Letter to Leonard Haworth

Letter to Leonard Haworth

Victor writes about his friendship with Leonard, timing of letters and his fear that one of them will be killed or wounded. He discusses books, films and the postponement of military service for students.

1940-01-23

One stamped addressed envelope and six hand written sheets

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EKnoxVDHaworthAL400123

[postmark] 24 Jan 1940

[postage stamp]

A. Leonard Haworth, Esq.

Whitelands.

516 Queens Drive,

Little Bispham

Blackpool.

Lanes

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99 Granville Avenue

West Hartlepool

Co. Durham

23rd Jan 1940

My Dear Leonard,

Why all this familiarity all of a sudden - referring to me by my Christian name! I thought that during my visit, my surname flowed from your tongue more easily!!

I see you failed to write on Sunday. Can’t even allow me an hour and half a week! But now, I am even going to ask you to tie yourself up more securely. Will you increase your letters from two a fortnight to three a fortnight? I really do enjoy receiving letters from you even if they don’t contain very much news. They do make me happy. I have worked it out but [underlined] you [/underlined] must keep to schedule. Your letters must be posted [underlined] before[/underlined] the last post of each day mentioned. You write on a Friday – I receive it some time

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on Saturday and reply to it either on Saturday or Sunday. This letter will reach you on Monday, having you Monday night and Tuesday in which to reply. I now receive your letter on Wednesday and I reply so that it reaches you by Saturday morning at the latest; and so on and on.

[Diagram explaining letter sending]

I’ll hope you’ll do this as it only entails another hour a fortnight, which isn’t much, seeing that I don’t see you except at very rare intervals. (A bit complicated but if you read it slowly you may get the exact meaning.)

You will see from the above that [underlined] I [/underlined] am the “driver” in our friendship. You know you can’t get rid of me as quickly as what you may think you can! Remember Santa Claus is keeping an eye on you! (And that does [underlined] not [/underlined] mean he is a member of your household!)

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As said in my last letter – I thoroughly enjoyed the last time I spent over in Blackpool. Besides your pleasant company which I now take for granted (and so can you) I took a great liking to your Mother, Father, Derek and Jean. In your mother you have a loving person and I am sure that when she chides you about Jean she is only thinking about your welfare and success, and [inserted] her remarks [/inserted] are not caused, as you think, through jealousy of stealing your affections. And so I warn you go steady in this direction or there will be a big “bust up” over it in the near future. These are words of advice from an independent source – I hope you’ll take them in the same sense in which they are given – viz to keep the peace, and to prevent harsh words and hurt feelings. Perhaps I am encroaching into family affairs too much – if so, please excuse me.

If you receive this on Wednesday the 24th look at the moon and you will see as I said at the R.A.F camp at Singleton that the same

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moon is full on this date and not on the 14th as was suggested by Jean.

As for Dicey – I have finished it – in a fashion – I have finished it but I can honestly say I do not know it. I must also confess that I did not do the answers to the questions without the Points to Note and occasionally the Book itself. You will see from this that when I say I am going to get a thing done I do so even if it means; as it did do, working Sat morning, Sun morning and Sun afternoon.

I am now waiting for Law Notes Library to send me Leage when I shall start on that. Are you buying your books? And by the way what edition of Dicey did you study? Mine was last edited in 1914 and printed in 1920. I thought it seemed very much out of date in lots of places and as I got the book out of the University of London Library I am hoping that they sent me the latest edition of this book. I suggest [underlined] next [/underlined] Thursday for the sending in of our next Test.

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And I don’t like your suggestion, sir, that I, too, would disgrace myself by not keeping to schedule. [underlined] I make [/underlined] time, while others waste it!!

I am afraid my attraction for Merle Oberon is not as great as yours. I personally think she looks old and at times a half-caste. I saw her last Saturday in “the Lion has Wings”. This seems to be the only thing I have done since I returned, and so you will see that although I cannot fill my letter with news I have filled it with general topics (Please copy.)

If you think about your parents’ remarks about me you will find that though I go up on the scales of favour at present, if a choice had to be made between us, I know who would win. Parents are all alike. So take heart, but remember that although you can take it (or so [underlined] you [/underlined] say) “you can’t take it with you”.

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As you will have found out by now. I have enclosed 6d in stamps to cover cost of postage on books left through my negligence. Remember we are paying our own expenses so don’t send them back.

You don’t mention whether or not you have had any snow. It has been thick over here since last Tuesday morning. 1.A.M.

Through reading Dicey I haven’t had much time to read “Rovering etc.” But from what I have read (about 2/3) it seems that that it is a book all lads should read and I thank you for putting me on to it. It appears that what I have always said in words now appears in print.

I have a dread fear that one of us will be either killed or severely wounded in this war. I don’t know what it is that makes me feel this way but I certainly hope that this will not be the case, as I want to come and visit you and you

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to reciprocate the visits coming to see me even when you are married. Can’t you see that’s why I keep in with Jean!! Ha, ha, ha.

Trevor seems to be making up for lost time as regards drinking. Last Saturday morning he gave me half a crown and a short while after I found my bike missing. – Payment for use, I expect. He then didn’t come home for lunch until after 3o’clock (turning out time 2.30) and he brought in with him a large box of Terrys Chocolates for mother and 20 cigarettes for father – I suppose these were peace offerings.

I heard on the wireless last night that Military Service will only be postponed and then at the maximum of 9 months, if the student has been studying [underlined] a year [/underlined] and of the exam is a critical one in his career. So I can only hope now that I am not called up before my 20th birthday. If I am called up before, I shall have wasted my spring and summer – if not I

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shall at least get the satisfaction of sitting the exam even if the result is unfavourable.

I asked father about Smethursts and he said he had never heard of them. He takes no interest evidently in these one-horse town timber merchants.

I shall let you have a copy of the photographs as soon as the last shot is taken.

I should also like you to do me a favour by getting yourself “polyphotoed” just so I can have a copy. I know you are not keen on having your photo taken but I wish you would make an exception for once, for me.

Hoping to hear from you this Saturday.

Yours, “Knox”

“One good turn deserves another.”

Old Proverb.