Letter to Douglas Hudson

Letter to Douglas Hudson

Philosophical letter from Roger about his pacifist views on life and offering advice. Includes and extract from Douglas Hudson's book 'Destined to fly again' explaining that he used to visit an English lady and her two conscientious objector sons near Médéa in Algeria. and that relates to this letter.

1941-05-30

Two page handwritten letter and one page printed document

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E[Author]RHudsonJD410530

Damiette
Bad Friday or Friday before the departure

Dear Douglas,

We never got an opportunity of speaking to you by yourself; Tony is very nice but at times he talks merely for the sake of talking, which is inclined to be an[sic] hindrance into the process of conversation, if you see what I mean. Now beware, O Douglas, of ye serious-minded people that always know everything off pat.
All you have to do is to keep your mind open and look with seeing eyes & hear with listening [deleted letter] ears whatever is about you. We are only ordinary kind of people with faith in life. I believe in life so much that I am prepared to accept all – even the dourest – and if you have to live in close contact with people of opposite caracteristics[sic] to yourself – study them, analyse them and ponder upon them. In studying them you will see what is false & what is real; you will come to know within yourself what is false & what is real. It is two o’clock – you may be up any moment now – so I[?] hurry – write badly & mispell[sic]. But we wanted to speak to you by yourself but the opportunity hasn’t [deleted] written[?] [/deleted] [inserted] arrived [/inserted] – it had to be so. Be yourself – that’s all that matters – live

[page break]

With all the intesity[sic] you can; flee consentions[sic] that bind & finally stifle the mind. Whats more keep a sense of humour; especially when you get letters from people younger than yourself all full of tripe & seemingly conceited. If you take things on their surface value you cannot understand them. We could never have talked here. What you wanted to know was not what the others wanted to know & you couldn’t come here alone. Don’t you see this was merely an introduction and now you’ve got to make any final decisions yourself – remember East Africa; but only take the opportunity when the time is ripe. Don’t go & do rash things.

When you get to Prumale[?] write to us but always remember your letters may be censored. Talk as much as possible with Ferguson, Riddick, (Thornton), & Bill the poacher; I think you may find Tony going in with the Barney Steve lot.

Write down your thoughts when you want to sort them out & send us poems – but remember the censor.

All that matters is to live as fully as possible – eyes & ears open to all things.

And so Aurevoir, [sic] because, if you have faith, you’ll see us again.

With love (Damn consentialities)[sic] from Roger.
P.S. You had better burn this

[page break]

[inserted] From pages 62 & 63 [/inserted]
Destined to Fly Again – [italics] A Navigator’s Story [/italics]
Occasionally, Tony Randall, John Riddick and I visited an English lady and her two sons about our ages, at Dormiette, just outside the town on isolated hilly countryside. They were obviously conscientious objectors and led a frugal existence living in tents. I do not know how they became accepted and allowed to live under such conditions, nor from whence they came, or how they arrived at Medea. We were encouraged to visit and were rewarded by regular drinks of tea, which tasted of smoke from water boiled on an outdoor smouldering wood fire. Goodness knows where they got the tea. As far as I recollect it was unobtainable locally. Were it not for the International Red Cross, it would have been a luxury we had not enjoyed since leaving England. These people repeatedly preached pacifism and urged the importance of our not returning to hostile flying that would result in killing Germans. How they would continue to survive in winter, under what would become uncomfortably chill conditions, I don’t know. We never did know. We were moved on, as you will soon discover and never met them again after leaving Medea.

[inserted] Extract from ‘Destined to Fly Again’ by Douglas Hudson, relates to this letter. Roger’s letter written probably on 30th May 1941