Letter to Lewis Ellis from Gus Knox

Letter to Lewis Ellis from Gus Knox

Writing at sea. Comments on weather. Continues with gossip. mentions where he will write to in future and will send his home address. Writes about his activities and that he was now an NCO. Comments on food and weather. Speculates on future. Some parts of letter are censored by being cut out. Concludes with long postscript including a parody of the song "Bless them All".

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EKnoxATEllisEL[Date]-01

I

[RCAF crest]

Thursday [censored text]

Dear Lew,

Just a few lines written at sea, and I trust they reach you O.K. I’ll post this at the place I mentioned to you before I left. For that is the route we are taking evidently. The weather is really marvellous and the ski-cap I bought at Toronto is handy, as you can imagine. I got the rasberry [sic] at first when I produced it but now they all wish they had them, the “bloody” sun would burn a hole in you! You might tell Doug Holloway that I will see his folks for him when and if I get leave, I know his address. I’ll bet he was sore when he found I was gone.

From what I here [sic] and see of [censored words] here, you will be on the move soon also, they are making things [indecipherable word] all over now.

When next I write I will address your mail to [censored word] as I expect your days at Paulson are numbered

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II

let’s hope so anyway. In case you have not my home address I will put it at the end, but lord only knows when I will be there.

We are having, as you may expect bags of A/C rec. BQ5s, [indecipherable word] etc, and of course Knox is right in there pitching.

When I was at [censored words], by the way I saw a [censored word], they look pretty nifty kites, but they are very easy to spot, there was also a [censored words] at Toronto they are easy too.

Its only a rumour I have a load of stuff to take back, I nearly bought a womens’ dress shop out in Toronto, [missing words] have thought I had a harem.

[page break]

[censored text] so I guess poor old Tony will be chewing the fat and thinking of what he left at No.7. It is rather difficult getting back to £.S.D. again, especially with a pocketful of pennies.

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III

I have had promotion too, I am now N.C.O [censored words] but [indecipherable word] only knows what I am supposed to do with the damned thing.

When I get to my destination I will send you a cable, just to let you know your lighter is still “on top”. It has been leading me astray I’m afraid for I smoke like a chimney now, my poor old pappy would have “[indecipherable word] hemorage;” [sic]; I have gone to the dogs all right.

The weather will be a good deal warmer with you I suppose and you will be getting bags of walking hours in.

The food is darned good here considering the times, stewards, waiters and all the trimmings, It is more like a pleasure cruise, we have been rather lucky in some respects, even their attempts at P.T. have not been what one could call a howling success, I have this loafing racket down to a fine art now.

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IV

This letter may not [censored words]
news, but as you [censored words]
this stage of the [censored words]
be too careful. [censored words] no idea what ships I am going on, or where we are to fly them; time alone will tell, and watch out for my next letter as I will be able to go into details a little more.

I have not written separately to Vicky, so when you see her please give her my best wishes, and also the kiss I did not have time to deliver personally. (If George read this he would slaughter me.) Gee, I’m a wolf!

She is a good sort though and I did not take advantage of her however unusual our relationship may have appeared.

Well this has been longwinded and I have not said much, but that is just like me. For the present then cheerio Lew, From your N.Z. cobber

Gus

[initials]

P.T.O.

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[underlined] P.S. [/underlined] There is a parody on “Bless them All”, it was given to me by one of these [censored words] and I thought it quite good.

The words are very apt in their cases, I hope they don’t jar censors finer susceptabilities! [sic]

Spitfires they don’t worry me,
Spitfires they don’t worry me,
Oil throwing bastards with flaps on their wings,
Buggered up sparkplugs and other such things.
So we’re saying goodbye to them all,
As back to the airfield they crawl
There’ll be scenes of elation,
And great celebration
When we say goodbye to them all.

They say that the Japs have a real shit hot kite
Of that we’re no longer in doubt,
So if a Zero should get on your tail
This is the way to get out.
Be cheerful, be kind, be calm and sedate,
Don’t let your British blood boil,
Don’t hesitate, just go right thru the “gate”
And you’ll drown the Jap bastard in oil.

[initials]