HG12/15/31

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

8 and 9 Apr [1940]

From: 1940 To: 1940

Billet last night was in the padre's house in a poor village which had factories and 13,000 inhabitants in 1913, 1,800 inhabitants in 1939, and now less than 600. The houses are built of lath and mud and the past has done terrible damage. Will not be sorry to change billet tomorrow to a ramshackle house where the 'Dew Drop Inn' will be opened again. The will be some batmen billetted above; will rig the 'collapsible cathedral' in the loft after the manner of TOC H and have billet and office on the ground floor next the canteen and the reading and writing room. The French liaison officer is getting 30 chiars and some tables. Has had scores of letters to censor. Returns signed railway voucher and Michael's letter. Replies to various items raised in Cecil's letters. Enjoyed the lovely description of the wedding.

item

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

family correspondence, militia, France, censorship