27th Oct 1939

Postmarked COLNE LANCS 7.30pm 27 OCT 1939
addressed to Lieut. R. Helme, A Coy, 1^st 6^th D.W.R., Jaffa Lines, Catterick Camp. Yorks.

Albert House, Colne, Lancs.

28^th October.

My darling Ronnie,

Already it feels like a million years. And I must have said that before, because every time you go away it gets worse and worse. I can only pray and pray for the day when you will never go away from me again.

I hope you had a nice journey, and that the weather cleared for you. It cleared up here until this afternoon when John Daphne and I were on Pinnah. Then it simply poured. In fact it snowed for about ten minutes.

I had two fillings done this morning: one back tooth and the other a canine tooth – up behind though. You see you must be supplied with details. They weren’t so bad, and old Pa Ross was in a good mood, and chatted amiably about the Land Army etc.

Oh dear, I feel now that I don’t want to go a bit. Everything seems to have gone flat now you’ve gone. But I suppose I will enjoy it once I get going. My real fear is that you will be sent off to France soon – while I am there. Do say there is no fear of that.

I am definitely going to Askham Bryan evidentally which doesn’t seem to be any nearer to you than here. I’ll have to count it up properly tonight. Catterick and York never seem to be on the same map even though they’re in the same county! Matron said to Marjory that she did hope I’d be near Ronnie. I’m sure she knows I love you. In fact, I know a lot of people do. We’re going to get engaged soon, aren’t we? What did you reply to Margaret Manning?

I have nearly finished knitting you one mitten. I shall finish it tonight, and seeing I only started yesterday evening I haven’t done so badly.

Oh darling, I do love you, and there’s such an empty feeling inside me when you’re away. I don’t seem to be properly alive. Everywhere I go seems to have some connection with you. Everything I see, music – everything.

It is silly to be quite so pathetic when you are really not so far away. I suppose it’s the feeling of you getting farther away each time that bothers me. I shall be living to see you again. 

Remember me to Geoff. And continue to mother him. See he has his hair cut, his nails trimmed etc. I suppose he will decide finally when he sees my writing, that I sent those letters. I’m afraid I can’t disguise my scrawl. But I never expected to deceive you. I just can’t, can I honey?!

I hope I can write to you as often as I like while you are at Catterick because it does help a lot to write to you and hear from you. I know you are writing me a nice letter tonight – and sending me your T’s. I’ll keep them for you until you return to the Territorials as Major Helme V.C. Then we’ll get married and live happily ever after, with Donald and Michael, and the other wee thing.

All my love dearest boy – and I’m thinking of you all the time. Yours ever, Kathleen.