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Cecil Duke Collection
assortment of items and some other names
Page 1 - Photos
Page 2 - Photos from Negatives
Page 3 - Letters 1932 - 1941
Page 4 - Letters 1942 - 1943
Page 5 - Letters 1944
Page 6 - Letters 1945 - 1948 (also
letters with no dates)
Page 7 - Letters 1950s onwards &
Certificates, Invoices etc.
1942
    
  
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1) 8th January 1942 - Postmark Chichester, Sussex to Sub. Lieut. (E.) C.
Duke, R.N.R., 18 Kingsway Park, Cherryvalley, Belfast, N.I. - 47th General
Hospital, Goodwood, Chichester, Sussex 8.1.42 Dear Cecil, I got
your letter this morning & you should by this time have had another letter
from me. I wrote you after Christmas but posted it in the box here so
perhaps it was delayed. They don't seem to empty the box often & I wonder if
letters sometimes fail to reach their destination. I hope you got it anyway
as I wrote you a detailed account of Christmas & the New Year. I have not
danced since New Years Eve, but did meet some of the lads with the silver
wings since & I think they are arranging another. I don't know if we shall
be here as once again it is looking as if we might go. You might be my
escort yet, but I would much prefer seeing you on the same ship. I don't
suppose things like that happen or could it? It is now such a very
long time since I saw you that I wonder now how changed we shall be. I have
not yet any gray hairs if that is the sign of advancing years, & I do think
you will find me changed, I can't define it for you but my outlook generally
is very very different from one year ago. The only thing that is just the
same is my love for my home & friends, I shall always keep that wherever I
go. I got a letter from my brother yesterday & he is evidently waiting
for a convoy. He was quite near a cousin & was able to spend the week-end
with them. I was so glad to know something more definite. I don't know
how much longer we shall be here but I am going to be disappointed if it
won't last over the week-end. My friend is coming to stay for Saturday until
Sunday evening & altho' I'm supposed to report four hourly I shall do my
best. What a difference from this time last year, then it was you, now it is
a very serious Major, but believe me I'd rather still have the Sub. Lieut.,
you see I loved him, which made all the difference, mustn't get sentimental,
it makes me want to cry, isn't included in my plans for the future. I
had some more T.A.B. & T.T. injections on Monday & felt awful afterwards, I
didn't sleep all Monday night & the girl in the bed next to me was just the
same, we both felt very sorry for ourselves, one of the other girls who
share our room (she is Scotch, very kind) got up about 2 a.m. & made us tea.
I have quite recovered now & my arm just feels slightly stiff. Except for
this indisposition I feel very fit & think that my stay at Goodwood House,
much as I dislike being here it has done me good. I have had another
letter from Frazer, & Je?? is in the R.V.H. & had an appendectomy done, she
was in Ward 18 & I feel terribly sorry for her. I have written to Jeff? & I
must write to Frazer again. I spend most of my time writing letters &
I know when I have to work again I shall have to cut it down for want of
time, I shall always find time to write to you however. Even in my very
busiest times I write to you, sometimes twice in the day, I don't promise
that foolish waste of paper again, but I always write. This snap was taken
on Christmas Day night here, I thought you'd like to have it. I have got
others showing more of the House, but felt hesitant about posting them. They
are interesting, perhaps I shall show you them one day. I shall hope
to hear from you soon again & for your exam ? ? the very best of luck, I
hope you will be able to tell me then the result. asks? for c.? celebration.
Mary
2) 22nd January 1942 - Postmark London to Sub. Lieut. C. Duke, R.N.R., 18
Kingsway Park, Cherryvalley, Belfast, N.I. - Queen's Hotel, Victoria Street,
Belfast Wednesday 12 a.m. Cecil Darling, This will be just a
little note to tell you how & where I am. Shall write you a long letter when
settle? in again. My train has been long overdue & I did not arrive at
Euston until 10.30 p.m. I could not go on so have to stay in town for
tonight. I am quite comfortable & will be able to start early in the
morning. I felt so sad leaving home this time & most of all leaving
you. I hope you will get well quickly & be assured that every day & every
minute I love & adore you more? S?
      
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1) 5th February 1942 - Postmark Portsmouth & South Sea to Sub. Lieut. C.
Duke, R.N.R., 18 Kingsway Park, Cherryvalley, Belfast, N.I. - 47th General
Hospital, "Goodwood" Chichester. Thursday. Darling, I got a
letter from you this morning, I think it was written on Monday. That letter
of mine last week must have sounded awful, I am very sorry. I can't explain
why but I was terribly out of sorts, no reason at all, except perhaps my
imagination working at high speed. When one is very idle that is likely to
happen, so hence that awful letter. Thanks for yours, it was so nice &
understanding & your message I received with a thrill of happiness. It's so
nice to know that you love me. I couldn't say a half of what I wanted to
last night, I wish you could visualise when I speak from - it is far down
beside the kitchens, a fairly big room with usually four or five orderlies
there; last night there were five & Cooks all listening & commenting on what
I said. They were making all sorts of suggestions which I don't think you
could hear. They are really very nice lads, & always get me this? is
possible. I think it is much easier for me to call you, so I shall continue
when I can. Yes I would have been here last Sunday night & we rarely go to
bed before 11 pm or 11.30 pm. But don't trouble darling because I do know it
is much easier from this side. I love the night that I am going to talk to
you:- even those few minutes conversation makes me feel so elated & happy. I
do want so much to see you again Cecil Darling. I'm wondering how soon it
will be. Do you want to get back to sea again? I like to think you are at
home and safe. I suppose that is not being patriotic but patriotism goes
when the person one loves is in danger. I have had, so far, quite a
pleasant week, I visited a family in Chichester who are very nice, the
husband is S. Irish & the woman is a Belgian, she is the kindest person I
have met in these parts, she entertains all foreign airmen posted to
Tandragee, she has a Belgian Squadron Leader & a Polish Wing Commander to
see her very often. She treats them as a member of the family & they call
her "Mum" I am to go again she says, not on any special day, but just when I
want to. I enjoyed every minute of the time there & so good to know a woman
like her. You would like her type I know. I did tell you last night, that ?
is now out of bounds for us, except with a permit, I don't really care much
& it does constitute a good excuse for the people I don't want to see.
I shall see that permits are in order when you get to this side. I know I
shall manage that, & I can meet you wherever/whenever you say but arrange it
so that we have the longest possible time together. That is why I
suggest meeting you. I'm afraid Ireland is out of the question for
another two months but I shall, I hope, be going there. That is, if
the 47th do not move further? in the meantime, But just now there are no
signs of moving. Can you read this darling, I am trying to balance it on my
knee by the fire. It is snowing again to-day so feel very content to sit
here. Wish you were here too instead of the female on my left, who is
knitting & Cookie? on my right, who is writing pages & pages, she goes on
leave in another week, lucky thing. The other three who share the room are
away too so we are really very much alone. Yes I heard that song just last
night, strangely enough while I waited for the call, we have a very good
"Bing" at the switchboard. The man singing that song. It is nice & I'm glad
you remembered that week-end, I remember every minute of it, & many other
days, & evenings as well. Darling I loved you then so much & that love is
every bit as strong now. I tried to forget but that can't be done, so know
that this "love disease" is going to last for always. Want to hear
from you soon again, & do forgive these letters, which are "grumpy" I didn't
really mean to be like that because I love you far too much & that is not
the way to show it, is it? Anyway you have All my love. Mary xxxxxx
      
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1) 6th February 1942 - Postmark Chichester, Sussex to Sub. Lieut. C. Duke,
R.N.R., 18 Kingsway Park, Cherryvalley, Belfast - 47th General Hospital, "Goodwood"
Chichester. Friday My Darling, I had two letters from you this
morning. Tell Jim Clarke he is very naughty, he did not post that letter as
soon as possible because they both came together. Of course he wouldn't
think of a very lonely G.? A. who eagerly awaits the mail in the hopes that
there will be a letter from the one person who matters. I'm glad you
got your socks, but darling you must not thank me, that is one of the
greatest pleasures in my life - to be able to do little things for you.
Didn't you know I could knit? My dearest, that is not an accomplishment but
a necessity. Of course I can do these things, I am not really an
extravagant young woman, & anyway I get lots of pleasure knitting & sewing.
You know we have not a single bit of work to do now so I usually spend my
day knitting or sewing so can make things very quickly. I will satisfy your
curiosity - but thought I told you that my brother was at sea, they were
meant for him, he too left, so feel worried if he's get them alright, hence
your luck. I have another pair finished for him & think I'll send them
to his address on this side. I always keep him supplied with pullovers etc.,
now are you satisfied? Now Cecil Darling, you must not ever think that
I drink more than I should, I rarely touch the stuff, & do not like it, you,
I promise, will never see me intoxicated (with liquor) & when you are not
with me to see, need not worry in the slightest degree. How I wish I
had not told you that little story of the R.A.F., I shall not be able to
tell you another of those having learnt my ? lesson. I hear from other
G.A.s who have gone abroad that their trip was one merry party, I suppose I
shall be included in these parties as I usually feel fairly happy but I will
remember what you have said if I am ever tempted. We are having a dance
to-night & I am going, it is a unit dance which means Officers & men. I am
not terribly thrilled about it - confidentially would change it & very
gladly for just a few minutes with that invalid with whom I am so much in
love. Cecil darling, why is it that we should be so far apart: I don't like
on ? any more, it has not been kind this time, I could so easily be in one
of the many homes for G.A.s in N.I. There are at least three in Belfast,
which reminds me that I have to write to the Matron of Stranmillis, I have
to get the answers for her now. I got seven letters this morning, nearly all
from Belfast - wasn't that nice - there were two that I liked best tho'. It
is so very nice to know that you love me dear. Are you quite quite sure, &
not feeling "that way" on the re-bound. Is that the correct expression - but
anyway you know what I mean. I shall not think of that very persistent
young woman - when I do my thoughts are gloomy & I don't want to feel like
that. My letters then are not so nice are they? I'm glad Jim is taking good
care of you & seeing you often. Did he like my photographs? Tell him that I
hope one day we shall meet, perhaps in the far distant future when we all
return to our normal lives again. I feel sorry for him, he would be so much
happier with a nice girl as his wife and all those other things which would
make him really & truly live. However he is a very good friend to you - so
he is in my favour as well. I'm sure you are fed up with your
infirmity dearest - and it does take quite a while to repair I know. However
it will not last for ever & anyway you are not now in danger & at the other
end of a telephone wire which means far more than even you imagine, to me.
Didn't know I ever write things which were not approved of nut will try to
remember & write only on one side of the paper just in case, so for another
day Good bye, remember that I am loving you and thinking of you all the
time. All my Love Mary. P.S. You are the nicest: nicest person I know.
Mary
     
  
 
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1) 8th February? 1942 - Postmark Chichester, Sussex to Sub-Lieut C. Duke,
R.N.R., 18 Kingsway Park, Cherryvalley, Belfast, N.I. - 47th General Hosp.,
"Goodwood" Chichester Sunday My Darling, I have been getting
your letters very frequently for the last week, but dear I am not bored - on
the contrary I want many more - It is the next best thing to seeing you &
anyway this opportunity of writing very often may not last very long, so I
shall take the advantage while I may - you must do the same, so there you
are darling, is that settled? I am sorry that cutting upset you but
anyway I never apply those things personally, after all I am still in
England, I don't want to go elsewhere - now - I want to get nearer to you
not further away, so you see I am not really brave after all. (I am saving
pagan to-day) I was amused at that story of long ago. Never knew that Jack
shed his tears tho' I expect it was in case I should take his older brother
too far away from him. Younger brothers & sisters do a lot of hero
worshipping you know. Do remember me to your Mother, I was always very fond
of her. Yes so for do I remember your motto was "Stay put" , & I must say I
was always very content to stay with you: Cecil darling I wonder & wonder
when I shall see you again, somehow I feel the longer I stay here & in this
unit, the more remote becomes my chance of seeing you for a very long time.
We are now at Goodwood eleven weeks, & I am always afraid that we shall not
stay very much longer. We have not been told anything & there are no signs
yet of moving - but then we never do know until the last two days as we have
all our kit & ready. I really do feel worried sometimes, however I still
keep that forty eight hours & I shall travel "anywhere" to see you, when &
if you get across, I get flickers of highest hopes sometimes - that perhaps
I shall see you again before long - I like these moments, they help to keep
me happy. We had our dance on Friday night, it was very crowded. I
dances all the time so felt very tires indeed. One thing I will tell you - I
refused all drinks except grape fruit - (This woman has got will power you
know) Are you very gratified!! I enjoyed it fairly well - but that was
all: darling I do take very good care of myself, you must be assured of that
- this is an exclusive model now you know & I do not under-estimate the
value if you know what I mean. I am going to visit in Chichester
to-night - hope you will not ring me as I may not be back until 10.30 p.m.
To-morrow we propose going to Brighton to do some shopping, I hear the shops
are nice. I don't suppose that would interest you much but we keenly look
forward to those outings. Did I say to you that we are not allowed to go to
London now - bit of a ? isn't it? We can of course go with a permit,
but can't ask every week for that. We are having very very cold
weather, with occasional snow. I don't forget now to feed the birds - I
think it was you who told mw about that - anyway, I have a real army of all
varieties on the window ledge every day. I have not written any
letters for the last week - except to you - & I shall have to do lots this
morning. I have been so very busy knitting that I couldn't bother to do
other things: I shall have more socks for you before long, they are always
useful, & I shall not always have time to knit so much - so do what I can
now. Have knitted very sweet gloves in the last very days - fair Isle things
with gay colouring that I cannot wear now. They were rather an
experience, so I had not knitted that sort of thing before, they have turned
out alright tho' - so feel very pleased. Our "lodger" Cookie has
arrived & ? her incessant chatter it is nearly impossible to write letters.
She goes on leave this week & is full of good cheer. I envy everybody going
away - what I would give to be free for another nine days. This chat
is too much - I cannot think any more to-day - will write you again
to-morrow. I like to think you are "my own", did you really & truly
mean that because I am "always yours" never doubt that, so for to-day
darling, All Love Mary xxxxxx
2) 27th March 1942 Postmark Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs to Sub. Lieut. Duke, R18
Kingsway Park, Cherryvalley, Belfast, N. Ireland - H.M.S. Daedalus II c/o
G.P.O. London 26-3-42 Dear Cecil, I wonder where this will find
you! still at home or outward bound again - it depends on that foot I
suppose, and you haven't told me which one it is either yet. I am sure you
will be pleased to see the end of those black out nights for a bit - Lovely
spring weather now - hope it is so next month when I am on leave. Am going
home for a week-end? tomorrow too. My brother (Bill) also has a
weekend but can't quite make it to get home so is staying with one of his
new pals, and shall get home the same time as myself later - Yes it would be
rather a coincidence of the two Bills met but how would they know each
other? It is quite possible though as both should be drafted when
their course is up so I'll ask Bill to look out for Billy, if you came to
Lancashire to see your Billy, perhaps I could see you while you are that way
- the snag is if its after my leave, I doubt if I could arrange it. It is
very hard to concentrate on this letter as the girls are chatting away and
laughing in the cabin - we have two that talk in their sleep. They have
broken the glass out of my alarm clock now so will have to be careful as its
the only one to get us up seeing as the bells are not functioning.
What do you think of the new hats for Wrens? They look odd without a sailor
collar underneath. Don't you think so? - will be quite a time before they
are issued here. You don't seem to like the idea of getting back to
sea again, it must be very exciting these days and you are very brave to
stick to it especially down there in the engine room. Have you still twin
engines? Hope you enjoy your next voyage. Hope you can read this scrawl,
sorry there is no particular news. You were right about the address, I
realised after it had gone that the North was included. Bon Voyage, let me
know when you go again. Nora
3) 4th April 1942 - Postmark 11th April 1942 Liverpool to 18 Kingsway Park,
Belfast, N. Ireland - Capt. See re payment of Docs Bill. Dear Sir,
Will you be kind enough & let me have any monies due to me, which I believe
? my credit; on? the books of H.M.S. Mersey? When I left my last ship
, H.M.S. "Pretoria Castle," in order to sit for the 1st Class Ministry of
War Transport Engineers Certificate, I was informed that the balance of my
pay plus the ten days pay allowed during the time off would be transferred
to the books of the Depot? Ship. I met with an accident while home for
the examination, and before I was treated by the Naval Surgeon, I received
attention from a private Doctor whose fees I have paid out of my own pocket,
as well as a fair amount of taxi fares to & from the Hospital, where my foot
was being treated, as I am still on articles?, I am anxious to know if I
must foot the bill for my own treatment. I remain Sir, Your obedient
servant, Cecil Duke - The Director of Navy Accounts inform me that T124X
officers off pay are not entitles to medical expenses for sickness. So
Report I can do nothing about the matter. C. B. Hughes? Paymaster
Commander R.N. Accountant Officer. ? 29th June
 
    
  
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1) 8th August 1942 Postmark ? to Sub. Lieut. C. Duke, R.N.R., 140 Kings
Road, Knock, Belfast, N. Ireland - 7th July 1942 47th General
Hospital, Mhow, Central India Dear Cecil, So very surprised but very
pleased to hear from you. I am very fit and well and had a very pleasant &
interesting trip. The Navy took very good care of us, just as you said.
If you are writing to me would you please use Lloyds Bank, Bombay as an
address, we are moving from here and I am not quite sure what the next will
be yet. I got the first news of home yesterday, it was lovely. Glad
you are well & for your next trip. Good luck & Bon Voyage. Convey to
Miss McLachlan my regards, Yours Very Sincerely, Mary
2) 8th December 1942 - Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E.) C.
Duke, R.N.R., 140 King's Road, Belfast, N. Ireland - Monday 6-30 pm 14
Guilder Road, Heaton, Newcastle 7 My Dearest Darling Cecil, Remember
me?? I am the young lady who picked you up on the Central Station. Well
darling, here I am sitting on the usual settee, with a lovely fire, I have
just arrived back, had a cup of tea & a cigarette & was definately going to
lie down & try & sleep but alas!! sleep won't just come to me, all I can
think of is you dear, so thought I may as well just start & drop you a line.
oh Cecil, what you have done to me I really can't tell you; all I know is -
you are the dearest & sweetest person I have ever met & I will never be able
to forget you, as long as I live. I am just wondering how I am going
to get along without you for the next 3 weeks. I think I had better just
come home & sleep, to make up for lost time, don't you? I really & truly do
thank you dear from the bottom of my heart for being so kind & loving
towards me, & can honestly say Cecil, they have been 3 of the happiest weeks
in my life. I feel very mean darling when I think I might have packed
you some sandwiches or something to eat on the train, but you swept me off
my feet so much, I did not have time to think of anything else but you dear,
& how soon I could be with you again, so please accept my apologies &
neglectfulness. I don't know how you feel Cecil Darling but as the train
steamed out this afternoon I had a horrible lonely, sinking feeling, &
realised someone very dear to me had gone away. The parcel you gave me
pet is marvelous, & I am very anxious to have it made up so that you can see
me wear it. I really can't find words to express my thanks darling, but I am
sure you will understand. You know Cecil some thing within me keeps telling
me I shouldn't really see you any more, & from now on should try & forget
you, but my heart says different, so you really think darling that I should
see you again when you return to Newcastle????? please let me know! I
sincerely hope the journey across was good dear, & that you managed to get
some sleep, & a comfortable berth on the boat. Well my darling Cecil,
thanks a million for all you have done for me, I have appreciated every
single second, so will say goodnight & God Bless you, & hope you have a very
happy & enjoyable leave & will think about me a little. always
thinking of you, yours with Love Kathleen x
3) (no date) to Sub/Lieut. (E) C. A. Duke, R.N.R., ER3409 - Friday 10.30
p.m. My Dearest Darling, I wonder how you are & what you are doing
with yourself? I just can't tell you darling how I am longing to see you or
hear your voice & have just heard you are going to let me down on Sunday.
Cecil my sweet! you surprize me. I thought you would have wanted to see me,
or do I flatter myself, you once said to me dearest, you would do anything
in the world for me, when I ask you to do one little thing - you refuse me!
oh well my gorgeous, I still love adore & worship you, & always will, you
haven't even written to me either & I have asked Margery every day if there
was a letter for me, but alas! Please Cecil, do come on Sunday! oh
Darling, if you only knew what it would mean to me to see you. I am actually
only having this party for your sake alone. Don't think Arthur will ? you or
anything like that. I haven't even mentioned your name to him, he just
thinks it is some of the navy crowd, & says he will be delighted to see any
friends of mine. Believe it or not darling, but I just couldn't kiss Arthur
at first & even now you are in front of me the whole time, & I still love &
worship you dearest, & always will, for ever & ever. Please sweetheart drop
me a line & I pray with all my heart you will come on Sunday. Have you
missed me? I wonder? I have hoped to meet you in town but expect you will be
visiting S Shields. Well dearest, think of me once in a while & please let
me see your darling face on Sunday, All my love, ever yours Kathleen
     
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1) 15th December 1942 - Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E) C.
Duke, R.N.R., 140 King's Road, Knock, Belfast, N. Ireland - Monday 7.30 pm
My Dear Cecil, I was ever so delighted to receive 2 letters from you this
morning, but really got quite a shock when I saw On H.M.S. Ships, as I
thought you must have been recalled, & could not even say "Goodbye" to me,
however I was pleased to read it was only the letter you had posted from the
ships on Friday last, oh you are a darling Cecil & so very thoughtful too. I
do hope you don't mind me writing & that your Aunty won't be thinking
things, but I felt as though I must answer your letters right away and as I
am going to the pictures with Anna & Margery tomorrow night & the Y.M.C.A.
on Wednesday, I thought it would be best to drop you a line tonight, sure
you don't mind? Well darling am sorry to tell you my rash is very bad
indeed. The specialist said, it was called war something eczema brought on
by nervous debility & diet, and really Cecil I feel so worried about it, as
it is definately getting worse & I hardly slept with it at all last night,
of course sleepless nights as you know dear, are nothing to me, except that
these nights are most unpleasant, whereas before, they were most enjoyable.
Margery, I am sorry to say, has had no word from Jock or Jack yet, but I
suppose one must give the dear boy time, shouldn't think he will like to be
rushed. I received 2 invitations this morning dear to 2 parties, one
on Xmas Eve & the only one New Year, but am writing to tell them they won't
have the honour of my presence ha! ha! I also had a letter from Mother & she
is coming next Thursday morning, unfortunately only for two days, & we are
both going to Sunderland on Boxing Day. I went to the tailors with my
tweed darling, & he says he thinks there will be sufficient for a costume
but unfortunately will be unable to make it until 3 weeks after Xmas, worse
luck. I do want to thank you once again Cecil, it was marvelous of
you, you know, dear to give it to me. I have been making myself a new
black hat from some material I had left over from my black dress, & everyone
says how smart it looks, they are probably just kidding me though. I wonder
if you will like it. So pleased to hear you had such a comfortable
journey Cecil, & that you liked the look of Durham, you would quite enjoy a
visit there I know, am afraid I have never been to York so cannot tell you
much about it. Well dear, here's hoping you have a very Happy & Merry
Xmas, with lots of wine, women & song no sorry! - better cut out the women,
I may get jealous, but please remember I will be thinking about you &
wondering what you will be doing. Still in a trance, Lots of Love, Kathleen. P.S. By the way Cecil dear, it is the "Crown" Hotel not the George, & I
really don't know what to say about the party, as I told you in my
last letter, but darling I am longing to see you again. Kathleen - written
on back of the envelope - Mary or May Hill, 22 Alma Street, Falls - Mrs.
Mary Robertson, 37 Ormeau Gardens
1943
 
  
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1) (no date) Cecil My Beloved, I have done nothing else but think
about you this morning dear, I love you so much & you are the sweetest,
gentlest, kindest & the most charming & dearest boy I have ever met, but
where is it all going to end darling?? I get so very worried you know Cecil,
when I think about it all. I do hope you are feeling better
sweetheart, you certainly didn't look very well last night, & am afraid I
didn't improve you, no darling sure I didn't & I hope ye'll excuse my
writing as its such a bad pencil ? a using. Will be sure looking forward to
seeing you tomorrow evening, Yours with all my love, Kathleen xxx
2) (no date) office 1.30 pm Monday Cecil My Dear Darling,
I have had the most miserable depressing & worrying weekend I have ever
spent in all my life, & I was so delighted to receive your 2 PCs this
morning, it was so like you dear to think of sending them & they did cheer
me up, & then the good news has just arrived, so thought you might like to
know & be interested, so that is part of my worry over, thank goodness.
Mother was delighted to see me, but was very poorly indeed, she was quite
disappointed I had not brought you along. I told her all about you, or
nearly anyway, not quite all of course. oh Cecil how I have missed you, & I
have thought about nothing else but you darling all over the weekend. Mother
was quite worried about me, as she said I looked so tired, worried & thin in
the face, in fact I had gone much thinner altogether, & that I had better do
something about it. I left Coventry at 8.45 pm Sunday evening &
did not arrive in Newcastle until 6.45 am this morning only to find I could
not get a taxi until after 8am so waited for the ever coming No. 19 at 7.30
a.m. arriving home weary, worn & sad, so I just took the hot water bottle &
turned in & slept until 11 a.m. when I really thought it was time I should
be getting to the office as arrived here 12 noon complete with - Well you
know what?? Well my darling, I do hope you had a good journey home, &
that you have thought about me once in a while, unfortunately I can not get
you out of my mind at all. I will have you know my dear Cecil, troothfully I
wasn't going to write to you at all, but I should hate to think of you
spoiling your leave by worrying about me, so thought the least I could do
was drop you a line. It was so wonderful on Friday night darling & you
are always so kind, considerate & loving, in fact what one would call an
Angel out of Heaven, yes dear yes you are! Well my Beloved here's
hoping you have a marvelous leave & plenty of wine women & song, no I think
you had better cut out the women, what say you? troothfully pet I don't
think you could, however good luck to you darling. So thinking of you
always, Regards to the Parrot, Cat & Dog, yours very lovingly, Kathleen X
P.S. Mother sends her kind regards & thanks you very much for the parcel
Love K.
   
   
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1) 13th January 1943 - Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E.) C.
Duke, R.N.R., c/o Mrs. Beck, 76 North End Road, London W14 - 14 ? Road, ?
Newcastle 7 Monday Jan 11th 9.30 pm My Darling Cecil, I
have just arrived home after being to the "Queens." I telephoned Anne
this morning & asked if she would go with me, but as she was otherwise
engaged I just went alone, but oh Cecil I felt so lonely I could hardly
concentrate on the picture for thinking about you & what you would be doing.
I came straight home dear after leaving you yesterday morning feeling very
sad, but I did quite a good bit of housework & washing which occupied my
time but unfortunately fell down the back steps on the ice & hurt my back
very much (everything happens to me dear doesn't it?). Margery came
down in the afternoon as she said she wanted to be with me somehow, she left
after tea to put the children to bed & returned about 7.30 pm & stayed until
11 pm. I was wishing she would go darling all the time as I wanted to
be alone & get to bed, however she is a real good pal, so I could not say
anything to her. I am not going with Anne tomorrow evening Cecil, but
am looking after Colin & Marshall, as Margery is going out with Jack, lucky
girl, wish I was seeing you dear. I wonder if you wish the same????? oh
Cecil darling, it has been so wonderful seeing you since you came back from
leave & I feel very lonely without you dear, but oh how I do regret what
happened last Wednesday evening, I didn't really think it could ever happen
to me Cecil & I never thought for one moment dear that you, you of all
people would let me down. I trusted you so implicitly, however Cecil
darling, I know you will do everything in your power to help me, sure you
will!!! I sincerely hope you had a good journey down & got some sleep
& hope you did not snore & wake the whole carriage up, ha! ha! oh Cecil, you
are a darling, who would help but love you my dear, I can't anyway.
Well dear, I am going to retire now, so will say goodnight Cecil darling &
will finish this when I receive your address, so until then, all my love
Kathleen. Have you missed me?? I wonder! Tuesday 8 pm.
Well my darling, here I am up at Margerys, & have just come out of the bath.
oh Cecil I was so thrilled when I saw your letter on the mat on arriving
home it was ever so sweet of you dear to write to me straight away. So
pleased to hear your journey was not too bad, & that you have got fixed up
with digs o.k. Have they any daughters??? I am jealous you know.
I am enclosing the letter Cecil darling from Birmingham, just my luck I am
afraid & have told them just to forward the money back to me as there is
nothing else worth getting. Do you think you could try & get something
for me dearest, please try theres a dear. oh Cecil, being here in
Margerys reminds me of you more than ever, & how I long to feel your arms
around me, saying the sweet things to me that you usually do. Well
darling, I think I will ring off now as Marshall will be in from the choir
very soon. Do take care of yourself & don't work too hard. all
my love Kathleen (kisses)
2) 9th February 1943 Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E) Duke,
R.N.R., H.M.S. Southern Prince, C/o G.P.O. London - Monday 11-15 p.m.
14 Guilder Road Cecil My Darling, I thought you would have come back,
but no such luck!! and I can hear the wind howling outside, the things you
do to me, it makes me wonder why I love you so much, why did you go & leave
me Cecil?? getting tired of me I suppose, well you know you just have to
tell me, I wouldn't keep you against your will, no sure I wouldn't. In
all your hurry darling I forgot to thank you for the lovely evening, don't
think I take all these lovely evenings & outings for granted, because I
don't, I appreciate every one of them, you are so kind to me dear, oh I do
wish you hadn't gone like that Cecil, I feel as miserable as can be, & wish
I could go bring you back. I didn't ask you to go either, so must conclude
you really wanted to go, or you wouldn't have I know, especially on such a
night, oh well such is life. You know Cecil dear, I don't know why but
you did hurt me, when you said Betty had been on board & had tea, I know you
are a free agent & can do as you like, but when I think of anyone else being
in your cabin & you kissing them, well I am afraid I am rather jealous,
foolish of me isn't it, & when she tells you she loves you dear, it makes me
wonder. !!!! Think I will try going out with other people, & see how you
like it, still I don't suppose you would care, & seeing I have no desire to
go out with anyone else, although I have more invitations than you could
ever guess about, I think I had better go back to my normal quiet life
again, & try & settle down & forget you, if that is possible, so better call
Thursday off dear, & then you are quite free to go to Shields or anywhere
you like without me always cross questioning you, sure you don't like it I
know. I will always love you Cecil, & never forget these marvelous
past 3 months, you are such a dear & so very kind & generous, I don't wonder
at all the girls falling for you. I sincerely hope you receive this
before Thursday, perhaps you wouldn't mind giving me a ring to let me know,
if not I will still go to the Eldon at 6 p.m. Thursday as I should simply
hate to drop you ?, your much too decent & nice for that. So Cecil my
sweetheart, I will say Goodbye, & you can let me know when you are going
home & I will let you have your cigs, whisky & Durham? Cathedral, etc.
Hoping you will think of me sometimes, yours, very miserable & lonely
Kathleen x
    
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1) 23rd March 1943 - Sub-Lieut Cecil Duke, R.N.R., 140 Kings Road, Belfast,
N. Ireland - R. Agliotto, Kempton Park, Transvaal, South Africa - My Cecil,
I am well and I trust that you are the same. I am sorry sweetheart that I
haven't written for such a long time but I've been away from home for so
long time, any way my dearest I will write more often now that I'm home
again, I hope that your Aunt is well dearest, give her my fondest regards. I
have received many telegrams and airgraph letters from you on my return home
my Cecil, for which I thank you, and I am replying to each one of them. All
my Love and Kisses to you my dearest darling. Always your loving Rosalie
(kisses)
2) 12th April 1943 Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E) C. A. Duke
R.N.R., co H.M.S. Southern Prince, G.P.O., London - 11.30 p.m. Sunday
My Darling, I have never felt so lonely & miserable in all my life as I do
at this very moment. oh Cecil my dear why did I let you go, well, you know
the reason darling don't you? I am so sorry I persuaded you to go to
Margery's when you did not want to go, but I thought she would naturally ask
us to stay however you live & learn, & I have definitely learned. Yes! sure
I have, when I think of all the good turns I do for her. You are such a
darling Cecil, so sweet, kind & gentle, & I love you so much dear at the
moment I don't know whether I want to laugh or cry. I only wish I had you
here to comfort me. I would be o.k. then. I sincerely hope you are feeling
alright dearest, & that you have caught the train. I am sorry you are always
having to hurry through me fluffing about (like an old hen) I should have
let you go at 10 p.m. when you wanted to but you see dearest I wanted to be
with you so much, & never want to leave you, ever selfish aren't I?????
So my sweet I will say Goodnight & God Bless you. It is going to be an awful
long time till Thursday, but it is always something to look forward to.
Hoping you still love me pet, even although I get you to do things you don't
want to. Will be looking forward to hearing your lovely Irish voice
tomorrow. Yours with all my love & devotion, very lonely ? K.
   
    
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1) 1st June 1943 - Postmark Belfast to Mr. Cecil Duke, 7 Irwin
Avenue, Belfast, Ireland Personal. 140 Kings Road, Knock from
R. Randall, c/o Messrs: Pearn, Pollinger & Higham, Ltd., Literary Agents,
39/40 Bedford Street, Strand, London - Rona Randall Dear Cecil, I
wonder if this ill find you and if you will remember me. It is so very, very
long since I even heard about you, but I still have a letter you wrote me
before I was married - one I have always kept and always shall keep. In the
last line you say, "if ever you want a friend, a true friend, remember you
will always have one in Cecil Duke." That is why I dare to write to you now.
It is something in these days to feel that one might have a friend,
somewhere, to turn to. I expect you are married, and happily married. I do
hope so, and that you will always be as happy. I have just been reading your
last letter to me - not in an attempt to resurrect the past, one can never
do that, but because it was a very lovely letter and has always meant much
to me and comforted me. It was written just when my Father had died, you may
remember. I expect you forget, now, what you said in it, but one passage
reads, "you will be married in a few weeks hence to someone who loves and
adores you and will always be at your side and you will never be alone again
... I know that you are going to be very happy together ..." And a lot
more that has never come true, but which has, I hope, come true for you. I
have often wondered how you are and what has happened to you and should very
much like to hear, circumstances and time permit. When war broke out, I
wondered how it would affect you and whether you would join the Navy, as you
once said you would. As for me, it doesn't matter very much. The past
four and a half years have given me one very great and lovely thing, and one
only - a small son, now three years old, who is the only thing I really live
for. He is adorable and all the world to me. I still write, although
last year I had rather a nasty operation and was ill nearly all winter,
getting very little work done. I have had one novel published and another
coming out shortly - nothing brilliant, but a means of livelihood. I
don't know why I write this to you, because you may not wish to hear from
me, you might even have forgotten me, and perhaps I have no right to do it,
but because you once said, "if ever you want a friend ..." I dare to!
Just to have news of a friend is good and helpful, these days. With kindest
thoughts and all good wishes, Yours very sincerely, Rona Randall
2) 22nd June 1943 - Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E) C. A. Duke R.N.R.,
co H.M.S. Southern Prince, G.P.O., London - Tuesday 9 pm My Dear
Darling, I am writing this as I know I won't be seeing you as by the time
you receive this letter I will be at the wedding & you will be going to
Edinburgh & then on leave, so darling, I want to apologize for last night. I
did not think I was capable of doing a trick like that to anyone, never mind
the person I love with all my heart. I got off at the Haymarket & walked
down but naturally no Cecil so I took the bus down to see if you were on the
9.50 pm train but alas, still no Cecil so I came home & then rang you up,
only to find you weren't on board & although I left a message to ask you to
ring me, I knew you wouldn't, but honestly darling, I am sorry, so please
try & forgive me. I never thought if we were going to part it would be like
this, I do want to end on good terms, always be friends. You know Cecil
darling I know & loved you, but I never thought I loved you as much as I do,
& I have never been so jealous of anyone as I am of you. It is rather
funny Cecil, that whenever we have a quarrel it is always through someone
else, but I was so amazed when you told me about what John had said to you,
surely darling you are old enough to do what you like, & I told you months
ago, it would be better not to see me anymore, as I should hate to hurt you,
but you were quite willing to continue seeing me, however, what is done
can't be undone, but I am honestly & trooly sorry pet & wish I could have
seen you personally to convince you. I have been to the phone 3 times
today to ring you, but were afraid you would not want to speak to me.
oh my darling, I feel as miserable as can be. I went to see "Casablanca"
tonight on the Haymarket, to try & take my thoughts off you, but all through
the picture I kept thinking about where you would be & what you would be
doing & who you would be with. I am so impulsive you know Cecil, so suppose
it is my own fault, but oh darling how I love & adore you, so please
remember dear, no matter what happens, my love will never change, & you will
always be my darling Cecil. I do hope you have a nice time in
Edinburgh, & also a good leave. Please think about me once a while, but
don't think bad of me dear, I couldn't bear it. You don't know just what
your company & love has meant to me darling, & never will I shouldn't think,
but I am honestly say I have had 8 months of heaven. I wish I could have
seen you before you went away, just to know we were still friends & there
was no bad feeling. How I was longing to kiss you last night dearest,
oh Cecil I love you, love you, & love you with every part of me, & I nearly
broke my heart last night, when I couldn't find you. Did you write to
Margaret, no! somehow dear I don't think you would. I wonder if you are out
with Betty tonight?? I am afraid I am just torturing myself, so will
say Cheerio my sweetheart. Please give me a ring sometime, just to say you
have forgiven me, & that you still love me a little. Yours very sad ,
with all my love & admiration Kathleen x
    
      
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1) 28th June 1943 - Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E) C. A. Duke, R.N.R.,
140 Kings Road, Knock, Belfast, Nr. Ireland on back of envelope
John Aitchison Co. Limited, Newcastle -
Cancelled written in red across both pages -
Sunday 3 pm My Dear Cecil, I am so sorry you have refused to speak to
me over the phone by conveniently having a bath, going to the cinema, & by
telling the telephonist that if anyone rang up you had gone ashore. I
don't understand it, Cecil, I hope you will be pleased to know though that
you have made me utterly miserable, & I have cried & cried - cried until I
feel as though I haven't a tear left in me, but for all that I sincerely
hope you have a very good leave, & that you meet someone like me, who
believes every word you tell them, but won't be so foolish as I have been.
Hoping you will send my watch & identity bracelet back to me. Goodbye & good
luck, yours very worried, lonely & broken hearted Kathleen P.S. Thank
you for P.C. from Edinburgh K. P.T.O. I am just going to St. Thomas
Church tonight, so will think about you, & put a word in for you too (you
need it k) Hope the girl friend whom you so graciously gave up your
Saturday afternoon sleep for doesn't give you all your damn way, like
foolish Katie, & have all the worry I have had. Cheerio Beautiful K.
Read this one last dear & burn it quickly, K.
2) 14th July 1943? Postmark Nottingham to Sub. Lieut. (E) C. A. Duke, H.M.S.
Southern Prince c/o G.P.O., London - 50 Wadham Road, Woodthorpe, Nottingham
Tuesday 3.30 pm Cecil My Darling, I am writing this in the bedroom as
the rest of the family are sleeping in preparation for a dance we are going
to have tonight. Well my beautiful, how are you keeping? enjoying
yourself as usual I suppose. I just can't tell you dearest how much I
have missed you, & am just longing to see you again. The weather isn't
exactly behaving itself, in fact it has rained all morning. We did plan
playing tennis this morning, but instead I went to visit a lady who
lives in Notts. whose husband is with Arthur. She was quite thrilled to see
me & wanted me to stay & have lunch. Yesterday we went to town in the
morning, had lunch at the County Hotel & then went to the Palais de dance
tea dance, & believe me darling but there were about 20 girls to every
fellow, however we used what glamour we had & did not do so badly. We came
out had tea, & went to a show & finally ended up with Stan & Lallie at the
local. There is some marvelous countryside around here & how I wish
you were here with me dear, I am quite sure you would enjoy it, & just to
have you here would be enough for me. I wonder if Margery & Marshall were on
board on Sunday. I did think about you so much & wished I had been there
with you. Have you seen Betty or the lady in Grey?? I wonder, & hope
not!! There is a fellow here, one of Stans? District Manager who is
very keen to take me out, but as usual Cecil darling, the answer is No. He
is tall, very good looking, but about 40, & am afraid I rather insulted him
by telling him I did not want people to think I was out with my father.
Have you missed me at all dear?? I hope so although I rather doubt it.
Cecil my pet, I wish I did not love & adore you so much, you are never out
of my thoughts & I keep comparing you with other fellows, & there isn't one
that could even compare with you darling, you are so different & charming, &
I love you with all my heart, believe me dear. Did you go to the Odeon
on Monday night, I thought about you & wondered who you would be taking etc.
You will never guess dear, I set the alarm on for 5.30 am, but forgot to
wind the clock - I slept in until 6.45 a, & the taxi was coming at 7 am, so
you couldn't see me for dust, however I managed to catch the tram O.K.
Well my sweetheart, I can hear signs of life so must say Cheerio. Do
think of me once in a while won't you, beautiful, & remember you are forever
in my thoughts. Ever your own Darling Gorgeous, Kathleen xxx
       
 
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1) 21st July 1943 Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E.) C. A. Duke,
R.N.R., H.M.S. "Southern Prince" c/o G.P.O., London - Wed. My Dear
Darling, Just a line to thank you very much indeed for the lovely evening
you gave Mother/Martha? & I last night. I am afraid dear I will never be
able to show my gratitude & appreciation for all your kindness, your such a
dear you know Cecil, & I can understand why all the girls fall for you in a
big way, but they could not possibly love & adore you as much as I do
darling. I just never want to leave you. I am looking forward to
seeing you tonight Cecil & being kissed by those darling lips of yours, &
feel your arms tightly round me. I have just been ringing up the solicitor &
have made an appointment for Friday 12-30 p.m. Well darling here's
hoping you still love me & am looking forward to seeing me as much as I am
you. Hope you enjoy yourself today. All my love dearest Kay
2) 14th July 1943 Postmark Radcliffe-on-Trent to Sub. Lieut. (E) C. A. Duke
R.N.R., co H.M.S. Southern Prince, G.P.O., London - "Goldings" John's Road,
Radcliffe-on-Trent, Notts. 14th July 1943 My dear Cecil, How
very lovely to hear from you - you do not know how glad I was. Your letter
was forwarded to Simo .. ham?, in Somerset, where I was staying, and it
would appear that they kept it a long time there, for it only arrived here
last Friday July 9th & I see your letter is dated 11.6.43. What makes
me very happy is that you promise to write again at the first available
opportunity. I do hope that will be soon, although I know I have no right to
hope that you will write again. But I have wondered, so often, how and where
you were, that actually to see your writing again is wonderful. I am sure
you will realise that only very real unhappiness drove me to write to you,
but always when things have been bad I wanted to turn to you, but felt I
could not, dare not - that, perhaps, you would not want to hear from me,
might even have forgotten me. I shouldn't have blamed you! But your
last letter to me, before I was married, & which I did not trust myself to
answer, I have always kept - and read so often that I almost know it by
heart. I still treasure, too, one or two things you gave me - a dressing
gown now very old and worn; a shabby pair of tiny? blue mules, too old to
wear, now, but which I cannot part with; you bought them for me in London,
remember, one lovely week when you were on leave & we spent every evening
together. I still use daily a small powder case you sent me from Ireland,
with a shamrock leaf on the lid - it is rather dilapidated now, I fear, but
I want no other, and I treasure my elephant book-ends. You are very
kind to say that if I want your help, I must ask for it - but actually
no-one can help me, as you say, life must go on & one must just endure what
one has to endure. The greatest "help" you can give me is just to let me
have news of you, sometimes - I cannot tell you what that alone means to me.
If I began to tell you my "troubles" it might sound as if I were whining,
and I don't want to do that. If one makes mistakes, it is no use moaning if
one suffers for them. Let me hear from you, that is all I ask - all about
yourself & what you are doing, and reading, and so forth, I shall think life
very generous to me to allow me that much. I should dearly like to meet you
again. I am presently in London - was up in February, March, and again June
of this year & one day last week also, on business, if you are ever going
there & know in advance, would it be possible to let me know & then perhaps
I could arrange to come up, if only for a day, & have a cup of tea with you?
I wouldn't keep you long, if you were otherwise engaged, it would be so
lovely just to talk to you & far easier than putting things into a letter.
Besides there are certain things one cannot put into a letter. I don't
deserve your friendship - no-one knows that better than I - but believe me,
I have suffered and shall always suffer for my blindness & weakness in
letting family influence drive me into something I knew to be wrong. And
yet, I had no choice. You may not believe that, of course, but if ever I had
a daughter I would not plan her life for her, nor bring her up to false
standards, not coerce her in any way. 1938 was a tragic year in many ways
for me & if my father had not died and left my mother almost penniless - and
alas, many debts we could not meet - my life might have been very different.
Not that I am making excuses for myself. There are no excuses for me, that
is why I feel I do not deserve your friendship and if you change your mind
about giving it to me, I shall understand & know it is what I deserve. I
live very quietly here in Nottingham - alone, mostly, with my little boy, it
is my life; my entire life is centred about him, now. After he is in bed at
six o'clock, I cannot, of course, go out & leave him alone on the house, so
I have no company but my own. At weekends I am sometimes not alone, but I
prefer it when I am. I can always read & write & listen to the wireless. I
have practically no friends here. For one thing, I do not go out much to
meet people & the residents of this village spend their evenings in the
local pub - not that I hold that against them in any way, but I have never
been the type to go pub-crawling, especially on my own!!! I have been left
like this, more or less to my own devices, (as far as housekeeping) &
motherhood will permit "ones own devices!) for over two years. I know that
many people, many women, have been left alone through this way, but it is
not the way which is responsible for it in my case, The was has hardly
touched me. I have all my mother ever wanted me to have - a good home - but
I would exchange that willingly, for a cottage or tiny house of my own &
just enough to live on & bring up my child. I have changed greatly,
Cecil - not so much in looks, although, of course, I am older, but in my
sense of values, my realization of what is important in life & what isn't &
what makes for happiness & what doesn't. I've had to learn in a hard school.
Forgive me - all this about myself! I am ashamed. Really, all I want to hear
about is you & I hope & pray it will be soon that I shall. I was sorry to
hear about your broken engagement - I hate to think of you being hurt or
suffering at all - but perhaps, after all, it was for the best. There is
nothing more terrible on this earth, I am sure, than an unhappy marriage.
There is no escape or recovery from that. All the same, I just cannot
understand any woman who had the happiness of being engaged to you,
relinquishing that happiness. I must apologise for my dreadful writing - if
you had to write for your living, yours would be dreadful, too! Also,
please forgive this paper - it is typing paper, really. I have no notepaper
& have to go 6½ miles, into Nottingham, to get some! I am writing this to
you from my home address. Your can either write me here or, if you prefer,
c/o my agents whose address you have. Wherever I am, a letter to them will
always find me. With kindest thoughts, Rona P.S. On second thoughts,
if you write me here direct, I shall not have to wait so long!!!
    
 
 
 
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1) 17th August 1943 - "Goldings" John's Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Notts.
My dear Cecil, I am so very, very sorry to learn your news - I wish I had
known you were in hospital; I would have written again, & let you know I was
thinking of you, but, as it was, I thought I had received no reply to my
letter because you were either too busy, & had perhaps, already tired of
writing to me, & I was therefore, afraid of pestering you - I have grown so
sensitive to ridicule these past years that I do not willingly expose myself
to it. As it was, I see how very wrong my assumptions were & I do
apologise if these acknowledgments hurt you. I know I do not deserve
your friendship & because of this it is all the more valued by me and, for
the same reason, I would never wish to force myself upon you. But may
I send you this book - it is one of Charles Morgan's & considered by many to
be his best. I think it really beautiful - The ? & the ideas expressed
in it, the ideals, too reflect much of what I believe & crave myself. I
believe, you see, that a man & a woman can, through love, attain such a
Unity of body & mind & spirit that for all time they become one being - but
such a unity is rare, so rare that very, very few people find it (perhaps
because they are not really interested in finding it, perhaps don't even
comprehend that such perfection can be attained, but are content with second
best, or mere physical attraction.) I myself have never found it & do
not expect now that I ever will. Oh dear, this wasn't meant to be a
lecture on philosophy! and a very poorly expressed one at that.
Anyway, here is "The Fountain" & I hope it will mean to you what it means to
me - something more than a mere novel, to be read & put aside, forgotten,
but something to keep, always, as a symbol, perhaps, of the beauty in life.
I wanted to get you "Sparkenbroke" first, but could not get it, I will try
again later. It is so hard to get books these days, with the paper shortage
so acute. The difficulty is with birthdays, as I well know. I am
hoping very much to get away from this part of the world in the near future.
If I can acquire a cottage I have heard of, in Sussex at a little village
called Sidlesham, near Selsey (you may remember I used to tell you about
Selsey, & wanted to take you there. At least, I don't know if I ever told
you that I wanted to take you there, but I did!) This cottage is to be
sold by auction on August 25th, and I don't know if I shall be able to get
it - property fetches such big prices now, & I should have to buy it on a
mortgage anyway, which might be difficult as I haven't much money to put
down for a deposit (has anyone these days?!) It is a very small
cottage, but has some lovely old oak beams, an open inglenook fireplace, & a
wild, completely neglected garden & a small, even more neglected orchard.
I have never aspired to a big, "swanky" house - should hate it, I think -
but I do love old places, that cottage is old, partly thatched, but the
essentials in the way of electricity & sanitation have been added. The
house I am living in now is essentially modern, with horrible light oak
furniture in the dining room, & an essentially modern bedroom suite, both of
which I want to sell. In fact, I sold the bedroom suite only just last
week, an achievement I have hankered after for 4½ years! I have made
the most of the sitting room, by having lovely chintz covers made for the
settee & chairs, & plenty of books. I also have a lovely old oak chest
& an equally old gate leg table & some bits of copper & pewter, all of which
would be ideal in the cottage - if I get it!! U happen to have a
weakness for old maps - do you like them? - I have two particularly nice
coloured ones, dated 1675, which I have framed. They look lovely on a
wall & go well with old furniture. Sidlesham is about 4½ miles from
Chichester - another old cathedral town, like you, I like these old places.
York I have visited but not Durham. Fancy you remembering that awful
experience I had in Newcastle! Many, many years ago, now. Have
you ever visited Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick? I think you would like
both these places - they are particularly lovely, bits of old England which
make you forget all the ugly modernised, industrial places. I always think
it would be nice to do a tour of the old cathedral towns of England - they
have an atmosphere all their own. Have you been to Bath? The
Abbey here is very small but rather lovely, but I believe it has been hit in
the raids. Wells is lovely, too. I did not dream this letter
would be so long, nor such a rambling essay. I hope it hasn't bored
you. I do wish I could get to the hospital to see you, but, alas,
cannot manage to. As it is, I must just send my good wishes for a
speedy recovery. You must have suffered a lot of pain - awful for you.
I expect you will be feeling restless, ? & anxious to be out & about again.
I had a dose of hospital life last October - acute appendix with
complications - & don't relish the surgeons knife again. Nevertheless
one certainly benefits by having these things attended to. Cheerio for
now & do forgive this awful hand-writing. It is hard to maintain a
decent scribe when one writes for a living! All the best - & looking
forward very much to hearing from you again, very sincerely Rona P.S.
How long will you be in hospital and where should I address any future
letters to?
2) 18th August 1943 - Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E.) C.
Duke, R.N.R., Royal Naval Hospital, Cullercoats, Whitley Bay - Wed. 1.30
p.m. My Dear Darling, I am writing this in the P.O. & as my pencil hasn't
very much point I hope you will be able to understand it. It was so lovely
seeing you last night dear but I dare not look at you as I went out, else I
think I would have burst into tears. I felt so sad & miserable as I always
do when having to leave you pet. I love you & adore you so much Cecil & you
are always so sweet & kind to me. I called at Margerys last night & she gave
me a lovely supper of mushrooms & tomatoes. Now dear don't worry about me
going out tonight, I won't do anything I shouldn't! I love you too much &
you will be forever in my thoughts. Hoping you are feeling better Cecil &
that you can still hobble on those old crutches. Will be down tomorrow if at
all possible, all my love, Chin up Kathleen
3) 20th August 1943 - Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E.) C.
Duke, R.N.R., Royal Naval Hospital, Cullercoats, Whitley Bay - Friday 1.30
p.m. My Dear Beautiful Darling, I wonder how you are today & if you
have thought about me at all? you looked so marvelous last night dearest & I
loved you more than ever. I do wish you were out of there Cecil, but won't
we have some fun when you do get out. I managed to get the 8.55 train last
night to Benton & then had supper at Margerys. I sincerely hope you
are well enough to go to the dance dearest, if you are not going I don't
think I will bother to go either, as I know I won't enjoy myself without
you. I feel quite sad after what you told me last night dear, as I don't
know how I am going to live without you. Thank you so much for cigarettes &
chocolate darling. I did enjoy them very much, you are so very very kind
Cecil, such a darling. Hoping to see you about 2 p.m. DV all my love
Kathleen x
4) 24th August 1943 - Goldings, Radcliffe-on-Trent - My dear Cecil, This
must be a very short note, as I am anxious to get this parcel off - such as
it is! The cakes are very "war-time" quality, so please don't think I
have been stingy with sugar, fruit, and jam!! I thought that a few "eats"
might help out the hospital food - which is, perhaps, good - or bad. I
don't know. I hope, good. (Incidentally, do please excuse this typing,
but my pen seems to have disappeared and I can't spare the time to hunt for
it!) I will write you a longer letter soon, probably on Thursday, as I
have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow. I have no idea how this food
will travel - whether the cakes and pastry will deteriorate, or not, I do so
hope they keep well - nothing so disappointing as taking a bite out of a
stale cake or a soggy jam tart! However, they are all home made, even
to the jam - and the tomatoes I grew myself in the garden. Must
hasten, now - I do hope you get well speedily, and, meanwhile, send my
kindest thoughts. I will answer your very nice letter at the first
opportunity, All the best Rona P.T.O. if the cakes, etc., aren't so
good & you really don't care for them, please don't feel you must struggle
to eat them - pass them on to someone else - I believe nurse always
complains about lack of food!!
 
  
 
 
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1) 25th August 1943 - Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E.) C. A.
Duke, R.N.R., Royal Naval Hospital, Cullercoats, Whitley Bay - Tuesday
11 a.m. My Darling Beloved Cecil, Your very sweet letter was awaiting
me when I arrived home tonight & I have just been examing the contents of
the parcel you so kindly gave me. Cecil my Darling why are you so good &
kind to me. I have just had a piece of cake for my supper & it is marvelous.
I don't deserve all your goodness dear I am sure, especially when you have
so many lovely girls falling at your feet. I don't know why you even bother
with me pet, you should have kept the cake sweets & cigarettes for yourself
dearest, you need them more than I do, but thanks a million times all the
same. M. & John were waiting for me on the platform & we got the 9.23 train
to Benton? I feel very lonely & sad after leaving you tonight & more so
seeing John & Margery together, oh my darling I love you & want you so much.
I just wanted to take you in my arms tonight & make violent love to you. I
do wish the Dr. hadn't been there, I was so disappointed when I found you
weren't alone tonight. M. asked me if I could mind the children tomorrow
night & Friday, so I said I would tomorrow but couldn't on Friday, after all
she just leaves them by themselves when it suits her. I am getting very hard
aren't I dear??? Well sweetheart I can't tell you how much I am going to
miss you on Thursday & I wish with all my heart you had been coming, even if
it was just to sit out with you all night. So will say goodnight now dearest
& I am going to bed to dream of the sweetest, dearest & most loving person
in all the world. Ever your own darling sweetheart Kathleen x
2) 27th August 1943 Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E) C. A.
Duke, Royal Naval Hospital, Cullercoats, Whitley Bay - Friday 8-15 a.m.
My Dear Darling Beloved Cecil, Thanks a million for the lovely letter
received last night. Oh darling I did miss you so much although I quite
enjoyed the dance. Everyone was asking kindly after you pet including Mr. &
Mrs. Wilson. I had quite a long chat with them & they both wish to be
remembered to you, & Mr. Wilson is very sorry he hasn't been able to go down
& see you. I am so sorry you did not get my letter this morning but
could not find the sailor, & I looked all over for the nurse again, but
could not find them at all. I was wondering if they had left early as they
did not appear to be enjoying themselves at all. Margery & I managed to get
a taxi home as it was raining when we came out. Margery did not enjoy
herself, I think John & her had had a few words. I am looking forward to
seeing you tonight sweetheart, I sincerely hope you will be able to come for
a short walk tomorrow. oh Cecil darling, I love you & love you, love you so
very much, I don't know how I am going to live without you. Take care
of yourself dearest & get well soon, because I am just living for you coming
out. It was a surprize hearing your sweet voice yesterday, I could hardly
believe my ears, & it was so like you to think of me, the first opportunity
you had. I am longing to see you tonight. Ever your own darling
Kathleen
3) 30th August 1943 - Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E.) C. A.
Duke, R.N.R., Royal Naval Hospital, Cullercoats, Whitley Bay - Monday 1-30
p.m. My Dearest Darling, I feel thoroughly miserable & fed up today & I have
a terrible cold too. Two of our staff have not turned in this morning & one
of the part time people just rang up before I left to say she had so much
work to do at home, she would not be in until late, they really are the
limit, so I think I may as well definately take Wed afternoon off. I was so
sorry about yesterday afternoon darling but I thought you must be tired of
seeing me so much ? was why you told me not to come until evening. Oh Cecil
dearest, I love you so much & am longing to be with you alone, but guess I
will just have to be patient. Thanks alot for the choc. dear, I ate it while
waiting for the train, also the cigs enclosed with your pyjamas, hope you
dont mind darling but I wore them last night & I washed them this morning
before leaving. Hoping to hear from you soon, all my love Ka???
4) 2nd September 1943 - Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E.) C. A.
Duke, Royal Naval Hospital, Cullercoats, Whitley Bay - Thursday My
Dear Beautiful Darling, I sincerely hope you caught the train last night, I
never thought about it darling but I might have set the poor invalid to the
station, but hope you managed o.k. oh my beloved it was so marvelous
last night, & just heaven having you all to myself once again, you are such
a darling Cecil & I love you more & more every time I see you, & you are
such a dear being so gentle with me, especially getting worked up to such a
state as we get to pet, but I do adore you for it, & you know what I mean.
I don't think I will come down tonight dearest, but do hope you ring me this
afternoon & let me know you arrived back o.k. I got the snaps this
lunch time & they are really very good pet, but only one of you dear.
Well sweetheart I hope you don't feel any bad effects after yesterday, & I
am longing to see you again. Hope we can have the weekend together. Ever in
my thoughts, always yours Ka? x
  
 
  
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1) 2nd September 1943 - Postmark Belfast to Sub-Lieut (E) C. Duke, R.N.R.,
(H.M.S. Southern Prince), R.N. Hospital, Cullercoats, Whitley Bay,
Northumberland - 79 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast Wednesday 1-9-43
My Own Darling, Just a little note Cecil Dearest to bring you all my love
and hoping that you will soon be coming on leave. I have been missing
you such a lot Sweetheart and every day, in fact, all day long you have been
in my thoughts; things are not the same when you are away, life is so empty
and so very lonely Darling without you. There was another 'row' this
week, but I was out at the time; oh! it is all so hateful Cecil, the things
that have been said are horrible and the tension enough to make me ill.
I hate it all Darling so much that I hope I shall never have to come through
anything like this again. I do not like writing about these things but
Dearest I suppose you will hear about it anyway, I only wish you were here
to comfort me. We saw the "Warsaw Concerto" film recently, the music
was so lovely and yet so sad, I think you told me you had seem it. I
suppose you got the two 'Digests' W.J.B. is helping is while Mr. F. is ill
and brought them specially for me, he has promised some more, when the lady,
who gets them from her brother in America, is finished with them. I was
going to send you some sweets, but our stocks have not arrived yet and you
got the last we had, but maybe they will come this week. Well my
Dearest, Goodnight and God bless you, All my Love Always, Sheila kisses)
Auntie hopes you will soon be better Cecil and wishes you all the best of
luck.
2) 6th September 1943 Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub Lieut. (E) C. A.
Duke, Royal Naval Hospital, Cullercoats, Whitley Bay - Monday 5.30 p.m.
My Beautiful Darling, I am so sorry I was so nasty on the phone with you but
really dear I feel so thoroughly fed up & depressed, I could scream. I
am weary worn & sad, & thought a few days holiday might pull me together, &
then I get disappointed. Don't for one moment think I am blaming you pet. I
know & understand it isn't your fault darling, but everything just seems to
have come this afternoon, however suppose I will get over it, the same as
everything else. Yes! I know; "It won't be long now" they will take me away
one of these days. Emer? Lallie & Stan are coming on Saturday, & I wont be
able to see much of you next week, but you can always get around & find some
cheerful company for a change. I do love & adore you so much darling & all I
want is to with you ALWAYS. Cheerio for now, yours with only love &
adoration. Kathleen xxxx
3) 13th September 1943 - Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut. (E) C. A.
Duke, R.N.R., E.R. 3409 c/o Wallsend Slipway, Wallsend, Newcastle-on-Tyne -
Monday 8.30 a.m. My Dearly Beloved, Have just received your letter &
would like to thank you very much indeed, for enclosed, you are so kind &
sweet to me dear, but there was no need for you to send it at all. So
sorry you missed the tram/train on Saturday darling, especially with your
bad legs & raining too, but you were a bit late in leaving if I remember
rightly. Hope John gave you my love yesterday, he told Margery he
might invite you up on Sunday afternoon, but neither John or my darling
arrived, & I was very disappointed. My guests arrived last night about
6.30 p.m. & were ready for their dinner which they thoroughly enjoyed. We
went to the Bradling/Brandling Hotel last night at Gosforth? but I
couldn't get you out of my mind at all dear, & wish you had been with me.
I must hear your darling voice today so will ring you at 4.45 pm as I told
John to tell you, at least I should, I asked Margery to tell John. Did
you miss me last night darling? I wonder. My guests are still in bed,
so they did not see your letter pet & no questions asked. I have just
had a letter from Mother & she sent the snaps to me last Tuesday, but have
never received them, so it looks as though they have gone astray. Well
dearest, I will have to be off to the office so will say Cheerio for now.
Yours with all my love Kathleen. Thank you once again dearest for the
PCs K.
    
     
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1) 21st October 1943 Postmark Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sub. Lieut, (E) C. A.
Duke, R.N.R., 140 Kings Road, Knock, Belfast, Northern Ireland - 14 Guelder
Tuesday 9.30 p.m. 19th October - My Own Dearest Darling, Thank you
ever so much for telegram received this afternoon, also Birthday card I have
found waiting for me. This morning when the post came & nothing from my
dearest darling, I thought you must have forgotten all about me, but I might
have known that my Cecil would never fail me. I received 8 cards altogether
including one from dear John & Margery, & another wire from Mother. I
expect you will be surprized to hear darling I went to the Oxford to-night
at 7 p.m. & came out at 8.30 p.m. I met several people I know, but was
simply bored to tears & as miserable as could be. Oh my darling I miss you
so much, & long for you to be back again, it is very selfish of me I know,
especially when you have only been away just 22 hours. I conclude you must
have caught the train O.K. darling, & hope you had a good journey across.
I did appreciate the thought of you wanting to stay & have lunch with me
today dearest, you are such a darling Cecil, & so thoughtful & kind too, no
wonder I love & adore you with all my heart. I have thought such a lot
today dear about Arthur coming home, & what will happen, you see Beautiful,
I just couldn't bear the thought of you being hurt or feeling slighted in
any way, it is going to be so hard for both of us & it is worrying me quite
a lot now but (not that that is any change says Cecil to himself) I think I
must have been born worrying darling, but really sweetheart, if you think
you would feel better by not seeing me any more & getting over it now I
would be quite willing pet, as much as I am longing % craving to see you
after only a day has passed, but I love you so much. I never never want to
hurt you darling especially after you have been let down so many times, so
please think it over my dear very thoroughly. Well dearest do have a good
holiday, & don't take more than one girl out a night now will you???!!! &
remember darling, I will be thinking about you all this week & loving you
with every part of me. Hope Percy enjoyed my orange, & that you gave him my
love too. I expect your Auntie would be thrilled to see you, who wouldn't
having such a charming nephew. Well Cecil I am just going up to see how the
Henry couple are so will say Goodnight & God Bless you. Ever your own
darling Kathleen xx P.S. Cecil my Sweetheart, If only you were here to
talk to, I feel so miserable, I am enclosing Arthur's letter I received this
morning. I know you don't like to read them pet, but try & understand how I
feel. I want you dear so very very much but how can I leave Arthur
when he has so much faith in me, & loves me so much. Cecil my beloved what
am I going to do??? sometimes you know dearest I wish I had never met you,
but then again you have made me so very happy, & my love now can never
change, I am sure I love you so deeply & sincerely, loving you with all my
heart, yours always Kay
2) 9th November 1943 - Postmark Belfast to Sub-Lieut. (E) C. Duke, R.N.,
H.M.S. Southern Prince, c/o G.P.O., London - 79 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast
Monday night 8.11.43 My Own Darling, Your welcome letter received this
morning Dearest and just as I thought was lying there since Saturday, too
bad. The parcels are taking much longer now to reach you, I hope the one I
am sending in the morning will be quicker. I, too, wish every night that we
could have our walks, I miss them Darling, and you, more than words can
tell. I have grieved about the way your leave was spoiled Dearest and the
more I think about it the more enraged I am. It is your happiness that
counts before anything else my Darling, but there is one thing you can be
perfectly sure of, your aunt will never change her attitude towards you. It
will always be the same whenever you come home, and married or not, you will
never have any peace from her here. And another thing my Darling your wife
would be a poor one who could not stand up with you against her. Why should
we be afraid to 'catch it', as you call it? when we have done nothing to be
ashamed of, we have to stand on our own feet in this world and fight for
what we want, and when we are fighting for our rights and our share of
happiness, there is no sin in that. It is no good wasting our lives, waiting
and hoping that things will fall into the shape that we want, we have to
help to mould our lives and build them up, day by day; our jobs, our homes
and our happiness, one person alone in this world is a poor thing, but two
can share a burden and make it so much lighter. I grieve my Darling
that she should be like this towards you, you who deserve to be so happy,
and now when these days are so uncertain, it is not fair, just not playing
the game. Yet truly Dearest there must be a way out, a way to peace and
happiness, not just escape from the hardships of the world, for we must
always face those, but a little place - however small - that we can call
home, where we can be ourselves and be happy to our hearts content. Next
leave will be the very same Dearest, how else could it be different and yet
I want you to come home, I want to be happy with you but I cannot bear to
see you treated so. It will be Christmas time I suppose, the season of
happiness and good cheer and to have you here then, with both of us
miserable, what will it be like? Even if you were not staying in the same
house, and it would be worse if you were somewhere else, we would never see
each other, for then she would make it harder for you than it is now.
We must face it sooner or later Darling and how I hate writing it but what
else is there I can say, you would be happier not coming home next time.
Don't think about me Dearest, as long as I knew you were having a rest and
being happy I would try not to complain. The days would be long without you,
but my heart would break anyway, having you here and not being with you, and
then on the other hand, knowing that you were on leave and not seeing you at
all, not even for a little time, would be as bad. At least you would not be
'on edge' all the time Dearest, but what else can we do anyway? My
Dearest how much I look forward to your letters each week, but they are
poor, poor substitutes for being with you, the only help I have is in
writing to you and this I could do every spare minute that I have. All
day long you are in my thoughts, precious ones just alone for you and I, but
they are all spoilt when I think of you being unhappy. Away from home
is bad enough, but when it is not home that you come back to, not a real
one, how much more my heart feels for you. My Dearest you do deserve all
these things that can be so dear to us, more than anyone else, and always I
pray that soon, very soon you will be happier than you have ever been
before. God bless you my Precious always. All my Love, Sheila (kisses)
    
    
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1) 15th November 1943 - Postmark ?-on-Trent to Sub. Lieut. (E) C. Duke,
R.N.R., H.M.S. "Southern Prince," c/o G.P.O., London - "Goldings" John's
Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Notts. 15th November 1943 My dear
Cecil, I really do not know how to write this letter, except to tell you the
truth. My husband came this weekend & found two snapshots of you in my
note case. The recent one you sent me and one I have had for many years. He
asked me who they were of & I told him - also that I had written to you of
my own free will, because I wanted to. At one time, Cecil, I could have got
a legal separation comparatively easily, but hated the thought of legal
unpleasantness & the effect it might have, later, upon Paul. So my personal
life has been as I have told you, & such a life was endurable for a while,
because it was peaceful, & I was interested in no other men, even when some
paid a lot of attention to me, but now I am afraid that the ? may be
distorted & that he might try to take Paul from me & hurt you also, I don't
think I could bear that. I do wish I could see you, because facts
stated in a letter can be so easily misinterpreted, but I do want you to
know, from the bottom of my heart, that never for one moment did I
contemplate involving you in any unpleasantness & shall do my utmost, even
now, to avert it. I did not feel, when I wrote to you, that I was doing
anything wrong, but was only conscious - as I had been conscious many, many
times since I married - of my need to hear of? you. But now I feel it was
indeed wrong of me, if it should mean that you might be embarrassed though
corresponding with a married woman who has not legally separated from her
husband. I will take whatever punishment is due to me, but I will take it
more easily if I feel that you do not condemn me for turning? to you. I have
not lied to you about anything, nor given you any garbled version of my
marriage. I have told you the truth & ask you to go on believing this.
Whether you will still wish to hear from me, I don't know. What makes me
feel so sick is that the discovery of your photos in my handbag makes
something very lovely - a friendship which meant a lot to me - seem
underhand & shady, "an affair£. I may suffer for it - I don't know -
but if I do I shall take whatever comes to me, so long as you do not stop
liking me, - being my friend. Yours very sincerely, Rona
2) 5th December 1943 - Stamped From H.M. Ship to Lieut. C. Duke, H.M.S.
Southern Prince, c/o G.P.O. London from S/Lieut. Gus? Evans - H.M.S. Nairana,
c/o G.P.O. London Sunday Dear Cecil, Just a few lines to let you
know I am ok, how are you and Kath keeping, I miss the crowed, and the old
SP. very much, this job is ok from a working point of few, but she is tied
up with red tape and bullshit, the Engineers are quite a good crowed, but
you will go a long way to find any one to beat old Jack Wilson and Todd they
are two of the best also old Pope, but you only realise these things when
you have left them, try and stay as long as you can, for believe me she is a
good ship, don't forget to give my regards to Kath and her friend and you
drop a line when you have chance, I suppose you will be getting near
finished now, give my regards to senior Todd, Mc/Night and the rest of the
Corp, I will drop Mac a line next, well there is not much more I can say so
good luck and all the best. G. Evans, Amscary or Amscany
    
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1) 17th December 1943 - "Goldings" John's Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Notts.
My dear Cecil, I do want to wish you the happiest of Christmas. I hope that
you will really have a grand one. It does not seem very much like Christmas
to me. I have come home after trying to recover from 'flu at Dovedale, to
get another frightful cold & am fighting it madly so that I shall not be
laid low for Xmas" I have not even been able to prepare a christmas
pudding yet, nor a christmas cake of any kind, no am going to bed early
tonight with hot milk & aspirin (!) hoping to ward off this cold & be able
to get down to things this weekend. I am actually rather dreading tomorrow,
for I have an appointment with a solicitor in Nottingham at 10.30 a.m. - I
have made the appointment myself, to ask advice upon getting a legal
separation & just what it involves in proceedings, costs, etc. I am
sorry, in a way, that I wrote & told you about your letter, because I need
not have done, I suppose I alarmed you unnecessarily, yet my impulse was
simply to be honest with you - I feel it was your right to know. As it
is, there is now not one letter of yours in existence - I stained (it
doesn't matter how) the letter in question & burned it with all your others,
so that ensures you not being involved in anything likely to hurt or
embarrass you. I mean it sincerely when I say that in no way shall I even
let you be hurt through me. It was I who wrote you in the first place
- I have wanted to write you for years, but dare not - & I shall never
forgive myself if, through that action, you should have cause to wish that
you had never heard from me again. But as they say, the exchange of a
few friendly letters can surely be ? especially in the circumstances in
which I have been living for the past 2½ years. It must be obvious to you
that, had I been living in contentment with my husband, I would never have
written, even on an impulse, to another man, & it took a lot to drive me to
it. I am dreading this interview tomorrow but I am not going to shuck?
it, even if it is humiliating & embarrassing to drag ones private affairs
into a lawyers office. Just what advice he will give me remains to be seen,
& what decision I shall make depends upon that advice. You see, it is not my
own personal happiness & security that I am thinking of, but my little
boys'. I must do what is best for him, I cannot have him suffer in any way.
Security for myself does not matter, for I can earn my own living & in fact,
have, ever since I was married, dressed myself entirely & coped with many
bills. A wife does not mind doing that if in other ways she is happy. I
would rather work? for my living, all my life, than live as I have lived
these past few years, but I must put my personal desires aside & think of
Paul, & his future. oh Cecil, I feel so very, very tires of
everything. How you must hate getting these miserable letters from me, I
want to write enjoyable letters to you - the sort which you would want to
read again & be cheered by!! And instead, you get these wretched tings - do
forgive me. Do not answer if you would rather not, I shall understand.
Just think of me sometimes, and if the outcome of my visit to the solicitor
tomorrow is a happy one - or as happy as it can be in the circumstances - I
will let you know, if not soon, eventually. Meanwhile, I wish you,
from my heart, every happiness this christmas, Cecil dear, & may the new
year bring you many blessings. As always, Rona or Rana?
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