Hardcover
1946 · England, Belgium
by PAYNE, Arthur Charles
England, Belgium, 1946. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. An archive of 110 photographs, six diaries, two business cards, a fuel ration book, and a page of notes all housed in a small leather makeup case kept by a soldier electrician's wife during World War II. All items very good with curled edges on the photographs and some small tears and age toning.
An archive of ephemera kept by an electrician, Arthur Charles Payne, serving with the British Liberation Army between 1943 and 1946. All the items were kept by his wife, "Kay (Kathleen)," after being sent the diaries and photos once they were completed and kept in a leather makeup case. The diaries begin in 1943 and are small daily "note-a-day" style books discussing the day to day of Payne's life in the army. Some of the diaries are dedicated to his wife and all of them request they be returned to his wife if found. Payne began his training at Bovington Camp in January of 1943 learning to repair tanks. The camp was used beginning in 1937 as a training facility for driving and maintenance. These entries discuss his early training as well as leaves taken, phone calls with Kay, and his daily life at the camp. A typical entry reads, "Practical test this morning. Disposal lecture 49.4%. 3rd class electrics recommended 2nd. Packing for my departure." An entry from March 1943 simply reads, "making arrangements for wedding" when he married Kay in London and they took a short honeymoon before he returned to his duties. The second diary continues into 1944 with similar entries discussing crashed planes, trips to the "pictures," and his work. A charming entry on September 5th reads, "Kathleen's birthday, my darling wife. Wherever I may be on this day I shall be thinking of her, loving her more and more - happy birthday. Many happy returns of the day my pet - I love you dearly." He was assigned to overseas duty in mid-1944 and the diary ends then with a note reading, "handing this diary over to my wife for safe keeping. If anything should happen to me all I have is her. I hope nothing will. I love her dearly, she is so sweet. May I come back for her sake. Love her, she does work too hard though. God bless her."
A diary stamped "Agenda 1944" is hand titled "Souvenir of Watteren, Belgium British Liberation Army June 22nd 1944 to ---- West Yorkshire Regt 269 Forward Special Delivery Squadron." He begins, "our first sighting of France, smoldering buildings, some explosions from the shore, huge masses of ships on either side down the coast a little way battleships, bombarding shore batteries." Later he writes, "saw our first Jerry plane, heavy ack ack." Later he writes, "a dog fight overhead & ack ack fire, Jerry got away." Many of the entries discuss crashes, overhead dogfights, and the ever present ack ack fire. When he wasn't busy with the war he used his leisure time to go to the movies, write home, and play cards with other soldiers. Payne was in Belgium for the liberation and stayed through the rest of year and into 1945. Once the war was over Payne participated in the British Army of the Rhine which was involved in operations in occupied Germany. Most of the photographs featured here are from his time in Germany after the war which show uniformed men with Army equipment, refugees, and captured enemy equipment. Almost every photo is captioned in detail on the verso. Also included is a photograph of Kay encase in plastic with a dried four leaf clover, a lucky charm used by Payne during his tour of duty.
An interesting collection of diaries and photographs detailing a British soldier's time during World War II. (Inventory #: 414070)
An archive of ephemera kept by an electrician, Arthur Charles Payne, serving with the British Liberation Army between 1943 and 1946. All the items were kept by his wife, "Kay (Kathleen)," after being sent the diaries and photos once they were completed and kept in a leather makeup case. The diaries begin in 1943 and are small daily "note-a-day" style books discussing the day to day of Payne's life in the army. Some of the diaries are dedicated to his wife and all of them request they be returned to his wife if found. Payne began his training at Bovington Camp in January of 1943 learning to repair tanks. The camp was used beginning in 1937 as a training facility for driving and maintenance. These entries discuss his early training as well as leaves taken, phone calls with Kay, and his daily life at the camp. A typical entry reads, "Practical test this morning. Disposal lecture 49.4%. 3rd class electrics recommended 2nd. Packing for my departure." An entry from March 1943 simply reads, "making arrangements for wedding" when he married Kay in London and they took a short honeymoon before he returned to his duties. The second diary continues into 1944 with similar entries discussing crashed planes, trips to the "pictures," and his work. A charming entry on September 5th reads, "Kathleen's birthday, my darling wife. Wherever I may be on this day I shall be thinking of her, loving her more and more - happy birthday. Many happy returns of the day my pet - I love you dearly." He was assigned to overseas duty in mid-1944 and the diary ends then with a note reading, "handing this diary over to my wife for safe keeping. If anything should happen to me all I have is her. I hope nothing will. I love her dearly, she is so sweet. May I come back for her sake. Love her, she does work too hard though. God bless her."
A diary stamped "Agenda 1944" is hand titled "Souvenir of Watteren, Belgium British Liberation Army June 22nd 1944 to ---- West Yorkshire Regt 269 Forward Special Delivery Squadron." He begins, "our first sighting of France, smoldering buildings, some explosions from the shore, huge masses of ships on either side down the coast a little way battleships, bombarding shore batteries." Later he writes, "saw our first Jerry plane, heavy ack ack." Later he writes, "a dog fight overhead & ack ack fire, Jerry got away." Many of the entries discuss crashes, overhead dogfights, and the ever present ack ack fire. When he wasn't busy with the war he used his leisure time to go to the movies, write home, and play cards with other soldiers. Payne was in Belgium for the liberation and stayed through the rest of year and into 1945. Once the war was over Payne participated in the British Army of the Rhine which was involved in operations in occupied Germany. Most of the photographs featured here are from his time in Germany after the war which show uniformed men with Army equipment, refugees, and captured enemy equipment. Almost every photo is captioned in detail on the verso. Also included is a photograph of Kay encase in plastic with a dried four leaf clover, a lucky charm used by Payne during his tour of duty.
An interesting collection of diaries and photographs detailing a British soldier's time during World War II. (Inventory #: 414070)