Stan and Grace

General Hospital Annexe                                           No. 3   4.3.43 Selston        Notts. My Own Darling, I wish that I had something really interesting to write about but I am afraid that I have not. Nothing spectacular has happened since I posted your last letter two days ago. Yesterday was lecture day again, so Kit, Laughton and myself had to take a trip to the G.H.N. I hope to go home next week end.   Instead of having evening Sunday – day off Monday I shall ask for day off Sunday.   I have a better chance of getting home Saturday night than Sunday.   I hope this weather holds as I dislike the journey home when it is wet – especially if I have to wait in Doncaster.   I sincerely hope that the weather ...

 Before setting off to go overseas, Stan prepared two precious photographs.  The first, and larger of the two, was a studio portrait of Grace.  This was never mentioned in the letters, so I suspect that she may have given him the photo as a Christmas present when they were together in early January. The second photograph was taken on a Box Brownie, or similar, amateur camera and shows his parents, George and Mabel, and the twins, John and Janet, together with the dog, Kiltie.  It was taken in the back garden of his home on Burntwood Road, Grimethorpe. Stan has managed to find two pieces of Perspex and used them to cover the photos.  He has backed them with sturdy brown cardboard and held them together with a border of sticky brown paper.   Stan took these and carried them with him throughout the rest of the war.

Sgt. S. Bristow                                                                                                   (2) 2364226 Headquarters 9 Corps Signals c/o APO 4660   Undated My Very Own Darling, The flaming sun is beginning to sink into the calm blueness which is the sea, warning us that evening is approaching.   All day it has been beating down on the deck &, but for a stiff cooling breeze which has been blowing off the sea, the day would have been as hot as any English summer day. ...

  Letter No. 2                                                                          G.H. Annexe                                                                                               26.2.43      My Own Darling, I really must tell you my bit of good news – or at least – its good news to me – Kit is out at Selston! Isn’t it grand.   Kit says that she is quite w...

General Hospital Annexe                                                                         No. 1 Selston Notts 25.2.43      My Own Darling, Your last letter arrived Tuesday morning. I am afraid that the contents were a bit upsetting at first but like you Darling I am looking upon each day that passes as being one day nearer “the day when we shall meet again”. I often think of you Dear and wonder where you are and what you are doing.   I wondered too whether or not you received my last letter or whether it will arrive with this one.   I hope you did. Spring has certainly been with us this ...

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, ...