Letter from Ian Hay to his grandmother

Letter from Ian Hay to his grandmother

Written while at Uxbridge after he was attested and issued uniform and expected to be posted on soon. Describes the camp, pay and speculates of future leave.

1939-11-09

Two page handwritten letter

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A/C 2 HAY. I de S E. 906233
C Flight,
ARRAS BLOCK,
Room – 2
No. 14 SQUADRON,
R.A.F. DEPOT,
UXBRIDGE,
MIDDX.

9/11/39.

Dear Granny,

Sorry I haven’t written before, but we’ve been somewhat busy recently. As you see from the lengthy address at the top, I am at Uxbridge. I was attested & given my uniform yesterday, which is very nice indeed and funnily enough it fits. I don’t [indecipherable word] you to write to this address yet, as this place has been converted from a [deleted] [indecipherable word] [/deleted] [inserted] training [/inserted] centre, to a reception & distribution place, so I probably will be shifted on Monday or Tuesday to anywhere in the Empire or France perhaps; but I will let you know my new address when I get there.

Everything is O.K. here and I like it very much, the food is good, the N.A.A.F.I. is good, and on the whole I am quite enjoying myself. There is a Cinema on the Camp & only 6d for a very good seat.

[page break]

We got payed [sic] 10/- this afternoon, but unfortunately we only get payed [sic] fortnightly; and 2s a week is stopped from my pay for laundry & 1 or 2 other little items.

I really don’t know what leave I shall get until I go elsewhere, but I think it is 1 week-end in 4, and 5 days at Xmas & 5 days at Easter & 28 days annual leave.

I expect to be vaccinated soon & also inoculated against typhoid; I believe it lays some people out completely! There isn’t really any more news but I will let you know my future address when I get there.

Very best love

[underlined] Ian. [/underlined]

P.S. Please excuse pencil but I haven’t got a pen yet. A parcel of [inserted] my [/inserted] clothes is coming back to you soon.