Stan and Grace

2364226 Sergt S. Bristow                                                                                       43 . 15 L of C Signals, CEN MED FORCES 5 AUG 43       My Very Own Darling, I hope you don’t mind me typing this letter to you, but it is in “Office Hours” and I have to try and persuade the lads I have working for me that I am busy! !   (Actually they’re probably doing the same thing). I had a surprise last night when I got a letter from you – a sea letter written on the 16 th June and describing your adventures at W...

G.H.N.                                                                                                    (47) Tuesday   3-8-43 My Own Darling, Your first letter from Sicily arrived yesterday morning, following your cable which arrived Saturday.   I replied to your cable last week-end but as I had addressed it to North Africa you will most likely receive this one first. I really was worried my Dear – I was thrilled to receive your letter.   Of course I am always worried about you Dar...

Firstly, an 'air letter':   2364226 Sergt. S. Bristow Headquarters 15 L of C Signals                                                                            41. C.M.F. Sunday 1 Aug 43 My Very Own Darling, I am sitting under my flynet with a huge bunch of grapes (purchased for a shilling straight from the vine this morning) & for the first time since I landed, I am feeling more or less at peace with myself. To-day is the first rest I have had since I got here & I don’t quite know whether the Colonel has given me the day off as a reward for working so hard or just because it is Bank Holiday Sun...

G. H. N. 31-7-43    My Very Own Darling, I was very pleased and thankful to receive your cable this morning.   Mother posted it on to me as soon as it arrived.   As I had not heard from you for some time I was getting very worried and I know your Mother was too.   A letter also arrived from your Mother this morning telling me that she had received your cable. Look after yourself, Darling. I have not much news for you from this part of the world.   Life is pretty much the same.   I am settled down to hospital routine once again.   In fact, I feel that my recent holiday is part of a dream now.   I feel that I have not been away from the place for two minutes. However, I have quite resigned myself to the fact that there will not be another break until after September. Sister-Tutor decided to take a weeks holiday but she left us all a pile of home-work to do. It has been terrible on duty since I came back.   It is so hot. ...

G. H. N. Thursday   29-7-43 My Own Darling, Here I am, once again writing to you from Nottingham.   Kit and I arrived back at 7-45 last night, feeling just like grease spots.   It was so hot and travelling does not improve matters. Your Mother and mine wanted to do a spot of shopping so they both escorted me into Doncaster.   I really did not mind coming back this time.   It was not a bit like coming back last year, when we had spent that marvellous time together. We were very disappointed when we arrived here as Kit has been put on night duty.   It is most unfair really as we have only seven weeks to go to our “Final” and nobody can swot on night duty. We were hoping too, to do our night duty together.   As you can gather, I am on day duty and have been put back on the ward that I was on before I went on holiday. I was doing junior staff nurses duties but Matron informed me this morning that she wanted me to staff on there as the staff n...

2364226                                                                                        (41) Sergt. S. Bristow Unit Headquarters 15 L of C Signals Central Med. Forces July 27 th 1943     My Very Own Darling, What a grand day it was yesterday.   First came the news of old Musso’s snake dance* and then in the afternoon along came the postman with two letters from you, dated 7 and 12 of July respectively.   What more could a bloke want, failing of course the news that he was coming home to be with you? I am so glad to hear t...

Grimethorpe                                                                                 (45) 26-7-43      My Own Darling, By the time you receive this letter I will once again be established at the G.H.N. On the whole I suppose I have had quite a good holiday, rather quiet, of course, but considering everything I have no cause to complain. The weather has been good too.   I only wish my Darling, that you had been here to share everything with me.   Who knows though, if the war continues to progress as well as it has been doing this last week or so, you may...