Letter from Fred Dunn to his sister and brother
Title
Letter from Fred Dunn to his sister and brother
Description
Describes a typical day in camp including: recovering from a party, dance in the sergeants' mess. Comments on his stage of training and writes of lectures in cold hut. Mentions girlfriend. Attempting to get 48-hour pass without luck. Includes printed transcript.
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Coverage
Language
Format
Four-page handwritten letter
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
SDunnFT1319229v10001, SDunnFT1319229v10001-Transcript
Transcription
No 1319229 SGT. DUNN F.
SGTS MESS, RAF STATION,
LONG MARSTON,
STRATFORD-ON-AVON,
WARWICKSHIRE.
Dear Sis & Bro,
Thanks for letter received t’other day.
This is Sunday a.m and not my regular Sunday morning of a “lay-in” and general luggering [sic] about. Instead, many others and I wait for the weather to clear, and half hope for a flit this morning. The waiting time is suitably spent in the Intelligence Library. Others are recovering from a glorious ‘piss-up” last night, whilst the more energetic indulge in a game of brag (if theres and money left.) The stakes are pretty high, and in consequence I keep off it.
Last night a dance was held at the Sgts Mess. Well, they called it a dance, but as a
[page break]
(2)
bar had been rigged up – that was the greater attraction, There were limited quantities of short stuff and bags of beer. Women were pretty plentiful, but the majority of ‘em moaned because [deleted] of [/deleted] their sex attraction was not a patch on that of the beer.
Anyway, having got into my stride a bit now, I invited a WAAF, and we danced most of the time. There were short breaks for a short drink or two, but we managed to keep away from the drunken crowd. This girl is rather mysterious. Having had no experience with English WAAFs before. I was at some disadvantage Apparently, most of ‘em are sex-starved, and I don’t really know how to tackle it.
Any suggestions? [deleted letter]
By the way, the cousin Squadron Leader was shooting the shit about my present stage of training.
With all due respect to officers of the RA.F, I think I have
[page break]
(3)
a better idea of this job than he has. The period of training varies very much. The weather has to be considered, and various other contingencies which cannot now be discussed.
This week has proved to be rather inactive, except for lectures in a bloody cold hut with one stove which works sometimes.
Have I told you about that Harrogate woman yet? She wanted to come and see me. Well, I cooled that down and she has since apologised for being so fast. Hell, she writes me 8 page letters, and as my brain capacity is only limited to 4 pages, I have a job to keep up with it.
Yes, I have had a cold too. However, it has never gone further than my head, but it’s a bloody nuisance you seemed to have caught a beauty bro.
[page break]
Twice this week, we have tried to get a 48, but no luck.
I can’t understand it. Even on the excuse that the mater was ill – it didn’t work.
Some blokes in other flights get ‘em regularly but we get sweet F.A.
I still have to get out of this ‘ere camp, but without a bike it’s pretty hopeless.
Well, thats all,
So, Cheerio for now
Bro. Fred.
P.S Kind regards to Mary and all the folks.
P.PS I haven’t spent much money here. So its a case of saving up for that matrimonial affair which is not in sight yet.
[page break]
No. 1319229 SGT DUNN. F.T
NO 1319229 SGT DUNN F.
SGTS MESS R.A.F STATION
LONG MARSTON
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
WARWICKSHIRE
Dear Sis & Bro (Alf and his wife Nancy)
Thanks for the letter received t’other day.
This is Sunday a.m. and not my regular Sunday morning of a “lay-in” and general lugging about.
Instead, many others and I wait for the weather to clear, and half hope for a flit this morning. The waiting time is suitably spent in the intelligence library. Others are recovering from a glorious “piss up” last night, whilst the more energetic indulge in a game of brag (if there’s any money left) The stakes are pretty high, and in consequence I keep off it.
Last night a dance was held at the Sgts Mess. Well, they called it a dance, but as a bar had been rigged up – that was the greater attraction. There were limited quantities of short stuff and bags of beer. Women were pretty plentiful, but the majority of ‘em moaned because their sex attraction was not a patch on that of the beer. Anyway, having got into my stride a bit now, I invited a WAAF, and we danced most of the time. There were breaks for a short drink or two, but we managed to keep away from the drunken crowd. This girl is rather mysterious. Having had no experience with English WAAFs before I was at some disadvantage. Apparently kmost of ‘em are sex starved, and I don’t really know how to tackle it. Any suggestions?
By the way, the cousin Squadron Leader was shooting the shit about my present stage of training. With all due respect to officers of the R.A.F, I think I have a better idea of this job than he has. The period of training varies very much. The weather has to be considered, and various other contingencies which cannot now be discussed.
This week has proved to be rather inactive, except for lectures in a bloody cold hut with one stove which works sometimes. Have I told you about that Harrogate woman yet? She wanted to come and see me. Well, I cooled that down and she has since apologised for being so fast. Still, writes me 8 page letters, and as my brain capacity is only limited to 4 pages, I have a job to keep up with it.
Yes, I have had a cold too. However, it has never gone further than my head, but it’s a bloody nuisance you seem to have caught a beauty bro.
Twice this week we have tried to get a 48, but no luck, I can’t understand it. Even on the excuse that the mater was ill – it didn’t work. Some blokes in other flights get ‘em regularly but we get sweet F.A.
I still have to get out of this ‘ere camp, but without a bike it’s pretty hopeless.
Well, that’s all,
So, cheerio for now
Bro Fred
p.s Kind regards to Mary (Nancy’s sister) and all the folks.
P.P.S I haven’t spent much money here so it’s a case of saving up for that matrimonial affair which is not in sight yet.
1
SGTS MESS, RAF STATION,
LONG MARSTON,
STRATFORD-ON-AVON,
WARWICKSHIRE.
Dear Sis & Bro,
Thanks for letter received t’other day.
This is Sunday a.m and not my regular Sunday morning of a “lay-in” and general luggering [sic] about. Instead, many others and I wait for the weather to clear, and half hope for a flit this morning. The waiting time is suitably spent in the Intelligence Library. Others are recovering from a glorious ‘piss-up” last night, whilst the more energetic indulge in a game of brag (if theres and money left.) The stakes are pretty high, and in consequence I keep off it.
Last night a dance was held at the Sgts Mess. Well, they called it a dance, but as a
[page break]
(2)
bar had been rigged up – that was the greater attraction, There were limited quantities of short stuff and bags of beer. Women were pretty plentiful, but the majority of ‘em moaned because [deleted] of [/deleted] their sex attraction was not a patch on that of the beer.
Anyway, having got into my stride a bit now, I invited a WAAF, and we danced most of the time. There were short breaks for a short drink or two, but we managed to keep away from the drunken crowd. This girl is rather mysterious. Having had no experience with English WAAFs before. I was at some disadvantage Apparently, most of ‘em are sex-starved, and I don’t really know how to tackle it.
Any suggestions? [deleted letter]
By the way, the cousin Squadron Leader was shooting the shit about my present stage of training.
With all due respect to officers of the RA.F, I think I have
[page break]
(3)
a better idea of this job than he has. The period of training varies very much. The weather has to be considered, and various other contingencies which cannot now be discussed.
This week has proved to be rather inactive, except for lectures in a bloody cold hut with one stove which works sometimes.
Have I told you about that Harrogate woman yet? She wanted to come and see me. Well, I cooled that down and she has since apologised for being so fast. Hell, she writes me 8 page letters, and as my brain capacity is only limited to 4 pages, I have a job to keep up with it.
Yes, I have had a cold too. However, it has never gone further than my head, but it’s a bloody nuisance you seemed to have caught a beauty bro.
[page break]
Twice this week, we have tried to get a 48, but no luck.
I can’t understand it. Even on the excuse that the mater was ill – it didn’t work.
Some blokes in other flights get ‘em regularly but we get sweet F.A.
I still have to get out of this ‘ere camp, but without a bike it’s pretty hopeless.
Well, thats all,
So, Cheerio for now
Bro. Fred.
P.S Kind regards to Mary and all the folks.
P.PS I haven’t spent much money here. So its a case of saving up for that matrimonial affair which is not in sight yet.
[page break]
No. 1319229 SGT DUNN. F.T
NO 1319229 SGT DUNN F.
SGTS MESS R.A.F STATION
LONG MARSTON
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
WARWICKSHIRE
Dear Sis & Bro (Alf and his wife Nancy)
Thanks for the letter received t’other day.
This is Sunday a.m. and not my regular Sunday morning of a “lay-in” and general lugging about.
Instead, many others and I wait for the weather to clear, and half hope for a flit this morning. The waiting time is suitably spent in the intelligence library. Others are recovering from a glorious “piss up” last night, whilst the more energetic indulge in a game of brag (if there’s any money left) The stakes are pretty high, and in consequence I keep off it.
Last night a dance was held at the Sgts Mess. Well, they called it a dance, but as a bar had been rigged up – that was the greater attraction. There were limited quantities of short stuff and bags of beer. Women were pretty plentiful, but the majority of ‘em moaned because their sex attraction was not a patch on that of the beer. Anyway, having got into my stride a bit now, I invited a WAAF, and we danced most of the time. There were breaks for a short drink or two, but we managed to keep away from the drunken crowd. This girl is rather mysterious. Having had no experience with English WAAFs before I was at some disadvantage. Apparently kmost of ‘em are sex starved, and I don’t really know how to tackle it. Any suggestions?
By the way, the cousin Squadron Leader was shooting the shit about my present stage of training. With all due respect to officers of the R.A.F, I think I have a better idea of this job than he has. The period of training varies very much. The weather has to be considered, and various other contingencies which cannot now be discussed.
This week has proved to be rather inactive, except for lectures in a bloody cold hut with one stove which works sometimes. Have I told you about that Harrogate woman yet? She wanted to come and see me. Well, I cooled that down and she has since apologised for being so fast. Still, writes me 8 page letters, and as my brain capacity is only limited to 4 pages, I have a job to keep up with it.
Yes, I have had a cold too. However, it has never gone further than my head, but it’s a bloody nuisance you seem to have caught a beauty bro.
Twice this week we have tried to get a 48, but no luck, I can’t understand it. Even on the excuse that the mater was ill – it didn’t work. Some blokes in other flights get ‘em regularly but we get sweet F.A.
I still have to get out of this ‘ere camp, but without a bike it’s pretty hopeless.
Well, that’s all,
So, cheerio for now
Bro Fred
p.s Kind regards to Mary (Nancy’s sister) and all the folks.
P.P.S I haven’t spent much money here so it’s a case of saving up for that matrimonial affair which is not in sight yet.
1
Collection
Citation
F T Dunn, “Letter from Fred Dunn to his sister and brother,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed June 13, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/40050.