Stan and Grace

Sgt. S. Bristow                                                                                                   (1) 2364226 Headquarters 9 Corps Signals      APO 4660 My Own Darling, Such a lot of interesting things have happened recently & I am sure you would be interested to read of them.   There’s just one fly in the ointment, however, that is the Censorship Regulations.   I have just been to a lecture on them & have come away with the impression that there are not m...

A line in  Stan’s service record reads:  "21 February, 1943 – proceeded to Port of Embarkation" This letter was written the night before the unit left for the port. New address Saturday evening        My Very Own Darling, The time for the real parting has come, my Dear, & so if this letter proves to be the last for some weeks, you won’t worry & begin to think that I have forgotten about you, will you.   That will be far from the truth, Darling, as I am sure you know.   While I am away my one thought will be of the day when I shall return to you &, as they say in the fairy stories, “live happily ever after”.   What a day that will be!! I am a bit disappointed that I have not had a letter from you since Tuesday, but it will not be your fault, I know, but the so-and-so post office to blame again.   Now, goodness knows when I shall hear from you again.   I know, however, that you will be thinking of me, Angel, ...

General Hospital Annexe                                                     Friday, 19 th Feb Selston Notts. My Own Darling, What a queer week it has been with only one letter from you.   It will be grand though if I receive several together.   I would like to make this letter a really long one but nothing fresh has happened since I wrote you last. However, here are my latest “doings”. I went to the party given by Kit.   I believe I mentioned it in my last letter.   Everybody enjoyed themselves and no-body got drunk!   Not that there was a chance of that as we had nothing stronger than cider. I had a letter and a parcel from Vera yesterday.   The doctor will not let her get up yet. I...

APO 4660 Tuesday evening     My Own Darling, Well here I am again, much sooner than I expected!   There’s no change to report at the moment.   (“Thank Goodness” I can hear you saying). Last week at this time my dear I was counting the hours to the time when I should once more be with you to enjoy the thrill of being near you & able to hold you in my arms. Looking back on that simply exotic night of last week it seems to be but a grand dream which happened ages ago.   How the days have dragged since I left you at the station on Thursday!   How I hope that the months that are before us don’t seem so long that they are almost interminable. The only bright spots this week have been the two letters I have received from you – both of them to-day.   Funnily enough, too, I received the one you wrote on Sunday this morning and the one you wrote on Friday, this evening.   What a post office the Army has got!   I hope it functions a bit ...

 I hope you will excuse me dipping out of the letters for one day to say "Welcome" to new readers.  I don't know who you are - I can only see the number of views and the number of readers in different countries.  It would be nice if you could click the 'Follow' button and then I can see your names. To readers fro m the USA, please do get in touch either via making a 'Comment' or via the Contact form if there is anything you don't understand.  We are indeed "two peoples divided by a common language" as Winston Churchill said and the language you are reading is English as spoken by two Yorkshire people over 80 years ago, so sometimes it might be puzzling. I always say to people that the letters are a love story in real time, so sometimes you might find the letters a bit mundane and the story slow to unfold, but now is a good time to join as Stan is about to go abroad - like most soldiers at this time, it will be the first time he has left the U...

G.H. Annexe Selston Notts. Sunday    1.30 p.m.         My Own Darling, It is now three days since I left you – it seems like three years.   Why is it that time goes so slowly when one wants it to go quickly and vice-versa? By now, you should be settled down to daily routine once again – I am – just about.   Sister has been an old so-and-so this morning.   She has jumped on the others for no reason at all and actually had one nurse in tears.   This place is dismal enough without Sister making everybody miserable.   However, she is going to preach at the local chapel this afternoon so I will have to endeavour to restore peace once again while she is away. Why do women get like that? (spinsters)   Yes – I know what your answer is to that. It is time I went back on duty.   I will finish this when I come off at 3.30 p.m.   If I am late she might jump on me.   Not that I would really mind.   After ...

2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow Unit Headquarters, 9 Corps Signals c/o A.P.O. 4660 Friday afternoon        My Very Own Darling, I am sneaking a few moments during this afternoon to write to you so that you will have to excuse the typewritten epistle, but I must try and persuade my men that I am working hard as they are!! Did you notice the marvellous sunset there was last night as we were both travelling back to our respective destinations?   The colours were simply glorious – no other words can describe it.   I think it was the best I have seen for many a month.   And whilst looking at it I could not help but think how appropriate it was to our two lives – there we were miles apart with the sun setting on one chapter of our lives which (to say the least of it) had been grand and thrilling!!   I could not help but wonder how long it would be before the sun would rise for us again. The past 48 hours have been simply grand, my Darling. ...