Letter to Jean Welland from Jack Darby

Letter to Jean Welland from Jack Darby

He thanks her for the newspapers she has sent. He has been practice bombing. They have been having sporting competitions and a dance.

1943-09-04

One double sided handwritten air letter

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ430904-0001, EDarbyCAHWellandJ430904-0002

No. 30. 4/9/43.

Dear Jean.

Thanks so much for newspapers which arrived yesterday, I have’nt read them yet but am afraid to look as I might see under “Police Court News” a heading “Reckless Woman Cyclist rides over unlucky Constable” or words to that effect followed by the name of Welland etc., later on today I might pluck up courage to have quick look. Well things still going on fairly well, we have our second progress test tomorrow, hope its as easy as the first. We started bombing this last week, I only dropped three and the exercise was washed out, it being too rough and a dust storm was approaching, the wind we recorded was 54 mph and it increased much more when we landed, the next month will be rough for flying but I suppose we shall have to do it. Last Monday the station sports were held, followed by a dance, the trainees beat up the rest of the station, we obtained 925 against the nearest 615, yours truly only entered for the tug of war am afraid running is a bit out of my line, the only time I do such a thing is when I see the sergeant approaching with a fatigue list in his hand, then my time to the nearest corner is phenomenal. Regarding the dance, it was quite good, there were crowds of girls from Lethbridge. I happened to meet the daughter of my friends in town, had a very enjoyable evening, at midnight supper was served in the airmens mess, they did the whole show extremely well, lobster, sardine, eggs sandwiches, doughnuts and coffee, it certainly shook me, at an R.A.F. camp the chief cook would have dropped down dead if you had suggested using his mess, for supper at midnight

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3/

How’s things with you, still busy at Teddington? what about the gardening, did anything grow after your tidying efforts. Well, must pack up now, thanks a lot for knitting offer but at the moment I’m O.K.

Cheerio for the moment, take care of yourself

Yours

Jack

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AIR LETTER TO ARMED FORCES
BY AIR MAIL

IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED, THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT BY ORDINARY MAIL.

AFFIX 10c POSTAGE

N[deleted]umber, Rank or Rating and Name [/deleted] MISS J. WELLAND.
[deleted] Unit (Company, Battery, Ship, Squadron, etc.) [/deleted] 7. QUEENS DRIVE.
[deleted] Regiment, Branch, Establishment or Station [/deleted] SURBITON
[deleted] Service [/deleted] [inserted] 4-9-43 [/inserted] SURREY. ENGLAND.
OVERSEAS

FROM (Sender’s full name and address)
[deleted] M [/deleted] 927893 L.A.C. Darby.
[symbol] 8. B & G. S.
Lethbridge, Alberta

[inserted] 30 [/inserted]

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2/

We should be getting another 48 next weekend, I have’nt made up my mind where to go yet, am afraid the Grand Falls is out as we’ve been stopped going to the States owing to so many lads being A.W.L. Last night we had the first rain for about four months, seemed quite like home the only thing was the temperature dropped sharply and it was only 30° this morning, a change of about 40° in 16 hours.