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This is my aunts story ( Joan Punter, nee Toller )- as she wrote it- March 2005.
I was born in 1940 so war was a normal state of affairs for me and my sister. The family ( grannie, aunts, uncles and cousin ) all lived in Oxford Road Cambridge. My father was away fighting the war in France, in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Uncle Bill was in the Fire Service and Uncle George was in the R.A.F. so men in uniform was normal. Uncle Russ and Uncle Arthur worked away some of the time in munitions, so ours was a world of women. We grew our own veg and salad, kept the allotment going to help Bill, with chickens and pigs to feed. We made our own clothes often and baked cakes and pies. Nights were spent sleeping under the air-raid metal ) table, surrounded by wire mesh on a red cross blanket. We had an Anderson shelter in the garden, which was cosy but cold and damp. e also went in the cubord under the stairs when the siren went, and took it in turns to sit on the gas meter! Luckily for us the bombers which came over Cambridge usually headed up north to bomb our factories which made munitions, but I remember the sickening siren sound, followed by bombs exploding. My daddy was driving these baddies away, and he later told us how he came back from Dunkirk with bombs dropping all around and near their boat. He kept saying " Please God get me home to my wife and children." I was five when it ended, and all I remember then was red, white and blue everywhere, street parties, and best of all a new baby brother! ( Sadly I had friends whose daddy never came home as ours did.) Joan ( nee Toller )
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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 3 138 Harrow Road Wollaton Park. Nottingham. Wednesday. the 16th. My dearest Peter Precious, Had a splendid journey back, and got to N. at 7.45. But talk about "no travelling at Easter" gosh there were crowds of people even after the holiday actually finished, as Tuesday was. Still, there was no waiting for trains. Stepped from one train to the other on the other side of the platform, without rushing over bridges, etc to trains at the other side of the stations. Getting quite a hardened traveller these days, and getting to know the ropes a bit. In fact I'm almost a Cook's Tour Agent by the questions I get asked. Sometimes I fall flat and have to say I dont know. There have been high jinks by Jerry- especially on the Thursday I left. They dropped four H.E's about a quarter of a mile from the back of the house. Several people killed, and many houses demolished. I reckon- with others, that they are after the new Rolls-Royce place they are putting up in Wollaton so fancy we are in for a warm time from now on. Especially as they have the big searchlight unit in the Estate grounds. However...... Mrs Wilde was all alone all the holiday, and strange to relate, she didn't even get out of bed. But when the bombs went off she said all of the doors banged open, and the house shook so much that she felt she had to go downstairs- gosh I bet she wished more than ever that we were there. Lumme, how my back and shoulders- not to mention me feet- ache---- I'll give the lot of you "dig for victory" I feel as though I've dug up all the blokes allotments instead of a couple of spades full. However, as long as those carrots come up, I'll feel that I've helped Bill in his national effort. Phew, and the work that's piled itself up on my behalf!!!!! RWB returned to-day, hoped I had a nice holiday, etc, and was pleased when I told him that you only just got Home (?) He did not add "you need not have returned" and seeing that I'm already here, its just as well. Have you taken the snaps to be developed yet? It's a nice day, so hope you have finished the film. Wonder if you were able to get a snap of the baby. I say what about the dreadful raid on Northern Ireland last night. Really, it is a terrible business. Don't forget to give Arthur's mother five bob before you go away tommorow. It would then save the poundage on a postal order for a week. By the way, those shoes which I ordered came during the holiday. They are an awfully nice shoe for 16/9, but my stars, size 4 & half it would not fit anyone with a size 2!!!!! So therefore I must send them back, although I don't like making returns. Well, love, it was such a lovely thing to see you again and of course to see you looking so much better. Take care of yourself, and don't work too hard. I will get those socks finished and sent off as quickly as I can. Hope someboby doesn't take them as a packet of toffee and sticks to them. You will be in a mess, them won't you. Good job the better weather is coming on now, it will give you a chance to get quite right again. It's hateful to leave you, you know. I like to be about and just watch your every bloomin move like a cat watches a mouse- and then I'm satisfied that you are doing what is good for you- not wandering round without a pullover or a hat during the cold windy weather, etc, you know all about it dont you, you've heard of me before. What happened about the old clothes?. Well darling, ther's still something to get on with for the present, so I must away to the land of my fathers, and get down to it. Cheerio sweetheart. thank mother for the good time she gave us together, its a pity we have to turn her out of her bed, and tell her I will write her a letter a little later on, but you can pass the news of the safe arrival, etc, now you are there. All the very best of love, and all my thoughts, sweetheart and you know that I think of no one else but you always and at all times. Peter Precious. As ever, Your own. Marie. 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 2nd Letter from my great grandmother Ada Broom (formally Cruden, nee Hatchman) to her son George Cruden.
95 Oxford Road Cambridge Feb. 28th 1941 My dear son, Thank you for your nice welcome letter, thought I was never going to hear again from you, Arthur [Cruden] said once you start that you would not be able to get away from it. It’s a shame you have to work so many hours and others are walking about doing nothing but God knows best you are safer there I should say. George and Louie? Was at Pheobe they said London had had a lot of bombs; we have had a lot here lately and a lot of deaths, poor Mr Britton was killed with a bomb and Mrs Peck’s shop down to the ground and also Louies boot shop so that is down for now. 52 bombs they dropped in the night. This last 2 nights they have been quieter. There is no sign of a house anywhere only a sumphj shop and I’m afraid your clothes will be spoilt. You ought to of sent them home because they can’t look after them in a stone place like they have got. did you get back alright it must have took all your time to write letters the few hours you got off but it was a change to get away from the work a bit. I had a letter from Marie [Cruden] she seems to be getting on all right. What time do you get to bed? Connie [Connie Toller- George’s sister] and the baby are well. Eddie [Ed Toller] is supposed to come home 12th March if leave are not stopped we are expecting anything these days. We can only trust to God that things will soon be settled. It’s dreadful the suffering; these days and dear people being killed daily and everywhere take care of yourself George and I do hope you will soon get some more leave. How do you keep in health? Has your cold quite gone. I am beginning to feel better now, 2 months of ups and downs in bad health. I expect you have plenty of snow drops about and crocuses this time in the year if you have more time to enjoy the country ..to the.. and send love and down your handkerchiefs I sent them off with this letter I have done the woolies and will send them on Monday Love from us all your loving Mother xxx P.S So sorry were all broke this week George but mum and I will send you some fags in a few days Con. [Connie Toller] |
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