Letter from Terry Ford to his family

Letter from Terry Ford to his family

Terry Ford writes to his family about waiting for some tremendous news – it was about Churchill meeting Roosevelt in Africa. He writes about the contents of a parcel he has sent and who the items were for. No flying recently due to the snow.

1943-01-26

Three handwritten sheets

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.

EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-Y-M430126-0001,
EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-Y-M430126-0002,
EFordTAFordAG-[Mrs]-Y-M430126-0003

1585520 LAC Ford T.A.
72 Course F2 Flight,
41 S.F.T.S.
Weyburn, Sask
26–1–43
[YMCA logo]
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Dear Mum, Dad, Yvonne & Moira,
I am writing this letter at 7–30 p.m. this evening, after eating an apple pie & a bottle of milk. We have been told there is some tremendous news at 8.0 p.m., & are waiting to hear it.
I wrote an [deleted] let [/deleted] A.G. yesterday explaining what to do [deleted] what [/deleted] with the parcel I sent you, but I will repeat it again.
4 prs stocking. Jar of vanishing cream. I Box powder. I lipstick for you mum 2 prs stocking. I neckerchief for Yvonne. 1 neckerchief [deleted] for [/deleted] & album for Fish. 12 Razor blades for Dad.
Sorry it’s not much for you, dad but I’m getting some small things to bring home.
We have still not flown since coming off our 48 hours leave at Regina. Anyway the weather is improving, & we should fly soon.
As I said I have some more stockings including a couple of pairs for
[page break]
Auntie Lot.
The momentous news has just come out. Churchill & Roosevelt met in Africa. We all thought it was something really good. What a disappointment.
Still the news is still much better.
We (John & I) had a very pleasant week–end in Regina although it was snowing all the time & very cold.
We stayed at the house of the Regina city commissioner.
I was very surprised to hear that Roy was engaged to Doreen Winston. The lads are being hoked one by one. Anyway she is a very nice girl & I admire his choice.
Well there is one thing about this station on the prairie, we do know what real cold is. Snow drifts biting wind & terrific cold all make life a little hard but unlike British cold, it is not wet & apart from parts exposed it is quite bearable for a time.
Anyway I am getting a bit cheesed off with snow all the time
I’ve been trying to get some
[page break]
[YMCA logo]
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
photographs, as my camera is pretty ropey, & so I hope to get a decent collection before my return.
we are well on the ground course now, & it is very hard work, but necessary.
Will you please thank Mrs Bladon for her wire which arrived last week. It was very nice. I also received the book from the old vicar, a few days ago.
I am definitely going to lead a more obedient life on this station, as three lots of Jankers at Neepawa, was a bit too much although really it was just bad luck.
The name of the butcher was “Orchard” he lived in Pucklechruch, & often visited fishponds. He came out to Canada 18 years ago.
Well, I thought I had a lot to write, but it seems to have melted away. Please remember me to Gran’s Aunties, Uncles, Gramps, friends & relatives
Much love
[underlined] Terry [/underlined]
[page break]