Letter to Mere from Arthur Biscoe
Title
Letter to Mere from Arthur Biscoe
Description
The letter describes his journey across Canada by train. He wishes his sister Mere (Clarice) happy birthday and apologises for not sending her a card.
Creator
Date
1942-01-29
Temporal Coverage
Spatial Coverage
Coverage
Language
Format
Two handwritten sheets
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
EBiscoeAEBiscoeCM420129-0001, EBiscoeAEBiscoeCM420129-0002
Transcription
1389198 L.A.C. BISCOE AE.
No 33 E.F.T.S.
CARON
SASKATCHEWAN
CANADA.
Thursday Jan 29th 42.
Dear Merle,
Well I’m afraid I’m a couple of days late in writing my news bullittin. [sic] I intended posting this by Air Mail on Tuesday, but since my last letter many strange and unexpected things have happened for example I’m now about 2,500 miles further from England than I was when I wrote last (some distance eh) perhaps it would be best to start at the beginning of the tale I posted your last letter (I should say Mums letter) on Tuesday, also the wire. We went into Moncton that night to the pictures, and had a slap up feed (We were paid $10 that morning) we bought oranges, pears and apples, and went back to camp that evening with a pain under the buckle of my belt. Wednesday we stooged around all day, and employed the evening in the same way as last night, (only this time I avoided the pain under the belt). Thursday we were told we were going to Caron, we spent the day in packing, inspections etc etc. All our kit was to be packed, and outside of the billet by 9 o’clock Friday morning we were stooged around for the rest of the day , we had to parade at 9 PM, and marched to the station we got on the train by about 10 o’clock and then started a 4 day train ride to the wild & wooly [sic] west, the train journey was quite enjoyable, excellent food, beautiful scenery, (firs, snow, lakes & rivers, and little wooden houses, I got a few snaps. If they turn out OK, I’ll post some home) the only thing that marred the trip was sleeping which was a little uncomfortable, despite the fact that we had bunks. We had to change trains at Montreal[deleted] whe [/deleted] from Canadian National Rly to the Canadian Pacific which entailed a short walk through the town, (or should I say city) all the lights were on, neon signs flashing, tall buildings with all the windows twinkling, something like London was in peace time, it realy [sic] was a grand sight. We stopped for short times at one or two places (Reveire [sic] de la [deleted] R [/deleted] Loup, Sudberry, Chap-leau and one or two other places) and we got out to stretch our legs. When we got to Winnipeg we had a hour & a half wait, we marched on to the platform, (just like a large hall, and there was a reception commitee [sic] waiting for us they gave us sweets, cigarettes, oranges and magazines, there was a chap with a squeeze box, some started dancing, but that fell through and finished up as a grand sing song, we were certainly very sorry when we had to get back on the train, all the folk came on to the platform and waved us goodbye, and cheered us (What for???)
[page break]
theres [sic] no [deleted] te [/deleted] doubt about it the Canadians knock us Britishers into a cocked hat where hospitality is concerned, we arrived at Caron the next morning ( Tuesday 27th) we spent the rest of the day settling in, on Wednesday we went to Moose Jaw (30 miles away, our nearest town, Caron has about 300 people some big place) well as I was saying we went in to Moose Jaw to the hospital, for an X-Ray (test for tuberculous [I’ve spelt it right, copied it from the dictionary]) and a blood test, then we came back and had three inoculations, 2 in one arm, one in the other, this is for diphtheria (also spelt right) and scarlet fever [deleted] ) [/deleted] the results of mine are “positive” which means I’ve got to have one [deleted] inoclu [/deleted] inoculation per week for 5 weeks – they certainly mean to keep us fit. Well that’s about all the news for now. We start flying tomorrow (if alls [sic] well) – actually although is quite cold here there is very [deleted] lliltle [/deleted] litle [sic] snow, is should be 5 or 6 feet deep at this time of the year, but its not.
I did intend sending this letter by Air Mail all the way, as last time, but unfortunately I’m broke so I’m sending this to the Coast (Canadian) by Air Mail, and the rest of the way by boat that should take about 18 to 20 days (with a bit of luck,) perhaps you’d let me know how long it does take .
Now for something important. I work out that you should get this letter near around your birthday, so I’m taking this opertunity [sic] of wishing you a very enjoyable birthday and plenty more to follow so old girl heres [sic] wishing you everything you wish yourself. I’m afraid I can’t get a birthday card or a present just yet, firstly we only get a half day a week off, our half day is Sunday this week, so I shan’t be able to get into Moose Jaw until Saturday week, this place is right in the middle of the prairie, which makes it rather difficult to shop, to say the least of it, but I haven’t forgotten, and I’ll post you something on the first opportunity – promise – so for now I’m afraid you’ll have to take the will for the deed, and accept my very best wishes, as a forerunner to the rest.
Well having gotten that off my chest (gotten is Canadian for got) now to give you a laugh – I’ve been doing some washing this evening, we have to pay for our laundry over [deleted] hear [/deleted] here, so naturally we’ve all turned washer women, you should have seen me up to my eyebrows in soap suds, I didn’t takle [sic] the shirts or collars or towel, they’ll have to be done by the laundry.
Well this really is all for now, so bye bye untill [sic] next time. Wishing you Many Very Happy Returns,
I still am
Your bestest brother
Arthur
XXXXXX
PS. I’m enclosing a letter for Harold, perhaps you would forward it for me as I’ve already said “I’m broke” Good job theres [sic] nothing to spend it on
No 33 E.F.T.S.
CARON
SASKATCHEWAN
CANADA.
Thursday Jan 29th 42.
Dear Merle,
Well I’m afraid I’m a couple of days late in writing my news bullittin. [sic] I intended posting this by Air Mail on Tuesday, but since my last letter many strange and unexpected things have happened for example I’m now about 2,500 miles further from England than I was when I wrote last (some distance eh) perhaps it would be best to start at the beginning of the tale I posted your last letter (I should say Mums letter) on Tuesday, also the wire. We went into Moncton that night to the pictures, and had a slap up feed (We were paid $10 that morning) we bought oranges, pears and apples, and went back to camp that evening with a pain under the buckle of my belt. Wednesday we stooged around all day, and employed the evening in the same way as last night, (only this time I avoided the pain under the belt). Thursday we were told we were going to Caron, we spent the day in packing, inspections etc etc. All our kit was to be packed, and outside of the billet by 9 o’clock Friday morning we were stooged around for the rest of the day , we had to parade at 9 PM, and marched to the station we got on the train by about 10 o’clock and then started a 4 day train ride to the wild & wooly [sic] west, the train journey was quite enjoyable, excellent food, beautiful scenery, (firs, snow, lakes & rivers, and little wooden houses, I got a few snaps. If they turn out OK, I’ll post some home) the only thing that marred the trip was sleeping which was a little uncomfortable, despite the fact that we had bunks. We had to change trains at Montreal[deleted] whe [/deleted] from Canadian National Rly to the Canadian Pacific which entailed a short walk through the town, (or should I say city) all the lights were on, neon signs flashing, tall buildings with all the windows twinkling, something like London was in peace time, it realy [sic] was a grand sight. We stopped for short times at one or two places (Reveire [sic] de la [deleted] R [/deleted] Loup, Sudberry, Chap-leau and one or two other places) and we got out to stretch our legs. When we got to Winnipeg we had a hour & a half wait, we marched on to the platform, (just like a large hall, and there was a reception commitee [sic] waiting for us they gave us sweets, cigarettes, oranges and magazines, there was a chap with a squeeze box, some started dancing, but that fell through and finished up as a grand sing song, we were certainly very sorry when we had to get back on the train, all the folk came on to the platform and waved us goodbye, and cheered us (What for???)
[page break]
theres [sic] no [deleted] te [/deleted] doubt about it the Canadians knock us Britishers into a cocked hat where hospitality is concerned, we arrived at Caron the next morning ( Tuesday 27th) we spent the rest of the day settling in, on Wednesday we went to Moose Jaw (30 miles away, our nearest town, Caron has about 300 people some big place) well as I was saying we went in to Moose Jaw to the hospital, for an X-Ray (test for tuberculous [I’ve spelt it right, copied it from the dictionary]) and a blood test, then we came back and had three inoculations, 2 in one arm, one in the other, this is for diphtheria (also spelt right) and scarlet fever [deleted] ) [/deleted] the results of mine are “positive” which means I’ve got to have one [deleted] inoclu [/deleted] inoculation per week for 5 weeks – they certainly mean to keep us fit. Well that’s about all the news for now. We start flying tomorrow (if alls [sic] well) – actually although is quite cold here there is very [deleted] lliltle [/deleted] litle [sic] snow, is should be 5 or 6 feet deep at this time of the year, but its not.
I did intend sending this letter by Air Mail all the way, as last time, but unfortunately I’m broke so I’m sending this to the Coast (Canadian) by Air Mail, and the rest of the way by boat that should take about 18 to 20 days (with a bit of luck,) perhaps you’d let me know how long it does take .
Now for something important. I work out that you should get this letter near around your birthday, so I’m taking this opertunity [sic] of wishing you a very enjoyable birthday and plenty more to follow so old girl heres [sic] wishing you everything you wish yourself. I’m afraid I can’t get a birthday card or a present just yet, firstly we only get a half day a week off, our half day is Sunday this week, so I shan’t be able to get into Moose Jaw until Saturday week, this place is right in the middle of the prairie, which makes it rather difficult to shop, to say the least of it, but I haven’t forgotten, and I’ll post you something on the first opportunity – promise – so for now I’m afraid you’ll have to take the will for the deed, and accept my very best wishes, as a forerunner to the rest.
Well having gotten that off my chest (gotten is Canadian for got) now to give you a laugh – I’ve been doing some washing this evening, we have to pay for our laundry over [deleted] hear [/deleted] here, so naturally we’ve all turned washer women, you should have seen me up to my eyebrows in soap suds, I didn’t takle [sic] the shirts or collars or towel, they’ll have to be done by the laundry.
Well this really is all for now, so bye bye untill [sic] next time. Wishing you Many Very Happy Returns,
I still am
Your bestest brother
Arthur
XXXXXX
PS. I’m enclosing a letter for Harold, perhaps you would forward it for me as I’ve already said “I’m broke” Good job theres [sic] nothing to spend it on
Collection
Citation
Arthur Biscoe, “Letter to Mere from Arthur Biscoe,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed February 14, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/23400.
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