Letter from Frank Claydon

Letter from Frank Claydon

He is on a ship and although the food is edible the washing conditions are primitive.

1942-03-29

One double sided typewritten sheet

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EClaydonFE[Recipient]420329-0001, EClaydonFE[Recipient]420329-0002

Sunday 29.3.42

I understand that we shall be making our first port of call within the next three or four days and in consequence we are each allowed to write [underlined] one [/underlined] letter. You might pass the news on therefore to those whom I normally write that I’m quite well and that although my thoughts are continually of home I’m happy in the knowledge that I’m getting nearer to my ultimate goal.

Food and cigarettes are plentiful and the former is quite edible for most of the time, but I’m afraid that’s all I can say for it. One’s toilet is the prime difficulty and what with sleeping in our clothes and the quite inadequate washing arrangements I haven’t felt clean since coming aboard. There are no facilities whatsoever for washing our underwear but I have rinsed out a few handkerchiefs. One overlooks all these hardships in the cuase [sic], however, but what is irritating is to have officers bully ragging upon you the need for cleanliness, winding up with the inevitable threat “or else . . . “.

Goldsmid, Fearn and a host of others are proving first rate travelling companions. I have also made friends with a fellow who was Stage Manager at the “Old Vic”. How many happy memories were recalled of Ibsen, Shakespeare not to mention the ballet. I’ve kept remarkably fit with no suspicion of seasickness but I’m holding a piece of wood as I write this!!!

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I have not, of course, heard anything from anyone since I left Blackpool and am hoping there’s a bumper mail awaiting me at my destination. Neither have I had any news of the war and after being on top of the news for so long I miss it severely.

I hope the worst of the winter is now over (I’m writing this with a glorious sun overhead).

Frank

P.S. As from to-day we may sleep in our pyjamas again – so worst danger is past evidently