Letter from Jack Darby to Jean
Title
Letter from Jack Darby to Jean
Description
He has been transferred to Northern Ireland. His accommodation is good.
Creator
Date
1944-05-03
Temporal Coverage
Coverage
Language
Format
Two double sided handwritten sheets and envelope
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
EDarbyCAHWellandJ440503
Transcription
[postage stamp] [postmark]
[inserted] 3-5-44 [/inserted]
Miss J. Welland,
7, Queens Drive
Surbiton
Surrey.
England
[rubber stamp]
[page break]
P/O. J. Darby. 154676.
Officers Mess,
R.A.F. Station
Bishopscourt,
Co Down
N. Ireland
3.5.44.
Dear Jean,
Many thanks for your letter which I received just before I was posted here, it was certainly a surprise but I have’nt been here before so its some new fields to explore.
Am glad to hear the socks [underlined] may [/underlined] have progressed by this time, keep going full speed as the black paint I put on my legs is beginning to come off.
The journey here was very tedious we had a lot of changes and hanging about for connections, especially at
[page break]
Carlisle, we left in the evening and travelled all night, arriving here from Scotland after several more changes at about the same time next day.
Am glad to say that your photo is now nicely fitted in my wallet, have’nt had to trim much off and if you're [deleted] are [/deleted] a good girl I'll take you flying soon, the censorship is very strict out here so I shan't be able to mention any more than that, we have to censor our own letters of course we are responsible for what we put in them and if they are opened and contain information it is a serious offence.
The quarters here are not so bad of course Nissen huts but are fairly comfortable we have a fire
[page break]
3/
every night as its still pretty fresh, we get such strong winds here.
Shall be glad to see the 'features' effort when it arrives, am trying to get another camera, but they seem to be pretty expensive, I could use a camera over here as the country is quite pretty, have written to Bill asking him if he sees a camera to buy it for me.
The railways would amuse you over here, theyre mostly single track and run up and down hills, quite a Fred Karno's affair, you rather expect the engine driver to stop and go and collect some wood for the engine, any how its an event for the local train to come steaming in on time.
[page break]
Carlisle, we left in the evening and travelled all night, arriving here from Scotland after several more changes at about the same time next day.
Am glad to say that your photo is now nicely fitted in my wallet, have’nt had to trim much off and if you're [deleted] are [/deleted] a good girl I'll take you flying soon, the censorship is very strict out here so I shan't be able to mention any more than that, we have to censor our own letters of course we are responsible for what we put in them and if they are opened and contain information it is a serious offence.
The quarters here are not so bad of course Nissen huts but are fairly comfortable, we have a fire
[page break]
4/
I [underlined] have [/underlined] remembered to put that ticket in this time, perhaps I may get back in time to collect them myself but its doubtful, from here it will be straight on to further training I expect but there you never know what the R.A.F. will do.
Have you started tennis yet? am afraid the only sport here is walking and we get plenty of that each day, even the nearest local is an hours walk and all they seem to sell here is guiness [sic], however the mess is very comfortable, food good etc, so we can't grumble, also you will be pleased to know there are no girls at all round here, shall be all excited seeing you again, will be a changed man.
Well, must pack up now, our
[page break]
5/
one and only post goes first thing in the morning, we even get the English papers two days late.
Cheerio for now, take care of yourself, dont run too many Yanks down as they want a few for the Second Front.
All the best,
Yours
Jack
JDarby
[inserted] 3-5-44 [/inserted]
Miss J. Welland,
7, Queens Drive
Surbiton
Surrey.
England
[rubber stamp]
[page break]
P/O. J. Darby. 154676.
Officers Mess,
R.A.F. Station
Bishopscourt,
Co Down
N. Ireland
3.5.44.
Dear Jean,
Many thanks for your letter which I received just before I was posted here, it was certainly a surprise but I have’nt been here before so its some new fields to explore.
Am glad to hear the socks [underlined] may [/underlined] have progressed by this time, keep going full speed as the black paint I put on my legs is beginning to come off.
The journey here was very tedious we had a lot of changes and hanging about for connections, especially at
[page break]
Carlisle, we left in the evening and travelled all night, arriving here from Scotland after several more changes at about the same time next day.
Am glad to say that your photo is now nicely fitted in my wallet, have’nt had to trim much off and if you're [deleted] are [/deleted] a good girl I'll take you flying soon, the censorship is very strict out here so I shan't be able to mention any more than that, we have to censor our own letters of course we are responsible for what we put in them and if they are opened and contain information it is a serious offence.
The quarters here are not so bad of course Nissen huts but are fairly comfortable we have a fire
[page break]
3/
every night as its still pretty fresh, we get such strong winds here.
Shall be glad to see the 'features' effort when it arrives, am trying to get another camera, but they seem to be pretty expensive, I could use a camera over here as the country is quite pretty, have written to Bill asking him if he sees a camera to buy it for me.
The railways would amuse you over here, theyre mostly single track and run up and down hills, quite a Fred Karno's affair, you rather expect the engine driver to stop and go and collect some wood for the engine, any how its an event for the local train to come steaming in on time.
[page break]
Carlisle, we left in the evening and travelled all night, arriving here from Scotland after several more changes at about the same time next day.
Am glad to say that your photo is now nicely fitted in my wallet, have’nt had to trim much off and if you're [deleted] are [/deleted] a good girl I'll take you flying soon, the censorship is very strict out here so I shan't be able to mention any more than that, we have to censor our own letters of course we are responsible for what we put in them and if they are opened and contain information it is a serious offence.
The quarters here are not so bad of course Nissen huts but are fairly comfortable, we have a fire
[page break]
4/
I [underlined] have [/underlined] remembered to put that ticket in this time, perhaps I may get back in time to collect them myself but its doubtful, from here it will be straight on to further training I expect but there you never know what the R.A.F. will do.
Have you started tennis yet? am afraid the only sport here is walking and we get plenty of that each day, even the nearest local is an hours walk and all they seem to sell here is guiness [sic], however the mess is very comfortable, food good etc, so we can't grumble, also you will be pleased to know there are no girls at all round here, shall be all excited seeing you again, will be a changed man.
Well, must pack up now, our
[page break]
5/
one and only post goes first thing in the morning, we even get the English papers two days late.
Cheerio for now, take care of yourself, dont run too many Yanks down as they want a few for the Second Front.
All the best,
Yours
Jack
JDarby
Collection
Citation
Jack Darby, “Letter from Jack Darby to Jean,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 27, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/40067.
Item Relations
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