Stan and Grace

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow, Headquarters, 15 L of C Signals                                                                            139. Cen Med Forces 25 Apr 44. My Very Own Darling, Well I arrived back yesterday from my 400 mile trip, very dusty & with a few bruises for a combination of a 3 ton lorry & the Italian roads makes one's ride a bit rough at times. There’s not a lot I can write about regarding the trip.   The countryside looked very beautiful & fresh, the apple, peach & cherry blossom adding a dash of colour to the fresh springlike greenness of the fields.   There were...

G.H.N. Sunday 23-4-44 My Very Own Darling, I was very pleased to receive the photograph you promised me.   I think that it is quite good and it is now sitting in the middle of my dressing table.   I wonder if you have received mine yet.   Yours only took ten days to come.   A sea letter in ten days!   Not bad is it?   I love receiving recent letters from you. Today is my half day.   It is another beautiful day and quite warm.   I would like to go for a nice long walk but I have not got the energy so here I am lazing on my bed and writing to you.   Maybe I will go out this evening as my friend will be off duty at 5 p/m. All being well, I shall be going home this coming Tuesday until Thursday.   You see my week-end is due when Sister is away so I am making sure of it and having my time off before her holidays. I was sorry to hear about Paul*.   I wonder what can have happened to his fiancée?   I can well imagine how...

G.H.N. 20-4-44 My Own Darling, An air letter and a sea letter arrived from you yesterday so I consider it was my lucky day. The sea letter was the one containing the snaps you had taken in the cafe.   I think that they are very good ones.   Have you sent any home?   If not I will take these when I go again. How is it that a fountain pen never lasts long with me?   I have broken this nib and it is really a nightmare trying to make it scratch this letter to you.   Yes, I know that I need not try and put the shame of my bad writing on to this broken pen nib and I also know that it cannot make it much more illegible than it usually is.   (Thought that I would save you the trouble of passing a few sarcastic comments). Vera decided to surprise me yesterday.   She baked me one of her special malt loaves.   My friends here and myself certainly appreciated it. Ah! That is better – a friend has lent me her pen. I may probably be going home n...

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow, Headquarters, 15 L of C Signals                                                                            137. Cen Med Forces 19 Apr 44. My Very Own Darling, I’ve just finished a very nice lunch of roast pork, baked spuds, onions & apple sauce and am now feeling in a very pleasant mood.   The lunch was helped down too by the fact that just as I was sitting down I was presented with a letter from you, dated 13 Apr. Your mail is coming in very well just now, Darling and it is always much nicer when one gets “fresh” letters.   Six days from England not bad going is it? ...

G. H. N.                                                                              (119) 16-4-44 My Own Darling, It is rather late to start writing a letter but I thought I might manage to write a page or so before the lights out. Have had a very busy day on duty – we are in the middle of “take-in” week and for the last two days the cases have just rolled in – most of them suffering from Appendicitis.   I am sure that if we go on at this rate half the population of Nottingham will have had their Appendix removed before next Wednesday! I have not much news for you at the moment Darling, not h...

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow, Headquarters, 15 L of C Signals                                                                                       137. Cen Med Forces 16 Apr 44. My Very Own Darling, The letter you wrote on 6 th April 44 arrived yesterday evening and its contents gave me quite a kick, Darling.   As you say, it is so difficult to describe ones feelings towards one another, but I understand all your feelings in the deepest sense.   This long enforced parting has certainly made both of us realize the strength of the love which binds us so closely together and...