WARTIME LOVE LETTERS, 1943-1945. A series of fourteen letters written between Miss Winnie Count, Westcliff Villas, Isleham, Ely, Cambridgeshire, and ‘Casso’ (M. Kassovitch, 30 Maitland House, Bishops Way, London. ~ The letters start in March 1943 when they are both at school, and continue through her time at Technical College, and his in the Merchant Navy. There are also 17 photographs, some in later life, and these with the letters being preserved together suggest that the couple married. The letters also include three drawings by Winnie of herself. “Enclosed is a drawing. I hope you like it, also I hope you don’t mind my spelling your name with a C, but I like it best that way... write more next time.” She puts his mind at rest about being jealous over another friend ‘Podge’ kissing her goodbye; keeps him up to date with films she has seen - Casablanca, Tales of Manhattan, Unpublished Story - intends to start at the Cambridgeshire Technical School to learn shorthand; They include: From Winnie. 12th December 1943 - Casso has left school, and is now working at an estate-agents. Winnie is still at school and mentions going to see Aladdin at the school concert, and making a Red-Cross doll. 1st Feb 1944 - a rather curt note complaining about lack of letters from him. To Winnie: 30th March 1943 - A long letter, he is at school, and sends details of a friend Gertie who sends Winnie her photograph. “Her legs are a bit fatter than mine, & she has fairly big hips....” 4th October 1943 - asking for a photograph and more drawings. 24th Nov 1943 - again asking for more drawings, and noting that he is arranging a photograph of himself. 14th Feb 1944 - romantic news about friends. 21st Nov 1944 - “I’ve been provisionally accepted for Air Crew duties with the RAF...” 31st Dec 1944 - noting that he will send his new address in Liverpool, and is about to start training in the Merchant Navy. 1st Jan 1945 - his letter is addressed c/o HMS Mersey - “you can now boast of having a boy-friend in the merchant navy.” It details life as a new recruit and is signed from “your own personal & private sailor.” 14th January 1945 - written from aboard HMS Khedive. 26th January 1945 - an air-mail letter addressed from HMS Khedive - “... I could write quite a good deal but I don’t want to strain the censor’s eyes or to blunt his scissors. All I’ll say is that the heat out here is terrrific...”