Stan and Grace

2364226                                                                                                  53 Sergt S. Bristow Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces Aug 30th 1943       My Very Own Darling, There’s been little change in my life since I last wrote to you on Saturday, but I can’t let the week-end pass without writing to you.   I don’t think this will be the usual length however, so don’t hope for too much. I am anxiously looking forward to your next letter to k...

This is another Cable & Wireless telegram using three pre-written phrases (see Friday, 23 July), in this case: 12  Many thanks for letter 159  Hope you will soon be better 35 Fondest love Darling   Although sent on 29 August, Grace will not receive this until the morning of 4 September (about six days), so clearly even these telegrams were not a tremendously quick way of communicating.  Note that the telegram had to be passed by the Censor (the oval-shaped stamp reads 'Passed by No. 62 Censor Telegraph Office). I can't help thinking that, if you wanted to communicate in code, these telegrams would be an excellent way of doing it, with pre-arranged alternative meanings for all the messages!  

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow                                                                            51. Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces Aug 28    43     My Very Own Darling, So sorry to hear that you have been ill and sincerely hope that you are completely cured and giving the patients “wot for” again!   There appears to have been quite a spate of illness around our family circle this last couple of weeks.   Yes, I had a letter from Mother in which she mentioned that she was pleased the holiday was over – so if they came back with that spirit, it can’t have been ver...

G.H.N. 25-8-43     My Own Darling, I thought that I would start writing this to-night but as it is nearly time for lights out I doubt whether or not I shall get it finished. Your letter dated August 10 th arrived yesterday.   I was getting a bit worried as I had not heard from you for about a fortnight.   It was a relief to get your letter and to know that you are keeping safe and well. I was glad to hear that my letters are reaching you alright. I am pleased to say that I am back on duty again.   Yesterday was my first day on and I did feel tired.   Sister sent me off again at 5 p.m. and I was ready for it too.   However, I am feeling quite alright now and as usual, up to my neck in work. 26-8-43 This morning’s post brought me another letter from you, Darling.    It was dated August 17 th and numbered 46 so number 45 has to turn up yet.   Your letters are always so thrilling my Dear. So you got to hear about Kit and ...

 In yesterday's letter, dated 22 August, Stan referred to " the talks at present proceeding in Quebec".  What was going on in Quebec that would influence Stan and Grace's life? There had been major disagreement between the Americans and the British with regard to the right time to stage landings in Northern France.  The Americans had not wanted to attack Sicily and Italy, regarding this as a distraction from the main aim of attacking Germany through France.  The British argued that, in 1943, the Allied Forces were not ready, both in terms of men and equipment, to take on this major offensive.  A conference between Roosevelt and Churchill was arranged to be held in Quebec, beginning on 17 August.  This cutting from the Hull Daily Mail of 21 August shows that discussions had been completed by the end of the day on 20 August.  As the decisions made were highly secret there were no post-conference press announcements. You can see from his letter that Stan ...

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow                                                                            50. Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces Sun 22 Aug 43 My Very Own Darling, Feeling very energetic this morning when I bounded from my bed (or perhaps I was dragged – I rather think I was!) I decided to walk from the billet to the office, about a mile and a half distant.   Yes, I suppose that statement is quite a shock to you, but I actually did it!! It being Sunday, the Church bells were clanging (there's no ring about a Sicilian Church bell) & all the locals were dashing off to Church, all...

G.H.N.                                                                                          (52?) 22-8-43     My Own Darling, I hoped to receive a letter from you this morning but there was not one, only one from home and one from Janet. There was not much news from home.   Vera has been bottling tomatoes and making plum jam.   She has also been doing a spot of flag selling in aid of the Beckett Hospital.   Getting quite active, these days, is she not?   I suppose that it does relieve the monotony a bit for h...

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow                                                                            49 Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces Friday, Aug 20 th 43 My Very Own Darling, It is getting late & I have just finished a game of solo whist, but I thought that I would just knock off a few pages to you. Nothing of note has happened since I last wrote to you (that actually means I haven’t received any more letters from you! – greedy devil, aren’t ? never satisfied!!) In the last letter you wrote you asked about the photographs I had taken in North Africa months ago.   Well, as you can...

G.H.N. 18-8-43    My Own Darling, I really intended writing this letter a few days ago but I am off sick and this is the first time I have felt like doing anything at all. Actually I did not come off sick until three-o-clock this morning but I do not know how I managed to stay on duty and do my work.   Sister did not want me to report off and I did not myself if I could possibly help it.   However, when I ran a temperature of 103 ° F I thought it was time I did something about it. There is nothing to worry about though as I am now feeling much better.   I have had a sore throat and headache etc.   I am hoping that the Doctor will let me go back on duty to-morrow.     I was very thrilled to hear the news yesterday of the final victory in Sicily.   One more step in the right direction isn’t it Darling? Yesterday brought me a letter from your Mother.   She seems rather worried about John.   He is not too well.   I th...

The first letter is a typed 'air letter', doubtless written in office time. 2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow                                                                            46 Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces 17 Aug 43     My Very Own Darling, I think your letters get more thrilling as time goes by.   I can’t describe how much kick I get out of reading about your shopping expeditions and how you have bought yet more things which we shall both someday use when we have this home of ours that we are both planning. You know I often lay in bed at night thinking of how I would like thing...

 As there have been no letters from Stan or Grace for a few days, readers might be wondering what is happening in Sicily.   As the cutting below from the Edinburgh Evening News explains, the German army is retreating ahead of the Allied armies, heading for the northern town of Messina, which offers the shortest sea crossing to the Italian mainland.  Allied bombers are working to destroy road and rail routes on the Italian mainland, to prevent the German army from escaping further into Italy with their supplies and heavy equipment.  Come back tomorrow for two letters from Stan.

Nurses Home General Hospital Nottingham 13-8-43       My Very Own Darling, Two air-letters arrived yesterday following your ordinary letter the previous day.   One was dated July 27 th and the other was written the same day as you ordinary letter – August 1 st . Darling, I look forward to your letters so much, as I know you do mine.   We do very well for letters really, don’t we?   I was pleased to hear that you had received two more of my letters.   I hope that you have received more of them by now.   I suppose that it is with you flitting around the countryside that they have been delayed. This mornings post brought me a letter from home.   Vera said that you Mother had sent her a post card from Sleaford.   I was under the impression that it was next week they went on holiday but I must have been wrong. I have just re-read your letter telling me how you spent Bank Holiday Sunday.   You did make my mouth water – te...

G. H. N. 11-8-43     My Own Darling, Your ordinary letter dated August 1 arrived this morning.   It was such an interesting letter too Darling. By the tone of your letter you seem to be in a very nice little spot – if only the war was not so near!   How I wish I was there with you.   I can see there is nothing else, but for me to join one of the nursing services and ask to be sent to wherever you may be (some hope of that!) So you have two Sicilians working for you, have you?   I must admit I do not envy you your job of making them understand you or you understanding them.   I find it bad enough at times making some of my patients understand plain English. This morning, at 9 a.m., we finished our “take-in” week.   Yesterday we had seven admissions and five discharges, most of the new ones being very ill so I will leave you to guess what it was like.   I know that I was glad when 8 p.m. arrived.   However, that is enough shop....

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow                                                                  44 (I think!) Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces 10 Aug 43      My Very Own Darling, You are a very loveable girl writing all these letters to me whilst you were on holiday!   It has been absolutely grand during the last week to receive all five (or perhaps it was six) of them.   They arrived just when I needed a bit of cheering up, too. Yes, I can imagine how you felt all the time you were at Grimethorpe, going to the places to which we had gone together and doing things which we had shared before.   I know how it felt after y...

G.H.N.                                                                                                    (48) Sunday.   8-8-43 My Own Darling, I have just been wondering if you have received any more letters from me since you last wrote me.   I do hope so, as I know how I feel when I don’t hear from you.   I have not heard any more since your letter which arrived last Monday.   I am hoping there will be one from you to-morrow. I have not much fresh news for you since I last wro...