Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Reports arrival of latest mail. Writes about party held in legion hall of local town. Mentions weather getting better. Comments on newly installed fire alarms being set off, and of the station's quota of money from Canada's victory loan. Writes of receiving letter from friend and concludes with gossip about home.

1943-05-01

Two page handwritten letter and envelope

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EEllisELEllisH-[Fa]430501

[inserted] 5/43 [/inserted]

[postage stamp] [postmark]

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

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[Royal Canadian Air Force crest]

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[Royal Canadian Air Force crest]

1238597 SGT ELLIS
No. 7 B & G School
Paulson
Manitoba.
1/5/43

Dear Mam & Dad,

Today I received your airgraph dated the ninth of April. It was the first letter I had had from you for four weeks. You say you have only received two of my letters this year, well I have been writing every time I had a forty eight which is every ten days so a lot of them must have got lost.

Today I am on a forty eight and it is raining but I guess I shall be going down to Daphin [sic] tonight. Last night our flight had a party in the Legion Hall in Daphin [sic] and a great time was had by all and most of the fitters and riggers and not a few of the pilots got drunk but I was OK.

Up here at the camp things are much the same and the weather is definitely becoming much better but the lake is still covered with ice.

Last week new fire alarms were installed all over the station and apparently the boys on nights decided to test them and as they operate a siren very similar to a air raid siren you can guess what a disturbance was caused and it happened on three nights running.

Canada’s fourth victory loan has now started and the quota for our station was

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$40,000 but we got that in the first two days so we look like getting $100,000 before it is over. They have a good sistem [sic] here of allowing you to pay for your war bonds by monthly installments but I think I shall get one for cash as I will not be able to pay the installments on R.A.F. pay in England.

The other day I got a airgraph from Hats and it looks as if we shall see him over here pretty soon and I guess Stan Eccleston will be coming over here too. When I think of what they have to go through.

I was glad to hear Dad’s gardening is coming on O.K. everyone over here has got a bug for “victory” gardening and all the little patches of garden are being dug up while whole fields remain idle on the prairies, damn funny I call it.

I guess thats about all looking for your next letter: remember me to all.

Your loving son

Lewis