https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/660/9201/EGortonHGortonLCM440217.1.pdf 488cdc029236131f329a7963e4a11ef4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Gorton, Harold Description An account of the resource 136 items. The collection concerns Squadron Leader Harold Gorton (1914 - 1944, 120984, Royal Air Force) and contains eight photographs and 126 letters to his wife and family. Harold Gorton studied at Oxford, and throughout his time in the RAF he continued studying law. He completed a tour of operations as a pilot in 1941 and was then posted as an instructor to RAF Cark. He returned to operations with 49 Squadron stationed at RAF Fulbeck in 1944. He was killed 11/12 November 1944 during an operation to Harburg.<br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Mair Gorton and Ian Gorton, and catalogued by Barry Hunter. <br /><br />Additional information on&nbsp;Harold Gorton is available via the <a href="https://internationalbcc.co.uk/losses/108964/">IBCC Losses Database</a>. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available IBCC Digital Archive Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-05-30 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Gorton, H Transcribed document A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Transcription Text transcribed from audio recording or document TEL. SILVERSTONE 252 OFFICERS’ MESS, ROYAL AIR FORCE STATION, SILVERSTONE, NR. TOWCESTER, NORTHANTS [Royal Air Force crest] Thursday. Dearest, I am sitting in front of a good fire in the Mess (the fire in the hut is out again), and am feeling warm for the first time today. I don’t know if it is cold at Newhouse, but it certainly is here, & what makes it worse is that we have no fires in our lecture rooms. I really didn’t think it was possible before I came here & tried it, but I’ve survived a week now & haven’t even a suspicion of a cold! All that happens is that we get thoroughly chilled for four hours in the morning, thaw out a little in the Mess at lunch time, and become even colder by the time it is 5.30. I spoke to the M.O. about it, but he said that the station was already using more fuel than it was allowed, and that he couldn’t do anything unless the sickness rate went up! Personally I think it’s a bit too late to do anything by that time. I think it says a good deal for the keenness of the pupils that we are able to absorb anything at all! Still, as I said before, it doesn’t seem to do me any harm, as I am feeling very fit. I’ve been lucky the last two [page break] 2 days as I’ve had two letters from you. Yesterday’s is at the billet, so I’ll try & answer that when I get back. Your parcel has also arrived, but I haven’t had time to collect it yet. Would it be asking too much if I sent you another lot of washing next week? I should have sent some last Sunday, but I couldn’t change as I hadn’t been able to get hold of my kit, and it won’t be any use sending some on Sunday, as we shall be going to Turweston, the satellite, on Wednesday, & my laundry might easily get lost. I’m being economical as I can with it, & won’t send any if I can manage. Yesterday I & another ex-instructor – also for a headless crew – went to see the C.I. He was very decent indeed & treated us with the respect [inserted] (?) [/inserted] due to our seniority. The good point that emerged from the interview was that we shall only do about 20 hrs. instead of the normal 30 or 40 at the satellite, and then shall be able to go to the Con unit. I’m all for the idea, personally, as I want to get away from here as soon as possible. [page break] 3. My driving licence arrived today, & also the St. John’s College list. I’m sending it with this letter, so perhaps you could park it with the rest of my junk. I suppose you realise that I’ve done no flying yet & shan’t do any until the end of next week at the earliest. I’m sorry you didn’t see Rocyn Jones. Even if he can’t do anything about your feet, I think it’s worth doing all you can, [deleted] to [/deleted] because it ought to make things better for you. I don’t suppose you’ll get another opportunity for a long time now. I shall be very interested to see the result of your adverts. I certainly hope something comes of it, as I’d very much like us to have our own house again. I’m not surprised that Iltyd has given up the idea of buying another farm. Did you see in the paper that at a sale in Lincolnshire last week, farms of 100 – 150 acres realised, in one case, [page break] 4 £98 per acre? Amazing, isn’t it? As for Bert & Jim, all I can say is that it’s a pity they’re not in the Army. They’d soon sit up & take notice then. I think I said in my last letter that Mother never mentioned the Ops business. All she said about it was that she hoped I shouldn’t find the lectures too difficult! Actually I though her silence was a bit too obvious – trying to avoid saying anything that might depress me. I don’t think I shall volunteer for a second tour. I [underlined] might [/underlined] agree to do a longer first tour in order to go on Pathfinders, but that will depend on how I feel when I’m on the Squadron. You can volunteer for a second tour but you can also be posted on to one. It’s all a matter of luck, I think. These Labour Exchange people [underlined] are [/underlined] the limit, aren’t they. At least it’s very decent of them to wait while you find a house, but why on earth won’t they give you a permit? Did you ask them for one, [page break] 5 or did they just not mention it? Still, I think the best thing would be to get a house if possible, & then you ought to be able to get a job that wouldn’t involve travelling. That’s all for now, darling, until I go back to the billet and answer yesterday’s letter. All my love, Harold. P.S. I’ve got my nail file, so keep the two you’ve got. I entirely agree with what you say about going out on your own. It’s lousy here for me too, as the presence of several hundred R.A.F. & Waaf is quite inadequate as a substitute for you. My Bank pass – book definitely seems to have disappeared! Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource He writes of the weather and life at RAF Silverstone. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Harold Gorton Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1944-02-17 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Five handwritten sheets Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Text. Correspondence Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context EGortonHGortonLCM440217 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Royal Air Force Royal Air Force. Bomber Command Civilian Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available IBCC Digital Archive Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Tricia Marshall Title A name given to the resource Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Great Britain England--Northamptonshire Temporal Coverage Temporal characteristics of the resource. 1944-02 aircrew ground personnel military living conditions military service conditions Pathfinders RAF Silverstone training Women’s Auxiliary Air Force