Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

He has transferred to Scampton. He describes his journey back to base. He doesn't much like Lincoln - too many RAF and not enough beer, food or cinemas. Food and accommodation at the base are very good. He asks about V-1s.

1944-09-06

Envelope and four page letter

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ440906

[postage stamp] [postmark]

[inserted] 7.9.44 [/inserted]

Miss J. Welland,
7. Queens Drive
Surbiton
Surrey

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F/O Darby C. 154676,
Officers Mess
A.C.S. R.A.F.
Scampton,
Nr Lincoln
Lincs.

6.9.44

My Dear Jean,

Am sorry I has’nt [sic] written before but we have been moved and yesterday it looked as though we should leave here, however were’nt posted and now we shan’t go until Monday next, you see this is merely a depot for the Group we are going to.

After I left you at Paddington I met Jack and we travelled together arriving at Heyford about midnight, it was a

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fairly comfortable journey, we both managed to get first-class seats.

We were posted on Monday at 7.30 AM, (a terribly early hour before you were awake) and after six changes arrived here at 5 o/c, the station is 5 miles from the town and we have a bus service which makes things quite easy, Lincoln is not a particularly good place, is full up with R.A.F. short of beer, food and cinemas, so we shan’t go there very much.

The quarters and food are

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bang-on here, we are in married quarters, and have wash-basins in our rooms, very modern built-in wardrobes, etc. You will be pleased to hear that here we have [underlined] batmen [/underlined] they are very good, even get a cup of tea in bed in the mornings.

How are you getting on? I expect you feel like me – rather fed up with life, I do miss you, it seems ages before I can get time off to see you again, however keep smiling, the war won’t last for ever, by the way, how’s the blister? should be ready for more treatment when I come home

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though I expect it will soon get bad again!

Have you had any more buzz-bombs just lately, apparently they have sent a few over although I think we’ve seen nearly the last of them.

Well, must say cheerio [deleted] at [/deleted] for the moment, take care of yourself,

All my love, darling.

Yours always,

Jack