ENPages
p.
Letter no. 36. Saturday 26 April.
Major J.H. Massey 6 Palestine Coy, The Buffs Middle East Force
Sweetest darling. The socks arrived today, and they are lovely - I really like them very much, especially the tropical khaki ones, which I am proudly wearing now. And love in every stitch, you said - that is marvellous, did you have to unpick much, darling? And the book too, thankyou, sweet. I will certainly read it, and do my best to understand it. I tried Clive Bell's "Civilisation" before, if you remember, and got a bit annoyed with it. Perhaps, after 18 months in the Army, and away from you, I might appreciate it more.
I keep on sending off my weekly ration of these things, in the hope that they arrive quicker than the other Air Mail. But I hope you find them more satisfactory to read than I do to write. It is too much just to send a message, as you do on the p.c.s, and so it just becomes a sort of go between, from my last letter to my next one. I have had 3 letters, via p.c.s, and a parcel from you this week, which is wonderful. It has made me feel much nearer to you, which is disappointingly misleading, when I realise that I am no nearer at all.
I wonder so much how you are darling and just when the baby is going to come. The war in the Balkans and N. Africa is getting hotter and hotter. And I feel, gladly,
[page break] that this will preclude any attempted invasion of Britain. If you are going to go the full time, sweetheart & if these cards are what they are supposed to be, this should come to you very near the time. There is really so little that I can say, my beloved darling! I know you will be frightened, & I know you will be brave, as only a brave & real person like you could be But I feel certain, & know you do too, from what Dr Nighy has said, & is doing for you, because you are very healthy & normal - that everything will be alright. The last time was a dreadful mistake, & you must not think of it. This time you are being properly cared for, and such things do not happen with a good doctor. And I want a girl as passionately as you do but if it is a boy, my darling, it will be a lovely one, & we shall both love him very much, & we shall look foward to the day when we can try again for another girl. You know that I do not mind you being pregnant - you know that very well, don't you darling? I have loved you all the more, before, & I will do again. I shall pray for the cable to come through to me quickly - & my reply to you, quickly. And how I shall long with all
p.
my heart to be with you, oh darling! I must leave you to imagine how much. Please ask your mother, or Joan, to buy you some flowers from me, & please try & imagine that they really are from me, & that all my love & deep & tender affection for you & the baby is with them. God bless you my sweet, lovely darling!
There is nothing new with me. I am very fit & well, & working very hard, & very lonely, & rather unhappy - & I think of you all every day.
Summer is coming in, & it is beginning to warm up in earnest - there are plenty of flies & mosquitos & I am being v. careful & taking all precautions. & you need not worry for one moment about me. I'm well organised, in anti-fly measures & good hygeine [hygiene] & all the rest of it. I have no intention of catching anything I'm writing you a lot, darling, & I hope they all arrive & soon. I will never stop writing as much as I possibly can. Please write me more p.c.s They came in 10 - 20 days. in addition to letters, please. All dearest, deepest love, always. Harry.
