Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Acknowledges receipt of parcel. Writes of his busy daily routine not leaving much time to write. Comments on issue of flying kit and describes it in detail and mentions parading in it watched by inhabitants of Scarborough.

1941-08-27

Two page handwritten letter and envelope

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EEllisELEllisH-[Fa]410827

[postage stamp] [postmark 27 AUG 1941]

Mrs. Ellis
54 Wulfric Rd
Manor
Sheffield. 2.
Yorks

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1238597 E L ELLIS
“D” Flight 4 Squadron.
11 ITW
Waldorf Hotel
Scarborough
Yorks

Dear Mam & Dad,

I got the parcel this morning, thank [sic] for the brushes I need them bad. We were issued with three, but at a kit inspection the officer says we’ve got to have seven showing & Ive bought two.

I shall try & write more often but we work hard from 6 in the morning & we parade for tea at 1/4 to 7 so you see I havn’t much time & I have to write to seven others not counting our young Charlie: I shall try & reply to him to-nigh. [sic]

Well this morning we got a surprise we were marched down to the clothing stores & got all our flying kit – £50 worth of it I wish you could see it but as you can’t I’ll try and describe it.

First there’s the under suit: this is chocolate brown silk – pure silk, double & filled with lambs wool – its over half an inch thick. Its got a zip fastener right down the front, one from the elbow to the wrist end on each arm & a zip from the knee to the ankle end down the side of each leg Second the over suit this is just same shape as the under suit with zips etc. P.T.O.

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Its made of Khaki green canvas leather double fur lined with fur lined pockets & a 1ft 3ins thick fur collar: all the pocket – I think theres six, all zip up.

Third theres the gloves – 3 pairs of them – first a white double silk pair next to the skin then you put on a pair of elastic wool brown ones and last the brown leather gauntlets which fit up to the elbow & zip from the wrist to the elbow. Fourth theres the boots – I think they’er [sic] the finest boots I’ve seen. They reach to the knees covering over the flying suits & they are made of green & black kid leather. The bottoms are black & the leg part green & lambs wool a inch long padding them. We could pick our own boots, some got those brown suede ones & some black, but most got the ones like I got.

Besides all this we got our oxygen mask with radio-telephone microphone, all ready to plug in – out head earphones receives, & thousands of studs & tubes fitting to the oxygen mask & helmet earphones. Our helmets have gone back to have the earholes cut in & connections fastened. P.S. Weve also got our sun proof gogles [sic] – fleecy lined.

This morning we had to parade outside in our flying kit – the flying kit fits over all the uniform & it was red hot. In about five minutes all Scarborough was out watching us and asking where we had parked our Spitfires. When I come on leave I’ll try & bring some of it to show you.

Well to morrow we have our “maths” exam but Ill pass anyway so I’m going to bed early. Rember [sic] me to all at 52 & 69. Tell our Sid to be quick with the letter. Hows [deleted] Yo [/deleted] my Dad getting on with Rabbits chicks etc

Your loving son, Lewis