Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

Letter from Jack Darby to Jean

He has received two letters from Jean. He is getting seven days leave. His new base is rough and ready and the food is not good.

1944-12-08

Two double sided handwritten sheets and envelope

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ441208

[postage stamp] [postmark]

[inserted] 8.12.44 [/inserted]

Miss. J. Welland
7. Queens Drive
Surbiton
Surrey

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[Royal Air Force Crest]

ROYAL AIR FORCE,
TUDDENHAM,
BURY ST EDMUNDS,
SUFFOLK.

TEL: MILDENHALL 2161.

Wednesday.

My dearest Jean,

Was so pleased to receive your two letters, one posted direct and one forwarded from Syerston, they arrived this morning so take some time for such a short distance.

Well I have some news you [underlined] may [/underlined] be interested in, I’m getting leave from Monday 11th to Monday 18th, apparently it’s the usual thing to have a few days when you get here, then we

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2/

shall go on the regular rosta [sic], its a pity its not the next week is’nt it? however better early than never, we can go to Jaggs Island instead.

Am so glad to hear the ring is back in circulation, I bet you felt naked without it, still I suppose you do everything left handed now.

In Roma’s letters she did mention about the camera, but said she would see if she could send one over here first, shall probably learn more in her next letter, in any case I shall be writing to her in a few days.

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Now we have more or less got organised the camp does’nt seem too bad its rough and ready, the food is’nt too good but everyone is pretty friendly Even the C.O. joins in with the rest of the boys. We are lucky we have a good [underlined] batman [/underlined] he keeps the fire going in the huts and really looks after us. Ron & I are together and Jack is about two huts away.

I’ve just had a letter from Dad, he’s sent off the parcel and bicycle so I should receive them tomorrow or Friday, he said you had rung up

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4/

Am glad to know they grey wool has arrived, can imagine you being very busy, do you still firewatch[sic] now? or have Eastwoods at last dispensed with their “putters out of incendiaries”

Well take care of yourself, Monday can’t come too soon, hope the blisters have gone or they will soon be worse again, darling I will tell you how much I love you then its more satisfying than on paper!

All the best, all my love

Jack.