Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother

Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother

Bill gives details of his expected travel arrangements for his seven-day leave at the end of the week. As he will be part-way through his final exams and has the medical on Saturday, he will leave soon after.

Mentions air raid warning but no activity apart from circling enemy aircraft, also writes of Spitfire sweeps and formations of Bostons. Writes of social activities and meeting old acquaintances. Mentions chapel and meeting ministers. Refers to next Sunday's christening.

1942-04-19

Two page handwritten letter

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420419

1436220 LAC Akrill.
2. Flight D. Squadron.
1 EAOS, RAF,
Eastbourne.
Sunday 19.4.42
Dear Mum,
Just a few minutes before I go on Ch. Parade so thought I’d let you know I’m still alive & all is still O.K. for 7 days next Saturday. Had some of our finals & get the rest next week ending with the medical on Friday afternoon. Can’t get away Friday night though as some of them have medical on Sat morning. Should get away about mid-day Sat & be able to catch the 4.0 o’clock from Kings X. & get into Newark at 7. However don’t meet it unless you happen to be in Newark as its not certain though I think I can catch it. Should be able to get a lift at that time. We get until the following Sunday.
The “all clear” has just gone again. We get warnings every few hours these days but nothing happens though when I was on duty the other night there was a Jerry circling round very low. I guess that when the sirens go just across on the other side of the water it’s a different story. We’ve seen the sweeps going over every afternoon this week. Sometimes they’re above the haze but the noise is terriffic. [sic] The sky seems covered with hundreds of spitfires & a few tight formations of Boston bombers.
[page break]
Just back from [deleted] the [/deleted] Church Parade so I’ll get this finished & then go out for a walk & post it. It’s a gorgeous morning. Sirens went again half way through the sermon.
Been meeting some old aquaintances [sic] lately. Last night I bumped into George Cook & Ron Thornhill who were with me at Aber. & Theale. Wish they were now. This morning in Chapel at the end of the service the fellow I’d been sitting next to all the time suddenly said “Excuse me.” I looked at him in surprise & then he said “You are Eric Akrill from Collingham aint you?” I recognised him then. It was Ray Ward from Girton who was on the pilot’s course with Lena Johnson’s brother over in Canada. He’s not been here long & I think he may be with Cookey & Thornhill. I had to rush off on parade so I didn’t see much of him. He’s going home next Friday for 48.
There go the sirens again.
On my night off last week I walked up to see one of the ministers who had invited me to go. His wife turned out to be Dr Hine’s cousin. Another minister’s wife here was Miss Eleanor Quibell a daughter of Oliver Quibell. Can’t remember the name but I think it begins with a P.
Glad to hear christening will be O.K. for next Sunday Pleased to get letter. Nobody seems to write these days. Suppose they’re all busy.
See you Sat
[underlined] Bill [/underlined]