Letter from Charles Turner to his mother and family

Letter from Charles Turner to his mother and family

In the letter he complains that his mother hasn't written to him, he misses mild beer, tripe and black pudding. He describes going out for drinks with a WAAF and meeting South African air force pilots and more girls, then they all went for dinner and a dance. They took the WAAFs back late and they got a week's 'C.B.'.

1943-04-28

Five handwritten sheets

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ETurnerCFTurnerF430428-0001

[RAF logo]
Lac.C.F. Turner. 1042292
4. Squadron.
AIR FORCE STATION,
PORT ELIZABETH.
28.4.43.
Dear Mam & all,
Well whats happened to you writing? I have not heard from you for quite a while I hope everything is O.K. well Mam how are you keeping? Still well and happy, I am in very good health has this seaside climate is braceing [sic], I only wish you were all here, bags of food and drink, but there’s only one or two things I miss and that is: – a good pint of mild, tripe and black pudding if they only knew how to make them out here it would be like home.
Well Mam I don’t think I shall be out here much longer, it will be a year on May 9th since I left the shores of England and I am counting the days when I shall see the shores again, but still I can’t grumble there’s chaps worse of than myself.
How’s Ted? still slogging away at Royce’s and paying income tax, by the way I have to pay it now 4/– aweek [sic], so you see the extra 1/– aday [sic] I get for serving overseas is not much of gain now.
[page break]
[RAF logo]
AIR FORCE STATION,
PORT ELIZABETH.
I am getting on quite well at my new station I go about with a serg [sic]. In our section ohboy do we have some times, last week I was out with my little Waafy and her two pals, and of course being a gentleman (best English) I suggested cocktails the time being 2–30 and of course to my worse luck they said yes (by the way the cheapest drink for a [underlined] lady [/underlined] out here is about 1/6) well I took them to the “Metro” a flash hotel [underlined] effort [/underlined] (RAF SLANG) any way we had a couple a drinks or so when one of the waafs started gigging and on looking round saw three lieutenants of the S.A.A.F, pilots, making eyes at her so cause they came over and asked if they may join our table, I said yes, well we soon got talking one of them was a Scot, so I called him Jock, the other one Squeak not a bad bloke and the other [deleted] Blonlie [/deleted] Blondie & chap with blonde hair and about 6ft in tall, well they started buying drinks all round (the time 5/30) we were all happy and merry by this time blondie had spotted three [deleted] nay [/deleted] more young ladies and he was trying too get them to
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[RAF logo]
AIR FORCE STATION,
PORT ELIZABETH.
join the party, which they did this making 6 girls 4 chaps, so Jock asked me where my pals where and just at that moment “Sweaty” the serg [sic] walks in with his mate Paddy [deleted] sa [/deleted] so of course I asked them to join us which they did this making both side equal (more drinks) time 6/0) Jock suggested we eat so he rings his hotel to reserve a table for 12, for dinner at seven (more drinks time 6/30) Jocks hotel lay just across the road so we did not have far too walk by this time the girls where giggleing [sic] soft, any way we had a wash in Jocks room and got ready for dinner it was a wizard dinner, any way that was over and we all felt contented, Blondie suggested a dance I seconded it [deleted] soon [/deleted] so we went to a dance 15 miles out of P.E. it cost Squeak £3 for two taxies but still he did not mind any way it was one of them dances where all the nobs go as a matter fact it was in my imagination a night club, still every one was matey there was every rank above serg [sic] there I being the only LAC but being able to jitterbug quiet well I got on allright with the ladies, and did I get some nasty
[page break]
[RAF logo]
AIR FORCE STATION,
PORT ELIZABETH.
looks off the officers when I asked their young ladies for a dance but still has Jock said take no notice I was has good has they, any way we had bags more drink (time 11.30) any way we decided to call it aday [sic] at that but the girls would make us stay for the last dance (time 12.00) the Waafs had to be in by (12.00) by they said the camp could go to hell I having an weekend pass did not mind, [deleted] and [/deleted] any way we got taxys [sic] back to town (Blondie’s turn) they would not let me pay for any thing so I did not mind, any way we arrived in town and saying good night to them all Jock suggested I take the waafs back to camp which lays about three miles out of town so I did, and Oh boy did I get a talking off from the Waaf serg [sic] in the Guardroom, she was the same build as Aunt Kate, any way the Waafs got 7 days C.B. and when I saw Jock on the Sunday did he laugh because he knew what would happen, any way Jock and his pals left for another A.S. on Sunday night so saw them off and after
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[RAF logo]
AIR FORCE STATION,
PORT ELIZABETH.
shaking my hand wished me the best of luck.
Well Mam I better start closing has this letter will sink he ship, give my love to all, Grandma, Barry, Doris, Audrey, Aunt Kate and all in Crosby Street.
Cheerio for now
Your loving son
Charles
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