7364652 Cpl Meddings RJ,

137 Field Ambulance

RAMC

North Western Expeditions Force

Norway

C/0 Army Post Office

8th May 1940

My dearest Mother,

Again the old bulletin – fit and cheerful. About as uncommunicative as the communiqués from the Western Front used to be “nothing to report”, which, of course, may hide a multitude of events. Ah well, I am not trying to be subtle, I am pretty fit and fairly cheerful.

For once, I have something to talk about in my letters. I have had it on my conscience for some time that I may not be pulling my weight in the war.  I am doing this job to the best of my ability, but I still have the feeling that I ought to be, shall we say, “having a smack”.  It is not that the RAMC, at least a Field Ambulance, do not do valuable work, and in danger too. We take risks. 

Still, to come down to brass tacks, what I have had in my mind was that I ask the C.O. to put my name forward as a candidate for a commission (provided of course, that he considers me worthy of the honour). If he did, I don’t see that I should be qualified for anything but the infantry, I know that you wouldn’t like the idea.  I know too that you look forward to my doing big things in the future.  But if Germany should win (which she will not) I should never get it off my mind that I, unlike Frank, was not in the actual front line.  So I ask you what your opinion is. It will, of course, weigh heavily with me.

Anyway, think it over, and write me.  

No more news so, my love to all of you, and may I be with you soon, the sooner the better.

Your loving son,

Ronald

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