Letter from Terry Ford to his family

Letter from Terry Ford to his family

Terry Ford writes home describing his journey across Canada en-route to his training school at Neepawa. He mentions the scenery, the people and the differences in the way of life between home and Canada he encountered.

1942-10-28

Four handwritten sheets

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EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-Y-M421028-0001,
EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-Y-M421028-0002,
EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-Y-M421028-0003,
EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-Y-M421028-0004

1585520 LAC Ford. T A.
A2 Flight.
35 EFTS,
Neepawa
Manitoba.
28-10-42.

Dear Mum, Dad, Yvonne & Moira,

Well, here I am at EFTS at last & I have had only one flight so far. The weather is fairly cold, but winter has not started yet.

I had a very pleasant journey here. The train was fairly comfortable, with bunks for sleeping We spent a day at Montreal on the way. I bought a sundae for 30 cents. It was terrific, with cream, icecream [sic], & all manner of other things. I bought six pairs of stockings but I won’t send them on, as they might not all arrive, or may be damaged. I hope you get the parcel I sent. It is difficult to send very much useful stuff that won’t get stale or damaged, & it is simply amazing the way the money goes. Pete Lamb & I went to see “Tales of Manhattan” in Montreal. It is a new film & crammed with stars. All seats are

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same price with no smoking allowed in Canada.

Montreal is nearly all French, but a very nice town. At night a huge lighted cross shines from the hill overlooking it.

We left Montreal at 7p.m & passed through Ottawa at night. We were given a packet of cigarettes & chocolate by “The knights of Columbus” in Montreal.

We are travelling through woods and lakes, woods & lakes for hundreds of miles. I should think that (not including the Great lakes), 1/3 of Eastern Canada is composed of lakes. We travelled along the edge of Lake Superior for some time & it was a very impressive sight with waves breaking on the rocks, the snow & the searchlight of the train illuminating the ground ahead. The hooters on the train make a devilish row. We passed a Hudson bay trading post, in a snowstorm, & it was just like at the flicks, a few shacks, 2 men coming along to it by canoe, with Indian shacks all round. It’s amazing the way this train stopped at stations consisting of 2 houses & a chapel. Some of the people must lead very lonely lives.

On Saturday we began to get to the wheat fields of Manitoba, & eventually reached Winnipeg. The people here are wonderfully hospitable & although we only

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stopped for 10 minutes we were given cigs & chocs. By the pilots & observers of last war in Winnipeg & apples & magazines by the Airmen’s Committee of women in Winnipeg.

We should get 48hrs leave once a fortnight, & if we go to their place in Winnipeg which is 3 hours journey from Neepawa, they will give us addresses of people who will put us up for the weekend. The people consider it an honour & pleasure to do this. I left Pete Lamb at Winnipeg, as he was going to Carron, Sask.

The food on the station is terrific. I don’t want to make you jealous but our regular breakfast is:- choice of 8 cereals, with grapefruit, glass of tomato juice, 2 eggs & bacon, toast & marmalade & coffee.

We had chicken for dinner on

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Sunday.
I hope you have received my letters. I have not heard from you yet but I don’t suppose I shall for a couple of day’s.

I shall be very interested to hear how everyone is, especially Jack, John & Yvonne. Does she still like farming.

Please remember me to friends, grans, gramp, uncles & aunts.

Hope you are happy & well & that Moira is studying for her scholarship.

Much love to all.

Yours.

[underlined] Terry [/underlined]

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