Letter with poem from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton

Letter with poem from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton

Peter Lamprey’s letter contains general gossip and a long humorous poem about his training and his life in the Royal Air Force.

Six page handwritten letter

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ELampreyPGuntonW[Date]-16

RAF Crest]

HQ. 14. Group.
RAF. Inverness.

[underlined] Tuesday. [/underlined]

Dear Uncle Bill - others.
I know a hell of a lot better ways of using paper than writing to you non-reciprocating lugs: for the last two months [sic] the sole topic in your letters has been that you were two up on me. Well, at the present rate of receiving letters from P.R. I shall be about twenty up with this one.
Interlude for the muse: -
For more than a year I have laboured.
And held the wrong end of the stick.
While the cheers of the blokes left behind me,
Continue to make me feel sick.

[page break]

2.
I’ve delayed the despatch of this letter
Since the day that I went and joined up.
But I now wish it put upon record
That someone, has sold me a pup.
Ive [sic] about had my fill of square – bashing
And slinging a rifle about
Now the red - letter day in my diary
Is the one when I’m pushing off out.
Its [sic] not that I don’t like the service
Its [sic] easy – its [sic] cheerful and bright
But I get such a load, of insulting remarks
Every time you daft perishers write.
In the year that has passed, I have worn out my feet
On parade grounds [sic] all over the place
And I’ve suffered a lot, of distress and despair
In unfortunate lapses from grace.

Continued on Page 3.

[page break]
[underlined] 3. [/underlined]
[RAF Crest]

But I suffer as well, from some dimwitted clucks,
Who when writing to me seem to think
That I spend all my time in Elysian fields
Surrounded by women and drink
Ive[sic] been to some spots in my travels
And its [sic] not been so bad on the whole
But for holes as they go, the hole I’ve just left
As a whole, was a hell of a hole.
But the troubles and toil that I suffer
Don’t seem to produce any tears
For my hardships and trials only seem to give cause,
For amusement and three hearty cheers.
But in case you should think you can do it
Without some repartee from me
I’d like to point out – that I’m biding my time
And I’ll wait for the day patiently.

[page break]

When there’s one of you wits, with a pen in his hand
Attempting to ride me with verse
And you’ll all realise, as the storm really breaks
What is meant by an A.C.2’s curse.

The news, as such, is as usual, non-existant.[sic] I am doing just the same as I was yesterday. As I didn’t write then you won’t know what I’m doing today so it doesn’t matter if I don’t tell you. The weather is about the same to. [sic]

I have, much to Mr. Hunts [smudged] chargin, [sic] [/smudged] been out on the belt in an endeavour to forget my sorrows. It took me two hours hard thinking to find a sorrow so that could go out and drown it. The beer is as usual, pretty good and having been out of practice for so long I found that the exercise entailed made me very tired. I could just walk and that’s about all. Tomorrow night I must find out just what happened. I was either out

[page break]

[underlined] 5. [/underlined]
[RAF Crest]

With a sailor or a big WAAF and I don’t want to be caught bending.

I doesn’t [sic] seem as if I am destined to have my much awaited liberty for long. I [smudged] have [/smudged] had been warned to be prepared to go back to the Isle of Sorrows at a days [sic] notice. At present I am on my knees praying for snow and plenty of it. If my outing last night turns out wrong I shall of course cancel the prayers.

There is a hell of a lot of new faces up here, besides plenty of old ones that need changing. In fact I am myself being looked upon as one of the oldest inhabitants and pointed out as a man who has withstood the rigours of a Scottish winter and 4 months proximity to the A.T.S. Barracks.

I expect to hear from someone when

[page break]

Doug. has finished with his pen and then I might hear a bit more news. But don’t worry about writing if things are ok, but let me know if they are wrong and give me a laugh. [smudged] Thanks [/smudged] for the books etc. Keep off the grass and kiss Jack Denny for me.
Remember me to one and all.

[underlined] Pete. [/underlined]

P.S. Its [sic] a pity the two bloody inventors don’t [sic] invent something to teach “old ivory” how to write.
P.P.S. and to spell.