Stan and Grace

  As there are no letters for a few days, I thought that readers may be interested in hearing the voice of a different soldier involved in the Italian campaign, one who may have been in the same audience as Stan when attending the opera in Bari. In John Strawson's book 'The Battle for Italy', Strawson quotes Douglas Orgill, who fought in the Italian campaign.  Orgill developed jaundice and was sent to a military hospital based in a "sumptuous villa".  After praising the quality of the food provided by the Red Cross, he goes on to say: "Most of us during our year in Italy had either discovered or further indulged a liking for opera.  Its enjoyment varied from provincial companies in places like Bari or Taranto to an occasional treat on leave in Rome or Naples.  Being stationed nearby for a time my regiment developed a great affection for the Bari repertory company.  All the classic roles were performed by the same three singers, baritone, tenor and soprano, ...

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow Headquarters 15 L of C Signals                                                                  155. Cen Med Forces 30 May 44 My Very Own Darling, Following closely on the heels of your photograph came your air letter dated 23 rd May.   I really do believe that the Army Post Office is beginning to get organised!   Six days seems to be the average time for an air letter from this end.   How long does it take for one to get from me to you? So you think you can afford to get thinner do you.   Well just you stay as you are – “spare tyre” and everything.   If you lose that I shall have to find something else to...

G.H.N. 29-5-44                                                                                (132) My Very Own Darling, It is perfect “Whit Monday” weather.   It has been really hot all day.*   I have felt very glad that we are not busy as it has been too hot to do much work. At the moment I have only eight patients on the ward.   I can hardly believe it until I look around and see the empty beds. Of course there is still enough work to do.   We have all been busy making bandages and cutting up extra “stock” (cotton wool, etc.)   That sort of work however is far less s...

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces                                                                            184 . 28 May 44 My Very Own Precious Darling, The day I’ve been waiting for for the past month arrived to-day.   This afternoon I was presented with a large envelope by the Post Corporal and now I’ve got a very pretty young lady to give me a welcoming smile each time I enter my bedroom – or should I say (mores the pity) that it is only her photograph.   Still the time is getting nearer when I shall have the young lady to do it in person each time I return ...

G.H.N.                                                                      (131) 26.5.44 My Own Precious Darling, Your first letter written while on leave has arrived.   I feel very sorry for you Darling but I really had to smile when I read the first paragraph of you letter – telling me how sore your feet were.   Yes – I have very vivid recollections of that walk home from Lundwood but Darling even though it was extremely cold it was not snowing that morning.   You seem to be under the impression that it was – you had better think back again my Dear. I am really looking forward to your sea-letter telling me all about your ...

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces                                                                            182 . 26 May 44 My Very Own Darling It has been a real scorcher today and I have been in one of my irritable moods to-day!    The flies which seem to be breeding in thousands now have made things worse too. It is beginning to grow twilight now and is much cooler & so I thought I would spend the after-dinner hour writing to you (we have been having dinner in the evening now for a couple of weeks now because of the heat.) The dinner was exceptionally...

G.H.N.                                                                      (130) 23.5.44 My Own Precious Darling, Two air-letters arrived from you this morning.   A letter from you never fails to give me a thrill so you can guess how I feel when two arrive.   Another thing which also never fails to thrill me is hearing how much you love me. The other night I was grousing about something or other and I had had an awful day on the ward so consequently was feeling rather depressed, when Ivy – my friend, turned to me and said “Grace, you have a lot to be thankful for – you have the love of a good man and plans for the future”.  ...

2364226 Sergt. Bristow, S. Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces                                                                            151. 22 May 44 My Very Own Darling, I’ve more or less got myself back in the “groove” and the leisures and pleasures of last week are quickly becoming just memories. I seem to have struck lucky with my choice of weather, however, for it has rained each day since I got back. Although the weather has been miserable, though, I haven’t, for on the last two mornings I have had the thrill of receiving a letter from you.   The success of a day is assured if I hav...

2364226 Sergt. Bristow, S. Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces                                                                            150 20 May 44. My Very Own Darling, What a day today has been!   My first day back off leave and so you can guess that things haven’t gone down too well.   All good things must come to an end, however, I suppose, but as you can expect I was extremely sorry when the time came yesterday morning to say goodbye to the fair city of Naples. Although the bloke who relieved me during the past week has done a fairly decent job of work, there are a good few thing...

G.H.N.                                                                      (129) 19.5.44 My Very Own Darling, Your sea letter written on April 9 th* has arrived.   As usual Darling it was a very long and interesting letter.   I wish I had as much to write to you about.   I am sure you must find my letters awfully dull at times – and when I do find something to tell you – well, I guess they are never enough. However, Darling, I am always very happy to receive your letters.   Thank you also for the programmes which you enclosed.   I do envy you, you know – seeing all these operas.   You had better not go to too...

G.H.N.                                                                                (128) 16.5.44 My Very Own Darling, I was very happy to receive an air-letter from you this morning.   The day always goes much better when I start it with a letter from you.   It was the one you wrote me on the sixth of this month. I was pleased to hear that the small book I sent you arrived safely and also that you like Rupert Brook’s poems.   I would like to have sent you his complete works but thought that you would have enough kit to carry around with you.   However, Darling, you sha...

  2364226                                      Sergt. S. Bristow Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces                                                                            149? 15 May 44 My Very Own Darling, Oh my poor old feet!!   I have pounded the streets of that city where I am spending my leave, for the past few days with the result that my feet, unaccustomed to such punishment, are almost raw! ...

G.H.N.                                                                                                                              (127) 13.5.44 My Very Own Darling, Two air-letters arrived from you yesterday, dated May 2 nd and 4 th .   Your letters are arriving very regularly these days and coming in such a short time too.   Of course – that is how I like it. You seem to be doing a lot of reading these days.   I have not done any for a fortnight.   Howeve...

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces                                                                            147. 11 May 44 My Very Own Darling, It is getting very late but I thought I would write a few lines to you before I go to sleep. I’ve just finished clearing up one or two odds and ends in the office and have just completed the packing of any bits and pieces ready for my journey to Naples tomorrow morning. I am really looking forward to this holiday of mine.   Only two things stop me from being completely happy.   First, I wish that you were coming with...

G.H.N.                                                                                                                              (126) 10-5-44             10 p/m My Very Own Darling, I really wanted to write and post this letter earlier to-day but just as I was about to go off duty Casualty decided to send an acute Appendicitis up.   Not having a senior nurse to leave on I had to stay on duty myself.   Consequently I did not get to my room until 8.30 p/m ...

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Cen Med Forces                                                                            146. 9 May 44 My Very Own Darling, It is too good to be true!   Another letter from you yesterday which took only six days.   I shall never grumble at the APO again!! I see that like me you are counting the months as they pass. I do so wish the much talked about second front would start.   If we could get cracking in Europe it would be very encouraging wouldn’t it?    I hope that once our troops have landed on the continent it won’t be a l...