大象传媒

This is a transcription of a letter written to one of his sons, by my grandfather. He mentions his other two sons in the letter. 'Doll', mentioned as the 'manaquin' was my mother! Kit was my beloved Aunt. My grandfather was born in 1871, so was too old to serve during WW2. He 'did his bit' however, being on fire watch duty and 'digging for victory'. I hope other people enjoy my grandfather's letter.
Dear George

Am sending a few lines in answer to your letter dated 29 5 1943.

Well I think I had better start with news of John, it is good news, he has got another
stripe and it dates back from January 1 so he has all that back to come up, and also in
his last letter he says he has got a letter from you, he says he could have jumped for joy
at having it. Now I see you have been having a concert, some concert to last three
days, but it was for a good cause. I should think those raffles were a bit of a swindle, I
don't think they would kick vegetables about if they were here. Well, I can say
everyone is OK at home and am glad to know you are. Reg is home for 4 days and he
is OK, he went over to Moulton on Sunday morning and he hasn't been home since
until he walked in while I was writing this letter, he was with Bill Vindy. They were in
the house 10 minutes and off to catch the bus back until tomorrow morning. Of
course he is waiting for his papers from Watford, for he has volunteered for overseas
with the NAFFI, so we might expect to lose him anytime now.
Oh, we have had that film 'Next of Kin' at the Exchange a month or two ago, I did not
see it but I suppose it was very good.

Well I am about fed up with that garden, this year is the worst I have had for years. I
put in 56lb of early potatoes and when I dug them I had about 40lb that was usable,
the remainder were so small I threw them away. Owing to the dry weather, in fact the
ground has not been really wet this summer, so I have given notice to leave it at
Christmas. I will have a rest for a time.

Well George I have some more good news, on Sunday morning the secretary of the
Troops Fund came to ask me to accept 10/- on your behalf from the Troops Fund, so I
signed for it and I must say it was Mrs Falton that sent him up so when you speak to
Mrs Falton you must thank her for the trouble she has been to for so doing. I have
also 5/- from S Woodward and he tells me he has your letter so you can expect one
from him in time. Alwyn is home for 7 days. Doll has been to London shopping, just
lately she has become quite a mannequin, she is doing well at her work, so she can
spend plenty of money. Kit and Tom are quite well, also baby John, he gets bonny. I
am not doing any fire watching now, under these new regulations I am classed as being
too old. I have had a nice letter from Mrs Rushton thanking me for obliging them in
the past two years. Tom is working at Sywell now in airplanes, oh baby John now has
8 teeth.

I am sorry you did not get our Christmas, but I hope you get our Birthday card, one
letter dated May 5 has been in the sea, the paper is all faded and the ink run and the
envelope all frayed and discoloured and stamped 'damaged by sea water'.

We do not get many air raid warnings now, the last was on Saturday before Bank
Holiday, when your Uncle John was here. I don't think the Jerry can keep the Russians
off his doorstep now, and he will soon have the allies at the side door.

Well I must close now with all the Best Wishes from all and from your loving

Mother and Dad.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.