My dearest Ingrid

1st April 1940

My dearest Ingrid,

I was so happy to receive your latest correspondence, I keep every letter you write safe in my satchel! I hope your Mother is well and your Father, I hope his flu has shifted somewhat since you last wrote! Please send him my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Yes thank you for the Birthday greetings, yesterday as you know I turned 19 a damn sight different from last years celebrations, do you remember Ingrid, Bobby Fletcher from 2 doors down that night, he’d had more than a nightcap or two, could barely string a sentence together? He’d mistook the Bobby on patrol for his old Pa, jumped on his back and sent him gambolling down the road! He winded up in a cell for the rest of the evening! Oh how that still makes me chuckle! The trenches are lonely Ingrid, how I long to be back home celebrating with you all! I miss your sweet presence and the touch of your skin! I long for the day this is over and I can hold you in my arms again! I am upset that I haven’t felt our baby kick and you get to feel them all! Make sure you keep telling that little one how much their daddy loves them, how radiant you must look, I suppose you will be fit to burst soon? I await the potential news of our new bundle in your next letter, it keeps me going, please look after yourself my love, you and the baby must be safe!

We’re heading off out to Norway tomorrow, they need foot soldiers on the ground! I'm trying to keep track of events back home, word around camp is that Chamberlain may be out if there is a Norway invasion! That means Churchill’s in, I’m praying Ingrid, we need someone behind us with military ability, a leader to see us through these dark days! The trenches Ingrid they are so dark. I lay awake at night in the dark getting solstice only from the night sky above. Staring out at the night skies, and if we’re lucky and the sky is clear, I stare at the same moon I know you can see. Five long months now away from you all. Give my Mama a kiss from her boy for me.

Love always,

Your loving husband Albert

May 12th 1940

My darling Albert,

How relived I was to receive yet another response from you, I anxiously await your return letter every day! I believe that have you not already been informed your wish for a military leader has been granted. Churchill was appointed as primeminister just 2 days ago! There is a buzz about Albert, just like you said, people believe he is the one to get us through these dark days. Father is much better now, Mother seems to have contracted the same ailment and is currently resting up, so that she is fighting fit for the arrival of our baby. No sign as of yet, radiant I would argue to the contrary, fit to burst however is much more accurate. I am unsure whether we are growing a child or a baby elephant at this point. I have enclosed a photograph I had taken in the village early this week, you can see for yourself! Whilst in the village I went down to the seamstresses and she had finished the gown for baby Albert, oh it is just beautiful, I only hope you are home in time to see our baby in it! Else I suppose another photograph will suffice.

My sweet Albert how I long to see you again and hear your voice, for us all to be together as a family and safe in our home, together! The days all roll into one long wait, waiting for this all to be over. I can't help but feel down hearted Albert that you won't be here when baby arrives, although Mother is here and your Mama, it's not the same, I want you!

The papers today also talk about how Germany have now invaded Belgium, please I pray let this end!

Your Mama is asking if your socks are dry and if you are eating enough? I am asking for you to look at that moon every night you can my love, and know that I too am staring at it, I will wait, every night staring at that moon until you are right beside me staring at it too!

Doctor Harris confirms baby will be here any day now, I have no doubt by the next time I write little Edna or Edward will be here, don't worry my Albert by the time you are home they will know you better than you know you! Every day I will tell them all about their heroic daddy. Every day they will be reminded of you!

Stay safe my love,

Love always,

Your doting wife Ingrid

May 20th 1940

My dearest Ingrid,

I was delighted to recieve such a quick response this time around, yes Churchill is now our leader, the troops morale has been boosted and we continue to fight for King and for country, and for our loved ones to whom we hold so dear! I am alive with the excitement that our little Edna or Edward must be here now, I know you will have done me proud Ingrid. If I was a betting man I would say right now we have a little Edna. I can picture you both my beautiful girls, however should it be an Edward, I will fight even harder so that my son never has to endure the sacrifice of war.

Ingrid my graceful, beautiful wife. How stunning do you look in this photograph, and you are all mine, and my baby in your stomach blossoming. I am the luckiest man alive!

Tell Mama yes my socks are dry, also please tell her I received the package, it was wrapped in brown paper and tied very carefully with string, I recognised her handwriting straight away. I strongly appreciate the mint humbugs and the dry socks, the drum of whisky didn't go amiss either! The chocolate I did share with Percy, she loves Percy so I know she won't mind!

Tomorrow we head out to Dunkirk, we are to help defend France!

I’ve been staring at the moon every night Ingrid, with immense comfort that you are too.

Love always,

Your loving husband Albert

May 26th 1940

My darling Albert,

I hope the enclosed photograph puts the biggest smile on your face, I would like to introduce you to our beautiful daughter Edna Rose Charlsey. Born the day after I last wrote, the labour was hard work and daunting but Mother and your Mama, along with Sister Nancy helped me through every step for the safe arrival of our beautiful girl. She has a such a calm temperament for such a small baby, and is quite content once fed. She has already heard so much about her daddy and she has so much yet to hear! She makes the funniest noises Albert I wish there was a way you could hear them.

This has been the most bittersweet moment of my life dampened only by the fact you were not here, but I am proud of the battle you are fighting for us all back at home.

Your flattery is most kind my sweet, but alas right now I feel anything but graceful, I managed a walk down to the village with Edna yesterday, everybody stopped for a nosey, quite the spectacle a new baby, so it seems.

Father has just called me in as there's an announcement on the wireless, so I will have to cut this one short, I fear his bellowing may wake our sweet baby girl!

Very quickly your Mama is glad you received the package. She does not mind you sharing with Percy in the slightest.

Please write back as soon as you can, Me and Edna will be awaiting your reply, until then we will be staring at the moon,

Love always,

Your doting wife Ingrid and your precious baby girl Edna Rose

May 27th 1940

My darling Albert,

I need to know you're ok, they are saying the beaches have been invaded at Dunkirk and that there's no way off for the English troops. This silence prolonged by the fact that it takes at least a week to hear a reply is soul destroying. Albert I love you with all my heart, I am beside myself with worry. I don't even know how or when this letter will find you, I just need to know Albert that you are still staring at that moon, knowing that me and Edna are staring too! All I can do now is pray and have faith that you are ok.

Love always,

Your doting wife Ingrid and your precious baby girl Edna Rose

June 5th 1940

My dearest Ingrid and my little miracle Edna,

In all my life I have never been as terrified as I have the last 10 days, I have been to the depths of hell and beyond or so it feels. Please know that I am alive, I have taken some damage in the form of a bullet to the leg but otherwise unscathed. Said injury renders me unfit for action, I am currently receiving treatment in a war hospital just south of London. This means Ingrid my darling you will be back in my arms next week. I am coming home.

I am struggling to write much, my energy is depleted and the exertion of the last 10 days awe consuming.

I want to thank you not only for bringing my beautiful daughter into this world safely, but for also staring back at the moon, this thought and this thought alone, of you and my darling baby staring at the same moon as me, on the darkest days I have ever seen, this is what got me through.

Until next week my love,

Your loving safe husband Albert