Postmarked COLNE LANCS 7.15PM 11 FEB 1940
addressed to Lieut. R. Helme, D.W.R., Church House, Norton, Malton. Yorks.
Albert House, Colne, Lancs.
10th Feb.
My darling Ronald,
It was lovely to hear your dear voice last night, and for nine whole minutes. I am really very bad insisting on the last three, and promise that if you pay for it, I shall pay half! Anyway, it was really heavenly.
How I wish you were here. How I miss you. If you were with me always I’d be happy all my life. Fancy just one person making all that difference – and that one person you my dear boy.
There is a play on the wireless about Charles and John Wesley, but blow it, I want to write a really nice letter to you. I love you so much. Oh dear, oh dear, I wish I could have come to Malton this weekend. I would love to have seen you. It will be ages before I do see you. I wish I had some idea when it would be; and yet, if it is to be the last leave before you go abroad, it had better not come too soon.
I do hope that that rumour was wrong. What a life, and I love you so much. I am for ever thinking of the days I want so much to come when we are together always. I could sit back and wait so patiently if I knew that this day would be soon. It is so easy for me to imagine myself in your house, spending your money (?) and having your children. Darling it is all I want – simply all I want; but I do want it to be soon. Just thinking of it gives me a funny jumpy feeling round my heart.
I went to Church by myself this morning. At least, Moué went, but she had to sit by the organ with Mr Slater. Bless me if MacVicar didn’t pray for all the men on service from the parish – by name. Yours was second on the list after Smith Smith, and I felt myself going terrible red. Fortunately my hands were over my face, and I had plenty of time to cool down before we stood up. Of course, I was very proud of you actually, and I thought everyone would be thinking of me at the mention of your name. It is so much nicer now that everyone knows we belong isn’t it?
MacVicar’s sermon was quite good – though I do feel that he preaches rather for affect. He fairly shouted out that a Chaplain at the front had written saying that Christmas was celebrated chiefly by drinking, and that a doctor had written to a doctor in this country telling him that already the hospitals were chock ablock full of men with venereal disease. How he shouted that out. When I told Mum, she was very scathing, and said he liked saying things like that in the pulpit. I must say I do think as she does, that it is all for affect.
It is nearly time I went down to help with the tea.
Katie is away this weekend to see her fiancé and her Ma. She comes back on Tuesday. She went away full of beans, but I suppose she will come back fed to the teeth! Well, well.
Your pullover is growing, and I am trying to have it done as soon as poss. Then I am going to have a rest from knitting, and will start my appliqué picture which some day you will see hanging above or opposite our bed! I have done the back and a sleeve of the pullover, and have started the front. It certainly is big. It’s like knitting a bed cover my Angel Boy.
Moué has just finished drawing out my picture, and it is going to be lovely. Well, it should be anyway. Ooh, I can just see it hanging on the wall.
Blast, I am missing Jenny to take this to the post. I shall now have to take it myself. Still, you are well worth it, my pet.
We went to see “This Man in Paris” as I said, last night, and we all enjoyed it very much. I think Alistair Simm is wizard.
I must go to see “Goodbye Mr Chips” at the Hipp. this week.
The news is now on. I think John Buchan will die. He has had a relapse today.
The other two have gone to help with tea – so it looks as if I shall have to do extra after tea. I really must go to the post now darling. This letter isn’t very long I’m afraid, but I’ll write again tomorrow.
Goodnight my prescious.
All my love,
Kathleen.
P.S. Dr Huxam is coming – on Tuesday. He is quite a nice lad – very dark and foreign looking with glasses.