Letter from Harry Massey to Barbara Massey

L.C. 2 Monday 1 Sep. Major J.H. Massey 6th Palestinian Cpy The Buffs M.E.F. My own darlingMiracles never cease + your letters of Nov 10th + 18th arrived today. Sea mai of course, + to that digusting address. I cannot help thinking what a difference these letters wouuld have made for me of only they had came in normal time + started coming in as soon as I arrived in Egypt. But all that is past + I still love to have them + there is no need for you to think that you have wasted any time or energy I am not too full of news- + these things are too short for me to get going properly on chat. We begin to move out of these barracks on Wednesday + go South. I have found out that the duties at the new place are very light indeed + so I shall have almost the whole Coy at my disposal for training - so I should be leading a really rough + healthy life for the next 3 months at least. Perhaps during that time things will happen to make the homecoming nearer. There must be some hope. I called on the Hopkins before lunch yesterday. + took the photograph of Lisa's gravestone to show Mrs. she calling herself an artist. She looked at it gravely + then said that it was really very nice + a nice idea. I suppose she became a bit Royal College of Art

conscious + felt she ought to be intelligent + so said she supposed you had made a plaster cast. I pointed out that it was a piece of stone + carved in relief + perhaps you had done it in base relief first. I didn't consider that that remark made any sense at all - + so I did not reply + put the photograph away + feeling rather sorry that I had brought it for her to see. Bogus artists, acting as art teachers, + misleading + boring the rising generation. I really think that I am better than someone like that. But she makes some priceless remarks, which I will tell you about in my letter. I took the two of them out to dinner + the Night Train to Munich last night: 30p but they have been remarkably kind to me + have asled me to come for the week end whenever I want to after leaving here, which should be pleasant sometimeespecially now that we are leaving the sea. Darling, I have been looking round for dried fruits, but really cannot find anything decent at all, such as dates or apricots etc. But I will

try again in the new place. Meanwhile, I am holding three pairs of silk stockings here. Oh dear - I wish your legs would suddenly pop into a pair of them, & you above them. I am missing you so desperately all the. It is 2 years today since Germay invaded Poland - do you remember how tensely we listened to the wireless, to hear the news & if the T.A. Reserve was being called up. I suppose many things have happened that had to happen, & we are so much nearer to the end. Thank God - I still listen to & read the news avidly - & look forward more & ever more to our re union, & think of all we have to do & say & make up to eachother. And I'm always feeling that I shall see Max before he is much older - & shall be in time to put on his naps & help to teach him how to walk & talk. I should have to miss all those things - & I cannot bear to think of missing you for very much longer. All my dearest love to you sweetheart & all my kisses. And a big X for Maxie. Always. Hary.

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Mrs. H. Massey. Carseland. Pillary Hill. Noss Mayo. Nr Plymouth.

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[page turned, written] JH Massey