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Letter No. 61 Sunday. 20. July Major. J. H. Massey 6 Palestinian Coy, The Buffs Middle East Forces
My darling oneIts really a tricky technique letters & these things, when there is so much difference in the timeit takes them to make the journey. I posted a long letter yesterday, & also put in it some things which you will want to know as quickly as possible. I must control myself to keep all urgen matters for these - but I feel so thrilled when I have had a letter or p.c. from you, & I just began a letter at once & put everything into it. I think I will give up Airgraphs as a regular thing, just use one if & when necessary, & as an overflow to these. As I told you in my letter, I had four pcs. from you on Friday, the latest July 1st , it was really wonderful to hear how well you are & of Max's steady progress. How I long to see you both. And I was reassured to know that Noss Mayo is 12 miels from Plymouth. But when you first sent on your new address it just said Plymouth, and not even "near Plymouth" - & I have heard so much about the Plymouth blitz. I wonder how near the sea it is, when you talk of bathing - or whether this refers to the river. I am now quite brown, & 100% all over too, on account of using no bathing shorts - so I have white band round the middle & it is not easy.
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to say just how brown I am. And I told you in my letters, not to bother any more about the trousers - I will manage alright without them. And David Max, darling - I like those names, don't you. It was Ben Amis birthday yesterday - so I went out with him - we went to that place Prosse, where the food is so good & had some marvellous liver bacon & onions. And then we went to see "Wuthering Heights," which we saw before together. It really is a very wonderful film & the acting is so magnificent, sincere. I had a cry & was dying to be able to reach out my hand to hold yours. We must always hold hands when we go to the cinema, darling, & I waned even favour you leaning your head on my bosom & me putting an arm round you. Ben & I then went to a dreadful cabaret place, to meet Arkin , his wife, some friends - where a small whiskey costs 2/6, & a pint bottle of beer 3/6. The friends asked me to go & see them, but I have no intention of doing so. I very much prefer my lonely life - it is such a waste of time & so fully boring to have to go out & talk about nothing in particular. Solomon, my new 2 i/c is, I really
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believe, thank God, going to be alright. He is by no means bright or particularly clever or intelligent, but he has got guts & gets things done, & does think for himself. I tis a great relief to have someone like this, & I pray he will go on being alright, & that I shall not find out that he is making ghastly mistakes. I read in General Orders this week that most things sent to the U. K. are duriable - I am sending off the other 3 pairs of stockings, this week, & I do hope that these, & the last lot get through without having to pay duty. I do think they should allow people to send presents to their wives. I am really feeling fully homesick & miserable for you at the moment darling. I hope to God I am having a bad patch & will cheer up a bit soon. But it would be so heavenly & perfect to be able, now to spend a weeks leave with you. Man in Now Mayo - a lovely & quiet place & no dashing up to London. Just waiting on you & hugging you, kissing you, telling you all day how much I love you. All my love & kisses X For Maxie. Harry.
[Stamped] BY AIR MAIL
AIR MAIL
LETTER CARD
IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED THIS CARD WILL BE SENT BY ORDINARY MAIL
[Stamped]
Mrs. H. Massey Carseland Pillory Hill Noss Mayo Nr Plymouth
[Stamped] PASSED BY CENSOR NO. 2464
GT. BRITAIN.
WHEN FOLDED THE LETTER CARD MUST CONFORM IN SIZE AND SHAPE WITH THE BLUE BORDER WITHIN WHICH THE ADDRESS ONLY MAY BE WRITTEN.