Letter : Egg and Chips in Naples

Introduction

My uncle, Allan Stoddart died in 2004 leaving a widow, Jean with many happy memories and a collection of war time letters he had written, some photographs, diaries and memorabilia. Allan had wanted to tell his story and maybe he did tell some of it but it was never recorded. Jean has given me his letters and so far I have transcribed those written to my parents, Florence and Bill and a few to Allan’s mother. Using extracts from some of the letters, photographs and memorabilia and information from diaries, a small glimpse of his story is now told. Jean and I understand the site’s terms and conditions.

Allan enlisted in Dundee in January 1940 and was UK based until he sailed on the troop ship, S.S. Almanzora with the 5th Division Signals to India in March 1942. Over the next 3 years, the war took him from India to Iraq, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Sicily (landings), Italy (including Anzio), Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Palestine, Italy, Palestine, Italy, (home leave), Belgium, Germany. The 5th Division moved about so much they were nicknamed the “Cooks Tour Mob”.

This Letter

From diary entries, Allan wrote this letter from Anzio. They were to remain at the beach-head until 5 June before moving out and eventually reaching Rome on 21 June 1944. Allan’s diary mentions that he lived in a dug out and that they were subjected to air-raids and shelling by Jerry while at Anzio.

Letter

2332853
L/Cpl Stoddart A
“B” Section, No. 1 Company
5th Div. Signal
C.M.F.

18 March 1944

Dear Florence and Bill,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I wrote home yesterday and spoke of a visit to Naples with Wilf some time ago. It is a very expensive place for a British soldier and no doubt at the present time for the average Italian civilian too, although you can be certain that the same average Italian civilian will take all he can from the British Tommy and want more. I did not see much of the town itself and had only a passing glimpse of the harbour but I imagine that the view from the sea with Vesuvius in the background would be very fine and as I remarked in my letter home it is a view I’m longing to see from the blunt end of a homeward-bound ship. The main streets of Naples itself do not differ greatly from those of any large town although I noticed there were fewer big windowed shops and more stalls on the paving, the latter selling a large variety of rubbish. “Food and drink” is dear, like everything else. Many of the “Civvies” have converted their homes into restaurants, or more aptly, eating —houses, where they serve the British or American soldier with egg and chips and affability, for the sum of 5/- a time. The back streets are hardly worth wandering around, and look the type of places where it would appear advisable to walk in the middle of the road, although such would not really be necessary, for there again, the soldier is welcomed with open arms. There are plenty of “cafes” (which do sell black coffee) plenty of trains, plenty of smartly-dressed women, and plenty of noise.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Pour moi”, I am keeping very fit and to use the well worn phrase “making the most of things”. Our cherished fires are no longer necessary. Nor is the “casee” which we built amongst the ruins. I have been reading a book or two and last night Thack taught me the rudiments of chess by a process of literally wiping the board with me. Chess would be a good game to play in old age.
Otherwise there’s not much to write about. My own surroundings at the moment are pleasant enough, although not of the finest I have seen. If I could, I would describe everything to you in detail and hope that you would be interested. But “later” is the watch cry.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Allan

Previous letter > Letter : Spring is almost upon us
Next letter > Letter : “We have no time to bury you”

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.