Letter from Harry Massey to Barbara Massey

Major J H Massey, The Cheshire Regt, Infantry Base Depot, M.E.F.

Tuesday 9 Jul 42

My darling sweet Barbara,

I am just dying to move & am hoping to do so any day. But I think I will just send you another letter, as it will probably reach you before I do.

Thank goodness, the position is now very much better in the Western Desert. quite apart from all the vital implications involving our whole position in the M.E. - I was terrified that it would prevent my coming home, that would have been tragic after all the time of trying, & then final [unclear?], & then to have the cup dashed from our very lips. You must have been watching things with a certain amount of anxiety, too.

I have sent you an A.G. darling, saying that you must make plans for our leave - perhaps you have some good ideas. I hope you have - but I will give you my ideas, & they may help. I really have no idea at all what place to go to - but I have very definite ones about what kind of place & what kind of a holiday I want. I think there is a possibility that I may be given as long as a month - and am quite sure that the minimum will be 14 days. It would be fun to have a few days in London, either at the beginning or the end - probably the beginning, & during that time we could see your ma, & some theatres & cinemas. but for the big part of it, I would like to go to a small place in the country or on the sea. Right away from anybody we know or where anybody we know can even come to see

us. Max must come with us, of course - & so that will mean a hotel, or do you know some rooms anywhere, or a cottage we can take, complete with woman to cook & look after Maxie from time to time. We do not want to go spending all our money of course - but I think we can afford to be a little bit extravagant after all this time, don't you sweetie? I was wondering what about Noss Mayo - but perhaps that is too far away, especially as I may have to report to Chester, eventually, to find out what they are going to do with me. And then I thought of Ye Olde Pheasante at Bassenthwaite, that is a lovely place, but may be bad weather in October, & the beds a bit creasey & hard. Shropshire & Worcestershire, & the Wye valley - they are lovely parts of the country.

Monday- 13th July. And I am still here damn & blast it. I was sent on a job last Tuesday & only got back yesterday. The job consisted of putting other people on ships - mostly German & Italian prisoners - & I found it pretty galling work. Surely my turn will come soon - I am overwhelmingly anxious to get onto a ship & begin the journey. It is pretty unlikely but I am always afraid of a last minute hitch.

But to go on from where I was so rudely broken off - do you know of any places in that part of the country? - or Gloucestershire? I want some place, darling, where we can be very quiet & undisturbed & do exactly what we want & - a quiet talk - & make love & lie together, & get up when we feel like it & go to bed when we feel like it & stay there as long as we want to. Do try & find

3. such a place, darling one, & write to them & make tentative arrangements.

What a wonderful, glorious second honeymoon it is going to be, my sweetheart. Brussels was pretty wonderful, but this is going to be incomparably more so. And it is coming for us so very much sooner than we really & truly expected.

I really have very little heart or inclination to write - & am only hoping that I shall be with you before this letter. I will send another A.G. today or tomorrow - & when I know I am leaving I will cable you & will probably have the opportunity to cable again from Durban or Capetown.

One thing we must avoid at all costs is having any leave broken up in the same way that my embarkation leave was. I suppose that by some means or other we shall have to see my family & Aunt Sarah - or else serious offence will be taken. But everybody else can go hang. I only want to see & be with you & Maxie, & waste no time at all in travelling about in trains. And that is why I want you so much to find a lovely place for us to go to & stay. If you think it, I am quite happy to cut London out of our programme though I expect that that

4. is where we shall meet in the first place, what a moment that will be. Barbara my own - I shall probably just expire on the spot. But you have said before that you will - so perhaps I had better not; I will just gather you into my arms & carry you off.

I gave Toby to the Hopkins before I left, & they were very pleased to have him. I was quite sorry to leave him behind - but it was nothing compared with how I should have felt if my poor Peter had still been alive. Jack & Nina have been so kind to me & I was pleased to be able to give them a nice present. Ben was agreeable - he has not the same feeling for a dog that I have, & I'm afraid Toby would have been rather neglected with him. But I have Ben's cigarette case for you, under another arrangement - I think you will like it.

I will stop now - & carry on, hoping & praying for my ship - if only I could get on it today.

I love you with all my heart & body & soul, darling - & you are the most beautiful & most intelligent woman in the world - so don't argue. All my love & millions of kisses - Harry.

Mrs Barbara Massey c/o Mrs Jenkins 6, Bulstrode Gardens Cambridge

annotated 7 July '42. 120