These letters belong to my aunt Joan Punter ( nee Toller ). These contain interesting home front information and political views of the war. They were written by my Great Aunt Marie to her husband George Cruden. ( both now deceased. )

In several of these letter Marie refers to George as Peter Precious- as she was a Catholic from Ireland and didn't want to introduce him to her family as George ( the English kings name ) she called him Peter.



At 95: [ Oxford Road Cambridge ]

My Dearest x
Thanks for your letter, & it was certainly a gruelling journey- pity they don’t put more corridors on- what a life at London Road- that’s some billet- guess the sooner they decide about some other places the better for all concerned- as the a.m. people must be getting fed up with it too. They say on the wireless that they’ve got so many airforce personnel they are drafting them into the other two forces- particularly the army- as that is where they are wanted, seems such a daft arrangement, although they add they are continuing to take recruits. Do you think bringing up the matter of remuster has brought about the recent change about for you & those other chaps? Went to the pictures by myself on Monday night- mother dosen’t care for pictures she says- Monday 6 p.m. I did the front garden by cutting the grass, clearing the beds of toffee papers, rags & other odds & ends, & mowed the back lawn- but I’m scratched to bits for overlooking the rose trees, & plonking into the taller ones. The weather keeps nice, that’s one thing in it all. Yesterday we went to the Botanical gardens. Con & the children. They enjoyed it…can’t seem to think of anywhere nice to go except to Frenches & Brittans..It would have been nice by the sea this weather, wouldn’t it? Uncle Harry turned up at teatime last night- he does look so thin & ill- but he says he couldn’t stand life in that Linton institution any longer & has come back to the lodging house here- I got that tea tin open & passed it on to mother- its best to do that think, don’t you- Well dear, did your washing yesterday ( what a pile ) & hung it out, if she doesn’t do it on me , I’ll iron it. Well cheerio, love. Hope you are feeling better & looking forward to seeing you x Your own loving Marie xxxx p.s. Had a warning Monday night.

These letters belong to my aunt Joan Punter ( nee Toller ). They contain interesting home front information and political views of the war. They were written by my Great Aunt Marie Cruden( deceased ) to her husband George Cruden( also deceased ).

Marie refers to George as Peter Precious in many of these letters, this was because she was a Catholic ( originally from Ireland ) and when they first got together she didn't want to introduce him to her family as George because that was the Kings name! Some of these letters are written from London and from Nottingham where she lived at one point and also from Cambridge where they finally settled.

Letter 2

138 Harrow Road
April 1st. 1941.

My Dearest Peter Precious.
Well, I do hope you are alright, I would be ever so pleased to get even a couple of lines from you dear just to reassure me that your face is alright and that you yourself are feeling much better. Sent a little parcel off to you yesterday, and hope you got it safely. Of course there may be a letter from you when I gat home as often when you prehaps miss acertain post there is nothing in the morning. Had an hours warning last night, just as I was going to have my bath, but I just snapped my fingers at Jerry and hopped in.
What slendid news from the Meditteranean about seven of the Italian ships biggest ships sunk, and not one casualty of our own!!!! Jerry started bombing the poor devils of Italians who were shipwrecked, so our forces had to withdraw in the middle of saving them,- its dreadful. My goodness its a real soaker of weather here to-day, Dont forget to send Love's bills on in your next. Pitty I left them behind. It's Arthurs birthday on the 9th, so hope you'll be able to get to C about that date, and meet me there also????. How are things I do hope you are alright. I expect really that you are too busy to write. I am sending a couple of stamps in case you are out of them. Am awfully busy this week. F.B. is away got shingles, so expect that will be a few days yet before he is back. It's just five darling, I always manage to simmer down about five to, but like to get a little line off to you.
Cheerio, darling, all my love and thoughts, always your own.
Marie.
P.S. 1st of the month. and I wish you a happy one. Dear.

These letters belong to my aunt Joan Punter ( nee Toller ). They contain interesting home front information and political views of the war. They were written by my Great Aunt Marie Cruden( deceased ) to her husband George Cruden( also deceased ).

Marie refers to George as Peter Precious in many of these letters, this was because she was a Catholic ( originally from Ireland ) and when they first got together she didn't want to introduce him to her family as George because that was the Kings name! Some of these letters are written from London and from Nottingham where she lived at one point and also from Cambridge where they finally settled.

Letter 1



Wednesday. the. 14th.1941

My Dearest and Best, x.x.x.x.x.x..
Just a few hurried lines, to day
we are alright, although we have had a hectic time here to-day. Jerry has ben over all day, doing his stuff properly, and had quite a scare about 2.30 after the siren had gone, still sat on here carrying on, all at once he skimmed the roof tops, machine gunning all he was worth.
He's dropped three bombs in the town again, and we have heard that he has been shot down a little way out. Phew!!!! talk about getting hot and bothered wasn't it. Hope you had a quiet night in London. The weather is one of those dull depressing days, trying awfully hard to rain but does not even wet the pavement. Had a letter from Gidd this morning and she is looking forward to seeing me on the 24th, and wonders if ther's a chance of your getting down too for a long weekend. By the way RWB says what an awful time they have had in London, the worst ever, he says. Jerrys has compleatly gone he told me, and all our trade in the city has ceased to function with the exception of Bradburys. Its ghastly and no mistake.
We are alright in London, but every window and frame has been blown to blazes. By the way, I mentioned to Arthur Smith about the travelling facilities for the wives of men in the forces, and he says they would only be issued to me if I were travelling to London to see you or any other camp where you may be stationed, and they would not be issued in a general way for use.
Anyway, perhaps you could find something very definiate about that. Really, on the face of it, it seems that travelling to see husbands in their respective camps would be the only logical thing for them to do, otherwise with some of the wifes they would be charged up with no end of expenses,
Well, darling, its five o'clck again,- really the time flies in every sense of the word. I do hope you are keeping alright, and will not have to go to Cardington.
Wish they would re-open Hatfield. Still, thats too much to hope for I suppose.
Well, cheerio, sweetheart, I haven't any news for you, and the time is getting on, but just thought I would drop these few lines.
All the best of love and hugs and thoughts,
Always your own,
Marie