Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Letter from Lewis Ellis to his mother and father

Writes about journey back from Sheffield to Whitley Bay. Mentions doing assault course, mock battle, and hand grenade drill. Says he probably will not be home at the weekend due to lack of funds and no leave pass. Thinks he will shortly go back to Harrogate.

1943-11-22

Three page handwritten letter

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EEllisELEllisH-[Fa]431122

[postage stamp] [postmark 22 NOV 1943]

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

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1238597 Sgt E L Ellis
Sgts’ Mess
N.C.O.s’ School
Whitley Bay
Northumberland

Dear Mam & Dad,

Aftet leaving Sheffield on Sunday I had to change trains twice before I got to Newcastle. The first change was a [sic] Normanton where I had to wait 45 minutes for the York train and there I had to wait over an hour and as it was snowing or raining [two deleted words] all the evening you can bet I had a happy journey. I arrived in Newcastle at 1200 pm so I managed to catch the last train to Whitley Bay but I got wet through going from the station to the billet.

On Monday we had the

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Assault Course and it was really stiff but I got through O.K. although you could not have recognised me for mud if you had seen me when I finished.

Yesterday we had a mock battle with the Australians, it was good fun and I took quite a few “prisoners” and managed to stay “alive” although the biggest parts of both armies were “wiped out”. Today we have been up to the range throwing hand grenades and firing revolvers but I could not say I enjoyed that as the weather has been rotten all day.

I do not think I shall be coming home this weekend as I cannot get a pass and funds are rather low. Next weekend I think we will be back in Harrogate as the course will finish on Tuesday evening

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As we are leaving some time next week, if you have not already done so, do not send my laundry until you get my new address.

I guess thats all for now, give our Renée my best wishes for her birthday. Remember me to all

Your loving son

Lewis