大象传媒

This is a copy of a letter written by myself to my Mother on 29th July 1944 and links with my story titled ZX695
This letter was written on A5 sized lined paper and written in pen and ink.

xx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxx
Tolworth
Surrey
29.7.44
Dear Mother
I received your letter today and sorry that I haven't been able to write during the week but as the firm was closing down on Friday night, some of us,about a dozen or two worked overtime on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights to get certain jobs completed.

I was asked if I would agree to work next week while the place is closed down for the holiday and I agreed and hope to get a week off about the end of next month, Hazel too will try to get a week off at the same time.

I worked today (Saturday) but packed up at 3pm.
It does make you jump when the danger signal sounds and there is not a soul in sight.
We had a close one yesterday, it fell a a few hundred yards past the New Malden Roundabout close to Shannon Corner and damage was fairly widespread.

Hazel also had one at Tolworth in the same raid and I believe that they lost some windows at her place of work.
The bomb fell at Avenue South wherever that may be!
Vic Humberstone had one at Worcester Park on Thursday night about 6pm and it brought down ceilings and also broke some windows, he was working overtime with us at the time.
By the way,Vic is a father now,a little boy. His wife Betty is at Stoke on Trent now I believe and I expect that Vic is on his way up there now.

I just heard the news that Paddington had to be closed because there were too many people to cope, it seems that so many people are trying to get away from the South and even if you had asked me to come up to Manchester I doubt that I should have tried to travel at present.

Please don't think that I am so good by just sending you money every so often, somehow it doesn't seem to matter so much so even if you need money every week please let me know and you can spend as much as you like as long as you are all safe.

Incidently, no amount of money will ever be able to repay you for all your kindness and sacrifices to myself and the rest of the family through all the hard and bad times that you have had.
Nobody was ever brought up better by such a kind and good Mother and Father that we have.
May God look after you both and after the war let you settle in peace never more to have worries and troubles you have encountered in your lives.

My one desire now(and I believe it is also that of George) is to try and make yours and Dad's lives as happy and successful as you have made ours.

Even if I cannot say this to you at least I can write that I do very often feel so very grateful that I am a part of this wonderful family.

Hazel has left my dinner ready to be warmed up for me as she usually does on Saturdays and complete with useful instructions on how to go about it.
She certainly does run the house very well and I should be in a state without her

All for now,

Your loving son,

Eddie

Footnote 26th January 2004
A picture of the damage caused by a flying bomb at Avenue South on 28th July 1944 is in Mark Davisons book " Surbiton Bombed "

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