Letter from Douglas Hudson to his parents

Letter from Douglas Hudson to his parents

Recounts his day and that his trip was a waste of time. They were supposed to get in air firing but they lost their target. Mentions recent weather and plague of small insects. Continues with gossip and catches up with friends news and his recent activities.

1940-08-03

Two page handwritten letter

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EHudsonJDHudsonP-HE400803

There is nothing doing for tomorrow, Sunday.

Sgts Mess.
West Raynham.
3-8-40

Dearest Mother & Dad,

I have not received any letter from you to-day, and as nothing particularly interesting has happened to-day there is not much I can write about.

We were under the impression that we had this day off entirely. Accordingly I stayed in bed and was rudely disturbed before 11 oclock to be told that I was flying at half past. These sort of things do happen. The actual trip was only an hour and a waste of time. We were supposed to get in some air firing practice but we lost our target so it was a wash out. The weather has been very good of late and there is a plague of very small insects. They are all over the place & they do itch. They are so small it is almost impossible to squash them.

[page break]

I have not paid my mess bill since I arrived here so when next I get paid, normally on Friday, I shall have a large account to tip up.

I have to send Jack’s wireless set on to his brother I didn’t know how I was going to pack it.

Yesterday I received a p.c. from Don Chadwick who was posted to Watton on Tues. He arrived here with me (he is one of the original A2) & was granted 4 days leave on compassionate grounds, because his mother was ill. After that he got 7 days leave because he was not on an operational squadron. On arrival at Watton he immediately got another 7 days & is still not on a squadron. Isn’t it a damned shame that things are done so unevenly. It is a bad show.

I have got a new pair of trousers so have a complete duplicate outfit now. I shall look smart when I get leave on Sept. 2nd.

And so cheerio for now. Hoping you are both keeping well Love Douglas.