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An unusual letter in the collection, being one to Frank from his father, William Faulkner (my Great Grandfather). The sense of relief is palpable in the letter and gives an insight in to what those waiting at home for news from loved ones were going through. Even after the massive setbacks to the allied cause in early 1940, William Faulkner acknowledges that Britain has an enormous job to do but says "WE SHALL WIN". A moving and insighful letter.
The Mr Bowra who is mentioned was a next door neighbour whose wife lived well in to her nineties and I remember helping her in her garden when I was a child.
The Unit Diary for the 157th HAA Battery records that the Battery Commander paid a courtesy visit to HMS Hood whilst it was in the harbour at Gibralter. Less than a year later the HMS Hood was sunk by the Bismark in the Atlantic.
24/6/40 Golders
Green
N.W.11
My dear Frank,
How very
pleased we were to get your wire from Gibralter this morning.
Last
Thursday Jack Sulston rang me up to say that all the Battery had been landed at
Plymouth the
previous day. This news was said to come from the O.C. and again from young
John Rich who had telephoned his mother.
I got a
special message sent via Golders Green S.O. to No. 37 and was satisfied you
would write as soon as possible.
On Saturday
morning Edie rang up the War Office and then Foots Gray, the information being
that if you were not in this Country you were on the way. This action annoyed
me as doubting my previous information but also it had the effect of unsettling
me very much over the weekend. I was unhappy and would not stir from the house
in case you arrived on leave.
Then this
morning I rang Sulston again to confirm what he had told me. Upon returning
from the call box Mrs. Foskett said a boy had brought your wire and everything
then was rosy.
Uncle Frank
took the Plymouth news to father Rogers last week and I was
surprised to know that his son was home here in hospital. The old man rang me
up this evening for your address as young Rogers
wished to write to you. But there you are, we do not know whether you are in
Gibralter for good or otherwise. I would have wired you by return if I was
certain.
Anyhow if
what he told me is correct you all had a turn in the gun pits and had a very
rotten time.
You told me
not to worry and that together with you being with an ex regular Sergt. Major
has helped me. I have said prayers for you all times of day and night.
Fancy the
French (above all) and after all the others letting us down!! I still do not
believe her Empire or Navy will surrender and that Reynaud will form a
government and fight from abroad. I could see your corner of the Maginot Line
being turned and that you would all be in a tight corner. When I read of
transport being bombed in the Loire - German
Communique - I feared for you.
I am doing
the late duty in the S.O. again and it is painful to hear the old women talking
over the hedges. I count Meaden amongst 'em - you know he was never a cheerful
happy sort. I'm afraid I snubbed him the last time he muttered and as for Bowra
I told him our conversation was not doing much good.
Well you
are seeing the World son. I remember passing Gib very well and took snaps of
the sloping rock that went up to the Sugar Loaf Peak.
And you
won't get that leave just yet. The garden and fish pond are absolutely
perfection at the moment. Don't arrange it so you come home in a foot of snow
next time.
Now I'm
looking forward to a line which gives us some idea of how you got to that
corner. It looks as though in the shamozzle some got in one boat and some in
another.
Good bye,
God bless and keep asmiling chivvy through it all and believe me to remain
Your
ever affectionate, Father
(This letter eventually reached Frank on 17/8/40 at 157th
B.H.Q. after first having been posted to Gibralter)
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