Letter from Bill Akrill to his aunt

Letter from Bill Akrill to his aunt

Catches up with news and apologises for not visiting while on leave.

Bill says he enjoyed his last leave, although he mentions that the nearby aerodrome is expanding and aircraft going overhead. He did, however, managed to get a trip in an aircraft over his local area. He continues with more home news, especially commenting on the way his family clearly worked hard to give him the best possible things to eat when he was on leave. Writes that camp food has improved in the last week, but his mother's food parcels are very welcome.

Discusses a new church minister at home, who Bill is yet to meet. Remarks that previous minister was very influential in Bill's christian conversion and church membership. Catches up with course progress and describes some trips briefly. Notes that the church at the station is having a community singing evening and it will be broadcast on the radio.

1942-08-08

Five page handwritten letter

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No 1436220 L.A.C. Akrill,
Hut 20. A.T.W.,
R.A.F. Station,
W. Freugh
Stranraer.
Scotland.
Sat. 8.8.42.
Dear Auntie,
I’m afraid you’ll be thinking that I’ve more or less disappeared from the civilized world! I [underlined] am [/underlined] pretty far out and I don’t seem to get many letters written other than to home and David, who is now in the Navy. But be sure I’m often thinking about you and mother keeps me in touch with news of you all.
You must forgive me for not having been over during my not very frequent leaves but I feel that I simply [underlined] can’t [/underlined] leave dear old Potter Hill for a minute longer than neccessary. [sic] However, one of these days you’ll be having me turn up. Now [underlined] you [/underlined] should
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have gone over to Potter Hill for a fortnight or so & then I might have seen you.
I did enjoy my last leave, though it was over very quickly and such a lot of it was taken up with rushing to see people who lived near enough to expect a visit – or more! They were all very very [sic] good but next time I think I’ll put a notice in the paper when I shall be giving interviews [underlined] at home [/underlined]!
Everything was going on much as usual at home and yet it’s so obvious even there that there is still a war on. The aerodrome has crept nearer and monster bombers are for ever roaring over head. How I hate to think of them being there and its my dearest wish that the entire bag of tricks disappears to give way to farms and fields and woods again after this war. However I wasn’t alone having a flip in one of them whilst on leave. It
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[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
wasn't much of a change from work but it was interesting to have a look down at familiar places. Harry’s getting better very slowly. Its been a rotten time for the old lad. Ros has been having her teeth out and I think he’ll be better when he can get his out. The youngest member of the family, however is doing fine. Never has there been such a sturdy brown boy. He’s as good as gold but full of life.
The garden was looking splendid. Mary has certainly put some work into it. I’d some very good feeds of [deleted] straw [/deleted] raspberries and cream and other things from it. I did enjoy eating at home. I miss the good food I’ve always been used to more than anything. But they [underlined] were [/underlined] good at home – obviously been [deleted] scaping [/deleted] scheming and saving for weeks to get something simply delicious for every meal. It made me feel like weeping sometimes when I looked at the good things they’d got ready for me. Camp food has
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[underlined] 4 [/underlined]
improved during the last week but at one time I was living on enough to keep a mouse alive. Mum sends me a parcel once a fortnight or oftener and mighty welcome it is!
Mary said that you know or have known our new minister. I’m looking forward to meeting him though I’m afraid my general attitude will be that he can never take the place of his predecessor. Mr. Goodridge has been the finest, most understanding friend. It’s to him I owe the fact that I am a Christian and a member of our church. It’s an enormous disappointment to all of us that he’s going. He is to be super in the Gainsboro’ Circuit so he’ll not be so very far away. So I shall be very interested to meet our new minister.
Life goes on here without much change Classroom work alternating with practical application in the air. I’ve now
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well over a hundred flying hours in. We have some interesting trips all over the Northerly parts of England, Wales & Ireland as well as Scotland. We are now taking the Bombing course and I’m finding it very interesting. We have still a good time to go before training is finished I hope to be having another week’s leave following the 18th September
On August 24th our Sunday evening service is taking the form of a community singing and is being broadcast at 7.30. p.m.
We are holding a “rehearsal” next Sunday So listen in if you can! I expect it will be on the Force’s programme.
Please give my best regards to all next door. I hope to see you [underlined] one [/underlined] of these days
[underlined] Billy [/underlined]