大象传媒

This letter was written by my father-in-law to his parents when he was doing his flight training in Canada 1941, he was 18 years old.

Dear Mum and Dad
We have eventually arrived at our destination after travelling for almost 16 days. The journey across the drink was pretty uneventful as regards "enemy interference". We did see one hostile aircraft on the third day out but it didn't venture close enought to identify. The escorts darted back every so often, fired a few broadsides from anti-aircraft guns, and returned to their charges, fussing us like a broody hen over chicks, but I suppose this particular Jerry knew what was best for his health, anyway he kept his distance. As for U boats I don't think any got within range, we sailed pretty fast, anyway apart from routine "boat stations" we weren't bothered in any way. Accomodation was a little cramped but was amply compensated by the food, which was rather appetizing and in excess until the other lads found their sea legs or stomachs, as the case maybe. Naturally there were bags of chocolate etc, cigs duty free, on the boat, but apart from the initial rush one could obtain his needs without queuing. I'm pleased to say I proved quite a good sailor, even in really rough seas, when with a howling gale blowing, whipping the waves into a frenzy, their foam crested tops rising 40 to 50 feet towering well above the deck at times the ship dipped her nose into the brinney, as she rolled and plunged with each great wave, tossing like a leaf in an autumn wind. At times the hugeness of a wave completely blotted out our veiw of the rest of the ships in "Convoy" an experience which I won't have missed for anything.

Moonrise on the Atlantic is a very beautiful sight, the great yellow ball rising our of sky that only a few minutes ago was aglow with the last rays of an autumn sunset. The darkened waters become a shimmering sheet of silver, rippling silver foam, as the waves crash against the yeilding sides of the ships, their forms silhoutted by the moon's brilliance.

The weather rather surprised us, as we needed great coats on only about two days. As we neared the Canadian coast, even there we could wear them as a cloak rather than as coats. In spite of the advantages a ships life offers we were glad when early one morning a chain of islands, later emerging into an irregular coastline was sighted off the starboard bow. Four hours later we were steaming into harbour on rather a great bay with scenery on either side which bore strange resemblance to the countryside around Dinkerly Beacon, heather, fern, fir and silver beech trees, abounding upon the hills, which seemed to rise immediately from the waters edge. The absence of cliffs was striking. Tug boats fussed around pushing and pulling, tooting their siren, skillfully manouvered us among the other ships, into the dock, where we were to disembark. On the dockside we received our first Canadian money, a sum of 10 dollars, less than half of what we were expecting, however t'was sufficient. Typical of the western hemisphere, newsboys were much in prominance, with the quaint pigeon english they seem to have adopted, they offerd us the "Local Rag" at 5 cents, approx 2 1/2D for a terrific journal of 56 pages. We were rather unfortunate having spent our last English coinage on "Gables" and could neither get a 5 dollar bill changes or an English note, which owing to inflation after Dunkirk, of captured 拢1 notes by the enemy, are no longer changeable in this country, so we had to gleam what news we could from headlines, which gave an entirely wrong impression of the present situation. After lengthy councils of war we decided it wasn't so bad at that.

We disembarked from the boat, during the current and evening amid a blaze of lights, of all colours / shapes and size from the navigation lights on the ships to the gaudy advertisement signs which recalled pre-war London. The train was waiting and some time after midnight we began the journey of some 4,000 miles westwards across Canada. By this time we had begun to settle into the carriage, equipped adequately for sleeping etc which was to form our home for the greater part of a week, and found its facilities very acceptable as compared to the boat. Leaving the port we travelled through the most beautiful countryside I have ever seen, and the Canadian hospitality is great, we have been treated like heroes, and being fed like kings, every one of us will be like barrels if the diet continues. East of Winnipeg its mostly French Canadian and the towns are all shaby looking though everyone seems to own a car. Typical of French and Belgian towns are the dog carts, which seem to be used frequently for delivering goods. Also all the signs are duplicated English and French. The country surrounding is very rugged and huge forests of Maple, now turning red and in many other colurs between yellow and red, can be seen adorning the hillside between the silver berch. Waterfalls through rugged mountain creeks combine to make a beautiful picture, or landscape which no one can accurately describe no matter what his talent, one has to see to capture the full beauty of this 2000 mile stretch of nature. Someday when this is over, you'll have to come and see the same trip as we did, you'll never regret any minute of the journey. Quebec surrounded by the St.Lawrence, stands out boldly against the rugged vegitation covered cliff on which its built. Montreal we didn't see much of as it was almost dusk when we arrived but the immense blaze of coloured lights was a picture in itself. At Winnipeg we got a terrific welcome, everyone turned out to greet us and showered us with chocolate and cigarettes, magazines etc, mobbing us in their enthusiasm and after a party dance with the Royal Canadian Band, it was with reluctance we returned to the train. Everywhere we find the same kind of hospitality. Medicine Hat was the last big town, as Canadian towns go was the last stop in Manitola before we crossed into Alberta. The big towns over here are little bigger than Witney, between 5000 - 6000 inhabitants is considered big. The nearest town to the aerodrome is Penhole, which is about the size of Ducklington, and it is situated about midway between Calgary and Edmonton. The weather so far has not been cold, but a common temperature around these parts in winter is about 40 degrees zero, when flying is carried out from landing grounds of frozen snow. Naturally we are being provided with fur caps so I'll send some photographs.

Apparantly we are in advance of our appointed time of arrival and threfore shall have no possibility of flying until the end of the month, although we shall get plenty of lectures, as we take our "Wings" exam in 6 weeks time, so if all goes well we should get our wings by Christmas. Out here we get a posh affair when we get our wings, big parade, band, friends etc after the style of the yanks, Beryl can perhaps tell you something about that from the movies.

I hope you and Dad are keeping well, how is Mary getting along since she came home. Beryl and the children are all okay I hope, I'll be writing as soon as I have a chance, as it is we've a pretty stiff time ahead. Has Kathleen's trouble cleared up yet, or has Eric got worse. Well I'm afraid I must finish now, so remember me to all, tell them I'll write as soon as possible, cheerio,

Love to all,
your loving son
E

PS anything you want just mention it, things are all pre-war prices etc. Write direct, no need to go to Ottowa. Cheerio, don't worry.

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