Letter from Jimmy Doughty to his sister Winnie

Letter from Jimmy Doughty to his sister Winnie

Writes of jumping into the sea and relates his and a colleagues experiences, including being watched by holiday makers. Concludes with a little gossip and a sketch of a sergeant pushing a man into the sea.

1943-07-15

Three page handwritten letter and envelope

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EDoughtyJCDoughtyW430715

[postmark Torquay and Paignton, Devon. 15 JULY 1945] [postage stamp]

[underlined] W [/underlined]
206 [deleted] [indecipherable number] [/deleted] 227. Pte. Doughty. W.
“B” Coy. A.T.S.
31, Highfield St,
Leicester.

[postmark Torquay and Paignton, Devon. 15 JULY 1945]

[page break]

[underlined] 1 [/underlined]

4, Squadron
C. Flight,
St. James Hotel,
Torquay,
Devon,

Dear Win,

Thanks for the letter, as a matter of fact, we had the jumping today, the tide was out, and boy it seems a darn long time from jumping off, before you hit the water.

Standing on the wall I plucked up as much courage as I could then jumped, and it seems I was falling for hours, and went right down to the bottom of the sea, my ankles were smothered in black mud when I came to the top.

[page break]

[underlined] 2. [/underlined]

One guy got in a flap and refused to jump, so they threw him in, and when he came to the surface, he splashed like hell, and din’dt [sic] move an inch so they had to throw a rope to him and haul him in.

Still having tried it, I’m quite looking forward to our next go, it was pretty good fun, although, the sea was cold, and knocked all the air out of you.

(Next time we jump from 50’ with no “Mae West” into a water-bottle).

The way the holiday makers crowded round to watch, though as if it was a special show put on for their benifit, [sic] made

[page break]

[underlined] 3 [/underlined]

me want to make a few of them try it.

Well apart from that I have no news of any importance so I’ll dry up, and proceed to help my room mate, choke the third member of the room, to prevent “Sweet Sue” from annoying our [deleted] eye [/deleted] ears any longer.

After which I am going out to stuff my self, and then come back and [deleted] spe [/deleted] sleep the sleep of the good.

Love
[underlined] Jim [/underlined]

ME [symbol]
[small drawing of men jumping into the sea with a dinghy in the water]

1386802.