Letter from Hedley Madgett to his parents

Letter from Hedley Madgett to his parents

Writes from Washington Irving Hotel, Stratford on Avon thanking them for parcel and letter and discussing clothing requirements. Discusses food in canteen and difficulties of washing enough socks. Mentions further inoculations and problems with boots, lack of wireless and hot weather. Catches up with family/friends news and talks of finance issues.

1941-06-04

Five page handwritten letter and envelope

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EMadgettLR-AGMadgettHR410604-01

[postmark]
[postage stamp]
Mr. & Mrs. Madgett.
127, Longlands Road,
Sidcup.
[underlined] Kent. [/underlined]
[page break]
NO. 1330340. H.R. MADGETT
FLIGHT 11/22. NO. 9. R.W.
R.A.F. Washington Irving Hotel,
Stratford on Avon.
[underlined] 4th. June [/underlined]
Dear Mum & Dad,
Thanks for the parcel and letter enclosed. It came just too late, as I had just posted a letter saying I had not received it. I can do without my vest I think, as it is very warm in uniform, and if it gets cold I have my pullover. Thank you very much for the choc. & sweets. The canteen only sells sandwiches & cakes & drinks. Sandwiches are
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[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
only 1d each, and they are not small. [deleted] We [/deleted]
We can only send one pair of socks to the laundry a week, and when we had that P.T. I had to change those socks as covered in mud. It is too late now to send to an outside laundry now, as we go (or should) on Saturday. In the case, you will find some alien socks. We were boating on the [deleted] rv [/deleted] river on Whitsunday and these socks came floating down on a piece of newspaper, quite dry.
I had a letter from John today, and this morning
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had another inoculation. I don’t know what our blood [inserted] will [/inserted] look like when they have finished pumping liquids into us. We have another 48 hours excuse duty, and am spending this afternoon writing to all and sundry. My arm is starting to ache now. The boot trouble seems to have disappeared, but I am wearing the rubber & leather alternately.
We are not in camp, but have no wireless. I have only heard it once when I went down to the Canteen after supper to get a bit more to eat.
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[underlined] 4 [/underlined]
The weather on Sunday was really hot, and in our uniforms, not very comfortable.
Thank Mr. & Mrs. Parkin, Mrs. & Eileen Arthur for their wishes, please; I cannot very well write them all – my pen would wear out.
I will send Eileen Sharp. a p.c., but will have a job finding what to say. I have not written to anyone so young!, but I think, on second thoughts, I will write her when I get to I.T.W. as it won’t be much good her sending a card back here when I have gone (that is if
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[underlined] 5 [/underlined]
she sends one at all).
The same with Dr. Williams. I suppose I shall have to write [deleted] as [/deleted] to him as Squadron Leader.
The boss said I would have a monthly cheque – if so, it’s a rather small one, don’t you think. I sent them a letter on Friday, so will write next week. They may think my letter to be in reply to the cheque, as you had it on Thursday you say.
Well, that is about all the news since I wrote this morning. Love from Hedley.
Thanks again for chocolate & sweets.