To Jessie from Harry Redgrave
Title
To Jessie from Harry Redgrave
Description
A letter and envelope from Harry to his wife Jessie. Harry writes about buying a frame for her photograph, going to the cinema, starting to learn to play golf, plotting and an aborted training flight to Ireland.
The back of the envelope has been reused for money calculations.
The back of the envelope has been reused for money calculations.
Creator
Date
1940-03-04
Temporal Coverage
Language
Format
Three handwritten sheets and an envelope
Publisher
Rights
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.
Identifier
ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400304-0001,
ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400304-0002,
ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400304-0003,
ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400304-0004,
ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400304-0005
ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400304-0002,
ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400304-0003,
ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400304-0004,
ERedgraveHCRedgraveJM400304-0005
Transcription
[Envelope]
[postage stamp]
Mrs. H.C. Redgrave
“Redwood”
Oaken Grange Dr.
Prittlewell
Essex.
[page break]
[mathematical calculations]
[page break]
“Redbrae”
Monkton
Ayrshire
Mon. 4.3.40
Dear Jessie,
Thanks for your letter and Standard of today and I was glad to hear you had been out with Mrs. Franklin. Do you behave yourselves. [sic] Two smart young women out together ought to be quite an attraction and theres [sic] one of them I would just love to meet and take home.
On Saturday afternoon I went into Ayr and got a haircut and the frame for your photo and later saw the “Daughters Courageous” at the Playhouse. I was able to get a nice frame just plain black border and it shows it up to perfection. Its [sic] on the windowsill [sic] in our sitting room and the small one is in my bedroom. The film I saw was rather disappointing although Gale Page makes a good effort but I shouldn’t go out of your way to see it. Earlier in the week I saw Bing Crosby in “Paris Honeymoon” and this was a much better show with usual musical Bing singing Little ole Hills [sic] and several other good songs which have such a charming effect on me.
Yesterday morning I went to church and afterwards went down to the Homestead for a cup of coffee
[page break]
and to read the Sunday papers. The Homestead is a big house that has been made into a canteen affair for airmen by some local ladies. In the afternoon I had two hours sleep on the settee and after tea went out on the golf course and had a couple of hours learning to play. During the evening I did some Maths in preparation for our Maths exam on Saturday.
Today we have been plotting and in the afternoon were going on a flight to Ireland but had to come down because of engine trouble. It was a pity after donning our flying suits and “Mae Wests” (inflated jackets that contain something like half a motor tyre round your neck and over your chest giving you a big bosom). I was [deleted] le [/deleted] looking forward to the trip as a change to Arran and Stranraer.
What do you mean when you say Len is going to be transferred? It would seem Joyce will not be home Easter and I should like to have seen her but still it will give us more time together and not be so crowded.
Thanks for your kiss for passing and I
[page break]
do not know how many marks I got yet. Perhaps they are waiting for the Maths results. Dont [sic] worry dear I shant [sic] want to leave you a minute either and we shall have to have a few lay ins in the mornings when we are completely alone. How is Milly keeping and Frank I hope she manages alright [sic] when Frank is away its very difficult for you women who have to make ends meet and just sit at home and wait.
Darling I can just imagine the crocus and hyacinths on the windowsil. [sic] I hope they are still in bloom when I get home.
What a long time they are telling us how long we shall get Easter but never mind it will soon roll round and until then your distant husband wishes you goodnight and happy dreams. Give my love to Mum and Joyce and Gwen.
Always your loving
Harry xxxx
xx for Pamela
xx “Mum
xx “Gwen
xx “Joyce & Patricia
[postage stamp]
Mrs. H.C. Redgrave
“Redwood”
Oaken Grange Dr.
Prittlewell
Essex.
[page break]
[mathematical calculations]
[page break]
“Redbrae”
Monkton
Ayrshire
Mon. 4.3.40
Dear Jessie,
Thanks for your letter and Standard of today and I was glad to hear you had been out with Mrs. Franklin. Do you behave yourselves. [sic] Two smart young women out together ought to be quite an attraction and theres [sic] one of them I would just love to meet and take home.
On Saturday afternoon I went into Ayr and got a haircut and the frame for your photo and later saw the “Daughters Courageous” at the Playhouse. I was able to get a nice frame just plain black border and it shows it up to perfection. Its [sic] on the windowsill [sic] in our sitting room and the small one is in my bedroom. The film I saw was rather disappointing although Gale Page makes a good effort but I shouldn’t go out of your way to see it. Earlier in the week I saw Bing Crosby in “Paris Honeymoon” and this was a much better show with usual musical Bing singing Little ole Hills [sic] and several other good songs which have such a charming effect on me.
Yesterday morning I went to church and afterwards went down to the Homestead for a cup of coffee
[page break]
and to read the Sunday papers. The Homestead is a big house that has been made into a canteen affair for airmen by some local ladies. In the afternoon I had two hours sleep on the settee and after tea went out on the golf course and had a couple of hours learning to play. During the evening I did some Maths in preparation for our Maths exam on Saturday.
Today we have been plotting and in the afternoon were going on a flight to Ireland but had to come down because of engine trouble. It was a pity after donning our flying suits and “Mae Wests” (inflated jackets that contain something like half a motor tyre round your neck and over your chest giving you a big bosom). I was [deleted] le [/deleted] looking forward to the trip as a change to Arran and Stranraer.
What do you mean when you say Len is going to be transferred? It would seem Joyce will not be home Easter and I should like to have seen her but still it will give us more time together and not be so crowded.
Thanks for your kiss for passing and I
[page break]
do not know how many marks I got yet. Perhaps they are waiting for the Maths results. Dont [sic] worry dear I shant [sic] want to leave you a minute either and we shall have to have a few lay ins in the mornings when we are completely alone. How is Milly keeping and Frank I hope she manages alright [sic] when Frank is away its very difficult for you women who have to make ends meet and just sit at home and wait.
Darling I can just imagine the crocus and hyacinths on the windowsil. [sic] I hope they are still in bloom when I get home.
What a long time they are telling us how long we shall get Easter but never mind it will soon roll round and until then your distant husband wishes you goodnight and happy dreams. Give my love to Mum and Joyce and Gwen.
Always your loving
Harry xxxx
xx for Pamela
xx “Mum
xx “Gwen
xx “Joyce & Patricia
Collection
Citation
Harry Redgrave, “To Jessie from Harry Redgrave,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 26, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/15877.
Item Relations
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