Friday, December 18, 1942
Everything is topsy-turvy. So much has happened since my last entry. I mentioned an alert. Well it was the real McCoy. We moved out of Colebrook the next day and returned to Blessingborn at Five Mile Town. They took our comforters and over shoes from us as well as our cots. All excess baggage was disposed of. We were required to pack everything in one barracks bag. The second bag was taken from us with such articles of clothing and of a personal nature that weren’t absolutely essential. We were literally stripped to the bare essentials. We put in three miserable nights and days sleeping on the concrete floor, black out shakes or anything else we could. On Sunday the 13th at 8 p.m. we moved out by British lorry to Fentona and boarded a train. I kissed my chances of going to D.S. goodbye and was terribly disappointed. The next morning we arrived at the port of Lorne. We had breakfast at a “limey” camp and embarked on a small passenger vessel at 12 Noon, Scotland bound. We arrived after a terribly rough passage, in Stranraer, Scotland at 3 p.m. and again marched off to a “limey” camp outside of the town. We all took a break for town, after we’d dumped our equipment, and had a wonderful time. We got back from town at 10 p.m. and at 10:30 we climbed aboard a train southward bound. We rode all night and passed through Manchester, England about 7 a.m., Tuesday the 15th. We proceeded on to a small siding station about 20 miles from Manchester and then we detrained and were picked up by American 6x6’s. We rode south about 20 miles to a large camp occupied by American troops. The camp was located on a huge country estate called Crewe hall just 3 miles outside the town of Crewe. We unloaded and unpacked, prepared to stay for a while. The next day, Wednesday the 16th, I was notified by Middlestedt that I was to pack and be ready to move out by 5:30 p.m. as I was to go on a detached service with the Finance Section. I left at 3:30 by “PEEP” and drove south about 20 miles to another estate outside of the town of Northwhich. The estate was called Marlberry Hall and Division Headquarters was located here. I was introduced to the Finance forcee by “Waddy” Waddington and was well received.
As yet I know little about the work but that will come. I only hope I can get a transfer. My first night there I was asked if I wanted a pass to go to London. I’d of loved o have gone but was broke.
And now the day after I come we’re going to move again. All is packed and ready. All work suspended. This time it’s a boat trip. Probably Africa — we shall see.
Today I received a letter from Jane. The first in almost 5 weeks. It was very puzzling. She seems terribly upset. She starts it — “Dear Jimmy” — something I can’t remember her doing. She asked me, am I exerting myself to the “utmost” to get ahead in the Army. She says to “perk up.”
Darling, if you only knew!
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