Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

He thanks her for two letters and a Christmas card. Christmas dinner was very good, followed by a dance.

1944-12-26

Two double sided handwritten sheets and envelope

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ441226

[postage stamp] [postmark]

Miss J. Welland,
7. Queens Drive
Surbiton
Surrey

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[RAF crest]

ROYAL AIR FORCE,
[deleted] TUDDENHAM [/deleted], [inserted] STRADISHALL. [/inserted]
BURY ST EDMUNDS,
SUFFOLK.

Tel: [deleted word] [deleted] 2161 [/deleted].

26th December

My dearest Jean.

Thanks so much for your two letters and Christmas card which arrived from Tuddenham on Christmas Eve.

Well, I’m writing this lunch-time to catch the 13.45 post, it has’nt been a bad Christmas, we did a night trip on Christmas Eve but were back fairly early and had a few drinks in the Mess. As much according to tradition we all visited the sergeants mess Christmas

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Morning, had quite a few beers, came back for Christmas dinner, afterwards the Officers served the mess staff their dinner, of course I was there, took charge of the range, dishing up vegetables custard etc. We had turkey and I found a dish full off [sic] portions left over, boy did I have a feed of bones, wish your Mother had been there, there was plenty for a dozen others, afterwards the mess staff had a dance and I having eaten fully retired to bed for a couple of hours, later the bar was opened and the W.A.A.F. officers arrived

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the atmosphere was pretty formal, but they did start to thaw a little when the Queen Bee left (W.A.A.F. C.O) she’s equivalent to a Squadron Leader and is too too correct, a formidable looking battle ax, I believe she takes rather a dim view of the squadron boys, they visited the W.A.A.F. mess on Christmas Eve, drank all their beer, rather livened the place up.

How did your Christmas go? was it as you said all sleeping, eating etc, I should have liked to have phoned you but we are cut off from communication at certain times, you know why. Tell Mother her cake was finally gone, I nearly

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had to keep it locked up once Jack & Ron had tasted it! Will you please thank her for her letter, was very nice of her to write.

I hope my other two letters have arrived by now, what a relief for the Teddington inhabitants that the fog descended, did you torture them the day after?

So glad to hear about my grey socks, I bet you have been quiet, made any mistakes yet?

I would’nt pay too much attention to Jerry’s new threat, if we get fine weather like we have had the last three days, well he’s had his times.

Well darling, just time to catch the post, take care of yourself,

All my love

Jack