Post by Diarist on Jun 26, 2016 18:36:10 GMT 1
George was already there when I arrived at our 'Club'. He was sitting with Luigi, Carla and Lucy. I ordered a beer then joined them and said 'Good morning' in three different languages. "Finished your shopping?" George asked.
"Yes, to the satisfaction of my Commanding General at home and I've received a lunchtime pass."
"Anything planned this weekend, Bob."
"I'm planning a quiet weekend at home, Luigi. I have a couple of letters to write and I want to pack my gear. I also want to rig my parachute if the lawn is dry tomorrow."
"You have your own parachute?"
"I have two. I also have my own Thompson SMG at home. You don't, George?"
"I have my ivory-handled revolvers. I always carry two hand guns. Ever since my encounter with the Pancho Villa thugs in Mexico when I was a Lieutenant."
"Did Gertrude do well last night?" I asked Lucy.
"She had problems with the language but the guests were very nice to her. You know that she isn't my real daughter?"
"I know and I think it's wonderful how you've adopted her. She has the opportunity for a new start in life here. Away from the bad memories. I almost forgot that you had post this morning," and gave her a letter I found in the courier mail.
She read it and gave it to me. "He really likes the house and can't wait to see it."
"You didn't tell him the price?"
"No."
"You can afford it and it's a good investment. I've located a couple of people to build whatever we need at our allotment. I've said we'll talk after the exercise."
"You told Manfred that Irvine will be home next weekend."
"He should be, but it's not certain."
"Bob, isn't that RAF officer from yesterday afternoon?" George asked.
"Yes, it is. Excuse me."
"Good morning, Sir. I see you've passed the navigation test."
"Good morning. It was too easy. This is Flying Officer Gordon Allen. He runs my Storage Section."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Bob Carter and I'll be jumping out of one of your aircraft. Are they treating you well at Duxford."
"Yes they are. Although it's more like a building site than an airfield."
"Part of the RAF expansion programme. They have big plans for the base. There will be several satellite airfields too. What are you drinking?"
"So this is the Officer's Club?"
"Unofficially. We have a lot of foreign personnel in TRADOC and they stay here until they find other accommodation. The food is good and the restaurant also has tables in the garden."
Gertrude arrived with today's menu. "Good afternoon, would you like to order food?" She asked.
"Would you like to order something to eat?" I corrected her. "I'm eating at home but maybe our two guests are hungry." I said in German.
Gordon Allen ordered pork chops in German. Bill Sowrey ordered roast beef but then asked what vegetables they have. So I translated. Green beans, then she asked, "Roast potatoes or sauté?"
"She's from Germany. Her family is from Cameroun, the former German colony. After the war they returned to Germany but they don't like Hitler and the Nazis so they moved to England recently. Her father was a LTC in the Wehrmacht." I told them of his achievements in the last war against the Italians and that he is an excellent tactician.
George came to say goodbye before leaving. "Will you be here tomorrow?"
"Not at lunchtime. Wallis is coming to lunch. Edward made it through the first week. That's a good sign."
Sally arrived. "Have you come to drag me home?" I asked her.
"No. Tomorrow's roast is prepared so I decided to join you here." I introduced her and added that Gordon speaks German.
"My mother is from Colmar in Alsace. She met my father during the last war when she was a nurse. The fell in love and got married. Where are you from?"
"My family is from Berlin. We're Jewish and with the rise of the Nazis we moved here four years ago. I'm glad we left."
"I can imagine that."
"Friends have written how bad things are now. They can't say too much because they are afraid that the Gestapo will read their letters then punish them. Have you finished your letter to Germany?"
"Almost. I just need to include the invitations for Admiral Canaris, COL Guderian, LTC Rommel and their wives. They were here in August, remember?"
"I remember them."
"Sally and I were unofficial interpreters for some German panzer officers who visited TRADOC. We showed them our useless designs not the good stuff. None of them were Nazis, simply colleagues. We soldiers don't start the wars. It's the politicians and diplomats."
"So we're heading for war in your opinion?" Bill Sowrey.
"The only way to avoid one is for the Germans to overthrow Hitler and his cronies and that is highly unlikely."
"Your General has just arrived," Bill pointed out.
"Good afternoon. Do you have room for a small guy."
"Of course. This is Gordon Allen, the 70th's Storage Officer."
"I was hoping to invite you two to lunch tomorrow."
"Too late. We already have something planned. Wallis Simpson is invited tomorrow," Sally answered.
"...and Edward has survived the first week at Catterick so we're celebrating."
"Bring her too."
"The roast has already been prepared."
"Roast it this afternoon for dinner and eat the rest on Monday."
"Who else will be there, Sir?"
"I wondered when you would ask that. The secretary of the local golf club, he might grant you membership."
"Could you invite George and Beatrice? George wants to play golf too."
"That can be arranged. Don't tell George but Malin Craig will be flying with me on Wednesday."
"Who's Malin Craig?"
"GEN Malin Craig is the new U.S. Army Chief of Staff."
"And two of our commanders in the exercise are U.S. Americans. That's really going to please him! The third brigade is led by a Canadian. I told you that we are very international at TRADOC," I said to our RAF colleagues.
"Where are all the British personnel?"
"I'm giving my junior officers a chance to show what they can do. They'll be commanders in the next conflict. Our potential allies need to learn the new tricks of the trade too."
"Well, I have a roast to take care of if it's our dinner today. What time tomorrow, Sir?"
"12 o'clock would be fine."
"I'll be at Duxford Monday morning. Enjoy your weekend. Until tomorrow, Sir."
"Yes, to the satisfaction of my Commanding General at home and I've received a lunchtime pass."
"Anything planned this weekend, Bob."
"I'm planning a quiet weekend at home, Luigi. I have a couple of letters to write and I want to pack my gear. I also want to rig my parachute if the lawn is dry tomorrow."
"You have your own parachute?"
"I have two. I also have my own Thompson SMG at home. You don't, George?"
"I have my ivory-handled revolvers. I always carry two hand guns. Ever since my encounter with the Pancho Villa thugs in Mexico when I was a Lieutenant."
"Did Gertrude do well last night?" I asked Lucy.
"She had problems with the language but the guests were very nice to her. You know that she isn't my real daughter?"
"I know and I think it's wonderful how you've adopted her. She has the opportunity for a new start in life here. Away from the bad memories. I almost forgot that you had post this morning," and gave her a letter I found in the courier mail.
She read it and gave it to me. "He really likes the house and can't wait to see it."
"You didn't tell him the price?"
"No."
"You can afford it and it's a good investment. I've located a couple of people to build whatever we need at our allotment. I've said we'll talk after the exercise."
"You told Manfred that Irvine will be home next weekend."
"He should be, but it's not certain."
"Bob, isn't that RAF officer from yesterday afternoon?" George asked.
"Yes, it is. Excuse me."
"Good morning, Sir. I see you've passed the navigation test."
"Good morning. It was too easy. This is Flying Officer Gordon Allen. He runs my Storage Section."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Bob Carter and I'll be jumping out of one of your aircraft. Are they treating you well at Duxford."
"Yes they are. Although it's more like a building site than an airfield."
"Part of the RAF expansion programme. They have big plans for the base. There will be several satellite airfields too. What are you drinking?"
"So this is the Officer's Club?"
"Unofficially. We have a lot of foreign personnel in TRADOC and they stay here until they find other accommodation. The food is good and the restaurant also has tables in the garden."
Gertrude arrived with today's menu. "Good afternoon, would you like to order food?" She asked.
"Would you like to order something to eat?" I corrected her. "I'm eating at home but maybe our two guests are hungry." I said in German.
Gordon Allen ordered pork chops in German. Bill Sowrey ordered roast beef but then asked what vegetables they have. So I translated. Green beans, then she asked, "Roast potatoes or sauté?"
"She's from Germany. Her family is from Cameroun, the former German colony. After the war they returned to Germany but they don't like Hitler and the Nazis so they moved to England recently. Her father was a LTC in the Wehrmacht." I told them of his achievements in the last war against the Italians and that he is an excellent tactician.
George came to say goodbye before leaving. "Will you be here tomorrow?"
"Not at lunchtime. Wallis is coming to lunch. Edward made it through the first week. That's a good sign."
Sally arrived. "Have you come to drag me home?" I asked her.
"No. Tomorrow's roast is prepared so I decided to join you here." I introduced her and added that Gordon speaks German.
"My mother is from Colmar in Alsace. She met my father during the last war when she was a nurse. The fell in love and got married. Where are you from?"
"My family is from Berlin. We're Jewish and with the rise of the Nazis we moved here four years ago. I'm glad we left."
"I can imagine that."
"Friends have written how bad things are now. They can't say too much because they are afraid that the Gestapo will read their letters then punish them. Have you finished your letter to Germany?"
"Almost. I just need to include the invitations for Admiral Canaris, COL Guderian, LTC Rommel and their wives. They were here in August, remember?"
"I remember them."
"Sally and I were unofficial interpreters for some German panzer officers who visited TRADOC. We showed them our useless designs not the good stuff. None of them were Nazis, simply colleagues. We soldiers don't start the wars. It's the politicians and diplomats."
"So we're heading for war in your opinion?" Bill Sowrey.
"The only way to avoid one is for the Germans to overthrow Hitler and his cronies and that is highly unlikely."
"Your General has just arrived," Bill pointed out.
"Good afternoon. Do you have room for a small guy."
"Of course. This is Gordon Allen, the 70th's Storage Officer."
"I was hoping to invite you two to lunch tomorrow."
"Too late. We already have something planned. Wallis Simpson is invited tomorrow," Sally answered.
"...and Edward has survived the first week at Catterick so we're celebrating."
"Bring her too."
"The roast has already been prepared."
"Roast it this afternoon for dinner and eat the rest on Monday."
"Who else will be there, Sir?"
"I wondered when you would ask that. The secretary of the local golf club, he might grant you membership."
"Could you invite George and Beatrice? George wants to play golf too."
"That can be arranged. Don't tell George but Malin Craig will be flying with me on Wednesday."
"Who's Malin Craig?"
"GEN Malin Craig is the new U.S. Army Chief of Staff."
"And two of our commanders in the exercise are U.S. Americans. That's really going to please him! The third brigade is led by a Canadian. I told you that we are very international at TRADOC," I said to our RAF colleagues.
"Where are all the British personnel?"
"I'm giving my junior officers a chance to show what they can do. They'll be commanders in the next conflict. Our potential allies need to learn the new tricks of the trade too."
"Well, I have a roast to take care of if it's our dinner today. What time tomorrow, Sir?"
"12 o'clock would be fine."
"I'll be at Duxford Monday morning. Enjoy your weekend. Until tomorrow, Sir."