Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton

Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton

Peter Lamprey writes about cancelled operations and a difficult trip to Hanover during which they lost a crew and after which their airfield was bombed. He concludes by asking to be remembered to friends.

1943-09-30

Envelope and four page handwritten letter

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ELampreyPGuntonW430930

[postage stamp]

[postmark] MARKET RASEN
1030 AM
30 SP 43 [/postmark]

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

[page break]

[reverse of envelope]

[page break]

R.A.F. Ludford Magna
Market Rasen.
Lincolnshire.

Dear Unk etc.

There was a time, before the iron of war had entered into my soul, when I could sit down and write a letter without having to wonder just what to write about. In these days of strife however, events move so quickly that if I sit down to drop you a line I find I have either got to cut it short or finish it over Germany. Having other matters to attend to when over not so friendly territory the obvious course is therefore a note succint [sic] but at the same time crammed with inside information. You can now perceive the quandary I am in and either be content with short notes or sweet F.A.

[page break]

Having just received one of your ever welcome screeds I feel in duty bound to answer and herewith all the latest and best from the western battlefront.

Since returning from leave they, the big shots, have done their damnedest to sod us around [smudged] wholesale. [/smudged] First we go then we don't then they brief us for somewhere else then they hold up take off then they scrub the show altogether. One way and another we dont [sic] know whether to get in the kite or go down the shelter. In five nights we have been briefed five times and been on two. The sooner they get this war over and go back to playing about with tin soldiers the better I shall like it.

It is getting more like murder every time we visit our continental cousins.

[page break]

We did Hanover Monday night and not having had enough bother with Jerry we ran into the foulest weather it is possible to imagine. Ice - rain and cloud down to deck level. Having finally managed to get down safely we were just getting our gear off when the saucy sods went and bombed the 'drome. They shot one of our boys down and put the 'drome u/s for two days. From what I can make out of things the future doesn't look like a tea party.

If the weather breaks - if the 'drome is O.K. if they can get the kites O.K. if I don't have a baby on the wing-commanders [sic] carpet, we shall be on again tonight. Heaven knows where but I'll bet my goolies [sic] he will be waiting for us.

Enclosed you will find a few nickels.

[page break]

The big one is for the old man. I promised I would get him one of them.

Remember me to Alf. Barnes and hope [deleted] is [/deleted] he is out and about shortly. Let me know how the election went and you might ask Doug. to find out how many society members are serving or working outside the trade and what is the percentage of the membership.

Remember me to all.
All the best.
[underlined] Pete [/underlined]