England. Jan. 30, 1944

Dear Mother & all,
       Congratulations on your anniversary.
Did you have a big time today? I have
thought about you quite a few times today.
Today was my day off and I went into
town and stayed all night at the Red Cross.
Then this morning I attended church services
in town. It was a Methodist church. There
services are a lot different than what I am
use to. I believe this is the first church
I have been in for over a year.
       What have you been doing all day? It
was a beautiful day and real warm out.
This afternoon another fellow and I went for
a walk. I guess we are turning limey over
here. All the townspeople go walking in the
country on Sunday afternoons.
        I have received quite a few letters this
last week and also have answered quite
a few. There isn't much to write about
from this side though. We keep plenty
busy with our work now.
      Gee I really don't know what to write
about tonight. I guess I have answered all
your questions in your last letter so
it is hard to think of anything to write about.

     Mother, will you get a Valentine Box
of candy for yourself and one for Irene out
of my allotment check. I can't be there to
get it this year.
     Tell everyone I said hello and I will
try to write more next time. Goodnight
for now. I guess it is sack time now.
So long.
                              Love Ralph.

The next letter will be posted on February 7th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Ralph's parents, William Stephen Brown and Bessie Louise Chulip, were married on January 30, 1907. He was 26 years old and she was 24.
• For those not familiar with the term "limey"

 "a British person, term comes from sailors who came to the New World preventing scurvy from sucking limes. Term indigenous to North America"

England. Jan, 19, 1944.

Dear Mother,
         Our mail finally came through. I received twenty
three letters & cards. They dated from Nov. 30 to Jan. 6. So
you can see how our mail has been slow in comeing.
Your letter came today. Gee was I surprised when
I opened it up and there you and Dad where. It is
so natural of you to it looked as if you could speak
to me. I wish you could. It would certainly to hear your
voice again. I showed all the fellows your picture. All of
them think I look like Dad, but they say Dad looks
younger than I do. Maybe this English fog is wrinkling
my face up like your hands do when you have had
them in water to long. It really is heavy. It is a
wonder we don't drown just walking around in it
over here. It got so heavy it finally turned to
rain. It is mud where ever you look around here.
Maybe our new site will be better. It is at the
same base only about three miles further then we
are now.
      I sure would love to have a few of those steaks
off of the steer you are going to butcher. We get them
once in awhile over here. It sure tastes good. Somedays
our meals are swell and other days the dogs around
camp won't eat the meals.
     You asked me what Irene said about her cedar chest?
Well that isn't military secret, but the words she
said it in will always be a secret. She really put it
over strong just what she thought about it, and I know
she really did like it. Sure wish I could have been
there to give it to her. Although it is nice to read about
it in a letter. It must have been gold lined.

I am going to get a picture taken over here and send
home to you and Irene. I don't know when I will get it
made though. They do have some nice pictures made
here though.
       Well mother this is about all for now. I
like your picture an awlful lot. It sure is swell.
Please write soon and often. I am really busy and
might not find time to write as much. I wish you
would thank everyone at church that sent cards and
remembered me. I would like to write to all of them
but at present there is no time for so many
letters. So I send my thanks to them by you.
Goodnight for now.
                                              Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on January 30th.

Background Information (and comments):

• I don't have the photo that he received with this letter. This is a photo of Ralph's mother and father that was taken in 1953 (about 9.5 years after this letter was written).

January 16, 1944 Religious Service Bulletin (back cover)

Solder, are you ready for the tests of Life ahead?
With Christ in your life you can meet any of Life's
problems.  You must have Him.
1.   YOU NEED CHRIST BECAUSE YOU ARE A SINNER.
       "For all have sinned and come short of the glory
         of God"  (Romans 3;23).
2.   YOU NEED CHRIST BECAUSE YOU ARE HELPLESS TO SAVE
       YOURSELF.
       "This is a faithful saying,  and worthy of all
         acceptation ,  that Christ Jesus came into the
         world to save sinners"  (Timothy 1;15).
3.    YOU WILL NEED CHRIST BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM YOU
       WILL PERISH.
       "For God so loved the world,  that He gave His
        only begotten Son,  that whosoever believeth on
        Him should not perish,  but have everlasting life."
        (John1;12). 3:16
4.   YOU MAY HAVE CHRIST BY ACCEPTING HIM NOW.
      "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt
       be saved"  (Acts  16;31).
5.   WHEN HE THUS BECOMES YOURS,LOVE, WORSHIP,  AND..
      SERVE HIM.
      "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise
      shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34;1.)

             "Let not conscience make you linger,
              Nor of fitness fondly dream,
              All the fitness He requireth,
              Is to feel your need of Him.
              Come,  ye weary,  heavy laden,
              Bruised and mangled by the fall;
              If you tarry till you're better,
              You will never come at all."

The Evening Worship Service is just as important as the
Morning Worship Service...............At 7:30  P.M.

January 16, 1944 Religious Service Bulletin (inside)

WHAT IS THE GREATEST SIN IN THE WORLD?
   Your guess is as good as anybody's. That
question will be discussed in the Bible
Discussion Hour Wednesday in the Chaplain's
office at 1930 hrs.  If you want to know the
answer get that New Testament out of your
foot locker and read the 16th chapter of the
Gospel according to John before coming to the
Discussion Hour.

WE HAVE AN ORGAN?  ORGANIST AND SONG LEADER!
   We want you tenors, you bases, your baritones
to sing with us every Thursday evening at 1930
hrs. in the Chapel.

LOST:  A good character,  a clear conscience,
peace of mind,  self-respect.  Owner will give
his last pence to have them back.  Signed--------
  No---friend, money though you possessed all
the gold in the world could not bring it back.
Too,  it cannot be found in the place where
lost.  But it can be restored.  The Chaplain is
no fortune teller but he believes he has the
answer.  Drop by the office Mr.  Loser and talk
the situation over.  No charges whatsoever.

A WEEK DAY SERMON--ABOUT WOMEN.
   Brass buttons and a uniform do make a diff-
ernece.  We might as well realize it.  The girls
like the khaki on you.  You will have more eyes
on you than perhaps you ever did in civvies.
Perhaps you will see some type of women that
you never saw before as a result of the uniform.
No high-sounding words are going to help you
a bit.  Just keep in mind your mother,  your
sister,  your sweetheart,  or your wife.  Treat
other women the way you want other men to treat
yours.  Perhaps you need a quite talk with God
on the matter.  He has the help you need. Paul
said, "I can do all things through Christ who
strengthnes me."  You are no exception.
 

Sunday Night Jan. 16, 1944

Dear Mother,
        Here it is again for me to drop you my
weekly letter. Gee it sure seems as if the week
really rolls around fast. No letters from you this
week. Our mail has really been so. I received a
letter from Cliff and two from Irene this week. One
of them was written Nov. 22. So you can see how
slow our mail is in comeing over.
      How has everything been going in Michigan? I hope
I receive a few letters this comeing week. I guess I
will have to write air mail letters. All our V mail
stock is gone. Don't send me any because our
V mail forms are different from the blanks you
use back in the states. I don't like to write on
these V mail blanks anyway. It seems as if
you can say enough on it.
      I was a church services today. We had a very
good sermon. It was about the best I have heard
our chaplain gift give. He is certainly a very good
fellow. I like him a lot. He comes around while we
are working on have little visits with the fellows.
He had made captain recently and everyone is glad
of it. He is a regular fellow. I wish you could hear
him once. I know you would like to hear him. He seems
like one of those preachers that had a small church in the
country.
        Well mother this is about all I have for tonight. If
I hear from you this week I will answer when I get your
letter. Goodnight.
                                                    Love Ralph.
P.S. I am sending you our worship bulletin.


The next letter will be posted on January 19th. 

Background Information (and comments):

• This was written on tissue-paper thin airmail stationery and sent airmail.
• The grammatical and spelling errors were Ralph's. I'm guessing he was really tired as there seems to be more than usual.
• Here is the bulletin that Ralph enclosed: I will re-type and post the last 2 pages of the bulletin on Jan. 17th and Jan. 18th as it is difficult to read here.

Sunday night Jan. 9, 1944 E.T.O.

Dear Mother,
     It is time I dropped you my weekly letter
again. I suppose tonight is also your night
to be writing to me. I have quite a few
letters on the way. I hope. Our mail has
been awlful slow in comeing. I received about
3 letters all week long. Haven't received any
telling about Christmas at home this year.
I hope I will receive some in a few days.
My morale gets mighty low at times when
there is not mail. But then there are lots of
fellows in the same shape as I am.
     Today didn't seem like Sunday at all. I
didn't get to church today. I was to busy
and had some work to get done. Time is
really going by in a hurry. A week doesn't
seem to be so long anymore. It is shorter
still when we receive mail.
     How is the oil well drilling getting along?
By now I should think they would know if
there is oil or not.
     I suppose it has been cold and snowy there
at home now. I sure would like to see some
snow instead of rain and mud. Maybe by
this time next year I will be able to be
back there in Michigan where we know
what real American living is again. We have
been receiving better meals this week. I have
been eating steaks and porkchops.

Our meals were getting terrible, but now that
has been changed so I guess and hope they
will be like they have been this week.
     I wrote, Lenore, Luella and Marie last night.
So tonight its you and of course Irene. Marie
said in her letter, that she had heard from
Irene and she said, she would like to spend
the afternoon of Christmas day with you. Did
she come over? How does she look now?
I sure wish I could see her again. I have
asked for a photo. I hope one comes soon. I don't
think my looks have changed much. I feel a
lot older after some days work though.
     Well this is able all for now. Please
write often. I will try to write every week.
                                            Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on January 16th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Lenore and Marie were Ralph's sisters-in-law; Luella was his sister.

England Jan. 4, 1944

Dear Mother,
       Received your letter of Dec. 19 and also Harley's
V mail today. I will answer it now while I have
time and it is all yet fresh in my mind.
     About my insurance. I am glad you paid it this
time. I will need all my money when I get home and
I don't want to be paying in back bills. Just how
much do I have from the allotments now?  I would
like to send a little more home, but entertainment
over here is so high priced. A good movie costs
about $1.20. It seems as if a pound lasts just about
as long as a dollar does in the states. There is
four dollars in a pound, so you can see how
easy it is to spend your money over here.
     I would like to have Bill Nicholson's address. I went
to school with him. I might be able to locate him over
here. Also Claude Woodring although he is lots younger
than I am. It would seem good to see someone you
know though.
      About the man from Wauseon. He said he use to
play ball at Berkey.  He knows Deek Sanderson. I hope I
get a letter soon telling about your Christmas and how
surprised Irene was about her gift. It has been nice
for awhile now. Our days are beginning to lengthen out
again. There is a beautiful moon tonight.
     We have our radio playing. The Armed Forces Network
here really has some grand programs. It really is
good to come in from work and listen to the radio.

We get the news quite often from the English broadcast
and then switch to a German station. The news is just
about opposite and it is hard just to know what the
news is.
     I figure on going to London this week. It is almost
four weeks since I have been in. That is about the only
town where you have variety of entertainment. I stay
at one of the Red Cross Clubs when I am there.
     I haven't had a letter from Irene for about three
or four days now. I hope they will come tomorrow.
     Well this is about all for now. Tell everyone
I said hello. I will try to write something to them,
but it is getting so it is hard to write every week
to everybody. Goodbye for now.
                                                 Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on January 9th.

Background Information (and comments):

• This letter was sent as an airmail letter. It cost 6 cents to mail. The stationery he used was airmail paper, too (it's as thin as tissue paper).
• Here's some information on the Armed Forces Radio Service and a YouTube clip of a radio show:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mJchzzUkH8

Radio for the Troops, A Touch of Home

• The various efforts came together during WWII and were expanded after May 26, 1942, when the War Department created the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS). The fragile disks and turntables that were being provided in "Buddy Kits" to units deploying overseas were replaced by radio receivers. Programs would be sent to overseas radio stations from the ARFS Hollywood studios. Sometimes shortwave transmission to the frontline stations was used when the program required immediacy, but the preferred method was by phonographic disk. Transcription to disk was a relatively expensive process, but it guaranteed quality and reliability that shortwave could not.

Command Performance (1942-49) was an early hit over AFRS during World War Two. Servicemen were encouraged to write to the show and request their favorite stars, and suggest performances they would like to hear (Ann Miller tap-dancing wearing Army boots?) As the show gained popularity producers worried over the cost of talent to fill the show. From the beginning Hollywood A-List performers such as Bob Hope, Dinah Shore, Fred Allen, Frances Langford, Spike Jones, Frank Sinatra, Burns and Allen, Vincent Price, Ginger Rogers, Gary Cooper, Tallulah Bankhead, Andrew Sisters, Bette Davis, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, and Margaret Whitingall appeared free of charge, allowing AFRS to produce extremely high quality shows for far less than expected. The free performances by celebrities became a tradition, and it has been pointed out on numerous occasions that no career was ever harmed by performing for the Troops for free. In 2009 the Military cable network, The Pentagon Channel", reprised Command Performance featuring currently popular acts.

• Mail Call(1942-49) was another early AFRS WWII radio show. Premiering in Aug 1942, the show drew its title from the military practice of gathering the troops when mail was delivered to the unit. The show also used A-list talent (working for free) and took the form of a love letter from the celebrities to the troops.
  GI Journal (1943-46) used the celebrities as the guest editors and staff for a weekly newspaper for the WWII troops. Comedy and Pin-up girl talent was featured with a healthy share of popular music.
  Music was the emphasis of GI Jive, a disc jockey program for WWII soldiers. Several disc jockey's "spun hot wax" for the program, sometimes civilian celebrities while other times servicemen would man the microphone. One of the most popular DJs was "GI Jane", the on-air persona of Martha Wilkerson. GI Jane was thought to be an answer to the Tokyo Rose propaganda broadcasts. The plain fact was that the WWII American troops like Ms Wilkerson better.
  The Jubilee Program (1942-53) was unique because it was directed towards African-American soldiers during World War Two. Modern collectors value the programs as some of the best War-time jazz performances. Music America Loves Best was produced and broadcast by NBC, then decommercialized and transcribed for AFRS. The program featured classical as well as popular music.
  Everything for the Boys (1944-45) was dedicated to raising the morale of our fighting men and sponsored by Autolite. The show featured a play by Arch Oboler and included a call to a serviceman stationed overseas, sometimes allowing a family connection to be made over the radio.

England Sunday Jan. 2, 1944

                                    1
Dear Mother,
         Here is my first letter to you
of the new year.  New Years Eve for
me was very quiet.  In fact when
we heard Big Ben chime I was in bed.
So you can see it was quiet for me.
How did your spend your New Years?
I don't believe I have received and
letter of yours later than Dec. 9. I suppose
it will come through a lot better now
that the holidays are over with.
    It doesn't seem like the first of
the year for me. It seems as if time
is just another day. I really forget
what day it is sometimes. It seems
as if Christmas was years ago to me.
I guess a real Christmas for me was
about two years ago when I was
home. I hope I will be home so I
can spend Christmas with you next year.

                                 2
    I was at church services this morning
with that and the calendar I can tell
what day it was.  Other ways it is just
another work day, and plenty of that
to do to.
    Can't think of much to say tonight. If
you can get hold of some 620 film and
some of those boxes of cookies, please send
them to me.
     The other day on my day off I went
for a little ride.  I was at Epping England.
It is a small town just like all the
rest of the towns in England. I like to get
out and travel. I never figure on getting
very much traveling done after I am
home again.
     I have received two copies of the Record.
I really learned somethings I didn't know
before. I didn't know Glenn was Sunday
School supertendent. It was a surprise
to me.  You know I never seen any of you

                                 3
folks in 1943. It seems such a long
time ago.  Do you think I look any older
in my pictures?  I'll bet I will see a
big change in the looks of the folks at home.
I guess I will get a photo taken over
here and send you and Irene one.
     Well I guess this is about all for
now. I must write a few more letters
tonight.  If the others say anything about
not hearing from me regular tell them
there isn't a thing to write about.
Goodbye for now.
                             Love Ralph.
P.S. I really could make a big dent
in all those fresh eggs you are
getting now. What are they worth a
dozen now? I will really eat my fill
of them when I get home.


The next letter will be posted on January 4th.

Background Information (and comments):

• I'm guessing that he was referring to his brother Glenn (Sunday School superintendent).
• I'm still trying to figure out where he was stationed, especially after he wrote that they could hear Big Ben chime.
• Where's Epping? 
• "Epping lies 19 miles (30.6 km) northeast of the centre of London towards the northern end of Epping Forest on a ridge of land between the River Roding and River Lea valleys."
•  

  Notable residents[edit]

  • Jill Barklem, writer and illustrator
  • Nick Berry, actor
  • James Buckley, actor
  • David Byron, former lead singer of rock band Uriah Heep
  • Winston Churchill, Member of Parliament for the town and the larger constituency named after it from 1924–1945, including his tenure as Prime Minister during World War II
  • Crass, band
  • Philip Hammond, politician
  • Glenn Hoddle, former professional football player and manager
  • Rik Mayall, comedian, actor and writer, born in the town.
  • Jason Merrells, actor
  • Julian Mitchell, screenwriter and novelist
  • Griff Rhys Jones, TV presenter and comedian
  • Dennis Rofe, former professional footballer
  • Ben Shephard, television presenter
  • Lisa Snowdon, model
  • Rod Stewart, singer
  • Jessie Wallace, actress
  • Bradley Walsh, actor and television presenter
  • Adrian Whitbread, football coach for Puerto Rico FC
• I found some photos at this website of U.S. army personnel stationed in England in 1942. His "hut" probably looked like this.

• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2513866/A-GI-Christmas-How-American-soldiers-bearing-gifts-extra-rations-proved-festive-hit-British-families-WWII.html
• Here is some information about the European Theater of Operations which was headquartered in London.
• "Headquartered in London, ETOUSA was first commanded by Maj. Gen. James E. Chaney, an Army Air Corps officer. Then-Maj. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower replaced Chaney in late June, but the following month he departed England to assume new duties as the commander-in-chief of Operation Torch, the successful Allied invasion of North Africa. Eisenhower returned in January 1944 and the following month was officially designated as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe. He also maintained his leadership of ETOUSA, serving in a dual role until the end of hostilities in Europe in May 1945.

The command grew rapidly. At the end of January 1942 there were 4,000 American service members in the United Kingdom. That number swelled to 55,000 by the time ETOUSA was established in June, and by the end of the year 135,000 Americans were massed in Great Britain to train for the assault on the continent that would take place two years later on the beaches of Normandy. When the invasion was launched on June 6, 1944, more than 1.5 million U.S. Army personnel were on hand.

In addition to overseeing the buildup and training of combat forces, ETOUSA was also responsible for logistics and administrative services – functions that paralleled some of USAREUR's functions today."