Northern Ireland

Thurs. July 23, 1942

Letter # 10

 

My darling Jeannette:

            Well my dearest another day gone by and one more nearer the time that we shall be together again. And how I long for that time to come sweetheart. It seems at times that I miss you so much I can’t stand it. Tonight is one of those times, I guess, as I feel blue and very lonesome for you, darling. I wish so to be able to hold you in my arms and to have you close to me, and especially so when I feel a little blue. But we’ll pray that that time comes soon and when it does that we will never be separated again like this.

            I received two very welcome and wonderful letters from you today, darling, # 6 written July 11th and #7 – July 13th. They were both long and interesting. I have read them over and over and especially the little personal parts you wrote. Write me always how you feel, dearest. I know just how you feel and you do how I feel when we get to missing each other and feeling lonesome.

            Well dearest I guess I’ll be back in Corps before long again. I’ve called you to change my address back again to my original one. There no longer is any organization that I have been using with my return address. That organization has been abolished. Now there is a supply branch for North Ireland called NIBS, SOS, ETO, USA. How’s that for a mouth full of the alphabet. It’s worse than the New Deal or the Russians ever were for using letters. It means “Northern Ireland Base Section, Supply of Services, European Theater of Operations, United States Army”. (Let me know if you receive this.) It is the same as the USANIBC (U.S. Army Northern Ireland Base Command) Provisional, about which I write to you before that I was on temporary duty with. That name has been changed to the above mouth full.

            I still am on temporary duty in the NIBS but want you to change my address back to the original unit with which the newspaper, magazines, folks down south, neighbors, etc. (APO305).

            Last night I was over to McDowell’s for dinner again. It was Wednesday night and they ask me over ever Wednesday. They asked Capt Pednean also. And Col. Smith was there too as usual, and Sid Scarborough, a soldier with the English Army. First I’ll tell you about the evening and then about the folks as you asked me to do in you July 11th letter.

            We had a very nice regular dinner last night. Mrs. McDowell had made soup with some of the chicken left from Sunday. Then she has a kettle roast with carrots and potatoes cooked in with it. She had fried onions too (off the record). I brought her a few (also off the record). They haven’t had any onions in over a year and the only 2 or 3 lbs last year. They are very scarce over here. We had tea and for dessert, jello (raspberry) poured over a sponge cake and let harden with the cake inside, loganberries (from the garden) on top. Try it some time using jam and whipped cream, as cream is not sold any more on account of the war.

            After dinner we visited and Capt. Pednean told us about his farm and ranch in Louisiana. It was very interesting and the other folks were especially interested to hear about so much wide open country, open range, etc, etc. I told them to come and see us after the war and that we would show them our part and then all drive down to Louisiana to see Capt. Pednean. I said of course that would be a while afterwards as you and I are planning to take our second honeymoon first as soon as I get back .Wouldn’t it be wonderful dear, to do to Louisiana to see it, and over to Florida and then by boat or plane to Bermuda for a rest and to live over again our honeymoon almost six years ago there. It doesn’t seem that long already. It seems only yesterday that we spent that wonderful two weeks together. Memories are wonderful but the make one sad when I stop and think we are so far apart that we cannot enjoy them together.

            Now, you asked about Mr. McDowell’s. Mr. McDowell works in a real estate office in Belfort as an agent. He is 68 years old. Mrs. McDowell is 62 years old. They were only married a few years ago. She used to be a postal inspector in Scarborough, Yorkshire town (I’ve forgotten where). Sid Scarborough (some name as the city) was a mail truck driver in the post office in Scarborough. That is how they all knew each other. The folks I met at their house are named Nelson. I haven’t been able to go see them yet. McDowell’s address is Mr. & Mrs. McDowell, Wilban, Orphan Rd., Finagly, Belfas, N. Ire. I am enclosing a picture of them, dear. The man on the left is Mr. McDowell. The lady on the right with the white hair is Mrs. McDowell. The one in the middle standing is her sister, Maud, whom I met the first night I was there and who now is back in Scarborough. Those in the background and the lady sitting are relatives in England as this picture was taken in Scarborough about a year ago. They gave it to me to send to you. If you should write them you’ll have to use (30 cents airmail) to civilians.

            Well, darling, I hope this all is of interest to you. How is my sweetheart getting alone and feeling? I hope well. I’m as well as ever, myself, except lonesome for you, dear and hoping and praying that the day will be soon ahead that we will be together again.

            Now about answering the other items in you letter, dear. I’m glad you went to the lake both weekends as you write and as you cabled last week you were going to do. Did you see any of the people who were there the two weeks we were there a few years ago? I’m so glad you are coming along well with you driving. The best of luck to you with it. When we go on our trips after I return, you will have to drive part if the way.

            Dearest, I’m waiting anxiously for the slip-on sweater you knit for me. Of course I wouldn’t give it away if it didn’t fit. But I’m sure it will fit right. I only hope that it arrives safely. I still haven’t received any packages since the candy jars.

            Have you heard from Amelia- how is she? I’m glad you received the handkerchief from Mr. McDowell safely and the concert program and ticket. I sent you under separate cover a souvenir program also of the concert autographed by the conductor and by Col. Smith. The conductor I met afterwards that night and saw him again on July 4th at the sports events. He was a young man- 40 to 45 years old and apparently healthy. A week after we all saw him, he died in England. It was too bad, as he seemed very nice and very intelligent.

            Thank your father for the cigars he sent with sweater and for his letter too. Say hello to every one for me.

            Dearest, I love you so much and I miss you so much too. As I look back, I’m sorry that I was out so many evenings on politics, etc. I’ll have so much to make up for when I return that I’m sure that will never happen again.

            Well my dear, I’ll say food night again and wish I were saying it to you, beside you. Perhaps I’d better just say Cherris until I see you again. With all my love and kisses to my sweetheart.

                                                                        Love,

                                                                                    Carlton

 

P.S. I received mother’s letter of 11 July today and grandma Cook’s of 11th too with pictures am enclosing English 6 pence and South Ireland 6 pence (10 cents).