Letter : Christmas Dinner in Armagh

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

Presumably because of censorship restrictions, Allan never mentioned where he was in letters home but from later references, I believe this letter was written while he was serving in Armagh, Northern Ireland and I presume the Christmas Dinner described was at a camp in Armagh.

Letter

Sigmn Stoddart A
“A” Section etc

28 December 1941

Dear Mother,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christmas dinner, which was something worth writing home about.
The tables were laid end to end and the mess-room appropriately decorated, with a large notice at one end in black and white shouting “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” to everyone. After toasting the King and a few other people (including ourselves), in china mugs filled with Naafi beer, dinner was served — served by the officers and sergeants according to custom. We had tomato soup, followed by roast potatoes, roast pork, turkey, apple sauce, brussel sprouts, green peas, Christmas pudding plus custard, mince pies, biscuits and cheese. I sat beside Hoare and Crone. After the Christmas pudding we still felt a little hungry, so we mentioned this to the Regimental Sergeant Major, who obediently fetched another three dinners for us. We decided he was quite human after all apart from the kick we got out of watching the sergeant-major hurrying along with three dinners in accordance with our instructions.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Your loving son,
Allan

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