Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton

Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton

Peter Lamprey starts with catching up with friends. He comments that they have lost twelve aircraft over the last four operations. He describes in some detail his difficult trip to Munich and that Mannheim had been similar.

Envelope and four page handwritten letter

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ELampreyPGuntonW4309XX

[postage stamp]

Mr. W. Gunton.
Machine Room
Waterlow and Sons. Ltd.
Twyford Abbey Road.
Park Royal. N. W. 10.
London.

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Reverse of envelope
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RAF. Ludford Magna
Market Rasen.
Lincolnshire.

Dear Unk and others.
The usual thanks for “The Royal” the letter and the cash in hand. Wherever you get the idea from that I am down in the depths of misery, I don’t know. Here am I, putting my heart and soul into the cheering up of the war-workers only to be met with base ingratitude for my efforts. It is certainly a hard job pleasing some of my pseudo friends.
From your letter it would seem that Sam has lost complete control of the sick fund. He should stand none of this nonsense of the members wishing to go sick. What about the shrike-out, doesnt [sic] he ever consider that? In some complaints

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I hear they inject gold to effect a cure. I suppose Harry Straw was hoping Ptomaine poisoning was one of them. From Mr. Hunts’ information this is the only place Harry hasn’t got it stored. Still I sympathise with Harry, having eaten on the RAF for almost three years I know the pains. Mr. Hunts should now be drawing his dividends from the allotment holders [sic] federation now that the harvest is in. I suppose he will have to look round for some other low scheme to augment his income for the winter. Either that, or do some honest work, or starve. Preferably the latter.
Things are not so rosy as heretofore. The old chopper has been swishing down on the old squadron a bit heavy-like lately and we have lost twelve kites in the last four efforts. It begins to get a bit fierce over the other side these

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[underlined] 3 [/underlined].

days / or rather nights. It has got so bad that even blokes you have known for weeks won’t lend you a bob. Our last do on Munich was like trying to get into the bloody bank of England. We had to fight our way into France and then the sods were intruding over our ‘Drome when we got back. Talk about an evenings [sic] entertainment for F.A. still we saw the last train from Munich leave in about a thousand parts so that, I suppose, is everything. Despite what Jerry says it was a shit-hot show and the place was going like hell as we ran in to bomb. We could see fire-glow almost 200 mile away on the way out and you dont see that when the bombs fall in the fields.
The Mannheim show was very similar bar that we got in to the target and then had to fight our way out. You can never tell

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where you are going to pick trouble up, all you know is that it is bound to be sculling around somewhere.
Tonight, Wednesday, we have been stood down for a rest and a pretty good idea at that. They can stand me down until after I have had my leave if they like and I shall find no fault with their ideas. We should, D.V., get away round about next Tuesday on our well-earned vacation and I shall then come along and give you the right up gen.
Remember me to all.
Love and kisses
Yr. affnte.[sic] Nev.[sic]
Pete.
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