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Darlings -
I know you will be crazy for news, especially since you know the Australians are here and our beautiful Ces is here - isn't it simply too too super for words!!! I'm just crazy with excitement & joy - I've not seen the lamb yet, but I've had 2 telegrams from him & hope to see him soon - I just can't believe it's true & I keep feeling something will happen to prevent us meeting - so near & yet so far sort of thing.
I must tell you how everything happened - on June 17th the day the news came thro about France giving up the struggle - I nearly passed out - I suddenly felt I must get home to all my loved ones - I couldn't bear to think of myself being caught up in the Nazi net, if they walked into England as they had in France - can you believe such a thing has happened to France? Fret as I will I cannot - dam those Nazis - I will not think of those arrogant, brutal, animal-like soldiers parading down the Champs Elysses - Place de la Concorde, Rue de la Paix - & a thousand other glorious places I love so much. Anyway I just felt I couldn't go on without seeing somebody belonging to me - so, as I am still up here - miles from anywhere, I rang the girls at the flat & asked them to go to the P&O & get me information re the next ship to my peaceful Australia - well - the next day I just felt better, but was quite undecided what to do - most of me wanted to go home & the adventurous bit of me badly wanted to stay here & see this business thro to the end - when suddenly - like a bolt from the blue came a telegram - listen - I'm keeping it forever - "Have arrived with lads - everything OK. Will contact you as soon as possible - love, Ces". I just couldn't believe it - thought it was a mirage - especially as no news of their arrival had been made official - I thought they were in Palestine & just couldn't think what had happened anyway I've been delirious ever since & just can't wait to see the pet - I sent a telegram - just on spec, having no real address - only the wire was sent from Salisbury so I sent mine C/- AIF Salisbury. Next morn I had a letter from him, but it was written on board ship - s days out from England & I'll send the letter on to you later - just a wee note but he was so thrilled he was almost incoherent, bless his heart - can't you imagine how thrilled they are to be in ENGLAND - & especially just now. Well the official news was given out on Thursday & I heard a recorded version of their arrival on the radio & was I proud or was I - the papers said very nice things about them.
Well anyway I wait in suspense daily & yesterday evening (Friday 21st June) I had another telegram from Ces - saying "Am at Tidworth - no leave possible at present - love, Ces" - so I'll have to content myself without ANY patience until he does get leave. In the meantime I've written him & asked could I go down to see him - I'm ready to rush down the moment I hear from him & I've written to the girls at the flat to let him in when he arrives & to wire me immediately - in case he gets to London unexpectedly. I feel I'm miles away here, but I can't get another nurse for Mrs Neal Green yet - no one wants a permanent job - but in any case I'm leaving here when Ces gets his leave for a few days - I do hope he will soon - but I spose they are digging in & they will, of course, be inspected by the King & Mr Bruce - so after that, perhaps they will be on the loose. I shall have a stroke from suppression or something If I don't soon see him - anyway pets, I am so thankful I stayed here & as long as Ces is here I will be, too. When Twinkle went home, I thought of doing so - something seemed to tell me NO - stay - I'm sure Ces would land here & see - my instincts were correct & how I've been rewarded!!! I don't deserve such a wonderful surprise.
Well, my dears, I do not know what the situation will be when you receive this letter - oh how I miss the airmails - but we must not complain - this is a serious business for us - I have had no letters from you since the 4th May - the ones you wrote me about Ces' departure - but here's hoping. The situation is very serious and we are now awaiting to hear the result of the terms Hitler has given to the French re the Armistice - what a shocking affair - the blatant theatrical atmosphere of Hitler sitting in Foch's seat in the same coach - hell, they are dirty dogs these Nazis - poor France - I just can't believe she is broken - I just did not think such a thing could happen - that lovely country - so proud - so fine, so much wit, culture & charm as only she possessed - all now gone for nothing - to be trodden under the cheapjack Nazi gangster boots - surely I am having a nightmare -we were appalled here with the news - not only because of the seriousness of the situation, but it seemed so tragic - proud France in this ghastly position then Reynaud's very moving appeal to Roosevelt - for days before the actual happening - it was awful to listen to the French news - it was so moving - so passionate & heroic & oh the tears I shed when Andre Maurois spoke on behalf of France - well - we must WORK & WORK like blacks to right this terrible situation in Europe - the world has gone mad - and it is left to us alone now - AND what an Empire - we no longer merely show our devotion in words - we show our undying loyalty in DEEDS - & here's to the grandest nation on earth - a swift & final victory to Britain - I don't know how we are going to do it, but we will. You heard Mr Churchill's speech - no frills - just cold logic & at least we know where we stand - we have no illusions about what we have ahead of us & certainly no illusions as to what Hitler has in store for us - & we have to pay now for our earlier indolence & carelessness & neglect - AND bad statesmanship - still we face facts coldly now & get on with the job - it's going to be frightfully grim & this dear, lovely little island will be hard hit - but Hitler will never finish the British Empire - so darlings whatever happens here - you, Canada & the rest of the Dominions must go on & on -don't let all this effort go for nothing.
We have just heard the shameful terms the French have accepted from Hitler - we are shocked, of course, especially the news that France has agreed to hand over all her arms, resources, aeroplanes & navy. Surely such a thing must not be allowed to happen - I hope no French ship will ever get near France again. I think there must be no nation in history who has accepted such shameful terms. I can't help thinking this will break the proud hearts of many many Frenchmen this day - surely the French Colonies & their Navy will not go & surrender to the Germans - damn their dirty gangster trick - poor little England - I hate to think of all this loveliness shot to pieces, so much suffering & unhappiness - & now I feel Hitler will use the south of Ireland to fight us from as well - where will this all end - !! -
We have air raids almost every night - enemy raiders around us here for 3-4 hours. We often hear the bombs drop - about 8 miles away we've had some - & of course I go to see the craters when I can - but this small effort is nothing to what we will get before long - it is the siren that is the worst thing - this awful wail. Fortunately at Holbeck we do not get it - just a telephone call - we are so far out of town consequently I do not often waken up - even when the Nazis are overhead - I'm getting all the sleep whilst I can.
I expect to get back to town about the end of June - I can't stay here any longer - it's so quiet & monotonous - even tho they are nice to me - but I feel I want to do something much much more vigorous. I do not quite know when we shall be going to our Civil Nursing Reserve Station at Barnet, will let you know later.
Give my love to everyone - tell them all, even tho I don't write - I love to get letters.
Do you like the snaps I am enclosing - I will write as soon as I've seen Ces, bless him, heavens it seems an age for him to be here & me not to see him.
All my love
Doe