Stan and Grace

The General Hospital Annexe Selston Notts.        My Own Precious Darling, This morning I received the first letter you wrote me last Sunday.   It must have arrived at Grimethorpe Monday afternoon, Mother sent it to the G.H.N. and once again it had to be re-posted. I was sorry to hear that you too have a cold.   I wonder if my germs have been posted to you or vice-versa. You finished your first letter with “Until tonight Darling, as always, you have my love”.   Wouldn’t it have been just heavenly if it had been so – if only for a few hours.   But then, I suppose if we did see each other for a few hours we would not be satisfied and it would make us unsettled again.   Ah me!   Wishful thinking! By the way, you wondered if I took my sewing when I visited your home.   As a matter of fact I did take my sewing up on the Sunday and we all had tea round the fire.   There was only one thing wrong – you were not there to ...

The General Hospital Annexe Selston Notts. 27.1.43         My Precious Darling, You will no doubt be surprised to see a new address.   Yesterday, at 12.30 the Ass. Matron informed me that I was to come out here – 15 miles out in the country.   I was very annoyed as you can imagine.   Laughton, one of my friends is out here so I suppose I shall not find it too bad. I had all my belongings to pack and catch the 3.40 p.m. bus from the bus station so it was a rush. Since I came I have hardly had a thing to do.   In fact – after the G.H.N. it is heaven (nearly). I do not go off duty to-day until 5 p.m. – so whilst Sister is away I am taking the opportunity of writing you this brief letter. Your last letter arrived at 10 p.m. yesterday.   One of the nurses had brought it back from the General for me. Darling – it was simply grand getting a letter like that from you.   I really have not time to answer it as I would like to an...

GHN Monday, 5 p.m.       My Own Precious Darling, Here I am, once again back at the old address.   To-day has been a dreadful day.   Just rain, rain and more rain.   To make matters worse I felt a cold coming before I went home and during the last four days it has fully developed.   Ah me – these things come to try us. You might like to know that I took your advice and came back by train from Cudworth.   Dad came with me to the station – his first day out at that.   My train left at 1.25 p.m. and arrived here at 3.45 p.m. – straight through too, so it was good going. As I was waiting for the train I remembered the last time I visited Cudworth station.   It was to see you off after a 48 hrs leave.   I missed you then Dear, but this time it went deeper than just missing you.   Darling, as every minute has ticked by whilst I have been at home, have I longed for you.   My Precious – I wonder if you really realise how...

Saturday       My Precious Darling, It is now 9 p.m.   Mother and I have just returned from your home.   I was going up last night but it threw it down with rain so consequently I did not manage to go up until to-night.   Mother is feeling much better now so I thought it would do her good to be out for a couple of hours. Your Mother has a dreadful cold.   Janet has been the “maid of all work” to-day.   Daughters do come in useful sometimes you know. The news is on the wireless at present – for the fourth time to-day.   We are doing quite well aren’t we?* Tonight, your Mother told us about the great Grimethorpe mystery - “The Disappearance of Mr Roberts” and the Water Diviner.   We had a good laugh out of it. If I do not go for my supper Mother will soon get cross so I guess I had better go and finish your letter a little later. Sunday There is no fresh news for you.   Sunday morning in Grimethorpe is much the sa...

56 Brierley Rd., 22.1.43   4 p.m.         My Own Precious Darling, For the first time in nearly a year I am home without you and without hope of seeing you.   How empty it feels.   I am missing you more than ever Darling.   More than ever I thought I would miss anybody.    Somebody is just singing the “Twilight Waltz” on the wireless.   Have you heard it?   It reminds me of the night we met. Darling – since that night you have come to mean so much to me, more than ever I can put down on paper.   I agree with you – the day cannot come too soon when we shall actually belong to each other. If only this war would end.   To console myself however I have had out your old letters and they have taken me back through the months.   How they have made my heart ache. The letters you wrote me when we first met – you had so much patience with me then – the letters you wrote after our first few leaves together and t...

G. H. N. 19.1.43       My Precious Darling, In a few hours time it will be a week since you started your journey back to Swaffham (can’t remember whether or not it is spelled with one or two “fs”). How are things with you now?   Is time still dragging or have you settled down to routine again?   You asked me how I was feeling now.   Well – I feel that I am once again a “nurse” but there is one little bit of me that never will be a nurse again.   That bit, Darling, belongs to you. You asked me also, in your previous letter, if memories of our time together kept popping up.   Yes they do – often.   It was heavenly wasn’t it? Whenever I think about it though, I wish that I had stayed with you until Monday.   I feel so cross when I think that I am having four whole days off (I’ve a lecture on the fifth) and we shall not even see each other for a few hours.   Four days at home and I shall not be seeing you – I try not to thin...

Usual address Sunday lunchtime     My Very Own Darling, Well, you’ve been back at the Hospital for a week, now!   Have you got settled down again yet.   I am beginning to get back into the “rut” again, but the memory of our last eight days together are so deeply set into my mind that no matter how much I try to concentrate on work, little things you did & said during that heavenly period still keep popping up! Thanks very much for the photographs, Angel.   They are just the ones I should have picked had I had the chance.   The people I have shown them to, all agree that I am a very lucky bloke having you to stay at home and wait for me.   I don’t need them to tell me, though Dear; I realise it more & more every day. I am glad the interview with the Matron went off OK.   Fancy accepting another five days off!!   My; you must have no conscience at all.   Didn’t it even prick you just a little bit?   Your bit of fibbi...