Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother

Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother

Bill catches up with domestics, family and friends news. Describes station parade of 2000 men. Now devoting one afternoon a week to station defence. Mentions Winston Churchill and A Sinclair passing through Stanraer. Mentions American in local area and seeing them on invasion exercises when they go near Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland.

Weather is cold and showery and looking forward to leave. About to go into an ENSA concert (adds a note that it was a good musical show). PS bemoaning the fact that he has to put 'props' on his uniform and lots of buttons need sewing on.

1942-07-06

Four page handwritten letter

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420706

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The Freugh.
Monday 6. July 42.
Dearest Mum,
Ever so many thanks for nice long interesting letter.
Didn’t send dirty clothes this week as I’d not got the bag. Still they’ll keep.
You seem to be starting the “visiting season”! Fancy Lucy M. turning up. Gee I envy Gordon! Have to admit that nobody has to ask me twice to have a meal when I call on them. Afraid I just go scrounging round like a wolf. Haven’t got to know anybody here though. Hope you survived Avril on Saturday! Wonder if I shall see Mr. Henry when I come home for 7 days. Hope Sis & Nip had a good time at Warsop. Yes I’m longing to see Mary’s garden – & taste lettuces, cucumbers &c. Hope the rasps ain’t [sic] done. Oh! rasps & cream!!!!
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Had a grand station parade on Thursday. Wish you could have seen us – about 2,000 of us Aircrews in battledress, Ground mechs. &c in overalls, the Waafs & the officers – everyone marching past the hangars to the [deleted] time [/deleted] [inserted] playing [/inserted] of our pipe band – bagpipes, drums & all, with tartan flying in the breeze. We’re now devoting one afternoon a week to Station Defence. The whole station has to take part in the training so after the march past we all got shovels, picks, rifles, stenguns, machine guns &c & marched off to our posts with them. – to have a nice snooze in the sun for most of the afternoon!!
Winnie did come to Stranraer on his return. Think Sir A. Sinclair came to meet him. He also left from here for U.S.A. I saw his flying boat moored in the Loch. We’ve got Americans all over the place here. [deleted] So [/deleted] Can see them on invasion exercises
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when we go near Lough Neagh in Ireland. Must find out what station Joyce Blow’s at as we sometimes have to land in Ireland. I know its Bally something but so is every other place in Ireland.
Been cold & showery here lately – another depression on the way – Hope its perfect weather for leave – not like my last. And leave is a week on Friday – getting home for dinner on Sat – and will I be hungry. Rabbit pie (or boiled bacon) rhubarb pie & custard & you can have a good excuse for a cup of tea!
Must run to get into the queue for the ENSA concert.
Love to all of you xx
[underlined] Bill [/underlined]
P.S. A very good Musical Show. Some lovely music & good singing.