William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Jan Morgan]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]>
Excited that cadets now have own mess and, although not popular with the ground crew, aircrew need a special diet. Food is now much better and describes meals. Writes of flight up to near Aberdeen and about their weekly service in the 'Scotch Hut' which was to be broadcast on the BBC.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Robin Christain]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Scotland--Dumfries and Galloway]]> 1942-08]]>

There have been all kinds of tests, drills, lectures, PT and next week they will have vaccinations etc. He's not sure he will pass the maths and may have to stay there to retake it - would rather do this than fail at the Initial Training Wing. Describes Preselection being before a Psychological Board of WAAFs.

Has now got his uniform - which is a bit hot. Finding the food disappointing, although it is getting slightly better. So many officers in West End that saluting them makes your arm ache.

London doesn't seem to be altered - especially during the day, but at night everyone is on alert and the tube shelters are full.

Not sure where he will be posted to. Gets a good reaction to his uniform in London - 'we're getting some of the glory for the Battle of Britain'.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Robin Christian]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--London]]> 1941-09]]>

Catches up with family and farm news as well as his daily activities.

Gives new address at the end (but only for a week). Has passed his exams and will be posted to Initial Training Wing soon.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Robin Christain]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--London]]> 1941-09]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Jan Morgan ]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> Wales--Dyfed]]> Wales--Aberystwyth]]> 1941-11]]>
Postscript: his been up in plane today and really enjoyed it. Food good.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Ashley Jacobs]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Berkshire]]> England--Theale (West Berkshire)]]> 1941-12]]>

Finds it a bit different being at Sulhamstead House and only having one day off a week, after Aberystwyth, when they could easily go into town. Mentions that the food is good, served up by local women and although they have 'civvy' rations, and quantity is fine.

Postscript detailing amount of pay.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Robin Christain]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Berkshire]]> England--Theale (West Berkshire)]]> 1942-01]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Robin Christain]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Berkshire]]> England--Theale (West Berkshire)]]> 1942-01]]>
Critical comments on the food provided by a civilian firm and suggests that they are selling some of the rations back to the men.

]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Alan Pinchbeck]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Berkshire]]> England--Theale (West Berkshire)]]> 1942-01]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Berkshire]]> England--Theale (West Berkshire)]]> 1942-02]]>
Describes the various local friends he has made through a family and via the chapel. Also taking a walk suggested by some friends along the river Kennet to Reading.

Ends with PS that they have a new Cadet Commander who has been investigating the question of food and it seems to have improved. Suggestion that eggs which have gone missing probably not stolen by the men.
]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Berkshire]]> England--Theale (West Berkshire)]]> 1942-02]]>
]]> William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Brighton]]> 1942-02]]> William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Eastbourne (East Sussex)]]> England--Sussex]]> 1942-02]]>
Continues with news of training suspensions at Theale and describes how he felt when he fired a Vickers machine gun. Concludes with news that he has found a nice chapel and has made friends.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Brighton]]> 1942-02]]>

Writes about his social activities, the people he has met at church and giving a talk at the Young People’s Service. Catches up with news and domestic issues. Finishes with story about the Chief Flying Instructor at Theale. Asks her to keep his letters 'as they'll be a kind of diary later on'.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Brighton]]> 1942-03]]>

Explains that now he is reached Eastbourne will have to work hard - 6 days and 4 nights a week for the next 6-7 weeks. He might get leave after the exams, but that will be embarkation leave. If he gets part of the weekends off he has three separate invitation from friends in Brighton.

Tells a story about some paratroops who got lost returning from France and ended up at Newhaven.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Eastbourne (East Sussex)]]> 1942-03]]>

Should be able to get a short period of leave and will come home briefly if he can.

Wonders how they are getting on at home with the lambing.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Eastbourne (East Sussex)]]> 1942-03]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Eastbourne (East Sussex)]]> 1942-03]]> William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Eastbourne (East Sussex)]]> 1942-03]]> William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Eastbourne (East Sussex)]]> 1942-04]]>
Mentions air raid warning but no activity apart from circling enemy aircraft, also writes of Spitfire sweeps and formations of Bostons. Writes of social activities and meeting old acquaintances. Mentions chapel and meeting ministers. Refers to next Sunday's christening.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Eastbourne (East Sussex)]]> 1942-04]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Wehrmacht. Luftwaffe]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Somerset]]> England--Eastbourne (East Sussex)]]> England--Bath]]> 1942-05]]> William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Royal Air Force]]> Civilian]]> Wehrmacht. Luftwaffe]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Eastbourne (East Sussex)]]> 1942-05]]>
Bill hopes to get back into the Imperial Hotel soon, since he has no clean things. Catches up with news of family and friends. Ends with cartoon drawing of machine gun post and aircraft being shot down in flames.]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Artwork]]> Civilian]]> Royal Air Force]]> Wehrmacht. Luftwaffe]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Eastbourne (East Sussex)]]> England--Bexhill]]> 1942-05]]>

Still have not been able to get back into Imperial Hotel, but have found a room in another hotel with two others, although they still have not got their kit. Noted recent newspaper article where Eastbourne was included in a list of shattered towns of Europe.

Food much better now since gun crews get special meals at different times and as much as they like.

PS He has heard that he is to be posted to West Freugh near Stranraer in Scotland. Very disappointed not to get an overseas posting. Friend Derry not going with him. ]]>
William Akrill]]> IBCC Digital Archive]]> Tricia Marshall]]> eng]]> Text]]> Text. Correspondence]]> Civilian]]> Royal Air Force]]> Great Britain]]> England--Sussex]]> England--Eastbourne (East Sussex)]]> 1942-05]]>