Letter from C G Barry to her mother

Letter from C G Barry to her mother

Letter mounted on four pages of album. Writes of her activities at RAF Leeming and catches up with family news. Gives reasons for not coming home on leave for Christmas. Describes shirt and pillow cases she had just bought. Writes about several entertainment and party events. Mentions 'their precious crew' who went to Pathfinders had not started operating yet. Goes on to describe watching aircraft land in poor weather. Speculates on future after war was over.
On the last page of album a head and shoulders portrait of a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force wearing tunic.

1944-12-01

Four page handwritten letter and one b/w photograph mounted on four album pages.

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PFieldPL19080006, PFieldPL19080007

813742 Sgt. Barry C.G.
WAAF Sgts’ Mess,
RCAF Station,
Leeming,
Yorks.

December 1st 1944.

My dearest Mamma,

Very many thanks for sending the frock, shoes, etc. – it was nice of you to send them so promptly, tho’ I tried to tell Daddy over that faint line that there was no hurry. You see we hope to have a party in the mess & dress up properly for it for a change – all very unofficial, of course. Technically we are supposed to wear uniform at all functions, but nobody who matters sees us [inserted] in [underlined] our [/underlined] mess [/inserted] We usually wear slacks & jumpers or shirt-blouses.

Thank you so much for your letter – I’m sorry, but I forgot to bring it on duty with me so I shall try & rememember [sic] what you said.

So Angela starts today in the ATS – I’m so glad she is at last doing what she had been trying for the past year to do. Yes, you will be missing her, even if not in a practical sense! However, it’s my opinion that within a year she will have improved & changed beyond recognition. She’ll find it tough at first but I think she realises that. Maybe she’ll be able to get home from Guildford during [deleted] hed [/deleted] her training.

I [underlined] wish [/underlined] I could get home for Christmas [inserted] but [/inserted] it wouldn’t be fair to leave Betty & Connie to cope & miss all the fun here thro’ being tired & on duty so much, I don’t if know anyone who is getting leave at Christmas – perhaps it has been stopped anyway.

Please excuse the squalid paper, but I ain’t got no notepaper at the moment.

On Monday I gave myself a treat & took myself to Harrogate – it was the first time I had been off camp (other than to Jocks, which is only just outside camp, & North Allerton which is 9 miles away) [deleted] for [/deleted] since my leave. I had quite a lot of money – about £6, as we had been paid an extra wage with back pay added.

[page break]

You remember I couldn’t get my coupons accepted anywhere when I was on leave – I tried again in Harrogate & succeeded. I bought a pale blue-green shirt blouse to wear with my slacks, two prs pants & a “BR” – these items to be purchased with great care for best wear. The blouse has a [indecipherable word] collar which looks rather smart, & soft buttons.

[sketch]

I also bought two very sweet cot pillow cases hand embroidered for one of the Waaf Sgts here, who is having a baby next March.

[sketch]

I had tea in Standings – there are armchairs & settees at the tables round the wall, so I got a very comfortable armchair at a small table near the window. I saw a frightful film, of which I forget the title, then caught the bus to Ripon & from thence to the end of the long road to the camp. It was snowing during the day & there was 2” snow either side of the Great North Road.

The other night the Intelligence section gave a party in North Allerton Stn. Hotel & they invited Betty, Connie, & [deleted] I [/deleted] me – Connie was on duty but the Senior Flying control Officer let her off, as it was quiet. The only other female there was a very charming WD [deleted] (Scandinavian Waaf) [/deleted] officer. We had an [underlined] enormous [/underlined] dinner with chicken etc. & plenty of drinks with it & afterwards retired to the smoking room & had a sing song, dancing & general merriment. Connie & I got there in a car belonging to a staff Wing Commander – he insisted on driving on the right side of the road, which was rather tricky

Last night we saw a Canadian Navy show – it really was wizard. A Russian played the violin & there were many sea chanties, etc.

[page break]

On Wednesday night we gave a screening party in our mess for a very newly screened crew – I was on duty from 7pm & so missed the party & meeting the crew.

Our precious crew – the one which went to PFF – hadn’t started operating yet, & the poor kids are getting terribly fed up, the reason is that they have only just got a bomb aimer – I told you their own B/A refused to go with them (& so he has nearly finished his tour of ops., & the boys have only about 16 trips at the moment).

I have just been watching an aircraft land in very bad visibility – the flying control office had quite a time getting him down by shooting off a number of flares to guide him down to the runway, which was invisible to the pilot until he actually came in to land.

I wonder a lot these days about when the war is over – it’s not much use trying to plan anything at the moment. I want to strike out on my own, but at the same time I am longing to come home & be with the family – perhaps I can combine the two. I am in two minds about leaving the service, which is secure at least – but I think that I shall want to leave as soon as my job is redundant, which will be the day hostilities ease – if it were not for the fact that I do love my job & my friends here, I should feel I had had quite enough of service life – [underlined] & [/underlined] uniform. My group for demobilisation is 32 – not too bad considering I am young, & single. The twins won’t be out until long after me, I imagine!

It's very nice of you to think of making some pants for me for Christmas – I certainly could do with them – they seem to wear out at such a terrific rate. Those camiknix you gave me – last Christmas was it? – are in shreds, tho’ they’ve done wonderfully considering how often I wash & iron ‘em! I have two older pairs of cami’s which I had at Huntingdon 2 years ago – may tear if I look at them!! My service pants are the same – they won’t change ‘em unless they’re very bad.

[page break]

Well, Ma, I think I’d better stop & rest your weary eyes. Please thank Rose very much for her letter & the wonderful drawings, which caused much amusement in the mess – I’ll answer it as soon as I can I am so sorry I can’t get to her play – I never seem to be home at the right time, do I?

My love to Dad & Aunt.

Your darling

[signature]

[photograph]
[indecipherable words]