Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother

Letter from Bill Akrill to his mother

Starts with domestic issues. Will be sorry to leave Upper Heyford as made many friends. Mentions slippery roads locally and writes of activities. Will be there for another 3 weeks. Concludes with reminiscences of home.

1943-01-15

Four page handwritten letter

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]430115

No 1436220 Sgt. Akrill,
Sgts’ Mess,
R.A.F. Station,
Upper Heyford,
OXON
Fri. 15.1.43.
Dear Mum,
Got your letter today & as there’s nothing on for me tonight I thought I’d get my dirty washing packed up tho’ I may not get it off tomorrow. I’m sending my stockings but if you can’t do anything with them (see enclosed sketch) just send them back & I’ll try to get them changed. As Mable Day remarked the heels – and toes seem to have dropped out! I got your last letter with further mention of “summer vests” just after kit inspection when I’d fished them from the bottom of my kit bag, saw they were quite clean & decided to put them back so I don’t feel like fishing for them again.
Oh yes we easily may turn up. One of our lot spent a couple of days there. Thought it was a pretty awful
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place these days – but that wouldn’t worry me. You may have heard the yarn – I believe they spent an [deleted] night [/deleted] [inserted] evening [/inserted] at the Halfway House.
Yes I shall be sorry to leave Heyford – as far as having friends is concerned. If I go far away it will be like leaving home a second time. Let’s hope I can go one better!!
Goodness Stanley must be getting energetic! I just [underlined] can’t [/underlined] imagine him riding from Newark on a bike. I bet there was some fuss over it!
Yes the roads were shocking here on Saturday night. I thought about P.H. road when I was skidding across the Parade Ground. I’ve had some fun on that for the last 2 Winters before joining up! Glad the girls are Folk dancing again. I hope they enjoy it.
Sorry to hear about Mrs Baines. It’s very hard on poor Miss Bush. She’s a brick. I feel so sorry for her.
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Didn’t get to Heyford last night – we were busy – but went at Sgt Hughes’s invitation on Tuesday and to chapel on Sunday last. Almost forgotten about next Sunday with the Prestons!! I didn’t half get teased on Sunday!!
Possibly not be here so very much longer. I think 3 weeks should see us through O.K. We’re getting along quite well. It’s hard work – they expect a very high standard – but if we can get it done I don’t mind. I’m glad to say I’m as fit as anything in spite of missing food and sleep, though I often feel pretty tired. But oh how grand that leave will be when it gets here! A [underlined] real [/underlined] leave with time to stop & think, time to eat & sleep. I can just picture myself [deleted] with [/deleted] in the old chair
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by the fire (a lovely blazing fire that sends everybody to sleep) with my feet on the ‘Humpty’ watching you kitting [sic] in your sleep & daddy reading the ‘Farmers’ Weekly’ with his feet on the mantlepiece, Mary toasting her chilblains & dozing over a book & Nipper writing page after page to Miss Moakes or Jimmy.
Well, I must go outside & have a look at the stars & get cracking on them, pack my washing up & then make up for lost sleep.
Be seeing you soon
Love to [underlined] all [/underlined]
[underlined] Bill [/underlined]