Between 1942 and 1944
The first dated letter written home by David is from Chatham (dated by postmark to 8th August 1942) and the last one 12th June 1944.
For this legacy project, between June 2022 and July 2023 I will post up all letters (transcribed) in the month they were first written. They will be posted in three annual blogs, 1942, 1943 and 1944 which you can find under the relevant tab.
Other information can be accessed through the legacy tab.
To begin with, here are a couple of 'random' letters which are proving impossible to date. The second has had the location cut from the top and the first has no identifying elements at all. At a guess I'll say they are some time in 1942. Maybe as I get more familiar with the letters I'll have an epiphany and be able to fit them into the blogs where appropriate.
For this legacy project, between June 2022 and July 2023 I will post up all letters (transcribed) in the month they were first written. They will be posted in three annual blogs, 1942, 1943 and 1944 which you can find under the relevant tab.
Other information can be accessed through the legacy tab.
To begin with, here are a couple of 'random' letters which are proving impossible to date. The second has had the location cut from the top and the first has no identifying elements at all. At a guess I'll say they are some time in 1942. Maybe as I get more familiar with the letters I'll have an epiphany and be able to fit them into the blogs where appropriate.
Dear Mother, This short note is to ask you ‘will you look around for my pay book’ I’ve left it on the dressing table (I think). It would be best to send it by registered mail. Just made the train this morning by a shave. I must end this as I should be doing a job. Look after your eye, won’t you. All my love David. |
The key thing in this hastily scribbled note is that David has left his pay book at home after a leave.
Also that his mother's eye is giving her trouble |
Dear Mother
I’m a good bit from home again but heading in the right direction We have just left a sea side resort, where I’ve had my fill of cockles. Talk about a family spending only £1 a day down there, we need a bit more than that, just for our own use. These seaside resorts have changed quite a lot. The streets are no longer crowded with people. It seems so strange to see the old rock signs, flaping in the cold wind. No one is allowed out on the pier, except us. The sea has been very calm the last few days, but no sun, only the leaden sky to look at. How is your eye getting along. It must be very painfull. I would not like to be in your place. Have you sent my book off yet. Don’t worry if you can’t find it. There’s plenty more where that one came from. I might be able to see [censored – Nelson?] soon. I wonder how the navy treating him now. The cook has bucked his idears up about the grub on the mess deck. We get a change every day now. If you could spare a few ‘magies’ some time they would be welcome, for when we are at sea at night. Sometimes we have coca or oxo, but I’m rather keen on those. I’ve just had a sweet young ‘wren’ on board speaking to me. I get quite a kick now a days when I look at one. If you can’t find the book, I ask for, let me know by return post, won’t you Cheerio for now all my love mother David |
It's likely that this letter comes after and refers back to the scribbled note above - he mentions her eye again. He asks if she has 'sent the book off yet'. This might be the paybook (but that's speculation). In another letter he asks her to send him a specific book and it could be referring to that. He mentions 'there's plenty more where that came from' which seems unlikely to be 'pay' book. And if this letter is from 1944 then he may be headed back south from Scotland (via Harwich) in April in which case he cannot have just been on leave.
I will need to look more closely into a) his leave periods and b) other references to her bad eye. |