Letter from David Boldy to his father

Letter from David Boldy to his father

Letter from David Boldy to his father about situation in London, war breaking out and his intention to volunteer for the Royal Air Force. He provides details about working on the farm picking plums, getting fit and tanned.

1939-08-28

Two page handwritten letter

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EBoldyDABoldyAD390828

59, Bathurst Mews,
Lancaster Gate,
London, W. 2,
28th August, 1939.

My own darling Dad,

Thanks very much for your letter and all your news. This is the first real chance I have had of writing as Steve & I cycled back for the weekend. Steve to stay. We were sorry to hear you had [deleted fragment] an attack of flu and are relieved to hear you are much better.

The international situation does not look very bright. I am going to volunteer for the R.A.F. in the event of war breaking out. I shall go to the recruiting depot to-day and ask them to notify me if I can get with the R.A.F. as a pilot in the event of war being declared. London seems to be well prepared this time at any rate in comparison with the last crisis.

We are both looking and feeling very fit. We are also well tanned and have hardened a lot [deleted] from [/deleted] through roughing it as we have done, the past few weeks. I shall only go back for a very short time now. The work is not too hard. We have lately been picking plums and will do so for a little while now. We are paying for half the price of our bikes, so for my 21st you & Mum are

[page break]

giving me a good cigarette [inserted] case [/inserted] as it is a thing that will last for a good deal of years, whereas a bike will not.

We have some photos which we will send to you when they are developed. Also some postcard photos of Steve, Cecil & I standing with our bikes at Clacton. – The bikes save us 80 each time we come to London for the week-end and 20 each time we go to Clacton for the from the farm.

Peter was over to see me on Saturday after I had phoned him and let him know I was in town. I am going after lunch to see Mr Moore my old tutor. He seemed very pleased when I phoned him.

No more to-day. God bless & keep you and bring you back safely to us. Look after yourself

With lots of love & kisses from your

loving son

[underlined] David [/underlined].