Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton

Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton

Peter lamprey writes from RAF Inverness unhappy about his life including backwoods training. He goes on with banter to acquaintances and asks his friends to write back.

Five page handwritten letter

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ELampreyPGuntonW[Date]-18

1384535. LAC. Lamprey
Signals Section.
HQ. 14. Group.
RAF. [underlined] Inverness. [/underlined]

[underlined] Sunday. [/underlined].

Listen. If I happen to lay off writing for a couple of days, there is a hell almighty row, but you; you can take no bloody notice for weeks and then drop a line and think all is forgiven, but; it won’t do. If you can’t write, for Petes [sic] sake draw a cross on a bit of paper and post it. I will know then that you are still alive. Not that I care.

I would like some more information about this terrific attack of patriotism that struck three

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[underlined] 2. [/underlined]

half wits all at once. What I want to know is. Are they joining now or in about six months [sic] time.? The latter I hope, as I have all my work cut out shouldering the war along now – without having to take three more passengers aboard.

Life has once again given me the back of the hand. Just when I had got a nice line in dates they whipped a dirty card out of the pack and I found myself out in the blasted backwoods, playing at boy scouts. Having upset everything that makes life worthwhile, they replant me here and expect me to raise three hearty cheers. One of these bright days they’ll leave me in one place for a few days and I’ll break a blood vessel in my excitement. If you talk to me about Scotch [sic] scenery

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any more, I'll fetch a handful home and ram it where it will do most harm. I’ve seen so much of the backwoods lately that I expect to finish up in a bloody log-cabin for the duration. If I turn up next time in a deerskin suit with a pair of blasted snow shoes under my arm you’ll know the worst.

If the above cry from a bleeding heart does not stir a bit of compassion in you – it is only what I expect but at least I can lay back and hope the three stooges get a bellyful. With a bit of luck even Brother George will be in the home guard. All he needs to find is a bit of sand and s--- and he can fight his battles all over again with full effects. Only I shan’t be there to cheer as he wins all his medals singlehanded. Mr. Hunt will doubtless arrange to carry his company

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to the battle-front at greatly reduced rates. All I hope is that Archie excesises [sic] his authority and makes sure they fight this war in the modern manner – plenty of time off for whatever is going.

Lack of news from the home front bars me from commenting in any way on the doings of my erstwhile friends. But knowing them as I do, I should think they are still carrying on in the true minder way – getting some other dumb cluck to carry the can. I expect to return and find Rusty bow-legged after working with the old rip for a partner. If he – the O.R. – is still at his games he should write his memoirs and give the troops some really warm literature for the winter months.

I might mention that I have heard from two certain people and if you

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-Mr Gunton – are not a bit more careful who you speak to in tea-shops – you will be caught with your trousers down and a lot to explain. Keep off the blondes. Should you want any advice on this subject you know what you can do.

Having exhausted what passes for news up here, I hope to hear a bit from south of the line. Don’t write if you are still short of money as I am in the same state but a card will do – even if it is only one in memoriam for some of the others.

Look after your apples. Remember me to all. Lots of love
[underlined] Pete. [/underlined].
X.