Note that this letter is dated exactly a year before David's boat sank. HMS (LCI) 185
c/0 GPO London England 25/6/43 My dear Mother, I’ve just received your letter of the 9/5/43. It came with one from Eidiths. I’m pleased to hear about Phil’s baby, and that it’s a boy. Thank goodness some one knows the model I like best. Also of Jimmy on leave’ ‘Ding Dong’ must be pleased to see him. Do you know, I’ve not had a letter from Betty Anne yet. Perhaps you will get ‘ding dong’ to do something about it. Tell ‘Joan’ to write some time too. I’m sorry to say that this is only the second letter from you. Some of the lads have not received any mail at all. You see we are more or less on the move all the time and so mail arrives at one place just in time to see us going out. By the way, the old tub is rocking all over the joint. I’ve just about got the hang of writing when he’s bucking. Yesterday morning while ashore to get bread for the crew I swiped a little cat. It could just about stand on its feed as it’s so young. The poor brat is falling all over the mess deck just now, but up to yet is not sick. I don’t think it’s wise sending any large parcels as they offer a great temptation to one or two people who handle them. Quite a few of the lads, expecting a parcel, have not seen anything of them. One parcel arrived with half its contents missing. I wish I could tell you where we are. Any rate, we wear shorts all day and now in the afternoons the sun trys to burn us up. The lads go around in rig outs which, although are the fashion around these parts, would bring them straight into the loony bin back home. I’ve just written an Air Graph to the ‘Westlakes’. It’s not a very cheerful letter as I felt a bit brown, while writing it. I’llh ave to write again and apologize for writing it. Old Pop Westlake will understand what I’ve written. I hope that S.African sailor comes to see you, but I wish I could be in his place, as I know he does not want to go to England because it is farther away from home and leave. Sometimes I wonder how I have been able to stand life out here. It’s not so hard (easier than I thought) but its the monotony of the routine that gets me. Get up in the morning, breakfast, fall in, workship, dinner, workship, tea, and then just muck around etc etc. The same thing week in week out. Oh well, it will be over one day and it will be something to laugh and talk about. I think I’ll run a pub when I’m about forty and spin more tales than that to the customers (When I was in the Navy). There’s one thing about it, when I come home, there will be no ‘call of the sea’. A solid bit of ground to live on, is more my line. Well look after yourself (there’s really no need to say this as I know you always do.) I’ll end with my love to you and the family and Jimmy (don’t tell him about the cat on board) your son David |
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