Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

He is still waiting but is working in the camp post office. He has been on parade in Moncton and walking in the countryside.

1943-06-06

Three double sided handwritten sheets and envelope

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ430606

[Canadian Y.M.C.A. Crest]

[postmark] [postage stamp]

[inserted] 9.6.43 [/inserted]

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

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[Canadian Y.M.C.A. Crest] ON ACTIVE SERVICE

17/

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

6.6.43

Dear Jean,

Hope by this time you have received letter no 15, this should have reached you fairly quickly and I expect you were surprised to see the date on it.

We are still hanging about waiting. but most of us have regular jobs so the time goes quickly, I believe I mentioned that the post office has been honoured with my services, it’s quite interesting and you get a kick out of reading other peoples postcards!

Have you been doing anything special just lately? had any more wisdom removed or has it all gone. I was thinking that September is drawing nearer and you will soon be getting that uniform polished up,

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I wonder whether they are keeping back the invasion until then so they can really put the wind up Hitler? two shocks in such a short time would be too much for him.

Suppose the weather is O.K for tennis now, have you got many games in yet, or have you decided to retire until after the war. I mean with the numerous engagements of [deleted] of [/deleted] the [indecipherable word], sorry I meant choral society you can’t have a lot of time.

Well after those few rude remarks I will tell you a few of my doings these last few days, probably they will amuse you somewhat. To begin with, being a fine upstanding lad and also a recruiting campaign in town for the Canadian W.A.A.F. they decided to ‘honour’ 200 [inserted] of us [/inserted] for a parade through Moncton, of course its not necessary to say they sorted all the tall ones out and although I was in the rear rank (normal place) with my knees bent I did’nt get away with it. However this is the third time I’ve been on show

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in Moncton, twice for a parade and once for a military funeral so I think Moncton residents should have been given a break, but the flight sergeant thought otherwise. Of course we had plenty of drill the day before and was of course bags of brass polishing and uniform pressing. The afternoon of the parade was fine and hot, the whole of Moncton turned out. the local police force was mobilised (all four of them) and they really do things in style here, there were five brass bands, even the A.T.C. had a band, we all formed up and after a few technical ‘itches’ [sic] the leading band burst forth into what they thought was a march however we all got under way and headed for the main street of the town where the Group Captain took the salute, was really shaken by the number of people in Moncton, there were crowds three deep lining both sides of the road and practically every other one had a camera, I bet we wrecked some cameras that afternoon.

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Earlier in the week at our station dance a special W.A.A.F. precision squad gave a very good drill show, in fact I will admit equal to our own I.T.W. standard, which is considered fairly good. After they finished their show the dance restarted and there was keen competition amongst the boys to dance with the girls, am afraid the local lassies who have had things far too much their own way took a poor view of it.

Last Sunday we went for a hike around Moncton, you only need to get about three miles out and the country is quite wild, the woods are so thick it is impossible to force your way through, here and there are a few tracks and one or two small streams, the country is quite pleasant, especially now as all the trees are in leaf and the grass is very fresh looking, the only drawback is the mosquitos which have bitten large lumps out of me, I’m covered in lumps and bumps, did’nt know I was so sweet.

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Am gradually collecting snaps of various parts have visited, my camera is still not 100% but most of the pictures are fairly good, by the time I get home my collection should be interesting.

The mail from home has been very disappointing just lately, have only received 1 airgraph from home although there must be a few letters due, however I did get 200 Players which Dad sent me. There is also some [deleted] tobb [/deleted] tobacco on the way, its duty free of course and there was no letter inside.

Well, not much more news, have been watching a baseball match but cannot get much kick out of it, it seems too much like rounders to me, its like a good many things here is cracked up to be something wonderful like ‘Coca-Kola’ [sic] a poisonous concoction. One thing I do take a good view of is the Hamburger stall not far from the camp, their hot dogs and coffee

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are pretty good, make a nice snack, also they don’t close until 2 A.M. like most of the cafes, so you are sure of getting food if out late.

Shall be looking forward to receiving a letter from you soon,

Cheers for the present

Yours Jack.

P.S. No news from the elastic front yet.