Coming Home.It's hard to date/order the following three communications correctly, as only one is dated (October 26th) but this places them around October/November 1943.
POST OFFICE TELEGRAM DATED OCT 26 1943 MRS SAUNDERS 1 POWRIS TERRACE WESTBOURNE PARK LONDON W11 DON’T WRITE HOME SOON LVE DAVID TELEGRAPH SERVICE LETTER We have just arrived in England. This note and the box of fruit are brought to you by the RCN. I’ve not much time for this note but Norton will give you any answers. He is on survivor from his ship, which was sunk. He is new in London as his home is in Canada. I’ll be on leave soon no doubt, so don’t worry. When we get to our base, I’ll send the address to you. All my love Cheers for now David (probably November 1943) HMSLCI 185 C/O gpo LONDON Dear Mother, Well I’ve at last got back into this country, and boy am I glad to see some green again. Talk about White Cliffs, I sent a few prayers up, when I saw them. While we were out there, it seemed as if it would be years before Blighty turned up again, but it’s only been a year (too long) did you get my wire? And the fruit? I rang up, but it seems the phone is not fixed yet. So tonight I rang Phil and had a good chat with her. Leave will come sooner or later. Today we thought, there was some, but no, not yet. When I wrote ‘Don’t write’ on the wire, I thought our address would be changed, but it’s still the same. I know its some time since I wrote, the reason be, that we mucked so much around coming home. It turned out a longer period than counted on, but now all is well. I’ve had a good time on the whole, while away, but boy am I itching?? To get home. There is one or two things I will bring with me, not much, as when we could get our hands on some thing, the price was hellish high. I can’t understand why this is, but the folks round the [censored] run a 100% black market right out in the open. Phil tells me you’ve not been to good, the last few weeks. I do hope your OK by now. The coming winter will not do you much good. The first night here was foggy. It seems so strange after the sun, but still this is home and what would we do without an English climate. If your still on the C.D. job, give me their number and I’ll ring you there. It would be nice to hear your voice again. Tonight we had the old ‘Hot Dog’ and mash. It’s ages since I’ve had it. The first thing after I sent your wire, was to have a good long pint of beer. I’m no drinker (you can count on this) but, gee it was good to stick my mush into it and be able to talk to someone who could understand me. Out in the Med there is nothing but wine, and some of its pretty deadly. Well I suppose it’s now a game of what’s next. The old ship needs a painting and a scrubbing. It looks like an old rusty can. Perhaps we will start selling winkles at ‘South End’ with it. This is a long letter from me, I hope I can keep it up now I’m back home. There’s a small copy of ‘Pickwick Papers’ in the bookshelf, will you sent it to me some time. I would like to read it again. It has such good descriptions of big meals in it. Well I’ll say cheerio now. Don’t forget the number of your CD Centre. Look after your self. All my love David Poor old Jim I’ve forgot all about him. Give him a rub for me. D |
David SaundersLetters home 1943 Topics
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