Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Letter from Donald Baker to his mother

Written via the Rhodesian High Commission in London. Reports he is well but has not heard from her since leaving but had received letters from other relatives in United Kingdom who thought him a hero for travelling so far to join the air force. Glad to be leaving current location to go to training school as they are currently doing nothing but drill. Mentions hearing German aircraft every night, that the sirens get him down and that a few bombs were dropped not far away. Describes his activities including visit to Wolverhampton. Tells story of his Afrikaans being mistaken for Polish. Mentions that everyone thinks colonials are the cat's pyjamas. Concludes with mention of the weather.

1940-08-22

Four page handwritten letter and envelope

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Mrs C. Baker,
Charlton,
Inyagura,
S. Rhodesia. S. Africa.
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A/C D.A. Baker
R.A.F. No 778186.
c/o The High Commissioner for S. Rhodesia
Rhodesia House
429 Strand
London W.C.2.
My Dearest Mother
Just a few lines to let you know that I am still keeping fit but have not had a word from you since leaving. I do hope to hear this week.
Have had letters from Aunt Ella and Aunt Bess. They are keeping fit and awfully glad to hear I am over here They seem to think that I am one big hero coming all this way to join the Air Force and all that sort of stuff. They are keen for me to get down to see them but I really don’t know how it can be managed unless we get stationed down there.
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Have not had a reply from Scotland yet but should do so soon.
We are supposed to be leaving this camp any time from now to go to a training school A lot of the Rhodesians have already left for their respective centres and am also keen to [deleted] Sart [/deleted] start on something new as we do nothing but drill here from morn till night. Do not yet know where I will posted but suppose it will be about the most inconvenient place to get see any relations.
We hear the Germans over every night, supposed to be raiding the Midlands towns and they all seem to pass pretty near here Am getting quite used to being “droned” to sleep at night. Actually the Air Raid Sirens get me down as it is a most dismal wail. However the All Clear sounds better The German planes have a peculiar noise as you may have
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heard. It is not a steady war but comes at intervals. Suppose that is also to try & scare the people. A few bombs were dropped not far from here last week and killed a few people. It was about 3 am and we all woke up with a bang but got to sleep again after the last bomb.
Spent last Saturday aft. & Sunday aft in Wolverhampton. Went to the bio. Saturday aft. and Sunday went for a bus ride. We have to be in by 9.30 so it is rather awkward as it takes about an hour to get back, so we never see any “night life.”
Had a bit of fun in a bus the other day. A pal and I were speaking Afrikaans and we heard everyone saying we must be Polish. You can imagine their surprise when we spoke to the Conductor in perfectly good English. When they heard we were Rhodesians they didn’t half make a fuss of us.
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Everyone here seems to think that Colonials are just the cats pyjamas in particular the girls
The weather here has surprised us all and has been really hot nearly every day so far. Has been pretty chilly in the morning but not too bad. Nearly all of us have had a dose of flu.
Well dear Mother, there is absolutely nothing new. We have just been doing the same last week as the week before.
Must close now.
Much love to all at home & Rhodesia
Your loving son.
Donald.
P.S. Please don’t worry [deleted] p [/deleted] about me as there is nothing to worry about if I can sleep from 10.30 p.m. to 6 am as I have been doing, and we never hear a German plane in the daytime.