Martin Catty grew up in London and was evacuated, with his school, to Westward Ho! at the beginning of the war. He completed a short training course at Cambridge University in 1942 and joined the Royal Air Force. After training, he flew 40…
Jack Cook was born in Mexborough. He left school at 14 and went to work at a Gentlemen’s Outfitters. At 16 he worked on the footplate for LNER. At the age of 18 he volunteered for aircrew and trained as a wireless operator/air gunner; joined 100…
As her father was in the Royal Navy, Margaret attended school in Gibraltar, Portsmouth, and (after her mother’s death) Malta, before returning to Gosport in the UK when she was eleven. In 1939, she was fifteen and working for a company making soft…
John Dean’s childhood memory of watching a Spitfire and a German aircraft having a dogfight in the sky above him spurred him to want to become a Spitfire pilot. He didn’t achieve his aim of becoming a Spitfire pilot and instead became a…
Reg Dunbar enlisted for the RAF in Liverpool and it was suggested that he join as a wireless operator. He went to RAF Cardington initially and then to Yatesbury for training. He also trained as an air gunner, and after training was posted to 37…
Martin Edwards recounts the war-time stories of his father, Frederick Edwards. Frederick was born in Kent in 1923, and lived on the family farm. He joined the RAF in 1943 as was posted to Canada for training as a navigator. On his return to England,…
Harry Hacker first came into contact with aeroplanes at the age of sixteen whilst working as an apprentice for Rootes Motor Group who were making Wellington aircraft. He was a member of the Home Guard and after applying to join the RAF went for…
Writes his job as postman and that sometimes sees what other have written on post cards. States that Douglas always has a smile and does not worry about anything, Reports all are well and looking forward to freedom.
Writes that he has received correspondence from home and from pen friends. States he cannot write to the latter as he is only allowed two letters a month. Explains that he cannot say a great deal in letters and that politics are taboo. Explains about…
Explains that he has not been able to write to all as he has used allowance of letters to parents. Says that there he can tell apart from assuring them that he keeping well. Mentions summer weather and that they had been able to keep cool indoors.…
Writes about moving from El Kef to Médéa in Algeria. New arrangements organised for internees by American and British governments with cooperation of French. Explains that conditions are much better that at El Kef where they were very rough. They…
Writes that he has received many letters and discusses the time some have taken and different post options. Mentions finances and that conditions in new location are much improved. Catches up with family news and discusses weather in North Africa.
Intends sending letter by air mail through American consul in Algiers. Encourages them to send letter to him by air mail which takes three weeks as opposed to several months by other means. Commiserates with their difficulties, discusses finances and…
Writes a lot about mail received and sent and options for post. States that air mail is best despite expense. Discusses weather, climate and the local countryside. Mentions his French language problems.
Writes of successful quick exchange of cables. Has sent them many letters by various means. They now have more liberty and can walk around. They are staying in normal hotel with shared bedrooms. Weather is cold because of height at present. Cannot…
Writes of mail received and that he is happy they are now settled as constant moving made addressing letters to them difficult. Writes that he has been walking in local countryside and about the weather which is still quite cool as he has only just…
Writes of letters received from them and other relations. Discusses mail situation. Discusses their new house and talks a little of life in his new situation.
Acknowledges receipt of letters. Hopes they are settling in new house.Talks of chocolate, red cross and their status as prisoners of war in Tunisia. Notes price of cigarettes is much cheaper in Algeria that in England. Says he is expecting to go to…
Had received letter from them and sorry to hear mother was ill. Concerned over possible gaps in mail. Went to Algiers for two day, tried to get clothes but very difficult. Describes Algiers city and weather. Sorry to hear old school master was victim…
Notes that he has been moved to a new location , camp at Aumale, which is under previous harsher regime. It is better that El Kef but was a surprise after the freedom of Médéa. Has received cable but cannot cable new address as American consul has…
Most of the letter concerns post with catalogue of mail sent and received and shows concern that some was missing/delayed. due to multiple address changes at both ends. Suggests that they send mail to him via the American consul in Algiers.
Glad that things have settled down and suggest they now mail him via some people at the British post office Tangier. Despite their anxiety that their mail has reached him he has received over 40 letters from them. Goes on to discuss mail strategies.…
Confirms information in previous telegram, information from American Consul in Tunis that son previously reported missing is interned and safe in Tunisia