Friday, 12 February, 1943 - Stan's letter

2364226
Sergt. S. Bristow
Unit Headquarters,
9 Corps Signals
c/o A.P.O. 4660

Friday afternoon      

My Very Own Darling,

I am sneaking a few moments during this afternoon to write to you so that you will have to excuse the typewritten epistle, but I must try and persuade my men that I am working hard as they are!!

Did you notice the marvellous sunset there was last night as we were both travelling back to our respective destinations?  The colours were simply glorious – no other words can describe it.  I think it was the best I have seen for many a month.  And whilst looking at it I could not help but think how appropriate it was to our two lives – there we were miles apart with the sun setting on one chapter of our lives which (to say the least of it) had been grand and thrilling!!  I could not help but wonder how long it would be before the sun would rise for us again.

The past 48 hours have been simply grand, my Darling.  It is useless trying to describe the thrill of being with you once again, because as you know, words cannot explain the feeling half well enough.

I must confess, however, that each time I am with you and taste the joys of what will be ours after the war it does make me more and more unsettled with life (and I suppose it does you too).  I have been quite unhappy all do-day and my thoughts have continually straying to our short time together.  I’ve just been wondering how long it will be again before you darn my socks.  You looked most domesticated, Darling; and it was quite thrilling to watch you doing just little things like that.

As you see I have got a new address now and I suppose you will be able to read between the lines.  Don’t get worried Darling if you don’t get many more letters from me for a little time, will you.  It will by no means mean that I have forgotten about you – far from it.  In fact I shall be thinking more than ever of you.  The Postal facilities may be a little difficult for the next couple of weeks or so.

By the way, there’s one point which may interest you, especially and you are “saving up” now.  In future now that you are using the new address you need only put a 1½d stamp on my letters.  Look what a lot of money you will be able to save!  We should be quite rich by the time I get back!!

Well, my dear, despite the fact that I could go on all afternoon talking of the delights of Wednesday evening and the happiness of being with you on Thursday, I must go.   The Colonel has just rung his bell for me.

Wasn’t it difficult saying Goodbye on Doncaster Station.  I felt that I simply couldn’t let you go, but knew that I must.  I watched you out of one the station windows until you got right out of sight, Darling.

By the way, are you feeling better now?  I went to sleep in the train and woke up with a jolt halfway there in the middle of a bad dream.  I was dreaming that you had got on the bus and fainted!  Silly aren’t I?

When the train got into Sleaford Station my Grandfather and Auntie and Uncle* were waiting there to say “Hello and Goodbye” to me – and believe me that was about all the chance they had of saying.

I must fly, Darling, the Colonel has rung again and by the sound of it he is not particularly pleased about waiting!

All my love, my Darling.  I hope it won’t be long before I write again.  Yours Stan  xxx

*Stan's Grandparents, George and Sarah Bristow, kept the village shop and Post Office in Cranwell in Lincolnshire.  This photo, probably taken in the late1920's / early 30's, shows their two daughters, May and Mary, with George and Sarah in front of the shop window.  It is likely that the uncle that Stan mentions would have been his father's brother, Alf, who lived round the corner from the shop in the Council Houses and worked on the RAF base.  The aunt would have been May, as Mary married in 1932 and was living in London.

 Sarah is the grandmother mentioned in earlier letters, who is quite ill at this point.