Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Writes about weather and not much news. Comments on rumours of going home but no news yet. Feels he is in the worst part of Canada. Mentions sending parcel home with photographs and writes about daily activities. Writes about friend receiving happy birthday sung on telephone by local WAAF and a friend getting engaged to one.

1943-03-02

Three page handwritten letter and envelope

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EEllisELEllisH-[Fa]430302

[postage stamp] [postmarks MR 2 43]

[inserted] 3/42 [/inserted]

EXAMINER 514 [missing number]
51/2191. D.P.

Mrs H. Ellis,
54, Wulfric Rd.,
Manor
Sheffield. 2.
Yorks.
England.

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[RCAF crest]

P.C. 90
OPENED BY

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[RCAF crest]

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[RCAF crest]

1238597 Sgt E L Ellis
No 7 B & G School
Paulson
Manitoba
Canada.

Dear Mam & Dad,

Well things are much the same around here and there is not much to write about. I am on a forty eight as usual but I am not going anywhere its too cold.

We have been having a spell of warm weather but the last two or three days have been as cold as ever. and believe me I mean cold.

The usual [deleted word] rumours about being posted home are going around among the RAF boys here but we have yet to hear anything definite. I like this country less every day and as I did not like it much when I first came you can guess how I feel now. I must say though we are in one of the worst parts of Canada.

Gus Knox the New Zealander raves about what a mess this country is, every day; I guess it must effect him more than us coming from “those blue Pacific shores” & I think we (RAF) will leave here before he does and that makes him madder than ever.

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A week or saw [sic] ago I sent a parcel of photographs off so I think you will have them by the time you get this. Keep one of the large ones for me as I have not got any left now.

Yesterday I had my hair cut but it is so cold now that I wish I had not. Last night Gus and I went to “town” and did a bit of shopping, I got myself some new gloves, pyjamas and a pullover and they cost me 12$ about £2-10-0 for just that so you can see what prices are like.

By the way it was Gus’es birthday yesterday and last night he received a phone call from the WAAFs’ canteen and all the women sang “Happy birthday to you” to him. was he mad, he dare not leave the barrack block now in case he sees a WAAF.

Talking of WAAFs Tony Davies the other guy in our room got engaged to one the other day and Gus and I have been telling him what fool his [sic] is ever since. Luckily Tony is good natured, especially for a Welsh man, and takes it in good part.

I can’t think of anything else to say except its a long time since I heard from Hats or Fred so I’ll close now.

Hoping every one is O.K. and that it is a lot warmer

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there than it is here. Remember me to Dad Renee a Sidney and all at 69, 52, & 6.

Your loving son

Lewis.

P.S. Have you got any children yet?