England

Sunday 25 June [1944]

Dear Helen,

This is Sunday morning, but what makes this unusual is that this is the first quiet and peaceful Sunday I’ve experienced since leaving Camp Forrest. The sky is cloudy and there is the usual English chill in the air, and I am at east beneath the boughs of a large oak. In the distance a church bell rings and overhead the bombers roar by – War and Peace.

Your letter dated the 17th which I received yesterday was just chuck full of all the nice things I like to hear, and so sincere. After reading it, I meditate on what a lucky man am I to have someone like you to come back to – and it is thoughts such as these which ease the mental burden. Unpleasant situations vanish like mist under a warm sun.

There has been a slight interval during which time both a pleasant and unpleasant incident occurred. The unpleasant situation was chow – consisting of a chicken bone with an appendage of skin, watery potatoes, coffee (?) and a mysterious concoction called dessert, the only function of which was to fill the garbage pail. On the pleasant side of the ledger was another letter from you – this one dated the 15th – another proof of the inconsistency of the mails.

The vein, you told of, receiving a letter from me telling how I hadn’t received mail from you for six days – and how badly you felt – and assuring me of your daily letters. Let me hasten to assure you that since then your letters have been coming in regularly and your efforts are appreciated no end, as I have written in a preceding paragraph. No doubt, by now, you’ve received a later note telling (if I remember correctly) that the drought lasted nine days – but don’t let it get you down, it all came in due time. I know that any delay is the fault of the mails – and I want you to feel the same – though, as you can understand, there are times when I must miss a day or two – and also, the time will come when I may not be in a position to write for even a longer period of time. Don’t let it worry you too much – I’ll be alright – just busy.

I’ve slowly been building up some sketches to send on to you – not many and the subject matter is limited – but at least something to keep the series going. I’ll send them in a couple of days and hope you get them before Xmas. While I’m at it I might as well say that I hope I too, will be deposited on your doorstep before then – and we won’t have to spend another New Year’s Eve on an Army bus.

What a wonderful day we could have today – but why tease ourselves. Every day I miss you more – if all this sounds repetitious, forgive me, but it’s true.

Keep well – and don’t overtax yourself with work

Say Hello for me to your folks and your roomies.

All my love,
Ted