HG12/15/30

Letter from Henry Hugh Longuet Longuet-Higgins, Headquarters 44th Division BEF, to his wife [Albinia] Cecil Longuet-Higgins [nee Bazeley]

5 and 6 Apr [1940]

From: 1940 To: 1940

Last night received first letters from home. The first opened was the one marked 'urgent.' Has written a testamonial for Fran and hopes to get it to an Army post box today. Is sorry Miss Clout was in such a stew - it would have been better is she had explained the situation the the letter asking for the testamonial. The 'Dew Drop Inn' is very popular and the writer is censoring letters written there. They censored 60 on Tuesday, nearly 200 on Wednesday and there were nearly 300 written yesterday. Makes comments about the things the soldiers write about. Comments about the blossom and flowers coming out. On Wednesday went to get stock for 'our little canteen' from the nearest big towm with a NAAFI shop. Was allowed to open an account and returned with a small packing case of razor blades, chocolate, cigarettes, bootlaces and soap. All was sold out by 6.30 last night. Had lunch while in the town - describes the soup topped with toasted cheese on fried toast and conversation with ATS [Auxiliary Territorial Service] personnel. Saw the area senior chaplain and got an idea of what all are up to at present. Collected a Humber [car] on Tuesday morning. Reference to son Michael's letter - it is splendid his coming out top of his division in maths.

item

Longuet-Higgins, Henry Hugh Longuet,
Bazeley, Albinia Cecil Bazeley,
Longuet-Higgins, Albinia Cecil,
Longuet-Higgins, Michael Selwyn

family correspondence, militia, France, testimonial, censorship, mathematics, Army and Air Force Institutes Navy, chocolate, cigarettes, soup, cheese