Letter from Ernest Tansley to his brother Albert

Letter from Ernest Tansley to his brother Albert

Writes of worrying about correspondence when one is so far away from home and continues with philosophical chat. Catches up with family news. Writes that he is in hospital with septic arm and measles. He would be out the next day but had been put back a class. Does not know when he will be home.

1942-05-26

Two page handwritten letter and envelope

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ETansleyEHTansleyAE420526

[postmark] [postage stamp]

SEA. A.E. TANSLEY. JX263230
H.M.S. CHASSE. MARIE
TRAWLER BASE.
PORTSMOUTH
ENGLAND

[inserted] EXAMINER 71 [obscured number] [/inserted]

[page break]

A/C. (UK) TANSLEY E.H.
429.
COCHRAN. FLD.
MACON.
GA. U.S.A

[inserted] [calculations] [/inserted]

[inserted] [two obscured letters] ENED BY [/inserted]

[page break]

WRITTEN FROM COCHRAN FIELD
GEORGIA IN MAY 1942
TO BROTHER ALBERT.

IT APPEARS THAT SOMEONE HAS PENNED
IN SOME OF THE
UNREADABLE LETTERS

[page break]

A/C. (UK) TANSLEY. E. H.
429

[US Air Corps Crest]

AIR CORPS BASIC FLYING SCHOOL
COCHRAN FIELD, GEORGIA [inserted] U.S.A

Tuesday 26th May.

[underlined] Dear Albert [/underlined]

Seems ages since I wrote to you, and I suppose it is really: still I do not expect you worry quite so much about correspondence, now that you have Dolly there. Its when you are away from everybody that you miss things so much when some one who is dear to you, is fairly close it doesn’t quite hurt so much, you still feel you are part of the Old World; that you have not been deserted; you can still talk about things you understand & love; well I guess I am getting a little sentimental and that will not do, still you’ve got a rough idea of what I mean haven’t you? or have you? Anyway it doesn’t really matter.

Still on the same little old tub? I reckon you would miss that now, you’ve got quite an affection for it now I expect: you [inserted] know [/inserted] its funny how you get attached to even inanimate objects. Favourite tie and shirt, walking stick, but then we never had a walking stick did we. I had a letter from W. Spring yesterday, things seem to be going along much the same up there. They get 10/- a day for walking about now & the great Charlie still reigns; poor fools they are still building him up. You know I think we will have another war to finish up after this one.

Dad doesn’t seem to be getting much work. I hope they are managing to scrape along alright.

I understand [indecipherable word] & Diane are with them

[page break]

now, hope the arrangement works smoothly.

I suppose Fred will have his commission by now, expect he will feel very proud of himself.

I suppose its O.K. for him to walk with a naval rating & an aircraft hand.

At the moment of writing I am in hospital been in about a fortnight with Septic arm & measles. Still I leave tomorrow, although unfortunately I have been put back a class, so instead of leaving here in 5 days for advanced I have to stay another 6 weeks; if you knew how much I wanted to get home or how much I hate this place you could readily appreciate my feelings.

I do not know when I shall get home now probably about Xmas if at all, so I hope you’ll take care of yourself

Must say cherio [sic] for now give my love to Dolly.

Best Wishes

[underlined] Ernie. [/underlined]