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This letter is the first from overseas and was written in the Battery rest billets in Sideville, about 4 miles south of Cherbourg. The channel crossing was completed overnight on 15/16 October 1939. The Battery traveled as part of a convoy betwween Southampton and Cherbourg. The Battery disembarked at 10.30am on 16 October 1939 and joined up with the advanced party which had left on 12 October 1939. The advanced party was led by Major J A Chivers RA.
You will see from the end of the letter that it was signed by an officer acting as a censor. Whilst on active service abroad all Frank's letters were checked by censors before posting.
19/10/39
7.30pm Tuesday
881937 Gnr. Faulkner
157/53 ANTI AIRCRAFT
Regt. R.A.
c/o Army Post Office
Dear All,
First of all, I am not permitted to say where I am. Naturally all letters are censored now but as long as you know how I am I'm sure that's all you worry about or expect.
In the circumstances I'm sure Dad's holiday will be no change or rest for him. If he has gone to Brighton and the weather is any-thing like we have just now he will be lucky. When we left England it was pouring with rain but since our arrival we have not had a spot - sunny nearly all the time.
Bully beef and biscuits have been our main diet the last two days. Meat, bread and vegetables arrived tonight, however, so we should do well for grub now.
B.H.Q. are billeted in a farm and all but the officers are sleeping in a sort of attic. It's dry and we have electric light, some even have mattresses but I'm not so lucky. Next time perhaps!
After the sea trip which, incidentally, was as smooth as anyone could want, we had to march about 4 miles having first been relieved of our pack. This was carried in lorries, thank the Lord.
Today has been probably the easiest day I've had since putting on uniform and believe me I was glad of it. Like the rest I was tired out last night and stiff today after the unusual marching so we were all glad of a much needed rest. You would have laughed to see several of us cooling our feet off in the little duck-pond in farmyard here just before dinner-time. After dinner we summoned up enough energy to go blackberrying! This is too good to last don't you think?
You will gather, I hope, that we are as happy as can be expected so don't worry.
I'm in the best of health and sincerely hope you all are to.
Fond love to all not forgetting xxxxxx for little Anne.
Frank
(Censor - Jacks 2/Lt R.A.)
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We then loaded all our guns and equipment onto the railway. I always remember the French Gendarmes making a hell of a noise and fuss about this. On a long journey to the NE of France, Epernay in packed cattle trucks each labelled "20 hommes and 5 Chevous" we ploughed on through the night. Somewhere en route at a stopping point. a German plane machine gunned the train killing 3 soldiers. Because of overcrowding I found space on top of the loaded ammunition truck enabling me to stretch out. Thankfully Jerry did not hit this - hells bells! We eventually reached our destination at a little farming village called Vaudesencourt south of Sedan where the Germans broke through. We billeted in the village when not on duty on the gun site about three miles out in the countryside.
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