Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Written from No 2 training camp (Royal Air Force Contingent) Bulawayo. mentions his call up and reporting to the RAF. Says they will be sent to England or Canada for training. Writes about pay and allowances and speculates about the future including whether he would get leave before departure. Mentions activities in camp and more speculation on what will happen in the future.

1940-07-13

Seven page handwritten letter and envelope

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SBakerDA19210428v20007

[underlined] On Active Service [/underlined]
[two postmarks]
Mrs C. Baker,
“Charlton,”
Inyagura,
S. Rhodesia
[page break]
From
DA Baker. (No 778186)
No 2 Training Centre
Bulawayo
[postmark]
[page break]
[underlined] No. 778186 [/underlined]
No 2. Training Camp
Bulawayo.
(Royal Air Force Contingent)
Saturday July 13.
[underlined] 1 [/underlined]
My Dearest Mother,
As you will note by the above I am now doing my stuff. I heard last Wednesday that I was to report for the R.A.F. on Friday 12th so am now in camp. We are to be sent either to England or Canada for training so am jolly glad. There is a big crowd of us in camp. I am in the second draft and we
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[underlined] 2 [/underlined]
leave not long after the first which is said to be leaving next Wednesday. We are said to be following them about 1 week afterwards but of course this is not in least official but everyone says the same so I guess there must be something in it. I am not sure whether we will get embarkation leave as nothing has been said about it so cant say whether I will be able
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[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
to get home before leaving as I very much hope to do However I will do my best to get some leave and will wire you early next week as to the result. We are [deleted] ud [/deleted] doing next to nothing in camp, about 2 hours drill per day and the rest of the time we just loaf. As I did part time all the weekend I should imagine there is a chance of getting off. However we will see.
Just in case we are sent off before expected I just want to fix up something about my pay
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[underlined] 4 [/underlined]
When we get to England or Canada we are only being paid 2/- per day to keep us on a level with the other R.A.F. men & the other 3/- we can [deleted] only [/deleted] allocate to whom we like so I have allocated mine to Dad [missing word] can be sent on to me as a private allowance. The Gov will pay Dad you see and it can then be sent to me wherever I am. Of course if you need it you may hang on to some as 2/- per day should go a long way over there. My insurance policy I will send on to you later as I might
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[underlined] 5 [/underlined]
lose it. However I hope I can bring it myself. If I get this leave I shall bring my kit home, otherwise will send it to you. We have to take sufficient [deleted] cilv [/deleted] civilian clothing as the draft is proceeding in “civvies.” Issy & Horace are both in camp for the same batch.
Thanks so much for your letter just received also for the £1. It will be more useful than ever now as it is bitterly cold here
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[underlined] 6 [/underlined]
especially sleeping on the ground. However its for a good cause & the fellows are pretty happy.
I guess I would have been called up pretty soon anyway as with your letter was a note from the Army to report for Med. Exam. However am awfully glad it’s the R.A.F. and it should be No 1 if we are sent to Canada as I guess I would never have seen it otherwise
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[underlined] 7 [/underlined]
Please excuse the pencil paper but am writing this in camp.
Well I guess I had better close down for a while. Hoping very much to see you soon and that this will find you well & happy as it leaves me.
Much love to all at home
Your loving son
Donald