Post by Diarist on May 15, 2016 13:30:50 GMT 1
It was about 11:30 this morning when we finally landed on English soil - great to be home - and Sally was waiting with our Citroën. There was also a TRADOC Hillman for General Gort to take him and Patton to our HQ while Sally and I went to Aldershot to present our condolences to Mike Franklin's widow but since I didn't know the home address I went to HQ, 2nd Infantry Division first. I had a 10 minute conversation with the GOC, MG Wavell, then drove to the Franklin home. It wasn't easy for me, it being my first time. I gave her a couple letters that Mike had written 'in case' and asked her what plans she had. Her parents live in Bromley, Kent and she hopes to get a job as a teacher. I told her that I have contacts at the City of London University and Sally told her that her father teaches at King's College, London so maybe we could help her find a good position.
We then drove to London's Savile Row to order a couple of tailored Service Dress uniforms at Hawkes & Co., plus one prêt-à-porter to wear before the other two arrive. A new job means new uniforms and they weren't cheap either. No doubt working at the MoD means I'll need buy a Mess Dress uniform. In Aldershot I had called the solicitors in London to arrange an appointment. We will be meeting people at the Gresham Club at 8 o'clock this evening. It's near to Cannon Street railway station so I knew how to get there. We then drove to Sally's parents in Bromley where she could get changed in to something gorgeous and I could make myself fresh and put on my new uniform with ribbons. I already had their blessing to marry Sally but they were more than a little surprised when I said that we plan to fly to Scotland with Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson next weekend to get married at Gretna Green. We also plan a large celebration in London in the first week of November for family, friends and colleagues. It will be a large affair, hopefully in Westminster Hall. It will be an ecumenical event so we'll be inviting a vicar, a rabbi and an imam to give a ceremony. They realized that we had everything planned so they didn't try to talk us out of it.
At the Gresham Club we were led to a table where Edward Mitchell Jr. introduced himself and added that he is my biological father. I wasn't really surprised because of the advance warning. His twin son John has a moustache but without it one could see a resemblance between us. I introduced Sally as his future daughter-in-law and we talked about our marriage plans, etc. until John and Robert Mitchell arrived. I had already met John at Supermarine Aviation Company and Robert Mitchell revealed himself as the author of the paper suggesting the conversion of former heavy cruisers to light aircraft-carriers. There is a third son, Edward Mitchell III, who works in New York in the banking business. We had a fine dinner and since a suite had been reserved for us at the Dorchester I indulged in some good wine and fine Cognac afterwards.
Sally and Edward Mitchell left the table so that John, Robert and I could talk business and my 'father' could get to know the new member of the family. They explained the reason behind the 25th birthday decision. It was intended that I be allowed to develop without the knowledge of my inheritance and when I think about it I agree with the decision. Eventually I will own 25% of the London and Midlands Bank but at the moment each of the four sons, including me, own a quarter of half the bank. Edward Jr. owns the other half. I have also inherited one third of the huge Vickers-Armstrong conglomerate and they are hoping that I become head of Land Forces Division. John and Robert head the Air and Naval Divisions. The Bank has up to £100 million earmarked for A-W's expansion. It was all very overwhelming and I declined to make a decision without having time to think about. I want to stay in uniform and told them that I'll be part of Winston Churchill's staff in October and I need to inquire how much civilian obligations I can have while still serving in the Army.
I also mentioned my original plan to create a firm with a few colleagues to produce ordnance which we believe the armed forces need. We are heading towards a massive war with potentially Germany, Japan and Russia all at the same time and in TRADOC were are striving to prevent our limited resources from being squandered on useless designs. I have an important position and I can't imagine leaving to work in private industry. We arranged to meet at our new house over the weekend then Sally and I were driven to the Dorchester. Our Citroën would be there in the morning. Still not sleeping in my own bed but I'm not alone tonight.