Transcript of St Johnston's letter to his parents
My dear people,
Please excuse pencil, but it’s 4.0AM, and I have run out of ink. Am not sleeping well at the moment. I suppose it is excitement – and so I am writing a few letters. Am having a great rush & this seems a good opportunity of letting you know the position.
To start at the beginning. We had a lovely three days last week on the river. We had the greatest difficulty in finding a bed as Thames valley is full of evacuees. We eventually found a very pleasant pub beside the river at Henley. They could not keep us on Friday night so we moved to a country club where Walter Thompson lives. There, incidentally, just as we were sitting down to write our birthday letters to you, we suddenly discovered that the post left at a very early hour & I had to scuttle to the post to send you a hurried P.C.
I returned to town on Saturday fully 100% fit, only to get involved that evening in a rather serious fight, during the course of which I was on the ground being kicked by six or seven very tough gentlemen. Luckily I got away with a few bruises & a badly cut mouth. So I looked a pretty sight for Oxford!! I was on the sick list Sunday & Monday.
There were six of us on the short list at Oxford. The C.C of the Isle of Wight: the C.C of Leamington: Police Regional Officer for N.E. England: a prison governor: John Skilting & myself.
We each had ¼ hour interview with the Standing Joint Committee – a group of very dowdy looking old gentlemen – none of whom seemed to have any sense of humour. I didn’t feel my particular interview was a great success. However after we had all be interviewed we six all sat for half an hour chatting away – me quite certain that it was N.B.G. – & quite reconciled to it – when suddenly they came in & asked me to return to the Committee Room. When they offered me the job I was so elated that words completely failed me & I’m afraid I just gaped!
Everyone has been very nice to me, and they will I think be very helpful. They want me to start as early as possible so I spent most of yesterday at the Yard trying to fix it up. I am going up to Oxford tonight (Wednesday) & shall start tomorrow.
My address is County Constabulary H.Q, Oxford.
I have a very amusing little force. 6 Superintendents, 3 Inspectors, 20 Sergeants, and 200 P.Cs!! Except for the Supts, it’s just half of what I’ve got now.
It’s a lovely county & we ought to be able to find a nice country cottage. The question is complicated by the fact that the County is full of evacuees & aerodromes. I have to be within 10 miles of Oxford – or if in Berkshire (ie West of Oxford) within 3 miles.
Have had a number of wires & letters, including one from “Essie and Wendel Mindersohn”. Who is that please? Is it Mr & Mrs Mindlesohn from Augusta Rd or Norfolk Rd. If so, what is their correct address?
Mrs W has sent me a very handsome cheque as a little present. It will do me very well to clear up everything in London.
I am having her car for a few months until I decide what car to have permanently.
I am so happy about this job for your sake. You gave up so much to give me a good education, and your ever ready help & friendship has always been a great inspiration, while your steadfast faith during this last few years when I have been so despondent about ever getting a decent job has been a grand tonic. Thank you so much, both of you. I do realise so well how much I owe to you.
It’s good that we are going to be living so much closer.
Give me a week or so to get settled in and we must then meet.
Au revoir,
Eric
P.S. Have you let Mary know?
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Preface
Introduction
Police & WWII
The Blitz
A Volunteer
Modern Echoes
Work Sheets
Resources
Acknowledgements