Stan and Grace

G.H.N. Friday                                                                                            (111) 24-3-44 My Very Own Darling, Your letter dated March 11 th arrived this morning.   It looked very battered so I don’t know where it had been on its travels.   It was a letter from you Darling so it did not really matter what it looked like. Yesterday was my half-day so a friend and myself went to the “Flying Horse” for tea.   Yes, we really must go there for dinner some time when you come home. Pleased to hea...

2364226 Sergt S. Bristow Headquarters, 15 L of Signals Cen Med Forces                                                                            126. 22 Mar 44 My Very Own Darling, I didn’t manage to get down to writing to you yesterday evening, so I thought I would utilise my lunchtime today. By now you should have got my “sermon” of two days ago and have digested it.   I hope that I didn’t put anything in it that has annoyed you. Well, as you see by the date, to-day is my birthday.   I didn’t realise that it was so until about 11 a.m. this morning when I started dating some letters I had writte...

G.H.N. 21.3.44 My Very Own Darling, Not having heard from you for about a week I am wondering how you are.   I know that it is silly of me, I also know that I do extremely well for post compared with some people but Monday or Tuesday usually brings with it a letter from you, Dear. However, I will wait and see what turns up to-morrow – if anything.   I do hope that you are well and don’t forget to “stay wrapped up in cotton wool”. Last Friday night the Aural Dept. staff held a dance in aid of a bed for Malta’s new hospital.   I went but was not very thrilled with it.   The band could have been an improvement.   A dance too Darling is not the same these days without you.   We have a lot to make up, haven’t we – after the war! In yesterday’s paper I read that some big-wig at “Rolls Royce” had prophesied that the war would only last another two months.   He is hopeful!   I only wish that we could beat the Hun in just two months – what do y...

2364226 Sergt. Bristow S, Headquarters 15 L of C Signals                                                                                      123. Cen Med Forces 20 Mar 44 My Very Own Darling, Yesterday was about the most spring-like day we’ve had yet, and at lunchtime I was sitting in the window bottom in the office taking full advantage of the sun, dozing a little and dreaming a little.   All I needed to feel really contented was a letter from you.   I had been sat there for only a few minutes when lo and behold, along came the Post N.C.O. with two lett...

 On 18 March, 1944, Vesuvius, the volcano situated on the Gulf of Naples on the west coast of Italy, began to erupt.  Stan was stationed about 160 miles away in Bari, a town on the east coast of Italy (although he was not allowed at this time to tell Grace where he was).   Many years later, he told me that he remembered the motorcycle despatch riders "coming in, covered in ash". This is how the eruption was covered in the Daily Mail of 20 March, 1944.

G.H.N. 16.3.44 My Precious Darling, An air-letter arrived from you this morning and one also arrived two days ago.   The former was dated March 6 th .   Just ten days to come.   I love receiving recent letters from you dear.   Your letters too are so vivid and interesting – and Darling, every word is dear and precious to me. To-day has been my half-day.   I have not done anything of interest.   At the moment I am sitting at the front of a blazing fire, the wireless is playing some of Beethoven’s music and I am wishing that you were sitting here by my side. How I long for the day when we can sit in our own home & just you and I and listen to our own wireless – that will be the day! Since you wrote your last letter another ten days have passed.   Ten more days off our period of waiting.   Oh Darling, it seems so long at times, doesn’t it? – this waiting.   It must end some day and then that will be when we shall really star...