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21 August, 1944 What's Happening in France?

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 The tone of Stan and Grace's letters over the last couple of weeks has been extremely positive in terms of the progress of the war, so let's take this opportunity to read the Daily Record for 21 August and see what is happening in France. A new front was started in the South of France and the Daily record reports that the American Army is now 16 miles north of Marseilles. In the north, following D-Day on 6 June, the Allied Armies have continued to drive across northern France.  As can be seen from the map they have now reached Versailles and will soon enter Paris.  In response, there has been an uprising by the population of Paris and even the Germans are now admitting this.  The 'German Military Commander' in Paris is quoted as saying on the radio that "irresponsible elements have taken up arms against the occupation authorities". In other news, Rumania has surrendered to Russian troops. You can see why Stan and Grace keep thinking that the German authoritie...
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Sunday, 20 August, 1944 - Two Letters

G.H.N.                                                                                                167 20-8-44 My Very Precious Darling, I thought that the good weather could not last for long.   As I write this the rain is pouring down outside.   It does not make much difference to me though as it is Sister’s week-end off and I am “on call” when I am off duty.   That means that I cannot go out even if I wished to. The Ministry of Labour and I seem to be corresponding quite frequently these days!   Another letter arrived from them yesterday tel...
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Friday, 18 August, 1944

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G.H.N.                                                                                166 18.8.44 My Precious Darling, Yesterday should have been my half-day and I did intend writing you yesterday but we unexpectedly admitted some patients so my half-day was cancelled and I was on duty until nearly ten o’clock. However, it is my half-day today and here I am Darling writing to you. Your letter enclosing the snap arrived this morning.   It is a lovely snap and very good of you.   Thank you for it my Dear.   Wish you were near enough for me to thank you in the proper way and th...
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Thursday, 17 August, 1944

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen. Med. Forces 17 Aug. 44 .                                                                          191. My Very Own Precious Darling, Your letter of the 11 th which arrived this morning gave me a double thrill.   Firstly, because, I had a letter yesterday & wasn’t therefore expecting one this morning, & secondly because of the way you had signed yourself.   “Your future wife”.   Oh, Darling, that gave me a real kick.   It’s the first time you’ve called yourself that.   It made me feel really proud, but I shan’t be satisfied until I’ve...
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A Photo for Stan

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  This very worn small photograph (2.75" x 2.25") is not part of the Stan and Grace correspondence.  It shows a man with a boy aged maybe 8  or 9 years.  It has clearly been pinned to a board several times, with torn holes in the corners.  On the back it says: "A Stan con affetto.  Franco,  Mola, 11.8.44" I was puzzled by 'Mola', but having looked it up, Mola is a town within the Metropolitan City of Bari, where we know Stan was stationed, so this makes sense. Clearly this photo meant a lot to Stan, as he kept it long after the war was over, and I wonder what the relationship was between him and Franco.   Maybe Franco was one of the Italian interpreters or a civilian employed in the office?  We will never know.  
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Tuesday, 15 August, 1944

G.H.N.                                                                                          165 15.8.44 Dearest, Darling Stan, I was so sorry to read in the letter which you wrote me on our anniversary that you were in bed with a cold.   I do hope that it is much better by now and that you are feeling more like yourself.   I hope that you are being looked after properly Darling – you know you are very precious to me.   How I wish that I could hop on a ‘plane and come out there to look after you. I am afraid that if once I got out there they wo...
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Monday, 14 August, 1944

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen. Med. Forces 14 Aug. 44 .                                                                          189. My Very Own Darling, I didn’t manage to get a letter written to you yesterday as, for a change, I was busy.   I was very pleased to get your Sunday letter & to know that things were going OK at the Hospital etc. & more important, that you still loved me! Yes, Sweetheart, I too have often wondered where our re-union will take place, as you say, wherever it is, it will be so thrilling, but I hope it isn’t on a crowded station, or anywhere like t...
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