Letter from Hedley Madgett to his parents

Letter from Hedley Madgett to his parents

Writes from Scarborough about how hot the weather has been and that they will leave shortly, Writes about going to the beach despite defences and swimming in local pool. Talks of swatting for examinations and thanks for sending cake and laundry. Concludes with news of photographs and inoculations.

Six page handwritten letter

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EMadgettLR-AGMadgettHR[Date]-01

[underlined] Scarborough. [/underlined]
[underlined] Tuesday. [/underlined]
Dear Mum & Dad,
Excuse if this letter is very disjointed, as I have to write it in bits when I get time. Time is our enemy here. Next Saturday will be our last here, so you know now when to expect me. I won’t tell what [deleted] w [/deleted] day, as I’m sure you'd want to be surprised.
[deleted] Yesterday [/deleted] I have often told you how hot we are in this weather – well – yesterday beat all records. It was absolutely sweltering. So from now on, we have orders to discard our
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tunics. We now go about in [deleted] shi [/deleted] rolled up shirt sleeves which is a bit better.
After church on Sunday, we spent rest of morning on the beach, and then back again for all the afternoon. It was grand. We can go on the beach when we go in a party; & we are the only people allowed on, besides the army.
You made me laugh when you said “don’t go under the barricades”. On Sunday [deleted] we [/deleted] three of us went along the beach when the tide was out to try & get in the swimming pool I have mentioned
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before. well, we got in eventually by scrambling under heaps of barbed wire just in swim trunks. we managed it alright. That’s Englands defences for you.
I have just had a marvellous afternoon. We went to the swimming pool in a big park about a mile from here. it was lovely & cool. This evening I’m going to try to swot a bit of armaments. we have the exam tomorrow & none of us are particularly good at it. It is so boring.
I’m sorry to hear about Daddy. It’s a pity you don’t have a good holiday; I hope you get
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better quickly, and have no more pains. I should not like to see you in bed when I come home – so you must get better quick.
McJames is to be an air gunner/Wireless Operator so John told me. Thank goodness we have a Navy & Army.
Thanks for doing the washing so quick, but the post is slower than I thought, for parcels. It did not come till [underlined] Saturday [/underlined] morning. Never mind, I will make do. The cake was very nice, & not crushed. It had gone mouldy in places, but otherwise O.K.
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Up till today, we all have been quite happy about Navigation – not very hard. But today we did the compass, & came across the hardest thing of all. Of all the hundreds of instruments in a plane, not one is accurate, & you have [sic] make allowances time & again. Its a pity someone can’t invent some decent instruments.
We have now got our photos. I have got 2 large ones (mounted), one being autographed. We just cannot get cardboard down here, so if I cannot get any by next time, will you please send
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2 thick sheets of cardboard measuring 18 1/2” x 8 1/2” so that I can send home. They are too stiff to roll. [deleted] also. [/deleted]
We had another inoculation not long ago, but there were no effects.
Well, I think that is all for the time being – hurry up and get better Daddy, With Love from [underlined] Hedley. [/underlined]