DIY History | Transcribe | World War II Diaries and Letters | Miscellaneous letters to Helen Fox, 1933-1945 | 1942-01-24 Maureen Croly to Helen Fox Page 3

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Miscellaneous letters to Helen Fox, 1933-1945

1942-01-24 Maureen Croly to Helen Fox Page 3

but say they just can't bear to think of what the Germans would say if they ever catch any of them thus fancifully garbed. I can hardly believe it is so short a time since you were pitch-forked into war - somehow it seems all so long ago already. I see that today the findings of the court on the Pearl Harbour affair are out - about the only comment I've heard here is to the effect that we should have had a similar inquest on Singapore. we appear both to have been caught napping in the most unforgivable way. The only thing in favour of American blunderers is that they don't appear to broadcast self-satisfied drivel in quite the same way that ours do! Still, it's very easy to be arm chair critics, and maybe it will turn out better than we could hope.
I think it is such a frightful position for Australia, vast continent with only a handful of men left to defend it. My whole hearted admiration is for the Dutch. I always wanted to learn Dutch, and now think I must invest in a two-shilling "Teach Yourself" book and get on with it! I met several going out to S. Africa, and more recently, seamen in Scotland, and they certainly are good stuff. First-class sea-going folk. I expect you are thankful things have at last declared themselves - I know that though it was so awful, and we took the news in stony silence, we were mostly thankful when we heard Chamberlain's tired voice telling us that we at last were at grips with our long-recognized enemy. We're still desperately trying to catch up in war production, but we are getting along. Rationing seems to me to be a good thing, not only for the saving, but for the psychological effect of everyone sharing sacrifices, everyone making economies. Here we seem to be saving everything, paper, string, tiny scraps of soap to "jell" for use again, and indeed everything we can lay hands on. We go shopping with little bowls for meat, etc. or bags of "American cloth"! The latter are fine, can be sponged clean, and are really hygienic. What a job for one woman, running a vast ranch, as your aunt does. And what a mercy the haemorrhage was not on a serious danger spot - bad enough anyway. How I must have bored you about blackout! I see a British columnist in the U.S. saying that already he has seen better gadgets and arrangements for blackout than he has seen here. Reason is partly that from the outset we were so short of plywood, etc. and good thick curtain material. We have found the worst nuisance is the way light "leaks" over the top of a curtain, and down the sides, and a box

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but say they just can't bear to think of what the Germans would say if they ever catch any of them thus fancifully garbed. I can hardly believe it is so short a time since you were pitch-forked into war - somehow it seems all so long ago already. I see that today the findings of the court on the Pearl Harbour affair are out - about the only comment I've heard here is to the effect that we should have had a similar inquest on Singapore. we appear both to have been caught napping in the most unforgivable way. The only thing in favour of American blunderers is that they don't appear to broadcast self-satisfied drivel in quite the same way that ours do! Still, it's very easy to be arm chair critics, and maybe it will turn out better than we could hope. I think it is such a frightful position for Australia, vast continent with only a handful of men left to defend it. My whole hearted admiration is for the Dutch. I always wanted to learn Dutch, and now think I must invest in a two-shilling "Teach Yourself" book and get on with it! I met several going out to S. Africa, and more recently, seamen in Scotland, and they certainly are good stuff. First-class sea-going folk. I expect you are thankful things have at last declared themselves - I know that though it was so awful, and we took the news in stony silence, we were mostly thankful when we heard Chamberlain's tired voice telling us that we at last were at grips with our long-recognized enemy. We're still desperately trying to catch up in war production, but we are getting along. Rationing seems to me to be a good thing, not only for the saving, but for the psychological effect of everyone sharing sacrifices, everyone making economies. Here we seem to be saving everything, paper, string, tiny scraps of soap to "jell" for use again, and indeed everything we can lay hands on. We go shopping with little bowls for meat, etc. or bags of "American cloth"! The latter are fine, can be sponged clean, and are really hygienic. What a job for one woman, running a vast ranch, as your aunt does. And what a mercy the haemorrhage was not on a serious danger spot - bad enough anyway. How I must have bored you about blackout! I see a British columnist in the U.S. saying that already he has seen better gadgets and arrangements for blackout than he has seen here. Reason is partly that from the outset we were so short of plywood, etc. and good thick curtain material. We have found the worst nuisance is the way light "leaks" over the top of a curtain, and down the sides, and a box