Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

His prospects of leave are diminishing since they have a date to move regardless of whether they finish the course. He asks Jean about flying bombs. He has been going by bus into Newark, three miles away. They have become engaged and he asks her about a ring.

1944-09-18

Two double sided handwritten sheets and envelope

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ440918

[postage stamp] [postmark]

[inserted] 20.9.44 [/inserted]

Miss. J. Welland
7. Queens Drive
Surbiton
Surrey.

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OFFICERS’ MESS
R.A.F. STATION
WINTHORPE
Nr. NEWARK
Notts.

18.9.44,

My dearest Jean,

Am glad to have received your letter, its the first since I’ve been back, I suppose I shall get some mail forwarded from Scampton sooner or later. I have been counting up the days, its only just over a fortnight since I saw you but it seems like years. the trouble at the moment is that prospects of leave seem to be receeding [sic], you see we [deleted] ll [/deleted] are due to finish here seven days before we go to our next station, if we don’t we still go to

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2.

the other station on time. We should have started our flying yesterday but owing to weather we have’nt left the deck, thats two precious days wasted, its darned annoying to hang around all day without anything to do. Also we were up at 5.30AM this morning and thats far too early for me, I’m
barely conscious, like someone else I know, the things I do for England, well I ask you.

How’s things progressing at Eastwoods? still having your daily battle? how about these flying bombs have you had any round about Surrey. I believe these are brought over by aircraft and released from a fair height over the North sea so they will probably come in from an easterly direction.

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3/

We have been down to Newark several times, its not a bad town, fairly small market town, three cinemas, the usual large numbers of pubs, its three miles from the station and we can catch a bus in but nothing returns, rather a nuisance as there is a very steep hill to walk up. As we are all on a course we have decided to suspend any quantity of liquid refreshment until after the course when we are having a real night out. together. At the moment the town is full up with American Army Air Force, the usual quiet reserved

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4/

types, they shoot the most awful lines.

Have just heard that Eindhoven has just been captured, I expect there’s a celebration in Roma’s place in New York, both Anie’s Mother & Father are with them and they have a house on the outskirts of Eindhoven, also lots of their friends now in the States lived there, in fact [deleted] V [/deleted] I met quite a Dutch coloney [sic] when I stayed there.

Well, darling, time is getting short. Must get some rest in before the morning, take care of yourself. Keep smiling we shan’t be apart for much longer now.

Cheerio for the time being.

All my love

Jack.

P.S. What type of engagement ring do you want., I must start looking round!

J.