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Arthur Patrick Story. Letter from Aunt Florie. 1941
Regarding George's death
Bingfield
Lower Warberry Road
Torquay
Aug 4th 1941
My dearest Pat
Here at last is a letter to thank you very much for your very welcome & delightful one to me which you finished & sent off towards the end of April. I was so glad to have it many weeks later with news of you all. I hope Nancy soon got over mumps & the others escaped the uncomfortable thing! Before ending your letter you said you had just been called up for Territorial Service & wondered what that meant. I wonder too for you were already " soldiering". Anyway you are fairly certain to be kept in NZ & I am so glad of that for the sake of Daisy & the children. I do help all are well & D managing as well as possible on the farm, she must miss you terribly.
Sad that none of your brothers could be at Vera's wedding. I was so glad to hear from Laila & V that she had managed to get to Dunedin for the 12th April. Now this evening comes a letter from Vera telling me of Laila's engagement to the best man Ian McLean!! As we all expected - Laila's letter after V's wedding had a lot to say about the young man & then V's a little later had more to say on the subject so the news to day is no surprise. I am so glad, for he seems a quite suitable young man & it is a great comfort too that dear Vera is so happy in her married life. Teddy she says has let his house & gone with his wife to Auckland. I wonder why? For he had such a good paying job at Picton - perhaps he has been called up after all - I think that is quite likely.
Well, alas! I have some very sad family news to give you. Your cousin George, Uncle Evie's son has died of wounds. Where & when we know not yet (unless the family have heard by today they had not done so at the end of the week). Nancy, his wife received the War Office Telegram last Tuesday. She & your uncle were alone at Courtlands - your Aunt Hilda travelling back that day from a visit to Margery at Carlisle.
It is a terrible blow for them all poor dears. George was, as you know such a devoted & good and son, brother & husband. Joe McGowan went off to Courtlands at once & wrote that his parents were so wonderfully good & XXX & the poor little wife, Nancy doing her best to help everybody by being the same. Dear George only sailed with his regiment three weeks or so ago - of course his destination was unknown. He had just been promoted Major. You will perhaps wish to write to your Uncle E. or Aunt H. so here is their address, in case you have only the Hythe one:
Courtlands
Nightingale Lane
Chalfont St Giles
Bucks
I think you know that is where they have been living (George's house) since they had to clear out of their XXX when things a round about became a bit too lively. So far their Swirdling is standing up alright. Here we are having quite quiet times now - few alerts & then only short ones & the trespassers doing damage.
The fighting in Russia is awful - such slaughter. The Russians are splendid, what an unpleasant surprise for Hitler and Co! We must keep hopeful of their being able to do as well & better, so helping to shorten this ghastly cruel war.
Since the winter ended at last, about the middle of June & we moved into summer we have had long spells of hot, dry weather with only a few short ones dull & rainy. Some places have had thunderstorms & good soaking rain storms occasionally, here only light rain which has freshened up the garden but not enough to go well in to the hard dry ground. It is cloudy this morning & we think some rain may be expected later. I am in the hut, it is very warm!
It is a wonderful year for roses - everywhere. My ramblers are still very lovely, all came out weeks later than usual.
I am expected Joyce Carew on 22nd XXX. Miss M goes away for her XXX day & J says she will do the XXX about for XXX week, then she must go to XXX & do fire watching duty Joan will be here to help me for XXX last fortnight. These are difficult shopping days for food with rationing etc. & few shop deliveries. Miss M has busy times wandering XXX carrying up provisions! We hear that our egg ration for Aug is to be 3 each - not even a XXX this XXX!
Best love
dear Pat to
you all
Ever affect.
Aunt
Florence E. Story
| Date | 1941 |
| Linked to | Arthur Patrick Story; Florence Emily Story; George Frederick Story |
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