Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Writes about journey back from Sheffield. Says he had been working hard at drill since his return. Mentions doing ten mile run and tying to get home if he could get someone to do his duty on Saturday afternoon. Mentions his current activities and comments on Whitley Bay.

1943-11-11

Two page handwritten letter and envelope

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EEllisELEllisH-[Fa]431111

[postage stamp] [postmark 11 NOV 1943]

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

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1238597 Sgt E L Ellis
c/o Sergeants’ Mess
NCO’s School
“Prudhoe”
Whitley Bay
Northumberland.

Dear Mam & Dad,

Sorry I did not write before but I have been very busy and I have been trying to get a pass for this weekend.

The journey back from Sheffield was not bad but I had to change at Leeds and Church Fenton and at Church Fenton I had to wait a [sic] hour and a half in pouring rain. I finally got to Newcastle at 12:10 and as I had missed the last train to Whitley Bay I slept in the Salvation Army Canteen and caught the first train on Monday morning. The bed in the Salvation Army was not bad for 9d.

Since then we have been working quite hard at rifle drill, battle drill, bayonette [sic] practice etc. and on Monday

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afternoon we went for a ten mile route march and half of us went sick with blisters but I am back on my feet again now.

I am supposed to be on duty all day Saturday and have Sunday off but am trying to get a chap to do it for me Saturday afternoon and if I do I shall try to get home on Saturday so expect me when you see me.

At the moment I am broke but as it is pay parade tomorrow morning I shall be O.K. for the weekend.

This afternoon we have been playing football, I was playing right back, and we lost 2-1. My blisters did not help me at all.

Whitley Bay is not a bad place but the weather is lousy and all the fish & chip shops and café’s close at ten so we are always in bed early.

I guess that’s all for now

Hope to see you Saturday

Your loving son

Lewis