Letter from Malcolm Payne to Doris Weeks

Letter from Malcolm Payne to Doris Weeks

Writes about journey back to camp by train. Talks about moving to Bardney. Scheduled for cross country but had to see medical officer who grounded him for three days and now he has to do clean up tasks, Mentions easy trains to Lincoln to see her and apologises for his mood during visit.

1944-04-30

Six page handwritten letter and envelope

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EPayneMHWeeksD440428-02

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FIGHTING FORCES COMFORTS FUND
[undelined] ‘scuse [sic] mistakes [/underlined]
A.417512
F/Sgt. Payne.M.H.
RAF Stn.
Bardney
Nr. Lincoln
Lincs
etc.
etc.
etc.
Friday
Hello Darling Pet,
Many thanks for your letter which I received today – and I don’t think it was moany. I caught the train back to camp O.K and passed Donald before he got to the station. Subsequently it fell to me to buy the tickets. Hell it hurt.
It was late when we got into camp – well reasonably – and I didn’t [deleted] fell [/deleted] ?!!! [sic] feel like eating so what did I do? I didn’t
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xx [page 2]
P/O Hallett was waiting for us with that wicked gleam in his eye – you know. A few minutes after duty and I left town yesterday the transport arrived to take us to Bardney. Midge and Johnny went? [sic] (came) and took our baggage with them.
Anyway – the bus picked us up about 10 O’clock this morning and so here we are. Oh! darling, I forgot to tell you we picked our mail up early this morning (I had to sort the
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xxx [page 3]
whole station mail to get it) so that’s how I happened to get your letter. You know we didn’t get out here until 2.30 and by the time we’d had a feed it was 3.30. We reported to the “Boss” then and were calmly informed that we were doing a x [cross] country trip tonight. Yours truly had to see the M.O, who has again grounded me and made me report 3 times day for testament.
Can’t you see how ill your old hubby is darling. He’s on his last legs. Nearly.
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[underlined] xxxx [/underlined] [page 4]
The trains run fairly well to and from Lincoln from here sweet so I should be able to see you reasonably often. Because the others have been I mean – are going to fly I am responsible for getting a [indecipherable word], blankets, sheets, cleaning up and making beds and God knows what for the boys. I am on my last legs now darling and still have loads of work to do. I hear the crew taking off now. I hope your mops didn’t “dress you
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xxxxx [page 5]
down” Petty pic for being so long by my bedside this morning. Did she?
Darling – I was in a silly mood last night and today. I have been feeling a real pig about it. Will you forgive me angel. I must finish this before I get to the bottom of the page – anyway I’d have to there’s no news.

Night for now darling one. Hundreds & hundreds of X’s
Ever yours
Malcolm
I love you darling
P.T.O

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X ?
X [underlined] Do you miss us [/underlined]
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NEWARK NOTTS 645PM 30 APR 1944 [postmark]
[postage stamp]
Miss Doris Weeks
37 Hawthorne Rd
Bunkers Hill
Lincoln