A note on the letters. The transcripts may include abbreviations or spelling inconsistencies and errors. We have chosen to transcribe the letters as they appear so that they are an accurate reflection of John Oldfield’s style and personality. We have also included his original page numbering. Where language is used that we would deem offensive, those words have been replaced with XXX.
1997-37-7-5-27
Headquarters,
5th Division,
B.E.F
April 16th 40
my dear Mum, Daddy and Jum,
No news I’m afraid but just a line while I have a few minutes to spare. Most of yesterday I spent trying to get the Mess accounts – which after a week were in complete chaos – into shape again and produced some smashing bills. We tried an apple fritter for dinner last night and it was a great success though instead of having the bread crumbs he put on huge slices of fried bread, but they tasted very much the same. I wonder if you can send me the recipe for Queens pudding Mum as I think they would be a good thing, and also treacle tart, as the effort to-night wasn’t quite right, as the treacle began to get a bit out of hand.
[Page 2]
I visited the town this afternoon and had my hair cut and after seeing the result, wish I’d let you do it Mum, as he seemed even more enthusiastic about having the lots off than you were !
I saw Robert here for a few minutes this afternoon and he showed be a field that his assortments of hands had ploughed up, and he was very proud of it.
The news seemed fairly good to-night I thought and we seem to be doing fairly well in Norway. Touch wood. Reynaud said that we had won the first battle of the war and let’s hope we shall win the last one – soon.
I’m afraid darlings I must stop as I’ve quite a bit of work to do before I go to bed – Hope I shall have a letter from you to-morrow perhaps,
Fondest love to you all,
Yours Ever,
Johnnie x
J.B.Oldfield