Christmas 1941 found John near Tunbridge Wells, on standby to embark for service overseas. This letter was written on 30th December, 1941.
As the old year is quietly dying, I would like to thank you,
Dad & the others of your `brood’ for your kindness, your thoughtfulness,
your prayers, & for your deeply – appreciated expressions of love
throughout the year. I wish that it were
in my power to do something beyond just thanking you, but that is
impossible. But as much as it lies in me
to love you, that I do, freely & fully.
It was very kind of you to send that bumper parcel, dear. I have by no means exhausted the `goodies’, which were in excellent condition on arrival, Xmas day. Especially enjoyable were the mince pies & coconut ice which I have consumed. I’m now engaged in mopping up Dad’s rock, which the chaps are agreed tastes very nice.
And now
Marjorie has sent me a parcel which I haven’t been able to open yet though I
got it yesterday. Today the chess set
has arrived. Thanks dear for posting it
so promptly.
And now to
turn to your letters.
Cox is the
only C.O. [Conscientious Objector] in my room. Nobody preferred
the RAMC. They were all conscripted into
it, after most of them had stated preference for the R.AF..
Wasn’t it
lovely for you to have Iris, Walter & the children with you this Xmas as
well as Tommy? A good things have
endings in this life, so you are once more on your own (not really, eh?)
I’ve read
Benham’s interesting notes on the name of John.
A common name, forsooth!
And now I
shall have to tell you something about myself.
On Xmas day we requisitioned a lorry for Tunbridge Wells, which took us
to the Vale Royal Meth. Church for the service.
The minister spoke on “ Thanks be unto God for the Unspeakable Gift”
with real understanding. The carols,
too, were quite enjoyed.
Xmas dinner
was served by the Officers & Senior N.C.O.’s & consisted of turkey,
pork, potatoes, brussel sprouts, apple sauce, Xmas pudding & custard, beer
(or mineral) & biscuits. The tables
were decorated with table cloths, paper serviettes, vases of holly, &
twisted coloured papers along the centre of the tables. Balloons were around the walls & holly
was all over the dining hall. Quite a
good show, don’t you think.
There was a
band on the platform & one or two people sang or gave `turns’. In the afternoon I went for a short walk with
Paul Gully & returned to a decent tea with celery, mince pie etc. There was no bus or train service operating
Xmas day, so I couldn’t get out. I spent the evening in my room. Boxing day morning I did some work in the
office, then in the late afternoon went to Tunbridge Wells where I played chess
in the St. John’s Parish Hall. Saturday
evening I went to Crowborough. Getting
about what? On Sunday afternoon I went
again to T.W. to the Meth Church where the service was conducted by a layman
who spoke on Ps 78 7.
Last night
we had to do some blancoing, the Assistant Director of Medical Services
inspecting us this morning. He’s a
Colonel. The unit spewed up some of its
local talent in a home-made concert which was sparsely attended owing to the
blancoing. I went to it, & when they
asked for volunteers to act with script a five minute melodrama with a hero,
heroine & villain, in the old-fashioned style, I took the part of the
villain, Herman was the old man, Paul, the heroine, Cecil the hero & Timmy
Blacklock the constable. We made a
distinct hit. Then the show ended.
Having
observed Norman Hutchings in the Canteen at the rear of his church, I would
like to say that whatever his faults, he’s evidently a very dear man, speaking
to the soldiers & inviting them to the services. His manner too, is quietly charming & he
is so very handsome – again in a quiet way.
I think he must have a tough time with some of the cigarette-smoking
women who help in his canteen. Yes, he’s
a good man with, I’m sure, a great faith in God.
Before I
forget, please rest assured that I will keep you fully informed as to my
actions in the future, as far as reposes in my power to do so.
I’ve just
opened up the chess set. The box was
smashed into six pieces, but this can be put right. You were quite right in not sending the
board, dear. There are several here that
will do more conveniently.
Regarding
your letter to the press, I endorse what you have written, though you will find
a large section of the church in disagreement.
In the middle ages, as you know, Nativity & other religious plays
were enacted, portraying the Infant Christ.
Again,
consider the pictures of Christ in the famous art galleries of the word, where
His Face is the likeness of the artist’s model, men portraying the Divine. Consider the countless illustrations on
text-cards, which is a mild form of that representation protestants most
despise, the sculptured Christ. I’m we
aren’t as spiritual as we should be, for we seem to require some pictorial or
material aid to attain the conception of the Divine that will enable us to
reverence & worship Him.
If the part
the actor took was a purely speaking non-acting one, then I don’t think we
should grumble, but I must confess that a man’s portrayal of the God-life can
be nothing but odious & disgusting.
As for the
Daily Telegraph, you must remember that the Editor receives hundreds of letters
a day, which means he selects about five of the greatest interest & rejects the others. A London daily isn’t exactly so generous with
its space as a provincial paper. In
answer to your question as to what I think of your letter I think it is
sensible & well-expressed apart from anything else, & does you credit.
Iris E. has
written in complimentary terms of the book by Capt. Mash A.D. Corps. I was reading it last night & haven’t
finished it. It’s good in every way & I want to thank
you very much for buying it for me. The
account is truly a wonderful testimony to the amazing way in which God
undertakes in all situations. [This is the book highlighted in a previous post, `Up from the Gates']
As this
letter has to be posted this afternoon,
I’ll bid you good-bye for the nonce, with lots of love &
kisses. God bless.
Yr devoted
son
John
xxxxxxx
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