Wartime Brothers 1944

I’ve not the slightest idea how to begin this letter to you…because I still can’t think straight I couldn’t begin to tell of the grand time I’ve had.

Do you remember, dearest, how I told you I felt when I went back to Harrogate last year just after returning from Canada? I said that I had never felt so utterly fed up.. and sorry for myself as long as I could remember. But tonight, somehow,seems even worse still. I’ve managed not to think too much today as dave and I have been messing around with the car.

I’m afraid I’ll simply have o finish this tomorrow, Darling, as the old eyes are packing in and there isn’t very much light left as the electricity seems to have packed up.

Sunday (4th June) ..it’s Sunday afternoon now and I’ve managed to scrounge a chair by the one and only fire in the mess. And that should give you some idea of the difference in the weather since last week.

Dave and I arrived back at Barnetby about half past five yesterday morning to find that the car had a most beautiful flat tyre, so had to set about finding someone with a pump.. And let me tell you that it is all a lot of nonsense saying that country people are up at dawn or even a little before - they’re not. However we did eventually borrow one and arrived back in camp around seven. It wasn’t really worth while going to bed then so I had a bath and then some breakfast and spent the rest of the day messing around. Today I’m afraid I more than made up for my loss of sleep the previous night, barely getting up in time for lunch - a poor show definitely.

As far as I can see, the crew is going to be pretty well split up and from the gen I can get so far I shall be going to another station not so very far from here - and still in Lincolnshire. I’m a bit cheesed (off) about it although I’m told that there’s a pub not very far away from the new place where you would be able to put up. I had hoped, as you know, that Dave and Dick and I at least would be able to keep together, but it doesn’t seem very probable at the moment. Still, I’m keeping my fingers crossed and one thing on the credit site is that I shall still be on the same kites, and I don’t think the leave situation will be too bad.

I’ve not yet got any letter of yours to answer but, knowing the post, wasn’t really expecting one until tomorrow despite the fact that I’m needing something an awful lot to cheer me up a little.

I’m afraid that I didn’t last very long last night when It came to letter writing, And now today I have had a very very grand letter from you to answer. I’m awful glad to be told that you enjoyed that leave so very much because, as long as I know that you were happy too - well then, that increases my own happiness tremendously.

Incidentally, my dearest in answer to your query as to how Dave had got on with Nancy, he told me that he had had by far the best evening of his leave - and he meant it…. it was a grand way to finish off a leave. I’m glad that you managed to get home alright although I hadn’t realised, I’m afraid, that it would be quite such a hectic effort as you said. I’d rather imagined that it was just a case of jumping on a train and being carried swiftly up to Bounds Green, And I guess I was far too selfish to worry any further than that while you were with me. I’ll have to finish this off later Darling as I’m going into town (with Dick to keep me on the straight and narrow.!) this afternoon. and I might even collect those photographs ! Could be!

P.P.S. I’m trying to wangle enough time to make a flying visit before the weekend, so keep your finger crossed for a ohonec all.

P.P.P.S. I might even save a bit of sewing for you.

I’m trying to keep my promise to write a letter “fairly soon”, Darling, so here it is,together with the address - which you’ll see is reasonably like the one I gave you.

Also - despite my refusal to worry about getting here yesterday. - I did arrive quite safe and sound in wind and limb and was in the mess by seven o’clock. This, I might as well confess right away, was entirely due to Blackie (the bloke with whom I travelled up). As you know, I had intended going to Lincoln and hoping for the best, but he had heard that Gainsborough was the gen place, so at Grantham I had to beetle down to the guards van and sling back my kit bags as fast as they slung them out. He turned out to be right and we picked up a mail van (R.A.F.) which deposited us and kit right on the doorstep.

The mess is quite comfortable and although just now it is a trifle chilly without any fires. Food doesn’t seem too bad either, so far, so we ought to be reasonably happy as far as physical comfort is concerned.

Thank you…for a certain spot of sewing that you did very nicely for me.

... I’ve just come in from the camp cinema and it’s getting a bit late now but I think I’ll try and finish this off tonight and might even manage to stagger down the road and get it posted - there’s a collection somewhere around six a.m. and I’ve a feeling I shan’t be up quite that early.

We are still going along quite nicely and although i seem to have spent quite a lot of time hanging around and nattering, I can’t honestly say that I have done a great deal of work. However, I suppose I shall have to start sometime to earn my keep. Even so, from a preliminary survey, I don’t think that life should be too hard on me - I’m hoping not, anyway!

I went into town the other day (Gainsborough) to do an odd bit of shopping, As usual, I forgot my coupons so my purchases were cut down to ink and this pad. I had a look round for that identity bracelet but couldn’t see anything near like mine. However, half the jewellers were shut (they only open about two days a week) but if they are no good I’ll try Lincoln.

We went to the camp cinema the other night and saw “Captain Blood”. Of course it’s about seven years old but rather shook me to realise what a ham Errol Flynn was in those days. Still it passed the time - ..

I haven’t sent that photograph off yet, partly because I’ve not yet thought of any nice words to print over it but mainly because I am seriously taking a somewhat outspoken hint in one of your letters that I should have it framed for you as you couldn’t afford any more expenses. And as you can’t have your cake and eat, Darling, you’ll have to wait a little longer.

This is just a line or two to reach you before the weekend (if the Post Office comes up to scratch), and to thank you very much for another grand letter.

There’s something else I want to thank you for, Darling. The parcels caught up with me yesterday and I wanted to thank you for the flask and the cake. ( or at least your part on the cake) I might mention that the cake has received much approval already from several quarters. I’ll promise not to let the flask make me into a horrible boozy type. Apropos of nothing in particular, I’ve only had three (repeat 3) beers since a certain rather pleasant evening on Friday just a week ago. Remember?

... By the way, I guess I ought to try to explain why this letter wasn’t written yesterday, as I intended.

It started out because Blackie and I had the day off and he rather wanted to drop in at Elsham for an hour or two to say “hello” to a few bods. Of course, transport isn’t very good in this part of the world at the best of times and yesterday was a Sunday, but we thought we ought to be able to make a mere 20 miles or so in a couple of hours at the most. This turned out to be extremely optimistic and the end of two hours found us still a good eight miles at Scunthorpe with the station locked up, sore feet (very) and a bus to take us there (it only takes just over an hour on the journey!) but nothing to bring us back. So we decided to return via Gainsborough. To get there (16miles) took an hour and three quarters by bus which not content with viewing half of Lincolnshire in it’s itinerary(can’t spell that) journey, did a tour of Yorkshire as well. We eventually returned to camp, weary and disillusioned, around eleven pm having achieved practically nothing at all and decided that bed and forgetfulness in sleep were the only things left to us. Next time we are going to fly and damn the expense!

No.1 - My mode of life. This hasn’t been altered a great deal but it’s rather more regular than previously. I now only work in the daytime and I’ve not heard any talk about getting any specified number of hours in - as long as the work is done. I don’t see that hours are really important. One point, however, is that I am occasionally expected to be in the flight by 8.30 but I can’t really complain about that.

No.2 - Leave, possible time of. I haven’t yet heard how leave is going to work out, but I think we’ll be tossing up for it in a day or two and I’ll let you know what happens as soon as I can - I’m looking forward to that holiday quite a bit myself.

No.3 I haven’t yet managed to find that pub (and no snooty cracks, either) but will make more extensive enquiries and a determined reconnaissance as soon as I have a chance. The possibilities of time off over the weekend are a bit more chancy, depending (i) on how the flight runs when it gets really cracking and (ii) the weather. So it’s a new flight, nobody quite knows the score yet, we we’ll just have to wait and see.

No.4 The photograph - fancy think that I’d ever hold out on you purposely! But I think I explained in one of my letters that I am waiting to get it suitably framed.

No 6 I haven’t forgotten the bracelet wither, Darling, but remember that these are the wilds of Lincolnshire and the nearest town is eight miles away. But I haven’t forgotten.

And finally No. 5: - As you’ll know by know, all the parcels arrived safely. The flask is grand, although, alas still empty. I like the flask very much, and would do whoever had given it to me. And I’d like anything you gave me, whatever it was. So just put the two together and you’ll get some slight idea of how pleased I am. As for the cake - alas no more - I don’t know whether you or your mother was chiefly responsible, but I do know that it was the best and nicest cake I can remember and it was grand right down to the last crumb last night. And if that’s a sample of your cooking the only remark I can think of is in the form of an admiring though maybe slightly vulgar, whistle. I think you’ll know what I mean. I haven’t mentioned the book yet, although I like it very much, because I want to write and thank your Mother and Father for it separately as soon as I have time.

While I am still more or less down to earth, please thank Pauline and Nancy for their kind words. I don’t really know what you think about “it” (your word!) but, whatever it is, I’ll tell you now, without any false modesty, that I’ve been damn lucky. Or it could be that our finger crossing was seen - I rather like to think that it’s the latter.

Sorry that I’m not as good at wangling things as Cyril is, but circumstances do sometimes alter cases - and they do tell me there’s a war on, if that’s any excuse.

Come to think of it, Darling, I guess that wasn’t really the remark to make to you after the noisy nights that you have been having - I guess that I’ll withdraw it. I hope that, despite the noisy nights you haven’t had anything too scaring. And don’t forget to take care of yourself, will you,lass?

I’d give quite a bit to be on leave right now, to be able to say “Goodnight” in person, dodge that damn floorboard, switch out the light and then tiptoe up the stairs and get to bed in the dark in case Keith woke up and wanted to know the time.

It rather seems to me that maybe that dress of yours will be getting a spot of work on it today, because the weather - here, at least - is very definitely not the sort to tempt you to swim, nor to sunbathe - to put my pallor to shame in other words. Its a wet and miserable sort of day - even more miserable than a normal day when we are apart.

If I had my way right now, I think that I would be sitting on the floor in a comfy pair of flannels in front of a cheerful fire. And reading Nat Gubbins with you. However, that prospect will have to wait another week yet…

Incidentally, the post here doesn’t seem too good as it apparently takes at least two days. There are only two collections a day from the camp - at 06.00 and 17.15 - and on Sundays only one at 3.15 p.m. There is a post box around which only advertises one daily collection at 4.10 p.m. and I caught that on, I think think, Thursday, so let me know how they worked out.

Did I tell you that I had a letter from Peter Wilson last week? Anyway, he is now on a squadron and seems very pleased with life although somewhat peeved to find that, after anticipating a more or less royal welcome to a well established and luxurious mess, he was issued with a tent and a camp bed and told to make the best of it.

Just by way of a change, I’ll see if I can make you envious by describing mu Sunday lunch to you - although I can’t claim to have prepared it myself. Anyway, here goes:- A fair sized hunk of more than passable steak, bags of fried onions and about four vegetables, followed by a sort of open pie with bags of cream stuff, a good helping of jelly and three prunes thrown in for good measure - or something. Feel hungry? Still it shows that we don’t exactly starve.

We had an E.N.S.A. concert on the camp last night and went along quite prepared for the worst but it wasn’t at all bad and we quite enjoyed it. And i think that there was only about one joke that could have brought a blush to your innocent cheek, although were you really innocent, I guess you’d have missed he point. I nearly did. I must confess, Darling, that I was a bit surprised to hear that the cake was all your own work but - well, good show. Definitely.