North through Italy (1943-44)

Eileen’s brother, my Uncle Bert, joined the RAF, leaving Auntie Gwen to run the flower shop in West London. After initial training, Bert was told he wasn’t fit to fly but became a radio operator and was posted to North Africa. A chirpy Londoner, Bert sent a series of letters and cards as his units travelled across North Africa and then through Italy.

26/10/43

Rome June 1945 (Bert on left)

Dear Eileen

It's been a long time since I've been able to write to you but I expect the folk at home have given you news of my movements.

I had an enjoyable time in Sicily attached to a Yank squadron and saw quite a bit of the East side of the island ... We were there when the first autumn rains fell, about three days of terrific thunderstorms and torrential rain. After this there was a fine period and the peasants started ploughing the ground that had been dry and cracked a week before. The ploughs are poor wooden efforts that merely scratch the top of the soil ... the farmers have a hard job as all the fields slope at alarming angles and even the oxen that they use have a job in keeping their feet.

The poverty of the inhabitants is terrible. They live in conditions that male London slums look like ultra-modern flats. The strange thing is that there is plenty of stuff available for them to buy, but they just don't have the money ... It does seem terrible to have food which the majority can't afford. If that's what the fascist regime has done, let's hope that a better system will alter things.

All through the island there is a mixture of pomp and show in the shape of grand buildings with fascist emblems and abject poverty in the living conditions of the inhabitants.

Another thing is the propaganda that was splashed about the place. Almost every house on the main roads are plastered with great painted phrases and chimney stacks offer a great place for Il Duce to see his name in gigantic letters. It is certainly a very good job the fascist bubble has burst.

It's good to be working again and it's interesting to be in a new country ... We had the laugh on the Yanks in Africa as they really were hopeless at French, but it's surprising how many of them speak Italian due to parental influence.

That's all for now. Take care of yourself. 

Cheerio

Bert

26/2/44

Dear Eileen

We are still in the same place, up to our necks in mud but making the best of things and not so badly off as some.

We follow the news of the increase of aerial activity over England and wonder just where the bad places in London are. I hope things are still O.K. at home and they have nothing more than noise to worry them.

You enquire about conditions here. there is a great deal of muddle, graft, Black Market etc. AMGOT (Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories) are doing their best but I don't think they will get any real whole-hearted co-operation.

Cheerio

Bert

12/9/44

Dear Eileen

I have been a long time in getting round to write this letter but I have been appointed Entertainments Secretary and it takes up most of my spare time ...

The war goes well. I expect we are all thinking of Arthur and Ginette. Both should have been liberated by now ...

We can now say we have visited Siena. It is a very old town with a 14th century cathedral built in black and white marble. There are also universities and other schools for art etc. The people are very clean and smart as is the town itself. In normal years they hold a mediaeval pageant in the first week in August. The highlight of this is a horse race round the very large town square with the riders and horses in traditional clothing.

Football is replacing cricket of which we have been playing a lot lately. This unit is really finding its feet now and is much more like an organisation which has seen two years overseas. The A.V.M. led a team of officers against the airmen last week, we just managed to beat them ...

I expect you heard on the news that the weather has broken. The long days of continuous sunshine ended suddenly and we had a few days of heavy rain. The ditches that we had dug round the tents at the beginning of summer had become full of muck, consequently when the rain came unexpectedly we were caught napping and flooded out. Now, however, we have got winter conscious and look for colder and shorter evenings.

Cheerio

Bert

8/10/44

Dear Eileen

I have a job at the moment that enables me to write letters during duty time. On top of that we are on a four watch system, so I have quite a bit of time for personal things.

There has been a slight change of address again. We just get settled and things organised when off we go again. Our little crowd keep together but we are forever being attached here and lent there and is getting a bit cheesing. All the entertainment work has been knocked on the head ...

I went on a delayed trip to another town which is also an art centre, yesterday. I will write you more about it when we can mention the name of the town.

Winter seems to have come quickly everywhere. We are evidently preparing for another winter campaign in Europe and this expected quick finish has turned into another static winter. What Germany has to gain by it, I don't know. I don't envy the civilians during the long winter nights … It amazes me how they have rallied. This regimentation of the German nation can certainly not only be hearsay. Hitler's last purge must have been very thorough.

How are you feeling about the service these days and what are your chances of getting out? I wonder if the women's forces will take part in the occupation scheme?

Cheerio

Bert

20/11/44

Dear Eileen

I'm afraid this is going to be a dreary letter. I feel dreary. I've been sloshing about in ankle deep mud all day and now after our evening meal I am settled in our tent with the wind howling and the inexhaustible rain driving against it. Still it's warm and fairly dry inside and I feel better having changed into some dry clothes. The most depressing thing is absence of mail. I suppose the weather has stopped air service. We must wait for the sunshine.

A lot has been going on at home affecting the serviceman during the past week. We watch events, as we do the news, with interest. The M.P. opening the debate on partial de-mobbing was our C.O. - Lt/Col Profumo. General opinion was that it was a good speech. We were well satisfied, he represented our views accurately. You may remember that I told you he held a meeting here to find out our views. He wasn't our C.O. then but with this latest re-shuffle we are again under his command. He is a good officer, fair, cool, approachable and reasonable.

Back in Africa we had quite a collection of English society. Our C.O. then was the Hon. John Hare, I don't know all the Tatler facts about him. Second in command was Lt/Col Profumo. They were know as "The Hon John" and "Prof" respectively. Then we had Randolph Churchill staying with us. 

We had a memorable evening in Africa. The officers entertained all the corporals, not the sergeants as some of the discip. ones were so dim they spoilt things … They gave us a real "do". Things progressed in a nice "refined" way, everyone rather uncomfortable, reaching for fresh topics to talk about until Randolph breezed in, from that time onward everyone was just a soldier. Randolph was a Captain then having been demoted from a major owing to a speech that wasn't exactly in keeping with army traditions. I expect you read about it in the press. He is back to a major again in Jugoslavia as you know - still go-getting I expect. 

All for now 

Cheerio 

Bert