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Here is a letter Mr Parker-Bowles wrote to me when I was in Italy.

Dear George,
Don’t lose your head to an Italian brunette! I was awfully glad to get your letter and delighted to know you are going strong and that you have contacted Jack [that’s my brother] and that he is very well even if a little bit portly. What form did your planned celebration take? I bet Jack was pleased to see you so smart and tough after all this time. I hope you are able to spend leave together.

Did you sound a cornet on VE day? Here there were bonfires for several nights in the square. The sailors and RAF danced with girls around it. Well George, I’m very thankful you are not the worse for your trip four miles behind the Hun’s lines. You must be a very experienced fighter by now but I hope the end is near with Japan and that you chaps will hear the ceasefire.
Are they Leghorns or mostly Anconas. There used to be a small grey breed of Andalusians or perhaps they have faded out.

I shall be looking forward to seeing you home again soon, your cheeky face emerging from the Buntingsdale Road, the church lad’s brigade will be very proud of their old members.

Next week we have a big effort in aid of the Shropshire hospitals. Today it poured with rain. The RAF concert party are very loud and are giving two shows. They are very saucy! Whist drives run all week.

The frost did an awful lot of damage to fruit. Nearly all my gooseberries dropped off. The raspberries, apples and plums have been bit away badly.

Mr Rooke’s a very nice chap and very popular already (that’s the local vicar).

Well George, that’s all for the present. All the best of luck to you and hope to see you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Eustace Bowles’

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Becky Barugh of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of George Samuel Plim and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Sam's stories:

• 1) A Phoney War
• 2) Our first intake of evacuees
• 3) “Whoa Bob!â€�
• 4) As long as I was fed I could do virtually anything
• 5) After one was shot the rest surrendered…
• 6) Our Final Battle

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