Message 1 - Letters From the Battle Field
These are the two letters that Paddy / Pat sent to his younger brother who was serving in the war also at the time in the Royal Navy.
2390778 Tpr Ketteridge. P.
2nd Fife & Forfar Yeo R.A.C.
“B” Squadron
A.P.O. England
3-6-44.
Dear Den,
It seems sometime since I last wrote
you, and I believe I owe you a letter or so.
I heard from home today and so got your
new address, they say you don’t like it so much
as you were settled down on a ship. It’s a
blooming nuisance keep shifting you isn’t it.
I hope you are fit and things aren’t
to bad for you, I’m well and doing about
the same.
It id difficult to find something to write
about, as news is so scarce.
Everyone at home is well, but I daresay
you’ve heard from them.
What is the idea of leaving the ship, are
- 2 —
you on a further course, if so I’ll bet you are
fed up with it, seeing as how you had just
got going on the practical side.
Well Den, I guess that’s about all, but
a few lines are preferable to none I suppose,
so cheerio, and take care of yourself, and I’ll
be glad to hear from you anytime.
With love.
Pat
The next letter sent to Denis Pat had been promoted to L/Corporal on the 19.07.44
2390778 L/Cpl Ketteridge. P.
2nd Fife & Forfar Yeo .A.C. “B” Squadron
B.L.A.
25th July 1944.
Dear Den,
Many thanks for your letter I received
recently, and am glad to hear you are well again.
I’ve been out here for some time now, pretty well
from the start, and have been in action. Believe
me it is hellish, and I’ve lost some of my pals.
The Germans I have encountered are mostly young
lads of 16-19, absolute fanatics, and to die seems
their least worry. I got a dagger off one prisoner
and am keeping it as a souvenir.
I think I’ve experienced about everything
out here, and I’ve had some narrow escapes,
having to bale out of my tank in one action,
but still I’m in one piece and cheerful.
The towns and Villages out here are an
absolute wreck, nothing but death & ruin in
these places. I saw the mass bombing of Caen
before the attack it was a marvellous sight and
it must have shaken “Jerry”.
I don’t know whether this recent unrest
will amount to anything in Germany, but I
should imagine it is the beginning of the out,
I see some people complain about our
progress out here, but they want to see the conditions
out here, the weather has been awful, and this
country is dotted with orchards & woods so that
defence for him is easy, and as the front is
narrow he can concentrate on more armour than we
can in Russia owing to the huge front . We have
met the best of his armour and battered them,
some of them veterans of the Russian front. We have to
fight for every yard and it is “bloody”. I’ve
seen our gallant lads fall and it is annoying
reading how people at home grumble. Still I guess
there will always be critics . Well I’ll close and keep
where you are, I wish I had the chance
Drop a line whenever you can, always glad
To hear from you.
Very best wishes.
Love
Paddy.
P.S. I had a good crossing of the channel,
It was a beautiful day & I thoroughly
Enjoyed it.
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