[sender’s address from envelope:
“Capt C.C. Henneberg
No 5 General Hosp.
R.C.A.M.C.
Canadian Army Overseas”]
England,
28 April 42.
Dear Peter and Salin –
Thanks a lot for your cable which Kay and I received on our honeymoon. We also received the one from the Green’s and Miss Petrson.
I have written twice, but apparently you have only received the letter I wrote in January. I have not to date received any letter from you since that time.
Since the New Year I have been, to put it rather mildly, busy. In addition to work, we practiced hard and long to put on a second unit concert, for which I played the piano. It was staged three nights in March, and was good for an amateur effort. There were scenic and lighting effects, and costumes from London. Shortly after this we did a half hour broadcast over the B.B.C. in London, and then put on a slightly different program for recording to be sent to Canada. You may have heard it by chance. We also recorded some messages, mine was to Mother and Dad in Estevan.
On the first night of the stage show, I cracked up with a bad cold, but stuck out the next three days in spite of a temperature. But I paid for it by spending five days in the hospital with an acute sinusitis. It is not pleasant to have trochars pushed into one’s antrum. On top of this, I was in the middle of arranging for the wedding. The date could, of course, only be tentatively set, but we had to make plans and take a chance. Fortunately everything turned out well. Kay received her army discharge on the 11th of April, and stayed at Norm Elvin’s residence before the wedding day. The officers gave me a dinner and presented me with a gorgeous silver tray. You would be amazed at the display of presents we received.
We were married on the 18th, as you know, at a beautiful old English Church. The day was warm and sunny – “Happy the bride the sun shines on, etc.” Canon Hay performed the ceremony. Norm Elvin was best man, one of the nursing Sisters was bridesmaid, and the Commanding officer gave away the bride. Cec Clark escorted Marjorie Elvin, and Harvey McNicol was one of the ushers. We were all in uniform, which gave quite a variety of colour, and the sisters had placed banks of flowers before the chancel. It was, so I am told, a very pretty wedding. I was so damned nervous that I wouldn’t really know. The wedding party went to the Elvin’s immediately after where Kay changed into mufti, and then Kay and I were driven to London. We spent a week at the Dorchester on Park Lane. It was a perfect week and we saw a great deal of the city and attended three of the best stage shows in London, including “Maid of the Mountains”.
Last Saturday we returned to start off in our apartment, which we were lucky to find, as it is not far from the Hospital.
So now the confirmed bachelor is a signed, sealed and delivered married man. In spite of war, ration difficulties and other uncertainties, I am very happy, and know that this is the wisest thing I have ever done.
On the wedding day we faced a miniature battery of cameras, so I am sending you, under separate cover, a few of the pictures, to give you a small idea of the event.
I hope you file my income tax form. I do not know exactly how to go about paying it, as I do not know the amount. I owe for the past two years and would like to pay it and be done with it.
My best regards to Salin, the family and Miss Petrson. Also say hello to the boys in the clinic, and to Betty. I am so far behind in correspondence and have been so busy, that it is almost impossible to write to them all.
You will see by the pictures that I had lost some weight due to my illness. I have already gained it back and feel better now than ever before.
Kay wishes to say “hello” and looks forward to meeting you. I have already told her so much about you that she will not be a stranger.
The very best to you both,
Sincerely,
Carl.
Original Scans
