Letter to Lewis Ellis from Marion

Letter to Lewis Ellis from Marion

Writes about her work at Air Raid Precautions. Hopes her letters had got through. Writes about snow. Continues letter next day and describes her activities. Mentions smoking Turkish cigarettes. Asks what he did in civilian life. Talks a little of he work and mentions her brother registering for the RAF. Mentions enclosing photographs.

1943-01-04

Seven page handwritten letter and envelope

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E[Author]MEllisEL430118

[postage stamp] [postmark]

9667 9667
P.C. 90.

[inserted] 1/43 [/inserted]

GPO. 1238597, Sgt. Pilot E. L. Ellis,
T/O 7 B & G School.
Paulson
Manitoba.
Canada

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[postmark]

OPENED BY EXAMINER

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1/

4/1/43

Bayford.
Wincanton
Somerset
England

Dear Lew,

Once again I find myself writing a few more lines to you as I am at A.R.P for a couple of hours in case “Jerry” decided to pay us a visit, you see I have been doing ARP work ever since the outbreak of war.

I do hope you will get my first letter it is a problem wondering whether the letters will get through but I always hope for the best. I am sorry I couldn’t send along the snaps in my other letter but I promise to send them when possible but please

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don’t forget your photograph as I am very anxious to receive same.

I hope you are keeping in good trim out there. I bet it is cold isn’t it? Tonight it is trying to snow I like snow as long as it remains nice & white & soft but as soon as it freezes everything goes wrong and travelling for everyone is very bad, also for “flyers” I expect.

Well Lew I must stop writing for tonight at this stage I shall start for home the time being 9 pm & I have to walk a mile. I am afraid this letter will be written in stages as I shall carry on again when I [underlined] think of more [/underlined] news

[underlined] 11th January [/underlined]
Well Lew it is a week since

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I started this letter, during that time we have had one fall of snow but all has gone now.

The photographs are not ready yet, if I hang onto this letter a few more days I hope I may enclose one (to go on with) in this. I think a snap [deleted] with [/deleted] [inserted] will [/inserted] give you quite a good idea of what I look like & also some idea who you are writing to.

Yesterday (Sunday) I went cycling nearly to where Les lives you might mention to him that everything is still about the same, also please tell him (that is if he doesn’t already know) I have met his mother & sister Betty also I think Queenie said it was his Auntie I believe her name is Steph, all this happened last summer I

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expect she is still the same.

I wish it was possible for you to be here I happen to be smoking Turkish cigarettes & the girls on duty with me (as I expect you have gathered I am on ARP again) threaten to throw me out personally my favourite cigarette’s being “Du-Maurier” but they are terribly hard to get so I have to take the next best, “Turkish”. By the way do you smoke?

You didn’t say what you did in private life or whether you have been to this part of England I am very interested to know all about [inserted] you [/inserted] regarding your past-times & things in general.

Will you please forgive mistakes as the wireless is on with a dance Band playing all

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the lastest [sic] tunes & trying to sing & write to you is a bit difficult.

How is work going with you OK I hope with me everything goes wrong sometimes I can type & work without any mistakes but since our Manager resigned a week ago I can’t do a darn thing right. I use [sic] to wear long-trousers to work & now being under new & rotten management I am not allowed to, & believe me I nearly freeze now when it is rather cold maybe that’s why things all go wrong.

Is this a question I should not ask, well anyway I’ll chance it, do you think you will be coming home 12 months in Canada must make you home-sick. Les thought he might be home shortly

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I bet he will be glad to get back.

My brother registered for the R.A.F. but he is a farmer & doing a good job of National Importance. I only have one brother & no sisters just Mum & Dad & that’s the family. I must close now once more Lew & I hope you won’t get bored when reading this.

18/1/43.

Another Monday has come round & will bring this letter to a close because I have now some photographs to send & I do hope [inserted] you [/inserted] like them.

I cant possibly think about anything else Lew so I had better dry up so until next time, and take care of yourself when up in “the blue”

Happy Landings Lew

Yours – Marion

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P.S. The very small snap was taken at work with one of the girls I can’t think why we stood by the “Ambulance”.

I expect you have seen the one taken with Les’ girl friend Queenie, he probably remembers the place.

Unfortunately the large snap was taken when I was talking it looks as if I am just about to scream.