Letter from Harry Massey to Barbara Massey

Lieut. J. H. Massey The Cheshire Regt. Draft Serial. R.M.H.C.R G.H.Q 2nd Echelon Q c/o A.P.O 725

Letter. No. 5

Sunday. Nov. 10th

My own darling BarbaraI have posted no. 4 to you on the ship today, but the bags are not being closed until tomorrow evening, & so I will write a little more.

Monday Nov. 11th I'm afraid I did not get very far last night. I thought I felt too fed up & miserable to write, so I just sat & talked until 11 0 clock, then went up to bed on deck - & did not get to sleep until nearly 2.0. There are times when it is nearly impossible to write, & last time night seemed to be one of those times. And then it is better not to try.

You remember darling, we talked about avoiding misunderstandings - I hope we shall also avoid any reason for such things. But this letter will only be a few pages & I suppose, may easily reach you before my last one, no4, which is not posted yet, & which is 41 pages if this did

2. happen & you did not realise what was going on, you might be inclined to be disappointed with me. So you will understand darling, won't you, that letters may arrive out of order. When we reach a destination I suppose there will be some regularity about the mails - both in & out - & you may be certain, sweetheart, that I shall post a letter in every one of them, & If there are any gaps, it will not be my fault. I'm told, though I have no idea whether it is true or not, that there is one mail a week: this does not seem very much & I hope there will be more. Most people seem to think that there will be no air mail at all - but that remains to be seen.

We are just a few days away from the end of the voyage now - & I am praying with all my heart that there will be some letters from you. I am pining to hear all about you, & what you have been & are doing - & I want to hear from you about our love - & I want to hear about the baby. Oh, darling Barbara, I do hope, this is a reality by now. I know you will be so much happier if this is so - & it will make such a tremendous difference to the

3. feelings & outlook of both of us. If it is not to be this time - well dearest darling, that is another reason for being together again as soon as we can possibly manage it.

The heat has been appaling the last few days & it is still the same. I still seem to be able to stand, it very well - but one is just soaked through & dripping most of the day, & especially after black out; when all windows are shut. My body is simply all wet, & my hands & face covered in beads, which I am always wiping away. The necessity for tinkling is almost completely removed - it is amazing for me - I go about once a day.

I have been wondering if you have been buying any new clothes - I hope you have & that they are pretty ones & that you will tell me all about them. I do love to think of you in the things you have worn & the things you are likely to be wearing - & so I want to keep up to date. And did you manage to find some pyjamas - vyella or some such stuff, & with

4. rosebuds & sprigs on. I hope you did, because I'm sure you will be cold in bed without me. And darling, will you ask Peggy or somebody to take photographs of you - snaps I mean - quite often & whenever there are sunny weekends or days when it is possible. And if you think any of them are good, you could have them enlarged a bit. It will be lovely if I can have a new picture of you regularly. And I will certainly try & do the same thing for you. I think I must go, push this in the post bag now. I left my letter until the last moment, the last time - & they had shut the bags a bit early, & I had to have quite a fuss to get mine in at all. It is three days since I finished the other letter, & therefor three days since I told you I loved you - & so sweetheart - I will tell you again that you are the sweetest & most lovely person in the world, & that

5. I love you with all my heart & soul & body all the time & I always will. And that as long as you love me, I am as happy as I can be away from you. This will be very happy, & also very miserable. And darling, when you write next, will you put in a hankie, or a small piece of stuff off something you don't wear any more - & will you put some of your scent on it. I would like that

And so goodbye again - my dearest beloved darling Barbara So much love, kisses, passion

Harry