Letter to Ken Ball from Tom Bower

Letter to Ken Ball from Tom Bower

The letter is described as coming from Ken's archives held by Reg Saville, a historian at Langton Matravers.
In the letter Tom writes about losing their pilot due to illness. They have moved from Upwood to a more basic station where they live in Nissen huts.

1944

One printed sheet

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The following transcript of a letter written by Tom Bower to his friend, Ken Ball, also in the RAF, was provided from his archives by Reg Saville, historian at Langton Matravers. It is undated, but was clearly written in April or May 1944 after the crew’s move from 156 Squadron at Upwood to 582 Squadron at Little Staughton. It describes the Nissen hut accommodation, and it explains that their first pilot (Purnell) had contracted tuberculosis, and that they now had a new pilot who was a Squadron Leader and had been a pilot in peace time. This would have been Weightman, who was “pretty good”. Purnell relinquished his Commission in July 1944, and although he survived the war, despite Tom’s hopes that he would get better, he did not recover and he died on 13 March 1946, aged 30. He is buried in Tottenham Cemetery, Middlesex, in a grave under the auspices of the CWGC.

F/Sgt. T C Bower,
Sgts Mess,
RAF Little Staughton,
Nr. St. Neots, Hunts.
Sunday.

Dear Ken,

Many thanks for the letter which I received just before leaving Upwood. I wanted to answer sooner, but we lost our Pilot and had to go back to a training unit for a week or so for another one. We have a S/Ldr now. He is pretty good. He was a pilot in Peace Time.

The Camp is pretty deadly after Upwood. We are back in Nissen huts again, which is a bit different from Married Quarters. Still, I hope to be on leave again soon. We should have gone last Monday, but, as I said, we lost our Pilot. He’s got T.B., which is not so good, but I think he will get better, and, of course, he’ll get his discharge.

Our nearest town is St. Neots, which is three miles. I went there last Friday. There are no buses and we have to walk if we go out, so I look like staying in a lot, unless I get the old Norton up here. St. Neots is a pretty deadly place, only one Cinema and not one decent Cafe. I got wet through walking back the other night, which didn’t improve my opinion of the town.

I see you are rather anxious to get home again. Most married men I know seem glad to get back. By the way, I don’t suppose you’ll be surprised to hear that I’ve had my time with that girl in Doncaster, so now I am much happier, with no more female worries.

Well, I can certainly remember one encounter with old Tadman that night, and also the fun we had with old Bevis. I will be glad when we can do the same again. I ride my bike when I am on leave at times, but it’s been so cold the last few times. I hope it’s a bit warmer next time. A lot of chaps have bikes here, mostly BSAs, but a few other makes, a very nice 250 Sunbeam and a very old square tank Matchless, complete with Gas lamp.

Well, I think this is just about all for now. Hoping to hear from you again soon, and wishing you all the best,

Your old Pal, Tom.

Note (from Reg Saville): The Rev. E.J. Tadman was the Rector of Langton Matravers, and was very old and bad-tempered. Fred Bevis was the Chauffer for Mr and Mrs Corbett, owners of The Old Malthouse Preparatory School in Langton Matravers.