Archives Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2022.50.200.3 |
Object Name |
Letter |
Title |
Letter, Nancy Ward to George Ward, 1943 |
Date |
12 April 1943 |
Year Range from |
1943 |
Year Range to |
1943 |
Description |
Letter (.1-.3) from Nancy Felicia (Howitt) Ward to Major George Everett Ward, dated 12 April 1943. A three-page letter handwritten in blue ink on separate blue Air Letter To Armed Forces forms. The letter reads: Major George E. Ward, No. 1 Canadian Artillery, Reinforcement Unit, Canadian Army Overseas from Mrs. George E. Ward, 221 Woolwich Street, Guelph, Ontario [Page] I April 12th 1943 George My Darling- You must be ready to shoot me because I've been darn slow with this letter - I'm hoping and hoping you haven't had to put up with a lull in the mail Darling - I've tried so many times to get this off ages before this horribly late date but honestly, things have been popping at a terrific rate of speed around 221 and goofy gulf - to finish a letter in one sitting has been an impossibility - but this afternoon I'm not budging till I have this ready to drop in the box. Last Thursday night Di Tidy blew into Guelph. She wanted to stay with me but I got her [to] stay with her Aunt, Mrs. Dixon because I knew Mum; worrying about Aunt Grace and the maid situation such as it is wouldn't take to the idea too well - since Di arrived we have been together morning noon and night - she is leaving on Thursday for Toronto where she is going to spend a week & then back to Montreal. I think she is enjoying her trip immensely but I think she is going to be the death of her 'Deah, old Aunt Rose' before she leaves - Mrs. Dixon is all of 83 & is not used to having young people around - Di has gone out a couple of times with a Dutch officer introduced her to in Montreal in Jan. and although she hasn't been terribly late in getting in at night Aunt Rose can't sleep until she is in so this has caused a few spit fights between Di & Mrs. Dixon. To hear Di describe the little charming set-to's they have have [sic] would make you roar. Mrs. Dixon is a bit of an old bitch anyway but Di apparently has brought this streak in her to the fore the last couple of days. Saturday George and Fiorenza were here for the weekend - George had to speak in Kitchener - their house isn't opened yet so we had to put them up. With people coming & going I feel as though I've been standing on my ear Darling and just hoping things will slow down this week. Sunday Night Marg Rudell Campbell phoned me at 11.30 PM to tell me Ken had phoned her from Dartmouth & she was in a complete tailspin - He had been able to find a boarding house for her & wanted her down right away - Lucky gal - she left this morning for Halifax. Sunday afternoon one of the Dutch officers asked me to go [Page] II for a walk - It was a gorgeous afternoon - warm & sunny - but I thought it would be more fun to go bicycling so after much scurrying around was able to scare up one for Di and Krol. We bicycled nearly to Rockwood - when we got back we were pretty exhausted but revived ourselves with a couple of beers and listened to the radio & played a lot of old records. Last night Mum went up to Georgie Frasers for dinner & to play bridge. She knew Dr. Wookie was going to operate on Aunt Grace sometime this week so phoned Uncle Teddy last night to find out if he knew exactly when - Dr. Wookie had decided to operate this afternoon at 2 - so Mum whipped off to Toronto [Page] III early this morning - God! I hope everything goes all right - If anything happens to Aunt Grace Darling Mother will go crazy - We have all noticed a terrific change in Mum - She is so tired & with all this worry about Aunt Grace it has been extremely hard on her. I am hoping I'll be able to persuade her to take a little trip some where [when] things have cleared a bit because it will do her a world of good & just what she needs. The postie came through wonderfully well last week Darling - He hasn't been so kind to me in a long time - Your marvelous 'blue forms' of the 3rd 7th 13th and 22nd and your air mail letter of the 27th Feb - I am continuing this Darling so here's hoping they come together. [Page] II Darling I was thrilled to hear the bedroom slippers turned up all right and that they fit & are the right colour - It was Betty Kynock who gave me the match folders. I thought they were attractive too. What about your blazer? - I am sure you should have it by now - if it didn't go down. About not increasing the assigned pay until you're confirmed Darling it is perfectly okay with me. Darling I am so glad you are liking it at CARU better than you did because I hated the thought of your not liking it & being unhappy. It is amazing you have been there nearly four months now! Mother had a peach of a letter from Tommy Bell last week - simply exuding happiness - and he said a lot of nice things about you too Darling - which I know but never [tire] of hearing. Damn and double damn I've just upset the ink well & the ink is running all over my desk - will have to do a little bit of rescue work here Sweetie --- 5 min later. Well I certainly did a good job - got it over everything but my letter! Monday morning I think everyone was nearly fit to be tied - we got 4" of snow - again! Just when we thought spring was here to stay. We have put in the longest, coldest winter Sweetie and now I don't care if I never see snow again. Thanks Darling for the little treatise on "inhuman nature" by Ogden Nash - I still like his things - nuts as they are. And I loved your joke about the lady who went to the zoo to see the monkeys - very good Darling & don't forget to send out some more - Di has two wonderful ones but they are too long to tell & they are the kind which are better when told than written - one is about a joe with a cleft palate & my cousin has got it down pat for this story - I got her to tell them & Fiorenza & Mum and I thought the two of them would roll off their chairs. Darling I got a terrible blow last week & I don't know whether you've heard - you can't imagine how hard I find it to tell you - Nip May was killed in action out in N. Africa - and George Corkett was wounded. I know how this will hit you Darling. My heart just aches for poor Evelyn - and Aileen. Darling I can't say anything more about this. [Page] II Did I tell you Sweetie about the nifty surprise Daddy gave me? - He went to Toronto last Wed. afternoon and bought us a beautiful pair of silver candlel holders at Ward-Prices. I thought it was so cute of him because he kept is [sic] such a secret until they came up the next day & he got me to open the box! I had told him months & months ago that we didn't have a pair & if he every [sic] spotted some in an antique shop when he was wandering around to let me know but never dreamt he would remember. I have them packed away now with our other presents Darling in the cellar & they are fairly howling to be put in action. [Page] III Ooh, Darling you have no idea how I'm missing you and as I've said before I'd have to be two if I were to love you any more. Twenty two long horrible months now and there hasn't been a ray of light thrown on the horizon yet as to when our "someday" is going to pop up. I've been thinking and thinking about joining the C.W.A.C.'s - and nearly did it last week - because as far as I can see this is the ONLY outfit that will rate me a fair chance in getting over within a few months - if at all. (continuing again Darling) [Page] III Aim left her car over here so I had to away & take it over to her. It is a miserable day out - cold, windy & just plain awful. I just remembered Tony Walker told me a couple of weeks ago Sweetie when he was home for a weekend that Bruce Peene has a battery in the 19th Fld up at Petewawa [sic]. Last Monday night we had another St Geo's War Services Group meeting & it makes we shudder because I haven't written up the minutes yet. Canteen on Wednesday night & we weren't very busy so I spent most of my time trying to sew on an artillery badge on a knitting bag which I got Pat Dawson to get for me. It is a peach of a one Darling - dark navy lined with red - an artillery button to fasten it & then the lovely crest - Pat ordered it for me at some place in Toronto. Last week I was forced out of my room for a few days and had to sleep in Aims old room. My room was re wall papered - & painted. Mother bought me a nice bureau & I bought a pair of lamps for it - They really look quite smart & its such a treat to be able to sit down to my bureau instead of having to whisk into the bathroom or Mothers room every time I comb my hair. Diana is coming over for dinner tonight and I think we'll probably get up a hen party tonight. My Darling please don't give these Dutch men a thought - They have brought fun my way occasionally for which I'm mighty glad because I think I'd go coo-coo if there wasn't a break in the monotony of ones existence on this side every now and then. They have thrown a few cocktail parties lately which have been quite fun - and Major Carp is throwing one of Friday afternoon. Have you seen the movie "Random Harvest" Sweetie - It was here for a week - liked it a lot but didn't like it better than Mrs. Miniver. Promised Helen Gamble I would meet her at 4.45 & it is after that now so I must push off here Darling. ALL my love, kisses & hugs to you Darling & the very, very best of luck to you always - Nan |
People |
Bell, Tom Carp, Major Drew, Fiorenza Johnson Drew, George Alexander Dunbar, Amy Grace (Howitt) Saunders, Grace Ward, George Everett Ward, Nancy Felicia (Howitt) |
Search Terms |
No. 1 Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit Woolwich Street World War II |
Subjects |
COMMUNICATION - LETTER LETTERS AND MAILINGS VETERANS WORLD WAR II (WWII) - 1939 -1945 |
Collection |
Archives |