Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

They have raised $20000 for the War Loan Victory effort with dances, boxing matches, films and variety shows. They marched through Moncton. He talks about his impressions of Canada.

1943-05-01

Three double sided handwritten sheets and envelope

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ430501

CANADIAN [crest] LEGION
WAR SERVICES

[postage stamp] [post mark]

[inserted] 1 – 5 – 43 [/inserted]

Miss J. Welland
7. Queens Drive,
Surbiton
Surrey
England

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CANADIAN [Canadian Legion crest] LEGION
WAR SERVICES

1.5.1943
927893. L.A.C. Darby.
31. R.A.F. Depot
Moncton N.B.
Canada.

Dear Jean,

Upon refering [sic] to my little book I found it was time letter number 11 was on its way. don’t worry shan’t give you the excuses of not writing because I’m sending you no mail, what number have you arrived at now, was it more than 11. by 1st May. don’t try and cheat. you know forget the old numbers.

Well, how did you spend Easter? did you do any more weeding? perhaps there’s nothing left to pull up now. in the garden, its a pity they don’t build a garden in terraces is’nt it, think

PLEASE USE BOTH SIDES

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how much back ache that would save.

At the moment the large and go ahead city of Moncton is in the throes of a War Loan Victory effort. the camp has arranged a programme for collection of much cash. We are running dances, boxing tournaments, film, variety shows. and so on, as the moment we have raised $20,000 [deleted] d [/deleted] not bad going. The drive lasts for a month, so we have plenty of entertainment these next few weeks. Today they had a large procession through Moncton, of course the air force were in it. I was unlucky, managed to get picked for the procession, its one result of being tall, the crowds were pretty good they even gave use a cheer and took our photographs all along the routes, we had five [indecipherable word] bands in all, each playing a different tune

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also marching a different pace so you can imagine how we felt being sandwiched in between two of them, personally I though [sic] our display was lousy but of course the locals did’nt know any different so everyone was happy, we had a W.A.A.F detachment as well. I thought to myself perhaps Jean will be doing this when I get back, its a pity you’re a bit over average hight [sic], you’ll be grabbed for all the local displays. [underlined] I will [/underlined] get my camera out that day, you’ll have to get some button polishing hours in.

Last night our camp variety show went on the radio over the local network had quite a good write-up in the press

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but it was on Friday we had a treat, Larry Adler, the harmonica player (mouthorgan to you) gave us a show, he’s really a wizard artist, got down amongst the lads and really had a great time.

Have had a letter from home dated 12th April, took just 12 days, pretty good going I thought, expect I shall be receiving some from you soon, number 4 was the last one.

Well, not a lot more to tell you, here are a few things I have noticed in this part of the world.

(a) The beer is lousy. (b) confectionary very dear. (c) Canadians rarely use a knife when feeding. (D) Am fed up with eggs. (e) Canadians say we talk too fast they can’t understand us. (F) Canadian girls are afraid of the English girls are going to mop [deleted] e [/deleted] up all the eligible Canadian bachelors, our boys won’t play at all.

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of course, these are only my personal opinions, as you know my first impression is usually a lasting one for me.

Suppose now I’ve started a fresh sheet I better talk about something else to fill it up, what shall it be? the weather? food? (a subject very near to my heart). or you? upon reflection I’ve been quite polite in this letter so far so perhaps I had better keep it so. I must have one of your letters to do full justice to myself.

To my surprise am down the bottom of this page, so the weather it must be. at the moment, the sun is shining, its quite warm, two crows look as though

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they are contemplating drive-bombing an unsuspecting airman asleep outside of the billet – no they didnt think the target was worth while. Expect by this last page you will think am going crackers, but its just the fact that 9 weeks in this hick town is beginning to get on my nerves. I want to get this course over and get back to Claygate and district.

Well, all the best for the time being, take care of yourself and don’t cause the long suffering pedestrians too many shocks on your way to work, to turn you loose with a bicyle [sic] is sheer lunacy.

With these closing remarks,

Cheers

Yours Jack