Wednesday, 21 April, 1943

Usual address

Wednesday, 21 April ‘43

My Very Own Darling,

I have just received your letters 5, 6 and 7 written on 11,14 and 19 March and – at last – your airgraph of 6 April (No. 12).  These airgraphs are not so successful as the air letters are they?  They take much longer and one can’t write half as much on one as can be written on an air letter.  I should concentrate on air letters, Darling, in future if I was you.

I simply can’t describe how grand it is to get so many letters from you & read what you are doing and thinking & most of all to send the one bit of news which never fails to thrill me, that you are still loving me as much as ever, even though miles  & miles of ocean are separating us.  I really feel Darling, that this separation is strengthening the bond between us if that is possible.

One of the sergeants with whom I am rather pally had a bad blow yesterday.  He had a letter from his girl to say that she had decided that it was better if they stopped writing to each other.  It has been rather a shock to him for he thought such a lot about her.  It makes me very thankful that I have got such a reliable pal in you waiting for me, ready to start a new life as soon as this nightmare in which we are existing at the moment, comes to an end.  I feel very sorry for him, for I can imagine how horrible it would be if I ever found myself in the same position as him.  Yes, Darling, I know there is no fear of that! ! !

But enough of morbid news & to something more interesting!  So you think that a trip to Africa together would be thrilling, do you.  Well, it would be if the sea was calm, but believe me all the romance fades when one is seasick! !  I think that by the time I get home all the wanderlust will have left me & it will take someone like you to entice me across the foam.  I almost feel like one of my men who was heard to say the other day “If my old woman (presumably he meant his wife) even asks me to go to Blackpool for the day when I get home. I’ll crown her! !  I shan’t be as bad as that, Darling, but I shall be more than ready to settle down and turn myself into a good husband.  Do you think I shall be such of a success?

I had a bit of a change this last week.  I had to make a 200 miles journey to the nearest town to get supplies of paper, pencils, blotting paper, etc. & it proved a welcome change.  I am enclosing three postcard views of the town for you to see.

Yes, the one of La Rue Sidi-Djiliss does look romantic and picturesque, I agree – but only on paper.  Its a very smelly place actually, however & rumour has it that most of the residents are unclean – bodily speaking anyhow!  Still it is a very colourful street & typically oriental.

We are now in a more fertile part of the country & at the moment I am sitting in a field amidst an absolute carpet of poppies & a deep yellow daisy-like flower.  Shutting my eyes, I like to think that I am miles away from this damned war – back in England perhaps!  My illusions are shattered, however, by the drone of a flight of bombers as they pass overhead, bound for ------ & heavily escorted by fighters.

This is an example of our “air superiority” of which you will have heard on the BBC Bulletins.  It may not sound very thrilling to you, but believe me, when we see it in practise it gives one lots of confidence & makes one pleased that the RAF is now in a position to give the Jerries a taste of what they gave us at Dunkirk!

So you have been doing a bit more child nursing, have you?  I think you are really becoming to like it!  I feel sorry for those children, losing both their parents in such a short time.

“Do I remember that afternoon in the Castle Grounds” – you should have said “Will you ever forget that afternoon”.  I shan’t, Darling.  You just about shook my faith in femininity that week-end, especially that letter you sent me later – but that’s a closed chapter now, Angel, isn’t it (I know you don’t like me taking about it! ! !)

Being having another “do” with fainting people too, eh!  You should be good at this branch of nursing.  Did you blush as much as you did on that fateful February night 14 months ago?  Ah ah ah!

Well, my dear, its teatime & my “bully & biscuits” will be getting cold if I don’t go so I am afraid it will have to be “Au Revoir” for today.

I will write more when I am next issued with an air letter card.

As always, Darling, you have my love.  Yours, Stan   xxxxx

These three postcards show a town called Constantine, in North East Algeria, towards the border with Tunisia.  The town is in the mountains, inland from the coast.  If you Google 'Constantine, Algeria' you will be able to see a photograph of Pont Sisi Rached as it is today.  You will see that Stan has cut out the name of the town for censorship purposes.