Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

He writes about the social and flying activities on RAF Cark. He also writes of his family and friends.

1943-08-09

Six handwritten sheets

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EGortonHGortonLCM430809

OFFICERS’ MESS,
ROYAL AIR FORCE,
CARK,
NORTH LANCASHIRE.
TELEPHONE GRANGE 390
9/8/43
Dearest,
I’ve just gone through a pile of old letters, most of them from you, tearing them up so that the batman can destroy them. I still think my old idea of keeping your letters is a better scheme; it simply cuts me to the heart to destroy them, as they seem almost like a part of you. Your letters are the nearest I get to you, nowadays, & that’s why they are so precious.
I’ve read a fair amount – about 80 pages – of The Twilight of France. I haven’t made as much progress as I expected, because it’s pretty condensed,
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and unless you read it carefully it becomes meaningless.
I am enclosing the bank’s monthly statement – forgot to send it earlier. In case I actually forget to include it, the amount is £103..16..5. Not bad is it?
Have you seen my address book anywhere? I haven’t had it for months, & I’m wondering whether it’s at Newhouse or in Farnworth. If you happen to see it (a green book, diary size) perhaps you’d bring it when you come to Farnworth (a fortnight tonight!)
Tuesday 4.30 p.m.
I’m finishing this off before going to the Mess for tea. Then I shall go to Grange & see Miss Westwood on the 5.30 bus,
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meet Gillegin at 7.15 in time to go to the flicks, catch the 9.30 bus, have a late supper, & start night flying at 10.30. Quite a full programme isn’t it?
I suppose the absence if references to my health convinced you that I’m O.K. By Friday, I was as fit as ever. I certainly wish I could have the special attention you gave me at Ossington. There’s nothing like it!
As for the bed at home, they are proposing to have it in the sitting room more or less permanently, as Dad’s back might go at any time, & Mother
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couldn’t look after him upstairs.
I don’t quite know what to say about your staying at Newhouse. It’s probably the most useful war job you could get (least wasted effort, I mean), & probably, all things considered, the most remunerative.
On the other hand, we shall lose more than we gain if you have to stick at something you don’t like. If it will be all right to leave them & we can find a place in Bolton, that would be the best thing from our point of view, but anything you decide will be O.K. with me, because it’s you who are primarily concerned.
If you think you’d
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be in Bolton for 2 years, I should say it would be well worth while to move. Have you found out whether it’s possible to get one’s furniture moved?
As for this business of buying a house, if your Mother will allow us the use of her capital, it seems to me to be a very good investment, almost regardless of whether we live in it or not. We ought to be able to sell it for more than we’ve paid for it, anyway.
Your watch stopped while I was at home, but in the last 24 hours it seems to have gained 5 minutes, rather
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than lost.
The Moodie’s have had a big bust-up with their landlady, & today have moved to Hillcrest, so I shall be interested to see how they get on with Mrs. Banks.
I don’t know what you imagined I’d expect Bert to want – a still born son? You’re as bad as Alice, who said that a certain woman had three children, twins!
All my love,
Harold.