ARMY SCHOOL of PHYSICAL TRAINING:
WWII - ARMY SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL
TRAINING: An extensive series of autograph letters from 935325
Sergeant Instructor William J. Jones, Army Physical Training Corps,
to his fiancé, later wife, Phyllis also addressed affectionately as
“Muffy”.
The letters written from various English postings, Northern Command,
Aldershot, York etc. and, in 1945 from Greece. The letters spanning
the period 1940–1945. In all approx. 400 letters mostly with their
original envelopes and 100 air-letters; most likely well over
1,000-pages.
Together with approximately 25 large format original photographs showing groups, e.g. “Army School of Physical Training Aldershot 1943”, “Course No. 215 for Cadets of the J.T.C and A.C.F. Aug. 1943”, other groups, bayonet practice, fencing etc. Also over 200 snapshot and postcard size photographs of groups, e.g. “No. 6 Officers PT Course, Greece 1945”, various sports, athletic poses, off duty scenes, etc. Together with a quantity of miniature photographs and a few of his wedding, wife, and infant son.
Also his handwritten records of various squads he has trained giving names, town of origin, occupation and comments under various headings e.g. natural peculiarities, intelligence and hygiene, strength & agility etc. Also a 9-page carbon typescript headed, “Northern Command School of Physical Training 30/8/41”, 14 various cloth uniform badges including, “Northern Command” and “Boxing” and his “Permanent Pass – Militia Cadre, 2nd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery”, dated August 1939.
Bill and Phyllis marry early in the war and their son is born, it seems, in 1943. From the handful of letters we have read Bill seems rather concerned as to what Phyllis may “get up to” in his absence and reminds her that should he hear rumours upon his return she should remember his “violent temper”. There are also a few letters from Phyllis to Bill in one of which she rather exasperatedly writes: “Darling please when you write again don’t preach to me, I am sorry darling but I’m fully aware of what goes on in this world and I’m doing my best to keep myself to myself and its very easy. I go twice a week sometimes to the pictures and the rest of the time I stay and have a lovely evening reading and doing odd jobs on my own so please darling don’t worry about me too much.”
Bill, writing from Greece in 1945, appears to have heeded her plea, “Dearest wife, it is so pitiful out here to see the expressions on the faces of the men as you tell them about England and one thing they all worry about is wether [sic] americans are taking all the wifes [sic] and girls and doing what they want with them and they sigh with relieve [sic] when I tell them that it is only the common prostitutes and the filthy type who are going out with them. I feel so sorry for them because they really worry about it, and I am quite happy and contented, I don’t for one minute doubt your faithfulness to me and again Dearest I swear that I shall return to you healthy and clean and as true to you as I always have been………Well sweet Muffy we are a few miles apart but the bond between us is even stronger I can feel it…”
Phyllis lives at Rochdale, Lancashire and, later in the war, at Sleaford in Lincolnshire. In the group photograph shown here, Bill can be seen in the front row wearing a vest.
Quote Item No.
8183
Price:
£350.00