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From: "Chris Sackett" <>
Subject: [SACKETT-L] Lillie.91
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 10:58:17 -0000


Dear All,

Here is Lillie's last letter before Christmas (1944). It is sobering as we
contemplate our Christmas tables growning under the weight of food to be
reminded of the deprivations endured by Lillie and her family. And to spare
a thought for those, even today, who are hungry. As Lillie herself would
have said, "We have much to be thankful for."

But let that not spoil our enjoyment of Christmas. I hope you all have a
very happy day.

I gather it's snowing in Montana - just grey & damp here.

All best wishes
Chris
______________
Lillie.91

Sunday, December 17th [1944]

We are getting nearer to the end of our provisions. Our rations for the
last few weeks have been getting less & less. This week was the limit. For
we two, we had 4 ozs Sugar 2½d, 12 ozs Macaroni 1/-d, 4 ozs butter 1/3d, 6
pints of milk 1/3d. We only had milk six days, & next week we are promised
two days without, separated milk at that.

We have neither Coffee or Tea, so we drink hot water with a drop of milk in
it for each meal. Our bread ration is still 3 lbs per week each. We are
hoping to have a meat ration this week.We have been told that there is a
hope of a "Red Cross Ship" coming to bring us food. I do hope it will be
true, otherwise we shall have a very lean Christmas. The Germans had told
us that they were arranging for a boat to come & had told the people to
make arrangements for the reception of the food. It was undertaken by the
St Johns Ambulance people & of course great hopes were raised. It was only
last week after hearing of Mr Morrison's speech in Parliament that it was
realised that the stuff they had been telling us was untrue &, now in our
paper yesterday, they put in the speech made by Mr Morrison & claim it has
all come about by their intervention, the bounders.

Arthur has been to see Tom Keyho today. He is in a very poor way indeed.
I'm almost afraid he won't last until Laura can get here. He is so very
weak. I saw Lydia on Tuesday. She was very bright that day. Gladys is about
the same & Edith Gosselin is quite content to stay in Hospital, so it is
plain that her mind is weakening. It is a great relief that she is content.
We rather feared trouble with her.

It does seem strange that Christmas is so near & to have no preparations to
make ready. There is not anything to buy in Town, & what is worse the
Chemists shops are very bare. The Doctors are finding great difficulty in
keeping their patients alive, there is so little food & medicines to give
them. Indeed, many are dying for lack of proper food.

We are told that the Gas will be done by Thursday & that the Electric will
only last just over Christmas. We shall indeed have to spend our days in
bed. It is dark now until 8.30 a.m. & some days it has been difficult to
see then. My stock of Candles is down to one & a half, & no means of
getting any more. So you see we are in a poor state, but we are not without
hope that something may happen & we shall be released.

The soldiers are suffering very much indeed. Each day they seem to get
thinner. Two weeks ago, eleven soldiers died of blood poisoning. They were
hungry, so dug up some bulbs & ate them. They were all buried the same day.

It does seem stupid of them, when they must know that they can't win, to
keep going on. Why don't they give in?

We three are keeping well. We are all getting more genteel, but are still
able to keep going.
__________________

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