Letter from George Ellams to Rowena
Title
Letter from George Ellams to Rowena
Description
Written before they were married when George Ellams was at Buckeburg.
Creator
Date
1946-12
Temporal Coverage
Spatial Coverage
Coverage
Language
Format
Five page handwritten letter
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
SEllamsG49286v20023-0004-0001, SEllamsG49286v20023-0004-0002, SEllamsG49286v20023-0004-0003, SEllamsG49286v20023-0004-0004, SEllamsG49286v20023-0004-0005
Transcription
F/LT. G. ELLAMS.
OFFICER'S MESS. RAF. STN. MANSTON KENT.
[52 Squadron Crest]
[deleted] 52 SQUADRON R.A.F.
SOUTH EAST ASIA AIR FORCES [/deleted]
[underlined] TEL [/underlined] RAMSGATE. 196. [underlined] EXT. 22 [/underlined]
THURSDAY. [double underlined] 9 P.M. [/double underlined]
Dear Rowena.
I couldn't wait till later in the week to write to you, I hope you don't mind.
It did enter my head to call round tonight, but I thought you would think I had an awful cheek, I sincerely hope you don't mind too much, about me approaching you today, but I couldn't help myself when I knew you lived in Ramsgate, when I saw you before, I did a bit of deep thinking but imagined you lived in London, far out of my way.
Gee! dear, you have no idea how happy I am, it's been my lucky day today. Last night I was on my way to Air Ministry for my final medical board before being accepted for the Peace time RAF. I was talked into going to a party, thrown
[page break]
[52 Squadron Crest]
52 SQUADRON R.A.F.
SOUTH EAST ASIA AIR FORCES
[underlined] 2. [/underlined]
by one of my pals, and told to go on the 5.A.M. train this morning, rather than be a poor sport, I agreed, Gosh! that was the worst mistake I could have made. This morning I was called at 4.30 AM. still a bit tipsy, and what a hangover, the worst I have ever experienced, rolled onto the train without any B'fast, I felt terrible, was convinced they would fail me at the Medical Board, and then be kicked out.
Well strange as it may seem I passed A1B, that's the highest standard in the world, I am greatly pleased at the result, would have been really overjoyed if I had not had such a Hangover all day. I am going to bed after completing this letter, as I am flying on test flight tomorrow, getting the aircraft ready
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
for Monday morning, we are taking off for Germany at 0830 AM. Monday morning. I am duty officer at Manston all day Sunday, so won't be able to leave camp but if I could only see you Saturday, even for an hour or so Gee would make me feel wizard, anyway would you please give me a ring sometime on Saturday about 7.P.M. the telephone number is on the letter, ask the RAF exchange for ext. 22. or just ask for the officers mess. ring [deleted] in [/deleted] me in case. I shall be back from Germany on the following Friday that's a week tomorrow, hope you will be home that night, when you ring up tell me what size stockings you take, I might be able to get some in Germany with a bit of luck. By the way, I like your first name, I think it originated from Wales, did you say they also called you Gwen? I am called Alec at home, not George, they don't like that name very much, so take your pick
[page break]
[underlined] 4. [/underlined]
How long have you been on your present job? and do you care for the work? what are the hours like?
For myself I am very fond of the life in the RAF. it pays good money and life is pretty easy now the war is over, have a nice room to myself here, and have just bought a new portable radio, makes it quite homely, plenty of furniture etc. I like to get out at nights though, because one gets fed up with the same old faces round the Bar etc.
Am hoping to get a second hand car this week-end, it makes all the difference I sold my last one in June before going overseas, and feel lost without one. What do you do with your evenings as a rule? by the way I am not much good at Dancing still in the learner stage, all I need is a good partner, then I will be on the straight then, can you skate? Swim etc. I am dying to meet you we can compare notes etc.
[page break]
[52 Squadron Crest]
52 SQUADRON R.A.F
SOUTH EAST ASIA AIR FORCES
[underlined] 5. [/underlined]
For myself I am 25 1/2 years. and single with no ties, how about you, I should think you have a steady boy friend tucked away somewhere haven't you? Still maybe I shouldn't ask questions like that, please forgive me if I said the wrong thing.
Well my dear I will close now, don't forget to give me a ring Saturday night if you can make it, just in case you don't ring, when you answer this letter send it to Manston, will be waiting when I return from Germany.
Chin Chin.
Love.
George (Alec)
OFFICER'S MESS. RAF. STN. MANSTON KENT.
[52 Squadron Crest]
[deleted] 52 SQUADRON R.A.F.
SOUTH EAST ASIA AIR FORCES [/deleted]
[underlined] TEL [/underlined] RAMSGATE. 196. [underlined] EXT. 22 [/underlined]
THURSDAY. [double underlined] 9 P.M. [/double underlined]
Dear Rowena.
I couldn't wait till later in the week to write to you, I hope you don't mind.
It did enter my head to call round tonight, but I thought you would think I had an awful cheek, I sincerely hope you don't mind too much, about me approaching you today, but I couldn't help myself when I knew you lived in Ramsgate, when I saw you before, I did a bit of deep thinking but imagined you lived in London, far out of my way.
Gee! dear, you have no idea how happy I am, it's been my lucky day today. Last night I was on my way to Air Ministry for my final medical board before being accepted for the Peace time RAF. I was talked into going to a party, thrown
[page break]
[52 Squadron Crest]
52 SQUADRON R.A.F.
SOUTH EAST ASIA AIR FORCES
[underlined] 2. [/underlined]
by one of my pals, and told to go on the 5.A.M. train this morning, rather than be a poor sport, I agreed, Gosh! that was the worst mistake I could have made. This morning I was called at 4.30 AM. still a bit tipsy, and what a hangover, the worst I have ever experienced, rolled onto the train without any B'fast, I felt terrible, was convinced they would fail me at the Medical Board, and then be kicked out.
Well strange as it may seem I passed A1B, that's the highest standard in the world, I am greatly pleased at the result, would have been really overjoyed if I had not had such a Hangover all day. I am going to bed after completing this letter, as I am flying on test flight tomorrow, getting the aircraft ready
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
for Monday morning, we are taking off for Germany at 0830 AM. Monday morning. I am duty officer at Manston all day Sunday, so won't be able to leave camp but if I could only see you Saturday, even for an hour or so Gee would make me feel wizard, anyway would you please give me a ring sometime on Saturday about 7.P.M. the telephone number is on the letter, ask the RAF exchange for ext. 22. or just ask for the officers mess. ring [deleted] in [/deleted] me in case. I shall be back from Germany on the following Friday that's a week tomorrow, hope you will be home that night, when you ring up tell me what size stockings you take, I might be able to get some in Germany with a bit of luck. By the way, I like your first name, I think it originated from Wales, did you say they also called you Gwen? I am called Alec at home, not George, they don't like that name very much, so take your pick
[page break]
[underlined] 4. [/underlined]
How long have you been on your present job? and do you care for the work? what are the hours like?
For myself I am very fond of the life in the RAF. it pays good money and life is pretty easy now the war is over, have a nice room to myself here, and have just bought a new portable radio, makes it quite homely, plenty of furniture etc. I like to get out at nights though, because one gets fed up with the same old faces round the Bar etc.
Am hoping to get a second hand car this week-end, it makes all the difference I sold my last one in June before going overseas, and feel lost without one. What do you do with your evenings as a rule? by the way I am not much good at Dancing still in the learner stage, all I need is a good partner, then I will be on the straight then, can you skate? Swim etc. I am dying to meet you we can compare notes etc.
[page break]
[52 Squadron Crest]
52 SQUADRON R.A.F
SOUTH EAST ASIA AIR FORCES
[underlined] 5. [/underlined]
For myself I am 25 1/2 years. and single with no ties, how about you, I should think you have a steady boy friend tucked away somewhere haven't you? Still maybe I shouldn't ask questions like that, please forgive me if I said the wrong thing.
Well my dear I will close now, don't forget to give me a ring Saturday night if you can make it, just in case you don't ring, when you answer this letter send it to Manston, will be waiting when I return from Germany.
Chin Chin.
Love.
George (Alec)
Collection
Citation
George Ellams, “Letter from George Ellams to Rowena,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed November 14, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/23549.
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