Opening Letters

The letters and diary entries below were recovered in the midst of a clear-out at the residence of a Mr. Arthur Loveday, at his home in Kendal Avenue, Edmonton, North London – three days following a fatal heart attack at the age of seventy two.

 

 

 

 

L O Y A L T Y ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18 . 04 . 1944.

Dearest Arthur,

First and foremost, my condolences, I heard about Ethel’s sudden decline in health from our sister.  I express my sorrow and apologies to  you and the boys for not making the funeral.  It cannot be helped.

 

Although, a thanks is in order dear brother.

 

After receiving your previous letter at 11.00 hrs, I was filled with high spirits.  Sadly this didn’t last.  Once on board, the colonel called a conference of all officers and informed us we were headed Eastwards.  The cogs have been set in motion for my lads to join the bloody Burmese campaign.

I’m not most keen on the idea.

    

R.

 

21 . 04 . 1944.

Dearest Brother,

After sending news to you of our sudden change in course, the next I knew, we had already parted the Suez Canal and were in the process of crossing the blasted Arabian Sea.  We are headed for Nagaland, via the Brahmaputra River and plan to pass along the Assam Valley. Yes. Fighting the Japs in North-East India.  The lads are set, or as the Yanks would refer to as “locked and loaded”, to join our neighbouring forces at Kohima.

 

Do give Mother my love,

 

R.

 

24 . 04 . 1944

Dearest Brother,

We haven’t had the most comfortable of voyages, I myself have experienced three wretched accounts of sea sickness during my time upon this vessel and we still have quite some way to go.  Despite being a marine – it still gets to me. 

On the other hand, morale is high amongst the lads and are ready for combat the second we hit the Burmese shores.

 

 

I apologise again for not making the funeral today; I anticipate that there was a great turn out.  Ethel was a good woman and will be sorely missed by many.

Pass on my love to Mother and Sister, thanks for checking on my wife – it is greatly appreciated.

 

My thoughts are with you.

 

R.

 

26 . 04 . 1944

Dearest Brother,

The mood aboard has changed with the wind.  The lads, as well as I, are dreading the fatal exercise to Burma.  Tensions are high.  A boxing ring has been erected in the lower levels.  Enlisted officers are forbidden to take part in such rueful activities.  However, one has chosen to break this unwritten rule; Lieutenant Kenworthy.  The lads respect him. 

 

And if the lads do, then I will honour him likewise.

 

Kenworthy went at him, firing quick double jabs and sharp right hooks.  The Staff Sergeant’s eyes flashed red.  Private Johnson raised his guard to his head; no point, the poor boy was still being bashed about.  Although he is a monster in comparison, a mere 6 ft. 4”- he is getting absolutely battered by the cruel bodied man.  The lads roared with excitement.  The air was getting much too stuffy so I quit the room and joined the others down in the Mess Decks.

At 21.00 hrs.  I commenced playing the piano to ease the apprehension amongst the lads.  As ever, I was contented with the response I got – song.  Although merry, the tune had raised their spirits and, to best explain, they were intoxicated with sheer excitement. 

 

 

As I returned, around 22:30, he budged past me, glaring at me with those hard ignorant eyes, on the stairway to the Upper Decks.   The bastard.  He has this foreboding air of unease about him.  I respect him, to an extent, but I admit – I do not trust the man.

Immediately I returned to my quarters, instead I sat on my bunk.  Winfrey was snoring, the lad I shared a cabin with – splendid boy.  I couldn’t sleep, so I lay and thought of my wife.

 

I have a bad feeling about this mission Arthur – I should be at home.

 

R.

 

 

 

27 . 04 . 1944

Dearest Brother,

Orders have come !  Tomorrow we land.  I was most impressed with this after a week offshore.  We are to rendezvous with Indian forces to the east of the Assam Valley.  The Japs have brought the 1st Infantry Division (15,000 bodies) for us to play with.  We are to lead a second wave frontal assault with the Chindt Brigade on flank.  

 

Us officers stood about in the boardroom, smoking cigarettes, consoling ourselves by saying. “They must have an alternative plan.” Did they hell!

 

We went down to the Mess Decks where the men were standing about ready. Sad to say although, I wondered, as I looked over at them, who would be killed first - while Kenworthy rallied the troops, flexing his shoulders.  The idiot.

 

I’m prepared for a hard landing.

 

Wish Mother a happy birthday.  I don’t have it in me to write to her today.

 

R.