Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

Letter from Harold Gorton to his wife

He writes of social activity on the station and domestic details.

1944-05-22

Five handwritten sheets

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EGortonHGortonLCM440522

TEL. SILVERSTONE 252
OFFICERS’ MESS,
ROYAL AIR FORCE STATION,
[deleted] SILVERSTONE, [/deleted] [inserted] Scampton, [/inserted]
[deleted] NR. TOWCESTER, [/deleted] [inserted] Lincoln [/inserted]
[deleted] NORTHANTS. [/deleted]
[Royal Air Force crest]
Mon. 22/5/44
Dearest,
I’m not going to finish this letter tonight, as I expect there will be something I want to add tomorrow. I want to thank you for your letter, which arrived this morning.
I am glad Grace met you. You were lucky to get your luggage so soon, weren’t you? Even the parcel too! My luggage was O.K., except that I had to have porters everywhere but at Lincoln where two or three of us grabbed a truck and put our stuff on it.
I’m very pleased to hear that the furniture is O.K. I’m afraid I don’t quite understand your suggestion about the cushions – you mean take out the present padding and put feathers in?
Incidentally, on the subject
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of feathers, what are the chances of getting some of those feather beds from the attic?
I agree with you that we need a house to put all our stuff in, - but where do we find one? Can’t you store some of it in Nikko’s room, or is that being used?
Congratulations to Tibs! (Is that the correct line to take?). I expect the colours of her kittens agree with Mendel’s law of sex – linked characteristics, but I’m afraid I’ve forgotten the law.
The German shooting business seems to me to be a very poor show. I suspect that some camp commandant got so enraged that he lost his head & ordered the shooting.
It’s a very risky thing to do, because it would be very easy for us to retaliate in kind,
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if we wanted.
I shouldn’t bother about sending “St. George & the Dragon” on unless you think it is worth it. I’m not particular about it.
I hope my letter about the car hasn’t caused you any trouble. I shall wait until I hear from you before I do anything further.
I went to see the M.O. this morning. He says it is a pile that I’ve got, & that I can have an injection for it, but that it isn’t worth bothering about unless it gives me trouble. I don’t notice that I’ve got it now, so I shall leave it. His only advice was to have a purgative handy, so that I shouldn’t
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Tuesday 5.0 p.m.
We are lucky tonight, in that Donald Wolfit is bringing a Shakespeare company along to do “Much Ado about Nothing.” It’s not my favourite by any means, but it ought to be a pleasant change from the usual Ensa show.
With regard to this Austin I mentioned, I want to tell you that the “Motor” this week advertises a 1934 Austin 7 for 45 gns, so that this one of mine is well below market price.
I think there are a few more things I want to mention, but I can’t think of them at present. I’ll leave this letter unsealed until it’s time for the post in case I think of something.
Mother’s letter says that Dad is being promoted to the exalted
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rank of messenger – a rise of 6/- a week, I think!
All my love, darling,
Harold.
P.S. I see, too, by Mother’s letter, that you have added yet another Labour Exchange to your list – keep it up!