Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother

Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother

Writes of journey from home to Eastbourne. Mentions mid course exams coming up that week and end of course exams in 3 or 4 weeks time. Says it was good to be home, but such a rush around he wished for a longer stay.

1942-03-30

Two page handwritten letter

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420330

No 1436220 L.A.C. Akrill,
2 Flight. D. Squadron.
No 1 E.A.O.S.
R.A.F.,
Eastbourne.
Sussex.
Mon. 30.3.42
Dear Mum,
This is just to stop you wondering whether I got back safely or not.
The train didn’t leave until 4. & Sid’s mother found there was more room at the far end & so we moved down & got a seat. Got into Kings X about on time & had a good talk with Sid on the way & got to know about everybody. Had some time to spare in London so I had a stroll round. & got something to eat at the old [deleted] p [/deleted] canteen I used to go to [deleted] at [/deleted] [inserted] in [/inserted] St Martins Crypt. Gosh it [underlined] was [/underlined] hot & stuffy in the train. We couldnt [sic] have any doors or windows open from Victoria to Eastb. so I stood out in the corridor most of the way talking to one of the old Railway Chaps. Got back to billets about 10.30. & was very surprised to find my bed already down & pyjamas laid out. Denny had got in earlier & gone to bed. I was even more surprised when I found that there was no joke or apple-pie business about it.
We’re getting our mid-course exams this week, starting this afternoon with a plot. Wed. morning we get General Theory and Meteorology & on Sat. afternoon armaments (the Browning
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gun). We get our final exams in the 3rd or 4th week from now so we should be able to be getting 7 days in a month – about the 24th April. Of course thats [sic] only my calculations but its something to hope for.
It was grand to be home but oh dear it was such a rush all round & just made me long for a longer stay. Lets hope you’ll all be better by the time I came again.
Must get on parade & get down to exams.
Love
[underlined] Bill [/underlined]