Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

He is not happy that he is still at Moncton. He hitch hiked to St Johns. The camp has now raised $60000 for the Fourth War Loan. There have been bands, variety shows and boxing matches.

1943-05-14

Two doubles sided handwritten sheets and envelope

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ430514

[inserted] 14-5-43 [/inserted]

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

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[Canadian Y.M.C.A crest]

[circled 13]

ON ACTIVE SERVICE
927839. L.A.C. Darby.
31. R.A.F. Depot.
Moncton. N.B.
Canada.

14/5/43.

Dear Jean,

Here’s another few pages from this dump. am feeling like the oldest inhabitant now. can remember when the snows were here and can shoot a terrific line to the newcomers about how cold it was.

At the moment there is no progress to report regarding posting, expect about 10 years after the armistice they will discover we’re still here.

However, managed to get another weekend at Saint John, as funds were a bit low decided to hitchhike there. its about 97 miles, in all took me

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6 hours, its not too easy now as gas is rationed out here and there are not a lot of people travelling. However, I had a jolly decent time, added one or two snaps to my collection although one of them nearly got me put in the local jail, it happened to be a prohibited area which I didn’t know about.

How are you faring? heard any more from the R.A.F.? you know its surprising how the time goes in the service the first three years are the worst.

Our [deleted word] efforts toward raising money for the Fourth War Loan are still going strong, the camp has raised $60,000 this last fortnight, there has been some good entertainment as well. Last Monday we had Mart Kenney and his Western Gentlemen (merely a common or

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garden dancer band) this happens to be rated ‘Canada’s No 1. Band.’ is pretty good, but cannot touch our top-line bands. There were 3,000 people to hear them broadcast over C.B.C.’s 35 stations, of course it was a sponsored program by ‘Coca-Kola’, that poisonous drink which the Yanks seem to live on, however it was quite a good show and there was dancing after the broadcast.

Tuesday and Wednesday the local camp people gave 4 variety shows which were pretty good, of course very topical, plenty of small plays taking the rise out of different sections on the station, however there were several other shows by different chaps some of them quite proffessional [sic].

Tonight we should see some good boxing as there are several well-known local boxers taking part.

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4/

think I will go and have 25c worth.

Have managed to get caught for a funeral party, its the first death on the Unit so there is a big military funeral with band, buglers and so forth. We have been practicing these last two days as its quite a big affair the only thing is that we have 6 miles to march, shall be glad to get home to camp again.

Well, there’s not a lot more to write about, hope you are quite well and not [indecipherable word] overworking, (if that’s possible) give my kind regards to Mother & Dad

Cheers

Yours Jack