To Jessie from Harry Redgrave

To Jessie from Harry Redgrave

A letter from Harry Redgrave to his wife Jessie from his RAF station in Scotland. He writes about his life in the RAF and his worries about the war.

1940-05-24

Three handwritten sheets

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Redbrae
Monkton
Ayrshire
Fri. 24 May

Dear Jessie,
Was glad your journey went according to schedule and you managed the 8.4. I understand just how tired you must have felt and how glad you must have been to see Pam again. The weather seems to have broken up now and its [sic] raining hard now and we have nothing to do but sit around and while the day away reading and talking. I have finished my flying time here Tuesdays [sic] flight making my total 67.50 hours.
Details of our postings have been given us today and the course is being split up to go Isle of Man, Ireland, and Weymouth. All of us “Redbrae” boys are going to Weymouth and all feel very satisfied with our station. Being so near home its [sic] not too much to hope that you may be able to come down there at some time during my stay there, or perhaps I shall

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get home one week-end. Its [sic] going to be a long journey down from Scotland and I am afraid it will be direct and that I shall not be able to break my journey to come home [deleted] fro [/deleted] for a night. But still I am lucky to be going to Warmwell which I understand is a good school.

The news from France continues to be grave and I have heard that the training wings at Bexhill and Hastings have been closed down. From the news [sic] it appears you had some excitement as soon as you reached home. I don’t think you have anything to worry about for a while as the Germans have got to get all the Channel Ports and consolidate their French lines before any large scale attacks could be launched against us. For all that things look pretty grim and you should look to your household A.R.P. and dont [sic] forget if anything happens keep calm.

It has just struck me that if Joyce is going to be near Hamble that wont [sic] be far from Warmwell and if I have her address I may be able to get over to see her one day so as soon as you know where she is going let me know. You say Milly has gone to Rochford. I hope that there is nothing wrong. Tell me all you can about

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Frank when you have a chance. What is Tom doing at Hamble? You must be very quiet at the bungalow now with Mil and Joyce gone and perhaps you will all be able to have a rest. Tell Mum I hope her cold is getting better.
Well my darling thats [sic] all I can find to tell you tonight except that I love you and you dont [sic] need to be told that do you darling. Goodnight my sweet remember our happy days together all the others to come with

Your loving husband
Harry. xxxxx