Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 June, 1943

G.H.N.                                                                                                         (33)

10 p.m.  Saturday, 19-6-43

My Own Precious Darling,

It is almost time that I retired for the night but before I do so I thought that I would like to write a few lines to you.

As you already know Darling, it is always at night that I have time to think of you more.  You are constantly in my thoughts but when I am alone in my room at night it is then that I think of you more than ever and wish that we could hurry up and win this war.

I often lay in bed and think of all the lovely things which we are going to do when you come back.  My thoughts in all my spare moments centre around one person and that one person my Dear – is you.

There was once a song which went “wishing will make it so”, so here am I just wishing and wishing and wishing and you know what I am wishing for. 

This mornings post me your Airgraph written on June 6^th.  Yes Dear, always on the sixth of each month do my thoughts fly to the 6^th of February 1942.  They go back to a certain village hall where a certain dance was being held.  I also think of the first picture I had of you.  You were standing with one foot on the ground and the other on a chair.  Your elbow was resting on your knee and you were talking to somebody.  And then you came over and asked me to dance.  That was the beginning of a long story, which I am hoping and praying will last all our lives.

This mornings post also brought me a letter from your Mother.  Of course, as usual, you were the topic of our conversation.  She said that the bantams were growing strong and had laid 50 eggs in four weeks!

I went to the Theatre last night and saw Eileen Hurlie in “Peg-o-my-Heart”.  It was a good show.

That is all for to-night Darling.  I will finish writing in my off-duty to-morrow.  Until then – good night and sweet dreams Dear.

Sunday  20^th  6 p.m.

Having got “take-in” week over we are now able to relax a little.  We have only had fifteen patients for the last two days but we had three new ones to-day.  We are not busy though as they are not for operation until Tuesday.  Apart from writing the daily report ready for the night nurses I have just about finished my work for this day, so I thought that I would take this opportunity of finishing your letter.

Most of the patients that we have at present are rather old (between 60 and 80) but rather dear old men.  It is alright Darling, don’t get jealous I have not got my eye on any of them.

We have one young boy – aged 20 – who came in at 12 a.m. last night.  He was at a party or something and got blind drunk.  Exactly what happened to him after that I do not know but he looks a poor sight to-day.  Ah well!  Experience is the best of all teachers.

You must be a bit fed up with hearing about my patients so I will say Au-Revoir Dear.

All my love, yours ever, Grace   xxxxxxx

This photo shows Stan's younger brother, John, with his hens.  John would have been 13 in September, 1943.  The hens would have eaten some grain but also kitchen scraps and produced valuable eggs, used both to supplement the family's rations and possibly to swap for food produced by other people.   Rations fluctuated during the war, but on average, eggs were rationed to one egg per adult per week.

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