id=”go-to-letters-20-may-1943″>Letter 1
1876276 AC2 Redhead DJ
1 Squad 21 Flt
E Squadron 3 Wing
!! RC
RAF Skegness
Lincs
20/May/43
Dear Mum & Dad
I am feeling very fit & well & hope you are the same & not having any air raids.
I arrived at Cardington at 3pm Tuesday. We had a fairly easy time that evening & I went to the NAAFI. But on Wednesday we had a hectic time. We were posted & had to be ready by Thursday morning. Some of the chaps posted with me had been at Cardington over a week and I consider I was very lucky to get so early a posting as if you are ready & not posted you go on fatigues.
We were completely kitted Wednesday & we were at it from 6 till after lights out at 10.15. Our hardest job was fitting together our webbing but once its together its o.k. to take off & put on.
We got paid 10/- so that we would have money to buy polish etc.
We had to send our parcels home in such a rush that all my intentions of making a decent parcel had to go by the board.
The contents of my parcel trousers, collar ties, 3 handkerchiefs shoes shirt & book. I hope you get the parcel OK anyway.
My trade is RDS W/Mech which translated means Radar.
This morning we had to be ready at 7.45 & we eventually got on the train about 10.
We arrived in time for lunch & was it a relief to dump our kits!
I’ve done plenty of marching today but it hasn’t so far tired me.
I intended to write before but as I said I’ve been too busy but it’s worth it to get here.
We are in lovely billets – empty house taken over. Skegness itself is a nice place – mostly semidetached or detached homes.
We are free after tea & can go out till 9.30. but tonight I thought I’d do my writing & cleaning etc. We are also free Saturdays & Sundays unless we are orderly & fireguard in which case we are in all day except for meals. The foods ok – we just had salad for tea.
My address will stand for 3 weeks & then we go elsewhere for 5 weeks – but still in Skegness
On second thoughts the address might stand for the 8 weeks but I’ll let you know.
Has Ern been about his teeth yet and have you heard how Mrs King is & Beryl.
Well I must close now so as to get my polishing & cleaning & sewing etc done.
Cheerio & keep smiling
Your loving son
Don.
P.S. give my regards to Bert & the boys & tell him I’ll write as soon as poss. Maybe tomorrow.
– text Letter 2
1 Squad 21 Flt
E Squadron 3 Wing
11 RC
RAF Skegness
Lincs
21 May 1943
Dear M & D,
Please note that the address on my last letter was wrong. It is 11RC not !! RC.
Some requests:- please send me
- A piece of wire wool
- Bottle of marking ink Pen & 2 or 3 nibs
- RAF Blue Darning Wood. (not too much)
- Clean Singlet & Pants.
I am still keeping O.K. & hope you all are. I woke up this morning feeling a bit stiff, but we had 3 hrs of lectures & it wore off. By the way the gas Instructor said we could write home & say that if Gas is used (& he is sure it will be) Civvy masks are 100% perfect & the only reason you have diff to us is because you must take cover & we must work on in it. Also, you should always carry a mackintosh & women should always have a silk scarf to protect the neck & wear 2 pairs of knickers.
After the lecture we started our real drilling. It’s not too bad & I think I will soon be able to parade like an old sweat. *
We just had a smashing lunch meat salad and lots of mashed spuds & rhubarb & custard.
The grub is 10 times better than Cardington & we can have 2nd helpings. The only reason I didn’t is because we have PT after lunch.
I must close now as I have to parade for P.T.
Well I like the RAF a lot but I still like Civy street a lot more.
Cheerio for now
Your loving son
Don
P.S. I hope to start night school next week for maths.
P.P.S. I wasn’t able to post this before P.T. we are going to begin unarmed combat & do a commando course as part of P.T. finishing with U.C. in full pack. We are getting rifles tomorrow.
Another request: a spare collar & front stud.
Re the marking ink. I bought some this evening but it has to be washed after being put on. Can you get me some that doesn’t have to be washed. When I got the marking ink at the NAAFI I was able to have a bash on the piano & my did I feel good after.
Our Flight Commander, the Warrant Officer told us that the Wing Commander has congratulated our Sergeant (a smashing chap) on our marching. He wouldn’t believe we had only been here 2 days . I’m sure it is genuine because the Sergeant was so bucked.
Don
* a veteran soldier.
Letter 3
23rd May 1943
Dear Mum & Dad
I had my vaccination & 1st inoculation yesterday: we were marched round to the MOs – a tidy step & then we all got in single file. First a chap swabbed our arms & then the next chap dabbed some vaccine on our arms. A nurse then scratched our arms to let the vaccine in. Then the Doctor gave us the inoculation. We had 25% we will have the other 75% in about 3 weeks. As we marched out an AC2 bunged a dressing on our arms & we gave our name & No to a Waaf. The AC2 called me back to help him put on the dressings.
One of our squad fainted as he got in the open air again. Then as we paraded & prepared to march off another bloke went out.
The NCO’s took us on an easy march through the woods back to the billets so we could keep the arms moving. At one of the huts another chap fainted. After lunch we were free till 8 am Monday to get over it.
Everybody had to go for a walk.
I went out with 3 chaps & all through the afternoon we felt worse & worse. In the evening we went to the cinema. When we got out again we all felt as though we had the flu & were shivering. We just crawled back to our billets & I threw off my clothes & crept into bed. I got up at 7 this morning & I feel o.k. now except for a slight ache in the arm.
We got our rifles yesterday. Mines a Lee Enfield 303 1918 model. The bayonet was made in 1911.
We have to learn to fire all sorts of guns, I don’t mind that but it’s the cleaning I don’t like. It’s nothing but cleaning all the time. By the way please send me my old toothbrush, there is nothing better for your buttons.
I would also like some rag for polishing. I also want my shoes, we are allowed to wear them here. I could do with clean night pants as well.
I doubt if you’ll know me when I get home (& the sooner I do the better I’ll like it) because I’m getting brown & also I’m developing an accent from the other chaps & it’s awfully hard to talk as I used to.
The Sargent promised a late pass to 11pm Sat, to the squad with the cleanest billet, but no one got it. No 4 squad had all rooms bar one nearly perfect & that odd one he described as a pig sty. 2 & 3 squads were so so & 1 squad was not much good barring the senior man’s room which the sergeant said the rest of the squad should look at. I’m in the senior man’s room, together with a chap from Benfleet. Although our room looked clean & tidy on the face of it, our kit bags were in a hell of a mess, but still as long as it stayed out of sight it’s alright. Still it was nice to be held up as an example to the rest.
I had a glimpse at a paper this morning for a couple of mins. I see you’ve been having plenty of air raids. I hope they weren’t too bad. Up here we know nothing of the war. I miss the papers a lot.
Will you try to rush me the marking ink, until I have that I can’t get really straight. Also an indelible pencil.
I shan’t be sorry to leave here & get on with my technical training. You will remember I said I would be here 8 weeks in one of my letters well apparently RAF chaps are posted after 6 weeks which suits me down to the ground.
Well, I still like the RAF – except inoculations – but I shall be glad to get my stuff straightened out so as to have more time to enjoy myself.
I’ve met a chap who plays clarinet. He is sending for it, when he gets it well wake the NAAFI up with our jam sessions.
I’ve had to give my name in as entertainer. I don’t know what will come of it thought.
Please send me a metal box for my soap.
We had a lecture by the chaplain – a really good chap. What is Holy Communion & Communicants & confirmation.
I hope your all ok & that you have cut all the lawn at Laindon.
Cheerio for now
Your loving son
Don.
– text Letter 4
23 5 43
Dear Bert, Fred, Les, Ron & Ray
I would have liked to have written you earlier but I have not had a chance.
I was only at Cardington 2 days being pushed around the whole day getting kitted etc. My full kit weighs as much as me.
I arrived here on Thursday. We’ve been kept very busy & actually I haven’t been out to enjoy myself except Sat when I was inoculated.
Thurs & Frid, I was up till turned 11 polishing etc.
The inoculation made me feel bad, in fact 3 chaps passed out, but we had to go out to keep the arm moving. 4 of us went out, we had a walk, then went to a dance, but because of our arms none of us could dance, then we went to the cinema. We felt awful when we came out & we just crawled into bed, but this morning we were o.k. except for aching arms.
We are in empty houses 3 to a room. My squad is under a Sergt & the other 3 squads are under Corpls. All the NCOs are the tops & the officers are o.k.
Our flight was congratulated by the Wing Commander on our marching, & the Sergt said the room I’m in was the best in the house.
So far I’ve only had one look at the NAAFI but I hope to get another today.
I’ve met a chap who plays Clary. We are having some Jam sessions when he has it sent to him.
Well chaps I like the RAF a lot but I like civvy street a lot more.
We were first told we have 8 weeks here but I think R.A.F. W/Mech only have 6 weeks before posting.
We’ve got rifles etc & have to learn to fire all types of guns.
The grub here is o.k.
What grade was Les put in.
Has Ron got on about the H.G.
I hope Jimmy has fitted in O.K. I’ve had to give my name as entertainer what will come of it I don’t know.
There’s so many country blokes here I’m developing an accent & having to fight hard against it, otherwise you won’t know what I’m talking about when I get home.
I’m afraid that till I’m straightened out I shall have to write to you all at once because time is precious when you have bags of polishing to do.
I’ve seen plenty of planes here, Lancaster’s, Halifaxes, Mosquitoes, Typhoons Spitfires, in fact all types & they fly at roof top levels.
Well boys I wish you all the best & must now say cheerio.
Your old Pal.
Don.
– text Letter 5
24/5/43
Dear Mum & Dad
I got your letter this morning & you’ve no idea how it feels to hear from home. Please write as often as poss.
I am going to write to Les & give him some tips.
I am glad to hear Mrs Keynes Beryl & Ern are all o.k.
I’m glad the Air Raids are not worrying you too much.
I’m wondering whether I’ll see Stan, but still, Lincolnshire’s a big place.
Re laundry, we send stuff every Friday & I’m sending RAF gear & hankies. My Civvy under clothes I shall stop wearing soon & night clothes I’ll send home.
The food is still really good.
The butter I get every day (& it nearly always is butter) would keep you a week & I don’t wonder stuff is short for you seeing what we have. The cooking is really fine for mass cooking but I’m longing to get home for one of mums Sunday diners.
You may be right about the buttons but as regards marching I shall never find pleasure in it. We have to swing our arms shoulder high & they ache terribly after a while. We spend most of our time in trousers & shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbow. Today it rained though & we were like that with our capes over the top.
I don’t quite get Jeans remark about a black eye. Ask her to explain. I’m feeling ok now re the inoculation.
We did hear we were all on fatigues next weekend but there is a field exercise with the Army all Sat & Sun. 50 of our flight were wanted for gas parties & I thought I would be better to be indoors than out in the fields all night so I volunteered. They got 48, the other 2 were you & you.
We have got 2 lectures, tonight Wed & Fri for it, in our own time, but the bloke is ok and none of us mind.
I’m making more time for pleasure now I’ve had one or two bashes on pianos Sunday & today.
Would mum please get some linen & tape before I come home to make some bags for me. I’ll show you how when I get home. Please send me some string.
Please send me the club subs book as I want some music. Keep a bit going while I’ve got the book & I’ll quickly return it.
Well I still wish I was with you but I’m with a fine crowd of blokes & we nearly always have a rag before bedtime so I’m really having quite a good time. As for Skegness we saw a notice board the other day which typified the place. It had on it WHATS ON, a relic of peacetime & underneath was – nothing.
There’s 2 cinemas & a theatre. The films are all old & you get one feature and some shorts & the theatre only has small shows.
In the same way as all your thoughts are with me so are mine with you so I’ll say
Cheerio
Your loving Son
Don
– text Letter 6
25/5/43
Dear Bert
I want to ask you a favour. We have to take aircraft rec. & I wondered whether you could give me any general tips. I wish I had taken more interest when I was with you, now.
Please tell the other chaps I’ll write them individually as the chance occurs.
We’re having a field exercise next weekend with the army & I’ve volunteered for the gas party & I am having lectures in my own time on gas. I volunteered because 38 of the 50 of us will almost definitely be in all night & it’s better indoors than lying in the fields.
The grub here is marvellous, but I’d give anything to be back with you boys. I’m just beginning to get the effects of the toughening up & I ache all over.
I hope you reminded Ray of the 2 MMs. I expect your quite a classy dancer now, I’ve had no chance to do my dancing yet.
I must close now to go on parade.
My best wishes to you all,
Your old pal
Don
Beat it out boys.
RAF Expression No 1
“You’ve had it” e.g. when your too late for tea. Or
Forgot your mask in a gas practice.
– text Letter 7
25/5/43
Dear Ivy
I am now beginning to get settled down & I hope you are also.
I was at Cardington 2 days & I was pushed around from morning till night getting kitted. I arrived here on Thursday at lunchtime. We are billeted in empty houses 3 to a room.
The food here is grand & I don’t wonder at Civvy St. being short of stuff.
We have plenty to do here, even after duty we have loads of polishing to do – a job I hate.
We are getting plenty of square bashing & I am beginning to get plenty of aches & pains but I suppose it will do me good.
We are having a field exercise with the Army this weekend & I have volunteered for the gas decontam. party hoping to be indoors during the exercise instead of in the fields all night. The only drawback is that I have to attend 3 lectures, while off duty this week, to learn something about gas.
Our NCOs & Officers are, on the whole, a decent crowd.
The RAF isn’t so bad really but I shan’t be extremely sorry when I am able to become a civilian again.
I had my vaccination & 1st inoculation last Saturday. We got 36 hrs off duty & it made me feel pretty bad. In fact 3 of our chaps fainted, however by Monday I was a lot better & today I feel o.k.
As it is nearly lights out I must close now. I hope you are having a good time & not having to work too hard. Please remember me to your folks.
Cheerio for now
Yours sincerely
Don
– text Letter 8
25/5/43
Dear Mum & Dad
Today hasn’t been as good as usual, for a start our drill went to pieces & we all got chewed up about it, but I suppose it was just an off-day for us all.
Then at P.T. we were running about barefooted in a field & I collected some nettles & slipped on the wet grass & cut a lump out of my toe on something. Still these little things are sent to try us so I’m being philosophic about it.
As a matter of interest we do exactly 100 yds per minute on the march 120 to the minute 30 inches per stride. We’ve been right through the drill book but I’m finding it very hard to remember it all, still we’ve got another 15 days of it yet, although we still have to do rifle drill.
We had a lecture by an accounts bloke & I’ve found out that if nothing heard about my allowance in 3 weeks I must make inquiries, so if you hear let me know as soon as poss.
I’ve got a smashing way of making my bed. It makes it just like a sleeping bag. It’s very warm & you can’t lose the clothes in the night.
I’ve got my fortnights coupons. I’ve bought my soap. Were allowed 40 fags per week. Players 10 for 9d Weights 10 for 61/2 d. after the 40 all others are full price.
We are allowed 2 bars of chocolate a week. I haven’t bothered about mine yet.
I’m afraid I’m smoking more now but actually it’s all there is to do sometimes, & you can do with a fag after a lecture or a march.
I have spoken to several army & navy chaps & they are all just a little jealous of us. It’s quite understandable really. Their chief points are uniform (& I quite agree, you do at least feel semi-civilised in RAF togs.)& food, they all say their grub is awful. & the Army have a moan about glamour. They admit the RAF has done & is doing a grand job, but they don’t like being looked down upon as they are by a lot of people. I agree with them. They have all the really dirty work to do & they should get more credit than they do.
A word to Ern. Sailors say that in the Navy Stokers are looked upon as GD’s* are looked upon in the RAF. If that doesn’t persuade him he is lucky to be out of it, I’ll convince him when I get home. Don’t think I’m moaning, it’s just that service life isn’t as good as civvy St in many ways.
Have you heard whether Albert has left Gib yet?
Please give my regards to all our relations etc.
I’m writing this tucked up in bed & its nearly lights out so
Cheerio
Your Loving Son
Don
* RAF Disclosures provided me with a list of Common Abbreviations including GD General Duties.
– text Letter 9
28/5/43
Dear Mum & Dad
This is just a brief note. I have been very busy these last few days preparing for the Invasion Exercise & have not had any spare time. But I hope to write you a good letter while the exercise is on as I don’t think I shall have much to do.
Tell Bert why I haven’t answered his letter but I hope to write to him as well during the exercise.
I have had the parcel inclosing 2 letters & your letter of 26th.
I am returning L. Wright’s letter & please keep it for me.
All contents of parcel were o.k..
I hope to send off a parcel to you in the morning (Sat) & I will tell you all about it in the next letter.
Your loving Son
Don
P.S. all detail of music I want are inside books(1st page). I want 18 orks & 1 little book. I would like them soon.
Don.
– text Letter 10
Sunday 30/5/43
Dear Mum & Dad
At last I have caught up with my correspondence. However I didn’t get a chance to write this during the exercise but I’ll tell you about that further on.
Since I last wrote a full letter a lot has happened but I am glad to say mostly I have enjoyed it.
I had to get a haircut & boy what a haircut it was. I feel like a billiard ball.
I have sent some washing to the RAF laundry. What I sent was o.k. but some chaps were very disappointed. I am trying them once more & if I don’t like them I shall send my stuff home.
The marking ink & pencil were o.k. & all my kit is now marked.
In Erns letter he mentioned a kit bag lock. Although I would like one I’m afraid I can’t use one because the eyelets on my bag are almost too small for the rope let alone a lock as well.
My shoes feel lovely after the boots.
I hope Ern gets on OK about his teeth etc. what exactly has he to go to Poplars Hosp for ?
Now about the parcel, all the contents were ok. The papers were very welcome & they have been passed around & even after we have all read them they were used for something else.
I am now wearing all RAF clothes so I am returning the underclothes & I will not need them again – at least till I’m in Civvies again.
The pyjamas I shall need. The steel wool I do not require now I have the toothbrushes.
Thank you very much for the sweets, & I appreciate it very much, but please please don’t send any more as I am ok for them.
As a matter of fact I’m hoping to be able to save some coupons to get chocs for my leaves.
The soap tin is ok. My lifebuoy goes in now it’s is worn down & I have some thin toilet soap which goes in ok.
I got your letter of the 27th on Saturday. My toe is getting on ok I didn’t bother to report it because there is such a lot of fuss if you go sick.
We are going onto rifle drill next week & I am gradually getting the hang of foot drill.
I am very glad to hear about Ern & Mrs Keynes.
Tell Jean I hope Freddie gets on OK.
Wednesday wasn’t too bad. We had a short dip in the sea during PT.
In the evening we had another gas lecture from Sergt Bracts. He is really a fine fellow. There is no messing about with him, we are all just a bunch of pals when in his presence. After the lec I polished my buttons.
On Thursday we had a grand time. We had a good bit of foot drill in the morning but after dinner we had the dental parade. I was pronounced fit so I’m very glad I saw Bennett. Then we were radiographed (the new testing machine for the chest. It’s really an X Ray).
We went to the place & had a lay in the sun for about ¼ of an hour then we had the X Ray & then we had a lay down on the grass for nearly an hour while the other squads were being done. It was very hot & we came most of the way back at ease & singing. We spent all of our P.T. period in the sea.
After duty we had a dummy run for the exercise on Sat. We all went to the parade ground where we go for colour Parade every morning. But it was an absolute waste of time & I knew no more after it than I did before.
Friday we were told that the C.O. had banned going in the sea. We had our last gas lecture after duty.
Saturday morning we were fairly busy but we finished at 11.45 & had dinner. After dinner I posted off my parcel to you. List of contents is enclosed. Please wash & return the hankies. We are given a boot brush & I’ve no time to study bookkeeping now. That will have to wait till I’ve finished training. While on about parcels please send parcels so I can reuse the wrap paper for my returns.
We had to wear full kit for the exercise. We all got ready by 1.30 & stood by in or around our billets but not going out of the Street (By the way anything I tell you of this exercise must not be revealed to anyone else).
The bugle finally went at 5 past 5. We all dashed on our packs & reported to the gas H.Q. We had already been told our job I was with Corporal Muir (in charge of Squad 4 of our flight & supposed to be the best NCO on the station). There were 15 of us with the Corporal. 6 immediately went to the 3 post in our area & the rest of us went to our sub H.Q. – a draughty little wooden hut with no glass in the frames, standing in the open.
We made ourselves as comfortable as poss. & then ran over what we should do in case of a gas attack. After a couple of hours I went out with one of my pals as relief to one of the posts, & that started it, from then on we were backwards & forwards up & down all night long. I got only cat naps all night & felt terrible in the morning but during the morning we all had sleep while on the posts & soon felt o.k.
You should have seen me I was normally dressed as far as trouser & shirt with no collar & then I had on cardigan, dungarees, great coat. The big pack which we carried our greatcoats into the Sub H.Q. we dumped. Over our greatcoats was our small webbing consisting of belt & small valise containing rations & personal effects & water bottle on our backs at the neck & rolled up were our gas capes (they are rolled so that a mere pull of a string & you are wearing them properly without any loss of time). Overall that we wore our rain capes while on duty at the posts. Our tin helmets were worn & on them we placed – curtain gas helmet, camouflage net & we wove grass into that & then we had a pair of eye shields to slip on if necessary. On our chests were our gas masks in battle order ready for instant use. I will say though that we didn’t feel the cold but it was uncomfortable while laying down trying to sleep at odd moments.
One of our posts was at the back of the hut, another was about 2 minutes’ walk away at a roadblock & the 3rd was a bit further on, on a golf course, the one was right in the front line.
Des & I started on No 2. But later on after a relief we went to No 3. Subsequently the No 2 blokes were shifted up to the front line & “Killed” by the enemy. Actually they should not have been moved but they simply went back to the hut & didn’t go out again.
The exercise eventually finished at 2pm Sunday. We lost but at our end of the town they did not break through. The other end let us down.
The sides were RAF. HG. (Home Guard) Some army elements & some Navy elements & we lost to RAF (flying crew only) Army & some Navy elements.
We had no air support during the attack & we had 3 gas incidents. Only one concerned me. I was at the hut at the time & we all dashed out in gas masks & gas capes but it was CAP (a red war gas) which is only an irritant like tear gas & you let it disperse with the wind. At the same time No 3 post had a CAP incident & later while I was at No 3 with my pal Des another CAP incident occurred at the hut.
The only serious nuisance was food. The RAF rations aren’t so hot & in fact I left a lot. But the Sergt got us some sandwiches from a shop at 1 ½ d each. I had 6 & in all the flight (86 men) had 450. They were ok. Some of the chaps also went out & scrounged some stuff from a shop (we paid for it). So actually we had enough to eat. But drinks were a problem. I had some cold strong tea full of grouts about 1 pm. Some watery coco that was awful at about 10.30 & then only water till we finished & the people who live next to our billet had a bucket of tea for us as we returned & was it good.
They were very decent earlier on as well. They got some stuff for of our chaps & took it to them.
Well it was not an altogether enjoyable experience but I wouldn’t have missed it because it does give you some idea of actual warfare and how terrible it is. It rained horribly about 6 to 9 Sunday morning & some chaps got soaked to the skin & others who were guards and were in the golf club bushes got wet and all over their clothes & they’ll be weeks getting clean. But by using my loaf I kept fairly dry & was all sorted out by 4pm Sunday. We then had tea & I cleaned my buttons etc & wrote this.
I hope to go to the Naafi shortly for some supper.
I’m on cookhouse tomorrow night 6.30 to 8.30.
We got up in the morning in time to parade at 5 to 9 for breakfast instead of 6am as usual.
I will say cheerio now & I hope to write more often from now on.
Your loving Son
Don
Contents of Parcel
Hairbrush/cufflinks & tie pin civy socks
Boot brush 3 hankies Night Trousers
Steel wool Pants 2
Bookkeeping notebooks Singlets 2
– text Letter 11
31/5/43
YOUR REF: No. 1
MY REF 31/5/43/1/21/E/3/11/1876276
Dear Bert (H.S.W.)
Thanks very much for your letter & don’t you dare to think it was only as you said at the end. It brought me a breath of the times we used to have. I’m sorry I haven’t answered before but I’ve been very busy preparing for the exercise etc but thank goodness I am now straight & I hope to have a lot more spare time.
The “Sweet mysteries of life” are quite good up here & the food standard is still high.
I suppose by she you mean the girl in purple. I’m afraid that girls haven’t even entered my head since I’ve been away. I haven’t had time but I’ll make up for it when I’m home.
I know what you mean about “yours”, I’ve had it myself but I’ve no explanation. By the way there is NO such thing as A.J. It is the different life that does it to you. I’ve proved it too.
I’d like to hear the boys again before Les goes. If & when he goes will you replace him or carry on without.
With regard to the 2000 Ton Raid I didn’t even know about it for days after. I hear no radio & see papers about once a week.
I’ve not heard anything about the entertainer business yet.
I shall have to try to get more practice. Last night when I played (first time since the previous Monday) my fingers felt quite stiff.
The lecture I went to for the exercise were damn good. The Sgt. who gave them is a proper boy. Here is one of the jokes he is always putting in. “Definition of a 5th columnist” “A bridegroom in a 4 poster bed”
Well the exercise wasn’t very enjoyable but I wouldn’t have missed it because it was a real experience. I’ll describe the way I togged up when I get home. We must all have looked very funny.
We had 3 gas incidents all CAP (A real war gas) but they didn’t last long. Actually I was up all night through the exercise & spent most of the time in the front line in a forward Gas observation post.
The H.Q .of my little group was a dirty draughty little wooden hut standing right out in the open. It had the name “Daydream” in it. I felt like altering it to “Nightmare.”
Under our system everyone should have had 1 hr at a post & 1 hr at the hut but I recon I spent 12 hrs at the forward posts & the exercise was from 1705 Sat to 1400 Sunday so I did more than my share.
My side was defeated but our sector wasn’t broken, the other end of the town let them in.
Well I must clean my buttons (Its getting quite easy now thought).
So I’ll say Cheerio
All the best from your old pal.
Don
PS love some of the girls for me.
RAF expressions No 2.
SCRUBBED e.g. cancelled, washed out.
– text Letter 12
31/5/43
Dear Les, (alias Harry James)
So you passed Grade 1. I’m very glad you are fit but I’m sorry for the MBBS.
Fight like hell to get in the RAF, but when you’re in I bet you’ll wish you were not, the first few days of your training, I know I did.
When going to Cardington for 3 days (if you went for aircrew) you’ll only need to take personal toilet articles. But if you get in on the ground, when you are formally called up you’ll need the following:
All shaving tackle and brush
Polish kit . Blacking neutral polish toothbrush or small nail brush Rag.
Toothbrush & paste
Soap & soap tin & face flannel
Comb (hair cream if you want it)
Handkerchief. Pyjamas
Marking ink, pen & indelible pencil (use the pencil to mark your webbing)
Small mirror
Something to send Civvy clothes home in & you must use at least 2 tie on & 2 stick on labels on the parcel. (if they tell you to send your shoes home, take no notice. We all wear shoes up here when off duty.)
RAF underclothes are OK to wear & I don’t think you’ll need any Civvy underclothes. I don’t & I’ve got a very tender skin.
If I were you I would also take a tin of Elastoplast or some similar stuff. You are bound to collect a few cuts & scratches.
RAF braces aren’t very comfortable. I’ve kept my own for off duty wear.
I also advise you to take enough fags for a week. You are not allowed to buy them at Cardington Camp & you can’t always get a pass to Bedford.
Well I think that’s about all you need take & I suppose you think that’s quite enough, but you wait till you get your full kit on. It will weight nearly as much as you do.
The RAF is definitely the best treated service. I’ve spoken to Navy & Army chaps here & they are all just a little jealous of us.
I strongly advise you to get your teeth seen to before joining up. I’m glad I did.
I expect Bert will tell you what happened at the exercise. I am too tired to write it all again.
That chap who plays golstah hasn’t had to it down yet, but when he does I’ll really begin to enjoy myself. It will at least be a substitute for the MBB. I often wish I was back with you chaps bashing out on “That’s a Party” & “ Honeysuckle Rose” etc.
Well Les don’t get called up too soon because if you do it might be a long while before we can see one and other again.
We are starting our rifle drill this week. I think it will be better than the foot drill we’ve been having this last week.
Please give my best wishes to your parents.
Cheerio & keep hitting the highway.
Your old pal
Don
– text Letter 13
31/05/1943
Dear Mum & Dad
I wrote you yesterday & forgot you would be a Laindon, but I suppose Ern will send the letter on to you.
I hope you have a jolly good time & fine weather. I only wish I was with you.
I had a letter from Doris & Walter today.
I don’t know what has happened to our flight today. 6 chaps fainted while on colour parade & when we were having rifle drill this morning about 6 of us including myself had to fall out & rest because we all felt giddy.
I think it must be the sun beating on us that is doing it.
It is now mid-afternoon all of the other chaps are out at the Wing Sports meeting but us chaps that fell out are resting in our billets. I already feel a lot better & my headache is almost gone.
I hope I don’t have to work too hard at the cookhouse tonight. I’m glad I wasn’t put on all day as 6 of our chaps were.
Last night at the NAAFI I played for a while & another chap was there who could remember classics (I wish I could) it was nice to listen to some of my favourite classics.
I’ve nothing else to tell you so I’ll say cheerio.
Your loving Son
Don
PS thanks for the stamps.
– text Letter 14
02/06/43
Dear Freddy,
I have now got quite settled down here at Skegness. It’s a very nice place & we have been billeted in empty houses.
I like most of what happens in the RAF but cleaning fatigues inoculations & field exercises are some of the things I don’t like.
Still I got over the inoc. In a couple of days & the Field exercises we had last Sat & Sun was a good experience if rather uncomfortable. I was on Gas Decontamination.
Although I am sending this to your home I suppose you have been called up by now. I hope you like the Army. Have you got in what your wanted.? I’m in RDP/W/M which means Radio Direction Finding Wireless Mechanic. It’s a damn good job, Group 1 or top pay which is what interests me most as 3/- per day doesn’t go far.
Skeg is having its wings week soon & I might be put in a dance band for the week. I’m going for an audition on Friday.
I’m getting on quite well with Drill, we’ve finished foot drill & nearly finished rifle drill. Although this is an 8 weeks course I might leave after 6 weeks – most RAF chaps seem to.
I shall be glad to get on with my real training – especially as there is a chance I might be posted to London for part of it.
Well Freddy I wish you all the best, please give my regards to your family,
Cheerio
Your old pal
Don.
– text Letter 15
2/6/43
Dear Mum & Dad
I have had your 2 letters of the 31st & 1st. also 2 parcels , all contents o.k. Any washing I send home I will want returned from now on.
It was good to play from music again & I have had a good time round the Naafi playing.
It was OK round the Cookhouse on Monday. I was on washing machine & we washed over a 1000 dishes in less than an hour. One chap knocked over a huge pile of plates & broke 15 ( luckily they hadn’t been washed. When we finished at 8 they asked if we wanted supper but I didn’t fancy what they had – jacket potatoes cold meat & pickles – so I asked if they had any swiss roll left & 1 of the Waaf’s took me in the pantry cupboard & I had nearly a whole swiss roll.
I went to the Naafi after & met some swing fans & I had a jolly good time.
We had a pay parade yesterday. I got 35/- – not much but it all helps. We also went to see if our Vacs had taken. They all had. Mine have come up lovely, the only thing is I have to be careful so it doesn’t get broken. It’s a long way to the Vac. place & our next period was drill so the NCOs took us for a walk round as it wouldn’t have left much time for drill if we had gone back to the billets.
We got fed up with marching so they took us round a back street & we had a lay down on the grass. Then it rained so we hurried to the theatre & sat in there till it was time for our lecture so the afternoon wasn’t too bad.
We’ve learnt nearly all our rifle drill the only thing I don’t like is that an 8lbs 10 ½ oz rifle gets very heavy after a bit & hurts your shoulder. So I pad my shoulder now. Today as well the Sargt kept us in an awkward position with our rifles for about 10 mins while he explained another thing & then because we all said we didn’t feel fit when he asked us he gave us a bit of drill & running etc holding our rifles over our heads & at arm’s length – we soon said we felt o.k. He didn’t do it for spite thought – it was more of a joke, all the same we were glad when it rained & he let us go to our billets. It’s been raining on & off the last few days, after our initial fine weather. It rained during our drill period too so we had another easy afternoon.
Last night at tea parade the Corp read out that certain men had to report at the Radiography centre in the morning. There were 6 including me. That put me off writing last night so I went to the Naafi again & had a jam.
When we went to the centre this morning at 8.45 they took another Xray. I was the last & after a bit a chap came out & told 4 they could go. Myself & another chap had to stay, but after a few more minutes a Doctor came out & said “all go, your chests are perfectly normal, you are all o.k. & there is nothing to worry about”, boy was I relieved. I would rather stay in the RAF than live with that.
Skeg. is having a Wings week in a couple of weeks’ time & tonight all entertainers & musicians were asked to go to the Tower Pavilion at 7 for an audition. I went. I didn’t play but my name was taken & I have to go again on Friday. To play. So it looks o.k. Also I might be due for a fatigue Friday but this takes precedence. We are trying hard to be selected for the parade. If we are we will have a fine time when it’s over, & I heard a whisper that there might be money in it.
By the way, once or twice recently I have passed (note I said passed) a pub called the Vine Hotel, where Tennyson is supposed to have written “Come Into the Garden Maud”.
I thought you were staying at Laindon & I wrote a letter to there but I suppose you have it by now.
The food today has been funny – Breakfast was O.K. Lunch wasn’t up to much. Jacket Potatoes Meat & Beetroot. The potatoes I don’t like – they don’t look nice when served up. The meat was nearly all fat gristle & the hard burnt bits , so I couldn’t eat much of it. The beetroot was o.k. though. The sweet was rice & prunes but the trouble was there wasn’t enough.
Tea was super though & more than made up for dinner. A real fried egg & mash. Bread butter & marmalade. You get one sliver with a knob of butter & a dab of jam but that is enough for 2 slices, so I took another slice from the bin, in Civvy the butter & Jam would be enough for about 4 slices. We had a cake also so the tea was the best since I left home. I left feeling very satisfied with tea.
I’m glad to heart Mrs Keyes is about again.
I don’t need the rubber shoes – we have slippers & anyway I wouldn’t be allowed to wear them in uniform.
I’m glad Ern is now feeling much better.
The dip in the sea was ok except that it was very cold so I’m not very sorry its finished.
We had some form of PT yesterday on the beach silly game like king of the Castle etc & we followed the Sarge around & did things like climbing up & jumping off huts etc.
I have had 5 buttons come off my trousers today so I must close now to sew them on.
Cheerio & much love from
Don
P.S. I was called to account today about the allotment. The Waaf advised me to allot 6d a day because she seemed to think the Govt would make an allowance if they don’t I can increase it then. It is to date from 18th May & you should be hearing soon. She told me I would be informed as well.
PPs I would like a stout envelope to keep the music in & another for my Stationery.
– text Letter 16
3/6/43
Dear Johnny,
I have heard from Bert you will soon be going over, you lucky chap I wish I was going with you.
Still my part of the RAF isn’t so bad now I’m settled down, the drill is rather boring but it’s only for a few weeks.
I’ve had my Vac. & Inoc – but there’s no need to tell you about that is there?
We had an all-night exercise last Sat & Sun with the Army Navy & H.G. I was on Gas Decontam. I spent an uncomfortable night, but it was an interesting experience.
They’ve made me an RAF/W/M, a jolly good trade as you probably know. I’m hoping to go to London for part of my course.
The weather has been rather foul the last few days, but us recruits don’t mind because all drill etc is scrubbed & we can stop in & clean up or write letters.
We were Radiographed last week & I had a shock a few days after when with some others I was told to report to the centre. I thought they had found T.B. But they hadn’t, I suppose the first X Ray hadn’t come out properly. Anyway the Doc. said I was perfectly normal in the chest.
Bert says you are going to be a Pilot, will you still be on Mosquitoes? I see plenty of planes around here & can recognise several now.
Well Johnny I hope you have a jolly good time over the other side, knowing you I’m sure you will have the time of your life.
It is now lights out so I wish you all the best & cheerio, your old pal
Don
P.S. before I was called up, those girls up ELCCAS asked Bert & I when you would be up again, looks as though they like your way of saying goodnight.
– text Letter 17
4/6/43
Dear Mum & Dad
I have had your letter of the 2nd & I hope you had better weather Thursday than on Wednesday. I am very glad my Cert. has been found. I would not have liked to have lost it.
I had a nice easy time yesterday, it rained most of the day so Drill & PT were cancelled & I was able to have a good clean up & finish sewing on buttons (incidentally I have had to sew on another 2 today) & in the evening I spent all the time at the Naafi & had a go at the piano & a jolly good supper for 8 ½ d Pork & Beans pie, peas & chips.
We had kippers for tea yesterday so I didn’t have much of a tea.
Today hasn’t been too bad. After breakfast 6 of us had to go to the Naafi as fatigue party. I spent the morning sweeping floors etc & after dinner (12.15 to 2pm) I was detailed with 2 others, as there weren’t much to do at the Naafi, to go to Merrie Mead the Armoury & we spent the afternoon in the ammo store finding the empty boxes & fuse tins, then we took them to the stationary HQ armoury & restacked them. That took us to 4.15 & we finished.
After tea I went for my audition but although I was there till 8.50 no-one turned up.
I feel very browned off about it & next time they’ll have to come for me. It’s the last time I waste an evening like that.
Our Flights have increased from 86 to over a 100. Several chaps who were ill & put back have been put on us & another chap who is a bit simple & can’t quite grasp the drill has been put back a week. We’re sorry for him really but we hope he doesn’t mess up our flight because we really are getting quite smart now. Actually I think he shouldn’t have been called up.
Also a squad of ATC* proficiency blokes who only do 6 weeks here have been shoved on us & they are really terrible at drill & unless they improve a lot they might cut us out of the Wings for Victory parade.
ATC boys aren’t so hot as they think they are.
We are all looking forward to our passing out parade next Wed. once we have done that successfully we are O.K. because there is no passing out from phase B.
Another lot of RAF chaps have left after 6 weeks so I am hoping to leave here on June 30th. Otherwise it will be July 14th.
I don’t know where I’ll be posted to but if it is South Kensington I shall try to pop home for a few hours.
I don’t know when I actually get a leave, some say you get 48 hrs a fortnight after leaving here & then a 9 day soon after.
I think that’s about all so
Cheerio
Your loving son
Don.
PS please send me a tin of Elastoplast.
The RAF Laundry has disappointed me this time so I am sending a parcel home tomorrow consisting of 1 Towel 5 hankies 2 collars 1 pants 1 shirt 1 vest. I didn’t really want to bother you with washing but I want to be dressed neatly. If you can let me have them Friday I’ll send the next lot on the Saturday.
*Air Training Corps From RAF Disclosures
– text Letter 18
Sunday 6/6/43
Dear Mum & Dad
I got your letter of the 4th yesterday & I also had one from Les.
When we were off after diner yesterday I went out with a pal & we went to the town. We had a go on the putting green. It’s very small but it made a change. I lost both games but not by much, & the charge was only 3d each for 36 holes. We also tried a YMCA. I think they are a lot better than Naafi’s in some ways.
We went to see a Variety Show “High Jinks” at the Arcadia (Where we have our lectures) after tea. On the poster is prominently displayed “Forces 1/- in 1/9d seats” when we asked for them we were told it didn’t apply Sats. I didn’t think much of that.
The show was an average provincial one I suppose but it wouldn’t have lasted long in London
I am billet Orderly today which means I am only supposed to leave the billet for meals.
I have done my sweeping & scrubbings & had a nice hot bath & now I am writing & I want to clean my buttons.
I had to go to church parade this morning. It must have looked fine to see flight after flight marching along behind the band. I was in the last but one flight & we could just faintly hear the band so you can guess how many of us there are. The service was quite good.
It is now very near teatime so I’ll say cheerio.
Your loving son
Don.
P.S. it’s been raining since dinner I hope you have had weather good enough to go to Laindon.
– text Letter 19
Dear Doris Walter & Beryl,
Many thanks for your letter & stamps. I got it last Monday but I left it till today to answer because I have plenty of time, you see I am Billet Orderly & I can’t go out except for meals..
I have done all my sweeping & scrubbing & after attending to my correspondence (Home) I have only my buttons to clean & then I am free so I think I’ll have an early night.
I’ve done no more “ballet dancing” thank goodness instead we have had dips in the sea till the CO forbade it & yesterday we had a long run. It nearly killed me because I never was a long distance runner. My muscles still ache.
I think Walter ought to come on one of these courses. The amount of Drill PT & marching we do would soon get his weight down to what it used to be. I wouldn’t mind changing with him for a couple of weeks, it would be nice to ride everywhere I went.
I’ve heard nothing about the entertainment affair but the other day another request was made for musicians I’m connecting with Skeg Wings week. When I went Wed I was told to go for an audition Fri & on Fri no one turned up so as far as I am concerned they can come & fetch me when they want me again. I don’t like wasting an evening when you get a little free time.
I am glad Beryl is getting on well. You had better tell her not to “bash my body” when I get home because it is an offense to assault anyone wearing HM uniform (that must be why mine doesn’t fit)
We have had a deserter. According to the story going round he was refused leave to see his sick wife, so he took it. He was home for 24 hrs & then came back & gave himself up. He got 14 days detention.
I would very much like to see you but I wouldn’t get 14 days for it. Still I may be leaving here on the 30th & if it is poss. I shall come home for a few hours.
We are passing out into Phase B on Wednesday& we then start a kind of commando course. I am not looking forward to it in the least. I always did prefer a quiet life.
I hope Bert & everyone else are still O.K. & I was glad to hear Mrs Keynes was out of hospital.
That’s about all my news, all the best to everyone.
Love from
Don
P.S. Tell Beryl I expect her to come & meet me to carry my kit bag as she is going to be a little tough guy.
– text Letter 20
6/6/43
Dear Les
Thanks very much for your letter which arrived yesterday. So you think you’ve got another couple of weeks of freedom, make the most of them boy.
It sure sounds as though the band is getting classy. I hope your programme went all right last night, I thought of you while I was in the Arcadia Theatre & also when I was in bed at 9.45 (that shocks you doesn’t it).
I think Campbell ConnellyI ought to pay me a plugging fee I’ve got all 3 Wing whistling That’s – a – Plenty.
If you get to Skegness by the end of the month I shall be extremely glad to see you, we are going to change to Phase B on Wednesday & we will get new billets then I’ll give you the House & Road name so you can contact me. I may possibly leave here on the 30th if things go well so I don’t suppose I shall see much of you here but I hope to anyway.
You remember I said Ivy wanted me to write to her, well I wrote on May 25th but I haven’t had a reply, but I’ve not worrying actually I don’t mind if she doesn’t answer at all. The only thing is the letter may have strayed & she think I haven’t bothered.
Skeg is having a wing week soon & last Wed. they appealed for musicians for a dance band for the week. I volunteered & was told to go for an audition Friday. When I went nobody turned up. I’m not wasting any more time like that.
I still wish I was back with you but I’m getting more playing in now & it makes it easier.
They’ve got a military band here so you will soon be back playing & you will get a voluntary music badge. I am after one but I don’t know how to go about it.
That’s about all for the present so all the best to you all.
Cheerio.
Your old pal
Don
Wikipedia
*James Campbell (1903–1967) and Reg Connelly (1895 (or 1898) – September 23, 1963) were British music publishers and song writing team (1920s and 1930s). Primarily lyricists, they generally worked in collaboration with composers. For some songs (most notably “Show Me the Way to Go Home”) they used the pseudonym Irving King and Irving and Ivor King.
– text Letter 21
6/6/43
Dear Ron & Doll
I am writing you this way because I don’t know whether you have yet moved.
I hope you are all well & I expect June is getting on fine now, can she talk much yet.
I am beginning to feel fit again now except for a slight stiffness in the legs after a long run we had yesterday. I have quite got over my initial fatigue & my vaccinations has ceased to trouble me.
How are you getting on with your reading Ron? It is most important now it seems Les will soon be going. Have you heard any more from the H.G. ?
I have been on fatigues twice this week. One evening at the cookhouse which was o.k. I made up to a Waaf & had nearly a whole swiss roll to myself. Another day I was at the Naafi. I had to work there & got nothing for it.
My side lost in the field exercise last weekend. I spent most of the night in the middle of a big golf course looking for gas attacks. It was b—- cold & rained early morning. I was glad to get to my billet when it was over. We had 3 gas incidents but I only had to dress up once.
One of our chaps deserted last week. He was refused leave to see his sick wife & pushed off. He gave himself up eventually & got 14 days.
I ought to make a good wife (except for one thing) when I leave the RAF what with sewing Polishing sweeping & scrubbing.
One of our gun instructor Jokes
A fifth columnist is a bridegroom in a 4-poster bed.
We’ve had plenty of rain the last few days but when it rains drill is cancelled so we don’t mind very much.
I’ve had nothing to do with women since I got here & as they aren’t up to much I don’t think I’ll bother with them. Anyway, the NCO’s are first in.
Well I wish I was back with the boys but I’ll be on leave in a few weeks then well have some fun.
All the best to you both & my special good wishes to June,
Cheerio
Your old pal
Don
– text Letter 22
7/6/43
Dear Mum & Dad
Well Dad many happy returns of your birthday tomorrow. I’m afraid there’s no port or cigars this year but the thought is there just the same.
About the allowance, it seems the Govt is putting 6d a day. I shall be glad to hear the final result.
One of our chaps deserted last week. According to the story he was refused leave to see his sick wife so he took it. He was home for 24 hrs & then returned & gave himself up. He got 14 days.
Has Ern been able to make that gramophone yet. I am longing to hear some of my records again. We are very jazz starved here.
Has anyone got any bright ideas how to get a really good trouser crease, I don’t fancy sewing or soaping mine.
Please send me another pair of suspenders. One of mine has broken & I can’t mend it.
There is some doubt as to whether I can put up VR shoulder flashes. Would you please get my RAFVR papers & send them to me. I think they are in my desk in a small envelope right in the front, or else inside my letter file.
Would Ern please lend me his book on comparative Ranks & Badge as it is very important I learn them in the next few days.
It is between us & another flight to be picked for guard of Honour for Wings week & we are really being put through the hoop at drill today.
I have just had a lovely dinner & now I want to post this before practicing for organised Games.
Cheerio
Y L S
Don.
– text Letter 23
9/6/43
Dear Mum & Dad
I’ll start this letter by wishing Mum Many happy returns. I can’t come home on the 11th with flowers but there’s next year to look forward to.
I have had a good post today your letters of the 7th & a parcel & a letter from Bert.
Dealing with the first letter first my socks will be sent with the next parcel. I had sent them to the RAF laundry.
So far I’ve not been told off about shaving so I must be getting on O.K. as for blades the 3 I had have suited me.
So Ern can keep his bottom set, it’s better than a full set of dentures anyway.
I haven’t yet had a letter from Jean.
I can’t give you the exact size of the bags but they won’t be very big about 6” x 12”mostly but don’t start on them yet. I shall want 3 or 4.
All contents of parcel were O.K. The collars could be a little stiffer, it looks smarter & I think they keep cleaner.
The Rank & Badge book is just what I want.
The RAFVR papers are what I want.
I have got my pay book today all the other chaps had them weeks ago. I suppose Cardington held it up.
On Monday afternoon I was entered for the cross country run. I couldn’t stand the pace though. I got terrific pains in my muscles. So after about 5 ½ hours I dropped out. I was the 2nd to drop out.
Even so our flights points made us 2nd for the event. After I got dressed I went back to the billet & was finished for the day & after tea I went down town & went to night school. It wasn’t bad there & although they are not on exactly what I want I shall keep going as a refresher.
We had a lot of drill yesterday & I have no doubt as to whether I shall pass out.
The W.O. told us that we have been chosen to represent 3 Wing in the Wings week. 26th June to 4th May. Because of this I don’t suppose they will let me leave June 30th so it looks as though I’m here for 8 weeks. Anyway Wings week should only mean a bit of exhibition marching each day free meals, & late passes a plenty of fun, so although I would like to get home I won’t mind so much .
I asked the W.O. how to become a voluntary musician & also told him about last Friday & he is going to take it up for me.
There is a wing dance on tonight & our squad was allotted 8 tickets so we drew for them. As we were a Billet orderly short for today we also put in a slip with “Firewatcher” on it. Being me I drew “Firewatcher” so I’ve spent today scrubbing again.
Still out of evil cometh good. The rest of the boys are at present on a route march while I write letters.
I’ve copped some jobs today, because I am last Billet Orderly before we go to new billets. I’ve had to tidy the Coal Cellar & sort out the salvage on the rubbish dump. Corpl Croft has just got me to scrub his ceremonial belt, still that only took a couple of minutes & I don’t mind doing things for him because he’s a nice chap.
I am now going to get dressed up because one of the chaps isn’t going out tonight, & I will be able to go up town as I want a haircut.
Incidentally I’ve already had to start on another tin of blacking so you can see how much I clean my boots.
Your parcel today came while I was in the middle of getting ready for a full kit inspection. I didn’t open it till after the inspection because I would only have had to lay out the clean clothes with the rest of my kit so “it’s at the laundry Sargt”.
That’s about all for now.
Cheerio & love from
Don
P.S. I enclose 2 copies of a photo I had done last Monday. I waited to see if it was any good before mentioning it. Do you think it is good enough to order some more?
I need more than the 6 I have got.
We had photos done of the flight & Squad tonight. I’ll sent them off as soon as I get them because they are too big for me to keep. I haven’t had time for a haircut after all, it will have to do for tomorrows parade.
I’ve just had a smashing supper, cheese spam & Beetroot bread & tea, Help yourself, as much as you want, & now I’m going to pack my kit ready for tomorrows move.
– text Letter 24
10/6 new address
Dear Mum & Dad
Well we passed out & are now in new billets, they are far better. We have wash basins in our room between 4 & the house is twice as big. We are in sections of 12 instead of squads of 21. We have 117 men in our flight.
We got no praise on our passing out parade but that’s only natural. We did quite well except for the ATC squad. I personally have never drilled so well.
Phase B so far has consisted only of lectures, I suppose we start the grind tomorrow.
I’m afraid that’s all I’ve time for now as I am now in bed & it’s getting dark. I’ll try to write fully tomorrow.
Cheerio, Y L S
P.S. please tell Bert my new address.
– text Letter 25
11/6
Dear Mum & Dad
As I told you yesterday we passed out. I for 1 like phase B a lot more than phase A.
After our passing out parade we got on our full kit & went to our new billet, (the kit seemed heavier than when we came from Cardington). The billets are super. Almost every room has its own wash basin, they are large & light. I am in with different chaps but I know them all & we get on well.
The NCOs are again o.k. we have more duties here because the garden has to be kept up to scratch.
We had another kit inspection this morning & we have had lectures in the fields on the rifle, aiming etc, fieldwork & bayonet fighting. Our bayonet instructor was in the Spanish Civil War & is a real Jerry hater & gave us plenty of gen. He himself has been bayoneted & showed us the scar on his shoulder. I know I wouldn’t like to fall foul of him, he’s about the toughest guy I’ve met.
We had a period under a Flight Lieut. Drilling us for the guard of honour, we were certainly let in for something there. I only hope I can get in the band.
The P.T. we have now is harder but I enjoy it more.
I have had plenty of practice at aircraft rec. the other day at P.T. on the beach a Wellington came over so low we had to lay flat to avoid being hit but we had a smashing view as it passed about 7 feet over our heads.
We spend a lot of our time changing from one dress to another, I’ll be able to show Ern how to quick change when I get home.
Mostly we wear our trousers no tunics, dungarees skeleton webbing tin hat bayonet & rifle now. We have done with drill marching now though it’s all marching at ease & you feel quite comfortable.
By the way Bert will be handing a tie to you, will you please pay him for it.
We were issued with 10 rounds of ammo today & we have to always have them when on duty.
We certainly have to keep our full hut up to scratch now so I must close in order to write some more letters & doing cleaning before lights out.
Y L S Don.
– text Letter 26
11/6/43 New Address
Dear Bert.
Thanks very much for your letter & contents, you sent them at just the right moment because I had used my coupons & couldn’t get any more cheap fags. The letter came just as I was laying my full kit out for inspection.
I’m glad you had a good holiday. Your weather seems to have been like ours.
The AR tips are just what I wanted, we get several aircraft each lesson from Corpl Daniels the ***! . he is about the worst NCO on the station.
I think I’ll know a Wellington from now on. A few days back we were on the beach at P.T. & a Wellington flew about 6 or 7 feet above the ground, of course we flung ourselves down & had a super view as it flashed past.
Re girls, I think you’re pulling my leg about Maud because you know she doesn’t mean a thing in fact I’m coming home with an open mind to see who I can get (I don’t care much who it is) don’t get me wrong it’s just that I’ve not met any girls socially since I’ve been here.
I’m glad you’re getting on O.K. with Eileen but I don’t think I’d advise you to get to fresh, she’ll probably want it after a while & you’ll get all you want then. As you say I could tell L & R where they are best off, but they’ll find out. I hope to see her when she gets home although I’m sorry his got to go.
Thanks for the tie idea, I’ve told my folks & they’ll see you about it when you give it them.
The enclosed photo I had done last Monday & I got them the same day as your letter.
I didn’t get an audition, when I turned up no NCO’s came & myself & 3 other chaps had to waste an evening. I’ve seen the W.O. about it & he is taking it up.
By the way I’m going to a dance soon, the local Virgins are holding one in the telephone box on the corner of the street.
I’m now in Phase b. its hard work but it’s fun. A Flight Lieut started drilling us today for the Wings week guard of honour, he’s a proper **** & didn’t half give it to us. One of those floating spiders settled on my face & had a route march & I didn’t dare move to flick it for about 30 mins when we had finished.
We get bags of spit & polish now & I’m becoming an expert at quick change. All day we shift from shirt sleeves to dungarees, to PT & back again.
I’ve written to Johnny & have had a letter from Mary she says Maud is going to write too. I think I’ll get a Waaf as correspondence clerk. Still, the more post I get the better I like it, if a day goes by without a letter you feel different somehow.
Our bayonet fighting instructor is a real tough guy he was in the I.B. in Spain & has been bayonetted.
Our new billets are super the only drawback is that we have to keep the garden tidy & plant & weed etc.
I wish I had time to write you a nice long letter , but you don’t know what hectic means till you join the RAF.
I’m simply longing to get home & have a bash with the boys but it won’t be long now I hope so cheerio & all the best to all
Your old pal
Don.
– text Letter 27
12/6/43
Dear Mum & Dad
I hope this reaches you by Monday. I did not get a chance to post this morning & had to rush it after dinner.
As usual our “free” weekend has been broken by all being put on fatigues but mine shouldn’t last more than ½ an hour & I’ll do it tomorrow so I shan’t lose much time.
The contents of parcel are;
2 prs socks
2 collars 4 hankies
Pyjamas, bar of soap, empty petrol bottle, & 1 suspender for repair & return.
Pants, vest, gym singlet, shirt, (Please fold as shown necessary for inspection etc)
1 towel
RAFVR papers in envelope.
I had your letter of 10th today.
I am glad about Mrs Keynes but very sorry to hear about Beryl & I hope she is soon o.k.
Re the w/o, there is little chance I shall see him out of about 3000 chaps but I’ll keep my eyes & ears open.
I shall increase my allotment to 1/- a day now.
Thanks very much for stamps, I was almost out.
Well I will finish now & post the parcel.
Cheerio YLS Don
– text Letter 28
12/6/43
Dear Mary,
Thanks very much for your letter.
It arrived last Wednesday just as I was preparing to leave my billet to enter on the second part of this course.
The first part of the course consists of Drill & the second part is a modified commando training. I am very glad to have finished the drill & get on to something more interesting. I am learning how to use the rifle & sten gun etc. Our bayonet fighting instructor fought in the Spanish Civil War & is a real tough guy, he sure hates Jerry & gave us plenty of tips on how to finish him off.
Last night I would much rather have been at Elccas then have spent the evening as I did, I had to clean all my kit & rifle. I always get browned off while on that job.
We get jolly good food here, the only thing is that lately they are either dishing us up smaller portions or my appetite is increasing because I am always hungry before the next meal. I’m beginning to feel very fit the training certainly does you good.
I would very much like to be home, even though the Air Drome is quite good it doesn’t compare with home.
I get quite a lot of fatigue duty but I manage to have quite a good time at the NAAFI with my pals(all Jazz fans) & there are 3 cinemas & a theatre in the town. I shall probably be here till the middle of July & hope to be home the end of July. It will certainly be good to be able to go up to the club again.
It is getting very near 10.15 (yes we have to be in bed by 10.15, disgusting isn’t it)so I am afraid I must close now with my best wishes to yourself & Marie.
Yours sincerely
Don.
– text Letter 29
13/6/43
Dear Ivy,
Thanks very much for your letter. I am sorry I haven’t answered earlier but I have been very busy this week. We have just changed billets & entered on the second phase of our training.
It is much more interesting now, we are learning about rifles & all types of automatic guns, bayonet fighting, fieldwork etc in fact it is a modified Commando course.
We have to do a lot of swotting in the evenings because we have to take notes on all we are taught. Even so I have quite a good time with my pals (all Jazz fans) round the NAAFI etc. One of them plays Clarinet & I think Les will be down here soon so it looks as though I’ll be in a band again.
Skegness is having its Wings week soon & the RAF wants musicians for bands there. I’ve put my name down but I don’t yet know what will happen.
I shall probably be here till the middle of July, it seems a long way ahead but I expect it will pass quickly, the last 3 weeks seems to have gone in a flash.
I hope to be posted to South Kensington for my next course, I shall be able to get home frequently if I do.
We have 3 cinemas & a theatre in Skeg, so we are better off for entertainment then you are but I have already seen nearly all the films they show.
I went rowing with 2 of my pals this afternoon but we were such inexpert oarsmen we wouldn’t have got much wetter if we had jumped in but it was fun.
I think that’s about all my news so I’ll end by wishing you all the best.
Yours sincerely,
Don
– text Letter 30
14/6/43
Dear Mum & Dad
Have received your letter of 11th today. I still have not had the letter from Jean.
The underclothes, especially the pants, are more comfortable now they have been washed.
Its ok about the boot polish I can get it from the NAAFI.
I’m glad Beryl is again o.k.
I had quite a good time yesterday, I had a walk on the beach in the morning & after dinner 3 of us went boating on the lake. 2 of us were inexpert oarsmen so we shared a boat & did we have a time. We both got pretty wet but it was good fun. We stayed out to tea & went to a cinema after & saw a darned good show. The film “Tower of Terror” & “Drums of the Desert” were both really interesting. We finished up with tea & buns in a café. Actually, I started the day well by having a lovely lay in till 8, then I did my little bit of shopping, breakfast and the day was my own.
Of course we get no Bank Holiday but this afternoon was organised games. Because it rained so hard the cross country was washed out so I spent the afternoon sitting on my cape watching other chaps run.
Nearly half the flight have to stay in their billet tomorrow during mid-morning break, as punishment for not having their rooms up to scratch.
We are amongst the culprits because the previous occupants of our room left a pile of fag ends under the grate, & we didn’t notice them while cleaning the room. Of course we were blamed & it’s no good making excuses so we get no tea & buns tomorrow morning. Still I shall bring some in with me tonight.
We have had more guard of honour drill & I’m beginning to think the honour isn’t worth the work we have to put in.
Well I have to go to night school now for my Maths class, the other subjects are English & Navigation, also they have a Classical Music Club & a Current Affairs discussion group, so I must close now. With much love
From Don.
P.S. we had a warning last night. Everybody broke the rules by staying in bed & the last I heard was the planes throbbing overhead, then I went to sleep. Apparently the warning lasted about an hour.
PPS Re allowance I can’t alter it for 3 months so it will be 3/6 p.w. till August.
– text Letter 31
NEW ADDRESS 15/6/43
Dear Les,
I am now in phase B & as I promised here is the address where I am billeted “Wellbeck” Firbeck Avenue.
Its situated something like this
It’s only a rough map but I think you’ll be able to find me when you arrive. I’m on the first floor, room 6. Let me know when you’re here & I’ll get some idea when you’ll be here. Intake day is Thursday, so if you have to go in on Thur Fri or Sat you should be here the following Thursday. If you go on a Monday Tue or Wed you have to stay at Cardington over a week – which I hope you don’t have to do.
Phase B is much more fun than phase A you get hardly any drill – 6 periods in 5 weeks. We get rather more because of the Guard of Honour for Wings Week.
I’m beginning to hope I get dropped from the Guard because there is too much hard work attached to it. Other than that we are quite enjoying this phase. We have lectures on the field on fieldcraft rifle & bayonet fighting Sten guns etc & it really is interesting. During PT we have lessons in unarmed combat. It’s amazing what a difference a few weeks will make to you. You should see me climb brick shelters, climb trees, jump fences etc. it gives you confidence in yourself. We have to carry around notebooks for all the lectures & swot them up after, I don’t do much swotting though because it seems to stick in our mind. The way our NCOs explain things.
I am including a photo of myself. It’s a pity it doesn’t show how brown I’m getting.
I hope the boys are getting plenty of jobs & I hope you & your folks are keeping o.k. all the best
Your old pal
Don.
P.S. I can now add to the list of my appearances the Arcadia theatre – the MO was giving a lecture on applying splints & called me to assist him.
– text Letter 32
16/6
Dear Mum & Dad
I received your letter of 14th today. I suppose the bungalow will soon be surrounded by flowers now we are in the middle of summer.
Your weather seems better than ours we have had showers all day & every day for about a week.
I don’t want the tie Bert is getting sent on, but you could get my black tie cleaned ready for me when I get home. My present one will not be fit for wear in another few weeks.
On Tuesday morning we didn’t lose our breaks after all. We stand by our bed & the Sergt came in & looked around, he could find no faults so he sent us to break.
Today I had my best RAF dinner. We are the last flight to meals this week & we usually have to queue for 20 to 45 mins, but we got in quickly dinnertime & as they wanted to clear up we could have any second helpings. I had my main dish and 5 second courses. I felt really replete.
I went to the theatre tonight & the show was really good “Blackpool Follies” was one of the best shows I’ve seen for a long while.
Would you please send me the new music that’s been arriving.
I got thrown out of the Guard of Honour today along with a lot of other chaps. He said he would have to cut a lot out because there were too many.
I’m out because I didn’t have a proper slope. It’s not my fault really thought. They issued me a small rifle & with my long arms I can’t slope properly without my arm going numb in a couple of minutes so of course I hold it so it is comfortable. Although I am out of the guard I still do the drill but in charge of a Corpl & we have an easy time compared with the rest.
Also I can now concentrate more on trying for the band & if there is a chance of being posted after 6 weeks there will be no guard to stop me, & I’d rather be posted than having photo in the local rag.
How does Ern like going about with half his teeth out.
I am enclosing a couple more photos if you want to distribute them. I’m afraid they are not very good.
I’m trying to find time to send one to Doris & Walter but I just haven’t been able to yet.
I got another pay day yesterday & again got 35/-. I’ve managed so far however & I’ll continue to do so – after all I shall get about 6/- per day in another 9 months – I hope.
That’s about all for now
cheerio
Your L son
Don
– text Letter 33
Friday 18th 6/43
Dear Mum & Dad
I have made up my parcel tonight. Contents: Towel Vest Pants Singlet 3 Hankies Pyjamas Collar Studs Socks.
The reason the socks aren’t in the parcel is because I forgot them until I had tied the parcel. I received your parcel yesterday. I just returned the bottle because I thought it might be useful rather than throw it in the salvage.
Is Jean sure she put the address right? That’s the only reason I can think why I haven’t received her letter.
I had to go for an audition last night. I went along with another chap who plays Bass Cello & violin.
At first we were both accepted & you can imagine how pleased I was, then we went & collected all the other chaps & went for a rehearsal. 2 saxes & a fiddler were soon chucked out but I was doing fine till about 8.30 & then a bloke came along. He played & although he was quite a good pianist he’d got hardly any idea of band playing, but he was given the job. Afterwards he walked out with one of the permanent staff – which was a wangle if there ever was one.
So I didn’t play at the dance tonight. The capt said I still had a chance of playing but I felt very browned off over it. I’m sure I would have been more use than the other bloke.
They had 2 trumpets & trom & they made a really good brass team. The guitarist was fine – just like Fred the Bass wasn’t too good & the drummer was average. My pal was on violin & he was excellent he plays anything from Classics to Jazz. The sax team was thrown out & they were going to try to find a couple of boys in yesterday’s intake.
An officer was coming round our billet today & we were supposed to have a 100% clean up. I didn’t get in till 9.40 last night through because of the rehearsal so I didn’t do it all, but nothing was said about our room or my bit so it passed o.k. Its rained all day today & it’s been really miserable, especially while queuing outside the canteen.
The other day we had a hailstorm they were quite big hailstones & it did sound funny marching along & hearing the stones bounce off our helmets.
I think we are doing the assault course tomorrow it should be fun getting over the walls, poles, barbed wire & other obstacles.
Well we have passed the halfway mark of our stay here. Every night to the tune of “11 more months & 10 more days” we sing “in 3 more weeks & 6 more days we’ll be out of the calaboose in 3 more weeks & 6 more days they’re going to turn us loose” knocking off a day each time we sing it.
Contd 19th Sat
We didn’t have the assault course today after all, it was a trial 2 mile run preparing us for our efficiency test when we run 2 miles with full kit in less than 16 minutes. I did it in 14 mins 30 secs, but I doubt if I’d do it in full kit.
The CO has ordered that all the Wing must go to the Naafi for morning break, we are thoroughly disgusted. It’s a 9 minute march each way & then there is a terrible queue so you have about 2 minutes instead of 30 mins to eat your cake. Naafi tea is always lousy so now I don’t even get a drink. I’d rather stay in the billet.
My section & 2 others has been detailed for rifle flight which means that tonight & tomorrow we parade at 18.30 for lowering the colour & until 18.30 Monday we have to turn out to the ceremony with certain articles of kit – gas mask, rifle, 50 rounds, gas cape – if there is an alert so we can fire on any planes or parachutists etc. it doesn’t mean much but you have your week end messed up..
By the way I need some more string, would you fit more in the next parcel please.
That’s about all I can think of so I’ll close now.
Y.L.S.
Don
– text Letter 34
20/6/43
Dear Walter Doris & Beryl
I am sending you a photo I had done. I don’t think it’s come out too badly, but it doesn’t show how brown I am getting.
Although I said in my last letter I didn’t fancy Phase B I have found it much better than phase A. except when it is raining(which is quite often) we spend nearly all of our time in the fields having lectures on rifles, automatic weapons, bayonet fighting, fieldwork etc.
I can dismantle a Sten in about 15 secs & a grenade in about the same.
You should see me charging with the bayonet, we are encouraged to shout & yell as we advance & I think the din we kick up would put a lot of people of.
We had another run this morning – 2 miles & to be done in less than 16 minutes. I did it with 70 secs to spare. I don’t think I would have stayed the course a few weeks back. We have to run it again soon with full pack. I don’t know whether I’ll manage it then.
I found the most interesting subject field work, when you learn things like judging distance, taking cover etc. it’s a funny thing but the NCO’s usually seem to pick a place with plenty of nettles for us to practice taking cover & crawling.
When it rains we have revisionary lessons in the billets & practice with the Swift training rifles, when you fire it a forked piece of metal pierces a piece of paper just in front which represents a 4 ft target
at 150 yds. It looks this size
I’m afraid I’ve scored very few bulls.
I have just finished duty with the rifles flight. 3 sections of the flight comprising 33 men have to be in the Rifle flight & I am in it from today till 18.30 Monday. Your duties consist of turning out at 18.30 each day to salute the Colour lowering & during alerts to go to the armoury & fire on any low flying enemy planes or parachutists. We have to wear our Helmets respirators Gas Capes Rifles & Bayonets & 50 rounds & tonight was very hot after a cold day & we all felt as though we were melting. I was absolutely bathed in sweat. Still I prefer Rifle Flight to being on guard at the pier all nigh as some of our chaps are.
I bet I’ll see a difference in Beryl when I get home. I wonder whether she will recognise my photo?
Mum & Dad told me she hurt her hand while at Orpington last week, I was glad to hear she was soon o.k. again.
I hope you are all feeling as fit & well as I am at the moment, & I think I’ll close now & have a really early night as we have got our “Barrack Room Sports” tomorrow morning.
Best wishes & love from
Don
– text Letter 35
22/6/43
Dear Mum & Dad
I got yours of the 19th yesterday. Thanks for the music, last night I had a turn at the Naafi with the chap who plays Clary. His not too bad & we had quite a good time.
About the photo, I can’t think who to give the other one to. There are so many relative so you may as well please yourself about it.
The Rifle Flight was O.K. Sat it lasted about 45 minutes & Sunday about half an hour so I think I got off very light.
I had quite a restful Sunday, I got up about 9.30 & before dinner I had a stroll & sat on the seashore. In the afternoon I had another walk around & after Rifle Flight I stayed in & polished buttons & sent a photo to Walter & Doris.
On Monday afternoon we had organised games again. I was in the long jump & our flight had 2 teams for some events & eventually it was decided to only run one team so I didn’t get in any event after all. Anyway the most important thing is that 21 flight was to their right place at the top. We won nearly all the events. In the cross country our 8 were in the first 8 & we won tug of war, long jump, several of the athletics & we were second in putting the shot. I don’t know where we came in the races & we lost the High Jump. But we easily won. We had a lovely shower after.
In the evening I got halfway to night school I suddenly felt very browned off & decided not to go. So I had the jam with Scotty instead. Incidentally Scott knows one of Guedalla’s Clients, Madame de Valois she lives in the same village & he told me she gave him a load of jazzy records. He also had his name in this week’s M.M. He wanted some records about 6 months ago & sent to the MM & this week his ad appeared in Collection Corner. When I got in about 9.30 my browned off feeling returned so we started ragging one and other. We eventually got to bed about 12 & I’m sure I made my bed 6 times. Anyway I felt happy after instead of browned off.
In 21 Flight there are at least 3 of us from Accountants & I’ve met one of the Remfry twins who was at school with me. He leaves the end of the month.
I don’t think I’ve got any more news so ill close now.
Cheerio YLS Don
– text Letter 36
Friday 25/6/43
Dear Les,
I was very glad to hear from you again last Tuesday, I would certainly have enjoyed being with you on Saturday last.
By the way I wrote to you on the 6th June & enclosed a letter to Ron, I have heard from Ron & neither you or him say you have had that letter. Has it gone astray? It is quite possible because a letter was posted to me a fortnight ago. I have never had that. I think the Post Office must be slack.
I will soon know now whether or not I leave Skg next Thursday or not. I am hoping & praying I will. Otherwise it means an extra 2 weeks.
If only I can get to South Ken everything will be O.K. I should be able to get home from there at weekends & after reading the account of last Sat I certainly want to join the band & play again with you.
Bert says that all the boys went o.k. so I think you self criticised too much. He also said Ron was terrible. I am glad of that.
I very nearly got in the RAF band (taking Tommy Pollards place) but I was beaten to it by what I think was wire pulling.
The bloke who got it knew sweet fanny Adams about playing in a band but he was a pal of one of the permanent staff. Still if I had got in it might have stopped me from leaving here next week – that is if I am posted.
You are quite right about the girls, I have had no time at all for them & I haven’t even been to a dance – except when I had my Inoc. & my arm was too stiff to dance then. So I don’t even know any Skeg girls.
I am writing this while I am on guard duty at the pier.
Outside I can hear some chaps yelling & shouting as they are practising bayonet fighting.
The Guard is halfway up the pier & I don’t suppose we’ll have much to do. I am going on at 10.30 to 12.30 for my first turn.
It has been raining, but if it is fine then I hope to do some sunbathing while off duty.
The AVM(Air Vice Marshall) of T.T.(Technical Training) Command is coming down here next week & my section is giving a display of AA shooting for him. So damn tiring holding a rifle in the air & potting at imaginary planes. I would rather have been on something simple like Grenades or Fieldwork.
Well Les I don’t seem to have made this letter very interesting so I’ll close now hoping to see you soon (at home).
Cheerio
Y old pal
Don
– text Letter 37
25/6/43
Dear Ron and Doll,
Thanks very much for your letter which I got last Tuesday. It was very nice to hear from you.
On the 6th June I wrote to you, enclosing the letter in a letter I wrote to Les. I have also heard from Les and it seems that the letter was never delivered to him because he does not mention receiving it. I think the trouble is at Skeg Post Office. A letter was posted to me by Erns Girl over a fortnight ago & I have never had that. It is most annoying when your mail goes astray.
I am sending along a photo just so you won’t forget my ugly mug.
On last Saturday, from what I have heard you seem to have stolen the show, that’s the stuff boy, I always knew you could do it.
Your remarks about Valic Vanite Have made me even more keen to get home.
I very nearly took Tommy Pollocks place in the RAF band, but by what I think was wire pulling a chap who knew F.A. about playing in a band got the job. He was a friend of one of the permanent staff.
Is Johnny still at the Elccas? With the amount of playing you must be doing now I shall expect to hear something better than Johnny Hodges when I do get home (which may be in only a few weeks now).
You are quite right about Service pay, since I joined up I have received the marvellous? sum of £4/14/- from the RAF. But by careful management I have not yet been entirely broke like most of the chaps.
I am wring this while on pier guard, I am in a room under the pier surrounded by boxes of ammo for rifles & Stens, mortars & grenades.
I suppose me 3 AC Plonks and the Corp are supposed to hold up the invasion till the army arrives.
Most of the lessons we have now are very interesting. My favourite is Fieldcraft. We learn all Indian stuff like taking cover & crawling & moving up unseen to the enemy. I expect to do the assault course soon we are allowed 2% casualties so out of a flight of 117 I expect I shall survive it.
I am glad to hear you are all keeping fit & I expect June will be a lot different when I see her again.
All I am waiting for now is my 7 days leave & will I make the most of it.
As I have bags of other letters to write I must close now so I wish you all the best & hope to see you soon.
Cheerio Y O Pal Don
– text Letter 38
25/6/43
Dear Mum & Dad
I have had your letter of the 22nd. We have had quite an easy time the last few days, spending nearly all the time reclining in the fields.
I nearly got put back in the Guard of Honour yesterday but I dodged it by volunteering for pier guard which I am on now.
An Air Vice Marshal is coming down for the Wings week & on Wed. we had to stay in till 19.30hrs to give the billets a good clean up, because he will probably inspect all the billets he’s real hot on discipline etc.
The CO has apparently found out that we don’t like going to the Naafi for break & has countermanded his order much to our delight.
During the recent storms 2 spits were struck by lightning & crashed. They both made a bit of a mess & we had to provide guards for them.
I have found out that the best button polish is Silvo. All the chaps that use it always have gleaming buttons while the rest of us find our buttons get dirty very quickly. Unfortunately not a shop or Naafi in Skeg has any in stock so would you mind getting me a small tin.
Well I shall soon know now whether I have been posted or not. We usually hear about Monday I think.
Last week a lot more RAFs left in their 6th week of training. They usually go to Liverpool or South Ken, last week lots went to Liverpool so I am crossing my fingers & hoping.
I think that’s everything worth writing about so I think I’ll say cheerio.
Your loving son
Don
– text Letter 39
25/6/43
Dear Bert,
Thanks very much for your letter. It must have been grand at the Public Hall. It makes me mad to think I was cleaning up & after 2200hrs lying in bed while you chaps were beating it out. I would certainly like to get my hands on a certain person.
I was certainly glad to hear about Ron, but as he told me in his letter he has been putting in plenty of practice & that’s all it needs as you well know. Anyway it won’t be so bad when Les has to go if the MBB’s have got 2 real good Saxes.
I suppose you will be a “one nightery” again now you have got fed up with Eileen, still maybe you’ll get more fun that way.
We certainly are giving Jerry a good bashing all day & night there are planes above us going to or return from Hamburg . They are mostly Halifaxes & Mosquitoes, the fighters are nearly all Spits although I have seen some Mustangs & a Thunderbolt.
I wonder whether Johnny got my letter before he went over the pond.
I may be leaving here on the 1st July & you never know when I might be home. It could be soon for me.
I very nearly took Tommy Pollards place in the Raf Band, but a chap who is a friends of one of the permanent staff got in. I think it was a wangle.
I am on pier guard as I write this, I thought I was in for an easy time but some Flight Sergeant has just come in & told the Corp he wants a lot of barbed wire shifted sometime today. (I get the neck of the chicken)
I haven’t done anything interesting this week to tell you about, but tonight we have having some operation where we will be up nearly all night & I’ll tell you all about that in my next letter.
I hope everyone at home is keeping well & my best wishes to all
Cheerio y old pal Don
p.s. I’ve got no more RAF terms because you seem to have exhausted them all in “What’s the Gen”. it’s a jolly good book.
I have just come off Guard since writing the letter & while I was on a nice young girl came along the beach & was going past the pier & I had to turn her back. I was sorry to do that. I would much rather had her stay with me for a while.
– text Letter 40
26/6/43
Dear Mum & Dad
Today I received parcel ok & the letter of 24th. Thank you for the stamps. I posted my parcel at 2pm I hope you get it Monday. Contents are
Towel, pyjamas, 5 hankies, socks, shirt, collar, vest, pants.
What is Mr Will in, is he an infantryman or what?. They raked us all out at 22.30 last night & marched us about a mile to the golf course & told us we were front line troops. They laid us on the back of a ditch, we just laid there for about an hour & then said the practice was over. We eventually got to bed about 12.30.
I am grateful to Ern for fixing up the Gram. I sometimes play the records over in my mind but it’s not the same as actually hearing them.
I’ve not yet written to the office, I don’t think there is really much I would say in a letter to them. I’ll wait till I can see them.
If it was tricky you saw as a Sargent, it will be a bit of a comedown for him when he joins the RAF & is ordered about by Corpls.
If Nick gets in the navy he might come to Skeg for his Square bashing. The Navy have got Butlins camp as their depot.
I think the letters get lost at the P.O. here. One of my letters to Les seems to have gone astray as well as Jean’s.
I didn’t notice my sock needed darning, but the darn comes out when I tie my boots & it may be it rubs just there. You get replacements when necessary & believe me they really have to be necessary, even the brooms we use for cleaning the billets have to be nothing but a lump of wood before stores will class them as U/s.
I was in Guard at the pier yesterday & it make a nice rest for me, I was able to write several letters.
Tonight I have been spud bashing at the cookhouse for about an hour & a half.
I went down to see the opening of the Wings week this afternoon. The Guard looked quite smart but I don’t think it was worth the work they had to put in. 2 of the chaps nearly passed out while standing below the dais. AVM Sir Quintin Brand opened it & he certainly likes his own voice.
The boys have just got in (9.30pm) & it looks as though there is going to be some ragging so I’ll close now before I have to stop my bed being pulled to bits.
Cheerio YLS Don
p.s., the collars can still be a bit stiffer. It’s such a change after stiff collars & they don’t stay nice very long.
– text Letter 41
26/6/43
Dear Walter Doris & Beryl,
Thanks for your letter which I got yesterday evening when I came back from Guarding the Pier. I had quite a restful day there & wrote several letters while reclining on the beds in the Guard Room.
Lucky chap Bert, every night the talk in our room veers round to leave & what we will do when we get it. It’s a funny thing but when you’re in civvies & your pals come home on leave you think “home again, why it only seems a couple of weeks since you finished your last leave” but leave seems a long way away when you’re in the Services.
I haven’t thought of weighing myself but I have a note of my measurements before I left home & I’m sure there will be a big difference when I return.
They do have cinemas in Skeg – 3 of them. But the films are nearly all about 6 months old & I’ve already seen most of them & the theatre shows aren’t usually up to much.
I very nearly took the place of Tommy Pollard (ex Harry Parry) in the RAF band, in fact they had booked me up, but a chap came in who was a friend of one of the permanent staff & they took it from me & gave it to him although he told me he had only done 2 or 3 jobs before with bands.
Other than that there is a piano in the Naafi’s YMCA’s etc but you have to wait your turn & I haven’t bothered since last Monday. I expect I shall be out of practice when I get home but a couple of nights with the boys will soon rectify that.
I spent part of the evening spud bashing at the cookhouse. It’s quite simple the way they do it. You just put the potatoes in a machine & when they come out you dig the eyes out & they are ready.
I don’t think I have any more to say so I’ll close now with my best wished & love to you all
from Don.
BACK TO DIARIES
I: Wikipedia
James Campbell (1903–1967) and Reg Connelly (1895 (or 1898) – September 23, 1963) were British music publishers and song writing team (1920s and 1930s). Primarily lyricists, they generally worked in collaboration with composers.
For some songs (most notably “Show Me the Way to Go Home”) they used the pseudonym Irving King and Irving and Ivor King.
Traditional Squadron Songs 
