Authors

Mary Metcalfe

Document Type

Personal Letter

Transcription

[Transcription begins]

May 13, 1944

Dearest Mommie,

This has been one mad, dashing week, thus I have not had a chance to write so much as a line to you until now.

I have received your letters of April 29th, May 1st and 2nd, and one yesterday. I find I haven’t the last one here in the library where I am writing and I couldn’t possibly make that long trek through the underground maze to get it. It is the lecturing letter as to my state of health that I am missing so you will know the approximate date.

Well, the driving week ended today. I have seldom been as dusty + dirty as every day this past week after driving a GMC truck here, there, and everywhere. My battle dress which I have just had cleaned is again vile dirty + my hair is so dirty I doubt if it will ever be really clean again.

Aside from learning to drive these trucks we had one afternoon of being under the hood or bonnet as it is called over here learning all about the generator, carburetor, distributor, air cleaners, fan belt, fuel lines etc. Another afternoon we spent lying very comfortably under the truck learning about the transmission, transfer case, differentials, pillar box, cousta-velocity (sic) joints + a thousand other things. There were about 15 of us taking the course and we each had a GI tracking us. Mine was named Freddy Quinn from Jamaica, Long Island. He was a very good teacher + kept saying he was going to think up every difficult trick he knew to make me go through + he did. The very first day we were out on the tank course bumping around + going up + coming down the steepest, roughest hills you ever saw. You have to use the low range gear on these hills + it is amazing to see what those trucks can do on hills + rough terrain. Jack, who gave us the two afternoons in mechanics is really a cute boy. As we were lying under the truck asking questions about the different parts as he explained them to us (you can imagine how ridiculous some of the questions seemed to him) he said in the most pitiful tone, “I hope nobody asks me what I did in the war, when I go home.” We were all in gales of laughter, Jack more than anyone, over the definitions we would give him of the different parts after he had explained them. All of the boys were as nice as they could be + we had a wonderful time with them.

On Thursday we spent the whole day on the tank course + a dirtier, more tired lot of girls you have never seen than we were when we came home at the end of the day. Some of the British Army were out there too on manoeuvers + we enjoyed talking to them. They took us riding up + down hill + over the rough terrain sitting way up on top of one of the Fox Armoured Cars. (1)

On Tuesday when I came home there was a message to call Bill, which I did. He wanted me to go to dinner, but Jinine Eason, Betty Allen + I had tickets for “Love for Love.” This was a play he said I shouldn’t miss + he was right. It was typically 17th century, everyone jumping in + out of bed with everyone else – marvelously acted, beautifully directed + the settings were perfect. It was just as amusing as it could be.

On Wed. when I came home there was a note that Bill had called. I tried to call him but couldn’t reach him. When I got up to my room they came paging me for a telephone call. By the time I came down from my room through the long underground passage to the phone which is in this house, no one was on the line. I tried to get Bill at the office knowing it was he who called but he was not there. I sat by the phone waiting for him to call back + the next thing here he was out in the hall a vision in old gray pants + a beaten up old gray sweater. I don’t know who looked worse, he in his moth eaten get up or me in my dirty battle dress. He was on his way to play baseball over in the park and wanted me to have dinner with him after the game. I bathed and dressed + went over + met him in the park just as they had finished their game. We went back to his office + I waited while he changed clothes + we went to dinner. After dinner we went back to his flat where I helped him get ready to leave. He + Emil Sady shared a room in this flat. Emil had a very sweet looking English girl there helping him get packed up. I had met her with him last Sat. night at the dance I told you we attended.

It was too funny. I wish you could have seen me stenciling his barracks bag + musette bag, + gas mask. He had nothing marked so he had gotten some indelible ink and I spent the evening marking all his drawers, undershirts, shirts, sheets, helmet, pistol belt etc. with his name – also darning some socks. All the while he was rushing around in that nervous state of his trying to decide what to take with him + hurling insults. At odd moments during the evening we ate some Fanny Farmers candy he had + drank some delicious pineapple juice.

On Thurs. when I came home there was a note he had left for me. He, Emil + I had planned to go see Priestleys play “How Are They Back Home”. He hadn’t been able to get the tickets but left word to call him. I did + he came by + we went to the Junior Officer’s Club for dinner. After dinner we went back to his flat again + this time I ripped the gold braid off of one of his navy suits which was worn out. While I did this he read me some of Matthew Arnold’s poems. He was horrified when I said I had never heard of Matthew Arnold + threw up his hands in disgust when I admitted not knowing the story of Tristan + Isolde. Needless to say I got full accounts of both of these subjects.

On Friday we went (all three of us) to see the Priestly play which was quite amusing but not as good as “An Ideal Husband” or “Love for Love.” After the theater we went to a place for dinner where Jinine, Betty + I had gone on Tues. night. We had made friends with Joe the head waiter from Brooklyn, so I suggested we go there + I asked for Joe + he fixed us up with a table. It is very difficult to go anyplace for dinner if you haven’t made reservations which we hadn’t. Going to the theater here is a grand rush since they start at 6 or 6:30 + you must eat later.

After dinner Bill brought me home + we sat + talked for a while in the lounge + he wrote the enclosed notes to you + Davie. The one to you is what I was supposed to write you. He wrote it down in this odd fashion showing me how he has to make out reports in his civil affairs activities.

I read him the part of your letter where you wondered how thin he is. He is just as thin as ever.

He and Emil departed this morning. I hope that I may get to see him again before they get into too dangerous territory.

You can see that this has been some week. We have really had loads of fun – lots of laughs + serious talks as well. I forgot to tell you about one of the chores we did Thurs. night. Bill had a big dirty wooden box to pack some things in to leave here. After roaming around the streets we finally got hold of a taxi, took the box to the flat + the next thing we had our sleeves rolled up, the box in the bath tub + scrubbing it out like mad with nail brushes + rags. It’s a crazy life here in the E.T.O.

On Wed. I went to hdqs. to find out about my next assignment + was told I was to go on a Clubmobile to take the place of someone who was sick. On Thurs. one of the girls brought word that that assignment was cancelled for me as the girl had gotten well. Yesterday afternoon I went I to find out what the change in plans was for me. Camilla Moss, who gives out the assignments, said I was to go help out on another Clubmobile for about a week while one of those girls came in for driving. Just before I went in to see Camilla I saw Lady Chesham, Asst. Director of Clubmobile, in the hall + she said that Les, Bibby + I were to get our own GMC in about a week. I had my travel warrant all made out + arrangements for leaving this afternoon. This morning as were winding up our driving course by seeing a training film on field rangers which we may be using, I was called to the telephone. It was Camilla Moss saying that I was to see Mr. Normand on Tues. about our GMC assignment so not to go this afternoon. This is marvelous as it means that Les + Bibby will be coming in + we shall start off again on real Clubmobile life. Also I had not even started to pack + I had no idea how I was going to possibly get my things together to catch that train. Having led such a gay life everything like blouses + socks were dirty. After having lunch today I came home + washed four blouses + a few undies. Several other girls + I went over to the park this afternoon later + heard the concert given by the U. S. Army Band. We came back + had tea which we have here every day from 5:30 until 6, then I ironed my blouses + stayed here for dinner which we have at 8. This is a nifty arrangement as we don’t have to pay for staying here or for meals eaten here. It is maintained by the R. C. + it certainly saves a lot of thinking of expenses when it comes to making out your voucher. For the rest of the evening I have been writing this letter as you can see from the length of it + it is now after 12.

We have had really hot summer weather this past week which has felt good to me, though it has made driving a dusty + tiring business.

Now as to the state of my health. I am in good shape again, except that my sinus trouble is with me. I think all the dust has been irritating. It is not painful but annoying to have my head get all filled up so that I can’t talk very understandably or breathe well just after I get it all cleared out. However, I have some very good nose drops which clean out my sinuses when it is too bad, + I am sure that minus the dusty driving course I shall be much better.

I have had wonderful mail in the past few days. Your letters, one from Mrs. Hoerber, Mrs. Culver, Tantie, two from Jane – one from Hot Springs with messages from all four of them + one written from Alice Jablousky’s, one from Lou Ella, Bertha Loeb, one from Mimi written in Jan. from India + sent to Wash., one form Bill Harrison + David Pritchard. Not bad at all. Will you please thank everyone profusely for me and I shall try to answer them all but it is almost impossible when there is so much packing, unpacking, traveling, laundry, sewing, + trying to get in a little sightseeing at the same time. Tell them I hope they will understand if you tell them about this fascinating life if I don’t get around to answering them pronto.

Will you send this crazy message which am enclosing from Bill to Davie. Did you ever see such terrible writing. I hope you can decipher your note. I told Bill that it takes me hours to read his letters trying to figure out what all those chicken scratches mean.

Well, young lady, I am plumb tuckered out, and I don’t want to hear any complaints about this letter not being long enough or full enough of details.

Give my love to May, Aunt Mary, Mrs. Jolley, Mrs. Bagnell + Mrs. Greene and all of our other friends too numerous to write all the names. I’m sorry to hear about Aunt Sadie’s brother. I didn’t know his mind had gone back on him. Give her my love especially.

And now to bed. I could go on writing indefinitely, there are so many little things to tell.

Just one more thing I didn’t tell you which touched me deeply.

When I went back to the Andrews for those few days after I was out of the hospital, I asked Mrs. Andrews for my bill the night before the morning I was to leave. She said “You haven’t any bill – I wanted you to come + stay + rest up some before going back to work + I asked you to come.” Of course she hadn’t asked me, and I insisted that she give me a bill. I went back to collect my things + she really made room for me as she had the rooms overflowing with people. She is really a grand person.

Now I am really going to bed. It is one o’clock. Goodnight + lots + lots of love.

Chi-Chi

(1) Fox Armoured Car was built in Canada by GMC. It was a wheeled armored vehicle equipped with a turret and Browning machine guns.

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