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February 3 1945. Sat 7.0 pm. BLA.
Dear Mother and Dad,
There’s nothing startling to report, we’re still in the old place and enjoying it. The mail has been awful again this week. I forget when I last had a letter off you. Still, it won’t be always now. I see Joe is ever nearer Berlin, but it won’t finish when he’s there. They’re a stubborn heap this time, but they won’t forget this war in a hurry.

It’s surprising out here. The sanitation and similar facilities are very poor. I’ve only ever seen one house with a bath in it, and that belongs to the lady’s brother who is coming tonight, and even then his bath is in the living room. I imagine they have to vacate the house if anyone wants a bath.
The last time I went there I touched him up about having a bath, but he said it was heated by gas and gas was only on for one hour each morning. I was unlucky, that’s why I’m not keen on seeing him, although he gave me a small bottle of scent for Madam when I left. Still I am a bit particular these days. I have an invitation for dinner tomorrow at a former billet. On Thursday night I went to hear a radiogram recital. It was very nice indeed. They played The Barber of Seville, New World Symphony and a few odds and ends. The radiogram was a huge affair almost as big as a sideboard, with two huge speakers and the undistorted volume was enough to fill the Victoria Hall. It was just like listening to the real thing.
Then on Wednesday night I was on guard, very uneventful.
Tomorrow I pay my weekly visit to the local cinema. I don’t know what’s on yet, but if it’s as good as last week it will be a treat.
The old Inoculations are due again. Everyone’s got to have anti-typhus. Gee, I’ll be a pincushion yet. It will make me 15, I think, and a vaccination. The snow has completely vanished and today has been a real treat, brilliant sunshine all day, fantastic for very early February. It was light until 6.30.
I’m in Talbot House writing this. It’s ideal. I have a small room which only a few know about, and even if everyone knew about it, it will only hold about 9 chaps. There’s an electric fire and all writing kit.
I haven’t any further news about leave. It keeps on altering slightly. What with no sailings when it’s bad weather and chaps leaving the unit and getting crossed off our lists and fresh chaps coming and having to be inserted. I can’t judge it all, but the very latest is that up to 132 chaps have gone, or will have had it by tomorrow. I’m 334 so we want two more hundred to hurry up and get it over; then I’ll be getting excited.
The rumour is that the allotment for February is to be raised from 47 to 60, but whether or not, it’s not much advantage. That’s the trouble, we don’t know the coming month’s allotment. For all we know March’s may be 60 again, and if April is the same, I shan’t be home until May. But we hope the same goes on in March as in January, and that means 111, which will bring me down to 50th on the list for April. I’ll bet any money I’ll not be able to give you any warning, but as far as possible I’ll let you know the progress in every letter, so don’t forget old 334, will you? Just think of your number 346, and you can’t go wrong.

No-one has crossed my path whom I know yet. I often wonder how Alf Hyton is; his unit is at Ypres, and quite some time ago I asked several of his fellows where he is, but no-one seemed to know him. I don’t wonder at that, because if his unit is the same as ours, it’s 80% new since Aldershot. Honestly, when I sit at the mess table, I look around and see scores and scores of chaps who I don’t know. They’re all strangers to me, and I’m afraid if we found out how many chaps in the unit were out in Greece with us, the total would be about 30 I think.
Eve gave me the full story of Lt Houses’s speech. It must have been very interesting. I sent her an account of our ramblings, written by a war correspondent. I know she has had it and I asked her to show it to you.
Well, when is it going to end? By the time my leave is due or before. If only Joe’s brakes won’t hold, we shall see the end in 3 weeks time. It must be terrific out there, but they can have it. It’s all very interesting to read about, but there’s heaps of dangers lurking round the corners.
Yesterday I found a woman who would do my washing and was I pleased. The last time I had any done was at Mettet, around Christmas Day. I have given her something to think about today, some 15 articles, but I will see her all right. I’m pretty flush with every mortal thing I still haven’t written to anyone outside the family for quite a few weeks now. But still. Why worry? We’re winning and it won’t be long before I’m speaking to them.
I guess that’s all this time thanks. Remember me to everyone.
Cheerio and love to you all, yours ever. Alb. Xxx.

February 4 1945. Toc H Club. BLA.
Dear Mother and Dad,
I’m here again. These letter cards are so small I wish I’d started an ordinary letter, but never mind, I guess you will have them both together.

So Harry is down with diphtheria. How strange. Has he missed many of those horrible inoculations? It strikes me he’s missed them all. I’m due to go again in the morning for an anti-typhus this time. I wonder if they really do any good. It’s hard to say, cause nothing’s happened. I’m remarkably fit though, so they can’t do any harm.
I was invited out to dinner today, a swell affair at one of my former billets - 2 eggs, a mountain of chips, pork chop, salad, piccalilli and a pint of beer. And after all that I went to work. Gee! What a “do”. I don’t like to go really, but they get as much pleasure as I do, so we’re evens. (Same billets as Jan 26.)
I’m glad Sam is having things easy. I was hoping he wouldn’t be on the road to Mandalay. We’re doing well everywhere, aren’t we?
I don’t seem to be able to write to other people yet, so tell them I’m keeping fine. Cheerio again. Love to you al, yours ever, Alb. Xxx.

February 4 1945. Toc H Club. BLA.
Dear Mother and Dad,
Your Jan 25 letter arrived this afternoon, only a couple of hours after I posted your letter.
I guess all the snow and ice has gone now. It’s been a beautiful day here, just like summer. It was the same yesterday too. I notice the wireless is repaired at last, good show, but the volume won’t suit you, especially if Levi is at the controls.
I cut the cake this morning. It was marvellous. I’ve often asked you and Eve who made it, but it appears to be a secret, or shall we blame it on the slow mail service. It certainly is very slow these days.
We can get as many apples as we want, but bananas are scarce. No, mother, please don’t send any fruit. I never eat it and I don’t think I shall need another parcel before I come home, providing leave is never cancelled. As near as I can judge it, I may be home about April, any time from 1st to 30th, but even that is liable to be all wrong. We can’t form an opinion yet, not until another 200 have gone. No 132 has gone today. I’m glad the car is A1 again. I hope you drained the rad when it was frosty or I’m afraid we shall need a new car. I think I have to say Tra here. Cheerio and love to you all, yours ever, Alb. Xxx.

February 7 1945. Wed. 7.0 pm. BLA.
Dear Mother and Dad,
Your parcel has beat your letter. I haven’t had a letter off you since I last wrote to you, and that’s almost 9 days ago.
Well, strange enough I wrote to Eve on Monday because she suggested there was a parcel being made up for me. I told her to tell you to save it for when I come home if that was the case, so we must ignore it. You see I was calculating I would be coming home about 21st and I reckoned you would send the parcel some time this week and it would arrive just as I was leaving for home. Well the parcel is a fortnight earlier and I am to go on leave a week later. Of course, it’s all my own calculations. I may be wrong again, but I think if everything goes according to plan I shall be home about March 28th.

Did I tell you I had a letter, a card and 2/6 PO off Aunt Polly Brum? I wrote back last Sunday and sent her my last photo.
We’ve been very busy until this weekend, and now we’ve slackened a little. I work alternate nights until 7.30 pm and alternate Sats and Suns. I wonder how long we shall enjoy this.
Well, what about the war now? Things are looking up, and most amazingly without the old 3rd. It’s quite a treat to hear the news and sit here in peace and quietness. I think we’re due for Berlin though, and it wouldn’t surprise me when my turn comes for leave, I shall have to come from Germany. Do you want anything from there?
The party which go on leave tomorrow include number 270, and I’m334. They send 28 men normally, so I’m thinking I shall be in the third party after tomorrow, or in 20 days time. Still, we can’t judge it at all. It may be cancelled when we move, and they certainly won’t send 28 if we’re in action, so we must hope we stay here for 3 more weeks. That’s doubtful, because there’s signs of moving next week or there-abouts. How are we fixed for petrol coupons and licence for my leave? My mate, Lofty, the newsagent from Halifax, went on leave a week ago. Previous to going on leave he went with an officer to Rhiems to a big champagne factory for the officers’ mess bar. He said there are millions of bottles lined up there. They brought a nice load back.
I have been down to Armentiers a few times. It’s not a bad place. Very interesting ride from here through Ypres. There’s plenty of the last war trenches and gun emplacements, and of course cemeteries. This place is almost one big cemetery.
There’s a shortage of choc, fags and biscuits around here. The Talbot House and Belgian Red Cross canteen haven’t had any for 3 weeks, but I have my own private supply. I checked up on my cigs the other day. I still have over 900, and now this parcel. You’ll have me signing on for ever. It’s all very good of you and I thank goodness I have a lorry to carry it. I don’t know what I would do if I was in the Infantry. Guess it would have to be eaten the day it came. I’m glad you didn’t send anything else but “goodies”. I have stacks of everything, certainly enough to see this war out.
, I’ll bet your letter comes tomorrow. Tra. Love to you all. Yours ever, Alb. Xxx.

February 12 1945. Monday. BLA.
Dear Mother and Dad,
I’m sorry I haven’t been able to write to you for a week. We’ve been so busy working until 7.30 every night this past 8 or 9 days. I think we will have everything under control by the weekend. Your 500 Craven As arrived over 3 days ago, and your letter came on Sunday. Thanks a lot for everything, and I have endless cigs now, something like 900 at a guess.
The latest number to go on leave is 150, almost half way to mine. And if they can get up to 220 this month, I am almost a certainty for the very beginning of April. But if it slackens off, I think I shall be home about Mother’s birthday. Anyway it’s only 8 more weeks.
I have come straight from work to the Talbot House to write this, so I can’t answer your letter; it’s in my billet, I went to the cinema last night. It was a real good laugh. I wonder if you’ve ever seen the film, “My Sister Eileen”. It’s a long time since I laughed so much.
The gram concert was the attraction on Thursday. That was good too, they played my favourite tunes by my favourite artistes. I really enjoy Thursday nights.
An amusing incident happened on Saturday. I took my suit to be altered and all the odds and ends to be sewn on a few days before. The tailor said, call on Saturday and it will be ready. So Saturday came and I called, very hopefully, and all I could see had been done was the alterations. So I asked him where the chevrons and etc were.
He searched frantically for some minutes, said he was sorry and he would have them on in 30 minutes. So, I returned in the half hour, to find the chevrons down on the elbow, the bulls a little higher and so on.
He said “50 francs, please”. I said, “When you’ve taken them off and put them where they should be”. So a further 30 minutes was suggested, and I returned gain. It was much better this time and I enquired the price again, expecting to have to pay more. He said “40 francs please”. I gave him a 100 note. Then the change came, “20 and 10 is 30, and 20 is 50, and 50 is 100. Good day, sir”. Well it appears it went down every time I asked him. I got away with it for 20 francs in the end..
My laundry is all up to date again now. She’s a good woman who does it. She always darns and sews where and when it’s needed, and we can get a good bath every week. It’s like heaven now it’s organised.
.
How’s the weather these days? Just right, hey? No snow or ice. It’s the same here, just a little rain at times. By the way, I had a letter off Eve today. It was only written and sent on Friday afternoon. That’s only 3 days ago. It’s a good show, isn’t it.
.
I’m keeping fine and fit. Don’t worry. So cheerio and best wishes. Love to you all. Yours ever, Alb. Xxx.

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