset when I had your letter this morning, but I was hoping you would have mine and it would lessen the shock. I hope you didn’t stop up until late I bet you did. Eve, perhaps God has better plans for us. I have faith that everything will turn all right in the end. I have another disappointment for you, I don’t like to tell you but I must.
We’re on PAD or (Passive Air Defence), the same as ARP but a different title, this means that from Tuesday (May 28th) until next Tuesday (June 4th) that we’re all confined to Barracks so it positively rules the leave out for next weekend. Eve, I know it’s terribly hard, it’s almost unbearable for both of us. Don’t worry, Eve Darling, we’re both healthy and not happy really, but we’re looking forward to getting together again in our little home with some little kiddies, eh?
Friday night 9.0 pm. Reg and I have just been to the pictures to see The Stars Look Down, it was a great picture about coal-mining and a Pit Disaster, we quite forgot about the war until a flash come on the screen calling three squads out at once, to be ready for off in about ½ an hour . So I’m lucky aren’t I?
It’s funny about that letter that was undone, I always securely stick it, its evident it was not tampered with or you would have said so. I can’t think what I crossed out, I haven’t the faintest idea, but when I see the letter I’ll explain, you seem very concerned, but I assure you there no need for it.
We’ve had another good day on the square, some more medals, also an air raid test at 4.30 this morning we all had to dash downstairs and sit there for an hour and when we got back it was pretty useless to go back to bed again so e lay on top.
We’re being inoculated again tomorrow, wish it was WACs, it will only be slight because we’re not excused duty at all. Don’t worry about it.
I wonder whether your Dad wakened at 4.10 this morning. I’m very curious because I did, and right away thought about him and said a little prayer for him, then dropped of asleep again as quick as anything. I wear my watch in bed that’s how I knew the time, It’s quite true and I felt as if your Dad wakened and said a prayer for me.
I’ve changed my mind about children, you found that out haven’t you. I mean it darling more than I can ever tell you won’t it be nice to have a nice little girl made out of us two, I want a girl first because they’re nicer than boys.
Well, Eve, it’s nearly lights out, so I’ll wish you good night and God keep us all safe. Good night Eve darling, lots of love and thousands of kisses. X x x x x
Good morning, Darling, it’s only 11.0 and Reg and I have been up the NAAFI for an hour to have a cup of tea and a cake 2d altogether. It’s been a treat so far, on Friday afternoon we had two lectures then finished at 3.45, this morning we had parade at 9.0 and 3/4 hour at PT, then finished at 10.0, this afternoon we have a mild inoculation, it’s nothing really. You see they could have given us leave quite easily, but the War Office said no so that’s that.
I had your letter this morning, I’m ever so glad you’re “pally” with Mum and Dad, keep it up, dear, it will stop you from worrying a little, and I see you’ve been to Arley, this is a surprised and I’m pleased you’ve enjoyed it. What did you have in The Shoulder of Mutton? You lovely darling, I bet it was grapefruit or some other highly intoxicating drink, you rogue, drinking during my absence. I’ll let you off though, I love and trust you my dear.
Here’s a god joke now. You know that Greek? by the way his name is Constantiza George Christa Adoula, we call him “Chris” to save a lot of time. Well the Corporal brought a bucket of whitewash and a brush and told him to go and white wash the Last Post, of course he asked quite seriously where it was, and he was told near the guard room. It was a scream. I don’t suppose you like that for a joke, I know you don’t, but it was the first we have ever had and no-one was hurt in any way at all , Chris took it all right and was not offended in any way, so everybody was happy and cheerful. I think you know what the Last Post is, just in case, it’s a Bugle call.
Eve, I think I should get a job soon if I was you, or you won’t have a chance later on, the Government will send you where they want you to do what they say. I know you won’t want that neither will I, so do your best, dearest one, and the best of luck, I’ll pray for you. Heavenly Father, take care of my dear one. See that she’s always happy and keep her safe.

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