Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

He writes of arrangements for his pending 48 hour leave, flying activities and the weather.

1943-08-16

Five handwritten sheets

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EGortonHGortonLCM430816

OFFICERS’ MESS.
ROYAL AIR FORCE,
CARK,
NORTH LANCASHIRE.
TELEPHONE GRANGE 390.
16/8/43
Dearest,
The parcel came this afternoon. Thank you very much, darling. I had been a little worried about it, as you’d said several days ago that you were going to post it.
I haven’t yet made formal application for my 48, but shall do so tomorrow. It will be on Tuesday & Wednesday of next week, but I shall try to wangle Thursday [deleted] off [/deleted] as my day off as well. I can’t promise that, but I’ll see what I can do, and as Bod will [deleted] by [/deleted] be C.F.I. that week (Basher on leave), I may be able to manage it.
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2.
If I can, I shall try to meet you in Manchester, probably at the bus stop, as I’m not sure how much time I shall have to go to London Road, so don’t wait for me at the station but go straight to the bus. If I can’t get off early, I shall go direct to Farnworth.
The weather has been simply filthy all day, & the grass where we park our aircraft is inches deep in water. If we fly tonight, which is more than a little doubtful, I shall put my gum boots on, because it’s no joke walking in that sort of grass in the dark.
I have written to Alice to thank her for the trouble she took about the furniture, & asking her to tell Mr. Dean to
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go ahead with the house. I’m inclined to agree with you about doing our own business ourselves in future, but when one is so far away, it seems a pity not to use people who are willing to help.
I’ve just realised that, all being well, I shall be with you a week tonight. Jolly good, isn’t it?
Get a camp bed if you think it would be worth it, but I don’t quite see why we need one, as we’ve already got your divan in case we should want to put anyone up.
I nearly had a taxying
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accident today! I was taxying out of dispersal on to the perimeter track, and the wind caught me as I was turning, & kept swinging me round. Perhaps you remember trying to taxy when it was windy.
Owing to the rain, there was water on the brake drums & my starboard brake wouldn’t work, so I just swung round, off the perimeter track, & came to a halt in a shallow ditch that some workmen had dug. Fortunately, there was no damage done, not even a scratch. The only sufferer was my amour propre!
[deleted] [indecipherable words] [/deleted]
Roll on Monday.
All my love,
Harold.
[page break]
Thursday
Dearest,
Sorry I didn’t get your letter off first thing this morning, but I was too tired at 2.30 a.m. last night to cycle round to the Mess to post it, & I didn’t get up until midday.
I’m very much tempted to send your watch with this parcel but I’ll play safe & keep it until I meet you.
All my love,
Harold