1
25
16
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6644/ELampreyPGuntonWXXXX31.1.pdf
d87c804188ed9e471c832895c62bdeb4
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Isle of Tiree
Western Hebrides
Saturday [underlined] 31st [/underlined]
Dear Unk and other loafers.
May heaven forgive you for I never will. Not content to revel in my discomfort – you – my so called friends – send me sand. Always grateful – I thank you. I shall now grow a cactus in it and teach it to bite anything resembling a printer. Not but that I could let it loose in the machine room with safety after what my horrified eyes saw on my last visit. “The Royal” is the best thing you do and then only because of the interesting personalities it features.
This is being written, as your uneducated eyes can see by referring to the above address,
[page break]
2.
from the blessed isle. Normally I should not attempt to write again from here, but feel constrained to do so by the evidently overwhelming joy that imbues your breasts at my continued incarceration.
The weather – praise the Lord – has definitely taken a turn and is up off its knees. The sun shone for 25 minutes yesterday and half the local inhabitants asked us what it was. Having been an avid reader in my youth I explained and have since been regarded by the natives as one who knows. However, the gale is now digging in its toes ready for another go at us and the hut. Were the huts in the right direction they would eventually float down towards H.Q. but at present the gale only carries them out to sea, admittedly piece by
[page break]
3.
piece, but nevertheless – grimly and remorselessly. If I don’t get off this place soon I shall develop a lovely pair of web feet.
The boat arrived again today. This makes three times this week. They are giving the skipper the V.C. I think for this feat of endurance. In the memory of the oldest inhabitant this feat has only been equalled once and never exceeded. From other local records I understand, they bought this island from the Indians for a handful of beads. They were twisted. And I don’t mean the Indians. Even the seagulls take one look and keep on flying. The local hens stand and watch them and try to pick up a few hints and then get back to
[page break]
their flying practice ready for the big day.
Turning to more serious things – if possible – I can now pass some private information. Knowing your reticence I would not like the rest of the chapel to know that Wyn and Kitty wrote me and asked how Bill and Bert were. I was pleased to reply that I understood you were both suffering terribly. If this should be wrong I am only too glad to have given the wrong impression. The next time I go out with anybody I shall go alone. Then I won’t have to make excuses for the low company I keep.
You say Bill Smith hasn’t heard from me. This is not suprising [sic] to me as I haven’t written. How in hell can I write to a
[page break]
5.
bloke when I haven’t got his address? Besides he seems to be taking this war too seriously. Instead of easing it along gently he’s trying to rush it. Lets [sic] get some of the old team in first. They scored alright in the last match.
There is supposed to be a relief party coming out to take our place but if the perishers hear what this dump – joint or gaff is like they’ll very likely go over the side. Then we shall be left holding the can. And the can is something I don’t like holding unless it is full of beer. Sorry Mr. Hunt, but as you remark, my mind never gets above the froth of the navel.
When I do – if I do – get away from this place, I shall go on such a bend that
[page break]
my letters concerning it [deleted] well [/deleted] will make “Decameron Nights” read like “East Lynne”. All that sustains me through these weary days is the thought that somewhere someone is thinking of me. Not that I care, I think the same about you, only more so. I like to sit and think that one day, from the snug security of a back turret, I shall see some of my best friends perched precariously on this corner of heaven. Especially “old railings” – and the other two bloody inventors. It would rather suit brother George here. With his bow and arrers[sic] he would be the best atoned man on the island. The natives still use flint axes.
Having now exhausted myself – your patience and the pad I close with all
[page break]
the usual lies. Hope everyone is well and dont[sic] get hurt.
Remember me to the OPA’s – Frankham – Woaker – Freddie Cox – Fred Cooper – Speedy. Tell the maintenance I often think of them – when I want to be really miserable.
your loving nephew
Pete.
P.S. I didn’t mention Harry Ashton this time as what I think of him is always unmentionable.
P.P.S. Should “old railings” break his neck let me know – I want to be the first to send congratulations.
Pete.
P.T.O.
I often wondered if you’d all be dumb enough to turn over when I put P.T.O.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes about life at Royal Air Force Tiree including the weather, the locals and the arrival of the boat. He concludes with banter to his friends and acquaintances.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Eight page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonWXXXX31
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
military living conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6638/ELampreyPGuntonWXX0502.1.pdf
fb4ad4d07ce26bf843c7c9dd4a145075
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[postage stamp]
Mr W Gunton
Machine Room
Waterlow and Sons Ltd
Twyford Abbey Road.
Park Royal. N.W.10.
London.
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
Hut. Z. 14.
[underlined] Tiree [/underlined]
[underlined] Saturday. 2nd. May. [/underlined]
Dear Bill, others.
The address is above. It might just as well be China from the number of bloody replies I get from your end of the world. For Petes [sic] sake send me something even if its only a Christmas card. I slave myself fighting your war and you don’t even cheer, you’d be in a pretty fine pickle if I turned the job in with it half won. If you have definitely decided to ignore me completely you might write one line to the effect and I’ll start
[page break]
corresponding with somebody who can write.
If you can still read you will see that I am still incarcerated in the Western Isles. Why in hell anybody ever wrote songs about them I dont [sic] know. Except rude ones. I notice that the clients that did write the songs, did it from the mainland and always hollered about getting back – but never did. Wise in their generation.
Mind you there is not a lot to grumble at these days. In fact I have a hard job finding something to moan about but why should I forgo the right of being happy when I am moaning. The sun shines brillianly [sic] on the airmen disporting themselves upon the sandy beaches – or that’s what the papers say. The trouble is, the wind fetches the sandy beach right into bed with you and on your plate
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] 3. [/underlined]
as well. About the only disporting this airman gets a chance of doing is in his bed, and then he does it alone.
This fine weather gives you a chance to have a look at the island. If you want to. For my part the finest view of this place is seen from about six hundred miles. I cursed the place in January but since then I’ve learnt how to swear properly. If I am [deleted] hear [/deleted] here much longer I shall have to learn Spanish as I understand you can really put some feeling into your language then.
Not having the latest information from you I don’t know how things are getting along down there. From the little news we do get I understand one or two things have happened down south. This will mean
[page break]
the return of the spotters I suppose back to their little wooden hut and some more bloody inventions. If they send any of them to me they can come down from the roof and make their home in a shelter for safety. Not that there seems to be a lot of chance of me getting leave for a while. This however will not upset any of you in fact it is about the best war news you’ve had I suppose.
The fact that I am still feeling fit is of no interest I know but then I like to rub into you civilians the fact that they certainly got the right men this time. If brother George is well enough you might point this out to him. Feeling a fit man is pretty good. Unfortunately there are none of the other sex in the island as I’d like a change.
With the advent of fine weather I take it
[page break]
you are all digging for victory. Beacham, as usual, borrowing a few plants for a couple of months, while the straw-wall combination gets along. Bert sowing. Harry reaping. From the performance some of you put up before, about all you people will grow this summer will be about four months older.
When I get back to civilisation I intend doing a bit of cultivation myself. If all goes well I shall plant a few things out in the fields round Inverness. I hope to be away before the harvest. One thing there should be a few new blossoms around by the time I get back.
I hope everything is Jake [sic]. Keep the payments up or she’ll have you in court. Remember me to all at home. If J. Denny has got over last time you can kiss him
[page break]
again for me. Remember me to one and all.
All the best
Pete.
P.S. Ask B. Smith if he has heard from F Gunner. I wrote Glady’s[sic] and have not had a reply yet.
P.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes that he is still at Royal Air Force Tiree and the weather has generally been good apart from the wind. He concludes with friendly banter.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Envelope and six page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonWXX0502
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
military living conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6637/ELampreyPGuntonWXX0421.1.pdf
71073519185742c973b89c1f5fea4c5a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[postage stamp]
[censor stamp]
Mr W Gunton
Machine Room
Waterlow and Sons Ltd.
Twyford Abbey Road
Park Royal N.W.10.
London.
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
Hut. N3.
[underlined] Tiree [/underlined]
[underlined] Tuesday. 21st. April. [/underlined]
Dear Unk.
Don’t ever, in any further or future epistles, address me as old pal. From now on I refuse to be associated with anybody who so consistently ignores some of my most remarkable literary efforts. If you are not going to reply to my letters at least send them back so I can get the bloody credit for collecting some waste paper.
I am now in posession [sic] of information as to the whereabouts of some of the parcels you sent. They are safe, or as safe as
[page break]
anything can be with a bunch of my airmen friends in the immediate vicinity. Thank you for them – provisionally. If the blasted inventors have had a hand in the packing of them you can consider the thanks cancelled. Have they made one of their usual efforts they can now start making their will, as when I arrive time will be too short.
Not that it is of any interest to you people but purely as an item of interesting news. I can state that I am fit and well – fit for nothing and well browned off. That I am still healthy will no doubt disappoint many of my friends at Park Royal. For their further discomfort I hope to be visiting in the not too distant future.
We are at last beginning to hope that
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] 3. [/underlined]
our stay in this delectable spot is now drawing towards its [sic] hoped for conclusion. Then it is me for the big city, to squander some of my accumulated vitality in riotous dissipation and debauchery. Leaving – I hope – a [deleted] a [/deleted] trail of dirty glasses and dirtier nights.
Not being “au fait” with news from Park Royal, I can hardly be expected to know if Mr Hunt has taken my advice and decided to drown his sorrows – or just himself. Either course would make a better man of him. The latest squeeze from the income tax will no doubt have him making friends with Harry Beacham finding out how wangle a few more rebates.
I have decided to refrain from passing
[page break]
any comments on that low life Moloney’s lack of morals. If he doesn’t marry Cherry after spending the Easter together he should be thrown out of the chapel band of hope – the mob that are hoping night work starts again. I often wonder if the overtime book has been stuck in a museum or whether you hold a prayer meeting in front of it every week.
In your last – and only letter – you asked how my black passion was going. She has. I had a letter from her and she is by now right near London. Always getting shot down in flames – I feel like a bloody Dornier it happens so often. The next time I get hold of one I’ll take her with me.
By a serious mistake on somebody’s
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] 5. [/underlined]
part the NAAFI is now selling beer. That is recognisable as such. Having always lived dangerously, the brave airmen now drink the stuff and defy all natural laws by refusing to die of poisoning. The next shipment in will not get my patronage until I’ve tried a glassful on the stained walnut furniture. If it bleaches it – it’s safe – if it blisters it – they can give it to the corporals.
Notwithstanding the intolerable indifference with which you treat me I shall now proceed to wish you well. Convey my wishes to brother George for a swift return to No-7 folder. The place must seem like a zoo with the pet bear gone. Give my love
[page break]
to all at home. Remember me to she and all.
Lots of love.
[underlined] Pete. [/underlined]
P.S. Tell Moloney not to take any notice of what I write. I got a real one for him when we meet.
P.P.S. A certain person writes and says she’d like to see you – in your coffin.
[censor signature]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes that he hopes his tour is nearly at an end, comments on his love life and notes that the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute is now selling beer.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Envelope and six page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonWXX0421
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
military living conditions
Navy, Army and Air Force Institute
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6636/ELampreyPGuntonWXX0417.1.pdf
dd4389f472f38808eb6eb93b40e28909
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[RAF Crest]
Hut. N3
RAF. Tiree.
Argyllshire
[underlined] Friday. 17th. April [/underlined]
Dear Uncle Bill and others.
At long last, out of the blue, I get news. Civilisation is once more within distance. Once again your concience [sic] has forced you to write to the man who is winning your blasted war for you.
In answer to your momentous epistle. Please convey my sympathies to brother George and wish him a speedy return to where I can still aim my usual epithets at him. I’d send him some grapes if I could buy them – if I don’t like them myself. Wish him
[page break]
luck for me.
I hope your affairs have settled down and taken a more normal turn. There are one or two more things I hope about you but I don’t think the language would get by the censor. From what I hear things at P.R. are going O.K. Rusty is having a few [deleted] half [/deleted] half days. The obvious thing is to sling the perisher out and the job must go perfect. Common logic.
Things – unfortunately for your wishes – are going fairly well here. I am still doing my double turn – two men’s work. Otherwise it is like a rest cure – there is nothing to do but sleep when we get to bed – when. We still manage to keep sane and sober – the latter a safety precaution against poisoning and the former is of course comparative.
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] 3. [/underlined]
After reading some of the performances you people are putting up in my absence, I have no fears of going behind bars. My best position is in front of them. As for my bit of black passion – listen – how in hell can I tell you how she is. More than likely one of my so-called pals is already engaged in knifing me in the back. They perform almost as well as my London friends. The only thing is – having been stabbed from behind so often by you people there is some difficulty in finding a new place to plant the knife. You ask – have I received all the parcels – once again I repeat – until yesterday all I had from you was complete indifference. If any parcels were sent my friend, they are still sculling. I’ve not heard one peep
[page break]
or whimper of them.
Now that Spring has come to Tiree we can see the island better. After one look I don’t care if winter comes back. Life still plugs on its weary [deleted] indecipherable word [/deleted] way and barring the date we get very little variety. Not that I expect to collect any sympathy from you people by a recital of my sufferings.
About this time of the year an old friend of mine – Harry Straw – will be observed making paper bags. This is a part of the usual spring clean of the old oak chest. The notes are retied in bundles of fifty and put into nice clean bags. Let me know if he addresses a few to me and I’ll keep a look out for it.
Although you did not mention it I expected to hear that Mr. Hunt had collapsed when
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] 5. [/underlined]
the new income tax came in. I suppose he is sorry he doesn’t drink and smoke – think of the money he could save giving them up.
I am sorry to hear that Cherry is taking the rose-strewn path to ruin. Spending his holidays with Moloney will be his downfall. Moloney, in the words of one of my contemporaries, is so low, that it would take a special dispensation from heaven, to raise him to the level of utter degradation.
I cannot credit your tale of Charlie and his underhanded work. The man is honest from the soles of his feet down. The news that Dave has taken a new partner is evidence that he intends to see anybody does his share – anybody but himself. If he can only stay out of prison long enough,
[page break]
he’ll have Waterlows working for him.
There seems to be an undercurrent of jubilation in your letter, at my return to this sample of your “lovely spots this side of Scotland”. If I am correct in this, then you and I will do more than celebrate when I eventually shake the shackles. We have now got to the stage where we are expecting to be recalled any day. This in case you don’t know means precisely nothing. It is just a guarantee that when we eventually pass out from old age they will ship the bodies to the mainland.
I don’t intend to regale you with any more of my hopes or aspirations. One of these days I shall draw a shred of leave and come and have a look at you working for victory. I shall let you know in time to
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] 7. [/underlined]
get the rest of the chapel out of their clubroom.
Thank Eddie (ink room) for his wishes. Give my regards to the Guv‘nor. Harry Ashton can take them in with the tea – from poet to potman. Remember me to the engineers – OPA’s and others. Kiss Jack Denny – if he feels strong enough to stand it.
All the best.
Pete.
P.S. The WAAF asked an officer what he was. “Naval Surgeon” says off. “Well” says W. “How they specialise these days”
P.T.O.
[page break]
P.P.S. Lets [sic] have a bit more bloody letter answering.
[censor signature]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes about his life at Royal Air Force Tiree including the weather and he teases his former workmates.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Eight page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonWXX0417
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
military living conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6635/ELampreyPGuntonWXX0310.2.pdf
ce7e12c1ea6592a96d42b867278ead60
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[RAF Crest]
Tiree.
[underlined] Friday. 10th Mar. [/underlined]
Dear Unk.
While this missive is penned in no carping spirit. I would like to point out that, for almost three weeks, I have not been troubled with a letter from Park Royal. Perhaps it is my fault in that I have not illustrated my letters to you, but – if you think I am going to keep on writing to a load of dumb clucks that want something new in every letter you can try getting stuffed.
If you still posess [sic] the health and strength to raise your eyes above knee level, you will see that I am still
[page break]
holding up the prestige of the minders in this far flung outpost. Not but that I usually have to keep my past criminal associations secret. The war still passes by on the other side of the road. Things maintain the calm usually associated with Harry Beacham and Harry Straw rushing to buy a drink for one another. So far we are doing pretty fair. We still keep sane and healthy, how we do the former is another unsolved mystery of the war.
Seeing that the mail from here is liable to be held up for quite a few days you will no doubt manage to get a line or two to me before this letter reaches your hands. If by some mistake is[sic] should contain any intelligent references to somebody who writes to me in the interim
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] 3. [/underlined]
they can take it as an unintended compliment. If however I manage to insult anybody let me know what it is so I can repeat it my next letter.
We are having one of our big nights tonight. The film comes to Tiree. Once a week the island cuts loose and goes to the cinema. All the latest epics of Hollywood are screened – this week they are having talkies. What with the cinema, NAAFI etc. I hardly know what to do with my money – if I had any.
Never daunted by the body-blows of fate we still hope to get away from here very shortly. I have a strong fancy for biting huge lumps out of Inverness, a fancy for going to town
[page break]
with a pocketful of cash – bad designs and no conciense[sic]. At the present moment it looks as if my leave has been stuck in the wrong file so I will have to get weaving when I return, to sort it out again. I notice that no expressions of sympathy have been forthcoming at this disaster to my plans. If you are all so bloody pleased at my missing leave why don’t you subscribe to a telegraph of congratulation.
I daresay, looking through my letter, some of you well-educated perishers will find a few spelling errors. If you care to point them out next time you write, if ever, I shall have much pleasure in taking not the slightest notice and spelling how I damn well like.
Mr. Ashton – rest his soul – has at
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] 5. [/underlined]
last seen the error of his ways and stopped his versifying. Had he carried on he would quite
likely have stopped something else.
Mr Evans still keeps out of jail I hope. One of the advantages of having some good friends is the way they pay your fines for drunkenness etc. He certainly couldn’t pay them himself if he still gets in an hour late every day. And Mr Barnes – how does his garden grow? Still raising giant parsnips or just the usual hell.
I was glad to hear from another source, that the “Harrow Tavern” has not been disgraced by your presence for quite a while. The further away you keep the better for everyone. I should hate to
[page break]
tell you what she thinks of you. And you wouldn’t like the chapel to know you are low enough to use a bus ticket to sit on.
I can’t close without sending greetings to that old Salonikan [sic], brother George, I know how he feels when nobody will listen to his load of lies. I haven’t had a bloody letter for [underlined] three weeks [/underlined] get going.
All the best
Pete.
P.S. Remember me to all.
[indecipherable signature]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes that he has received no letters for three weeks from usual correspondents. He mentions the weekly film night and that he hopes to leave Tiree soon and return to Inverness.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Six page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonWXX0310
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
entertainment
military living conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6634/ELampreyPGuntonWXX0206.1.pdf
19059c61db2f245adf33a62f6cdcf27a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] Tiree [/underlined]
Friday [underlined] 6th Feb. [/underlined]
Dear Unk – [underlined] others. [/underlined]
Don’t for one moment imagine I shall ever address you as my friends. From now on relations are distant and to say the least – strained. You may glory in my my[sic] miseries but the day of reckoning will come and I hope to drop a shower of urea upon the whole flaming lot of you.
The biggest event of the present war is undoubtedly Mr. G.W.R. Harbours great contribution to the literary history of the times. I didn’t know the perisher could read, much less write. However,
[page break]
being broadminded, I thank him. Not that his remarks are in any way correct. He has evidently been misinformed when he says I don’t like this this[sic] place. I love it. I wouldn’t leave here if I had to crawl all the way to Scotland. I hope they don’t mention England as I’d try that.
The relief plane is supposed to arrive over the week-end – again. If it doesn’t come then I propose to start an airline of my own. The place is getting better day by day. There is more of it under water. With a few more days rain the bloody place will sink – I hope. You ask if we have had any snow – listen – I’ve got enough bleeding trouble wading through twelve inches mud and slosh without
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
5.
worrying about snow. If it doesn’t snow here its[sic] because nothing could be settled on this corner of heaven.
They have dug more trenches on this island than they had in France during the last fracas. Eventually they will have power lines etc [sic] in them. At present they have me in them every time I step outside. Not that I would have any objection to breaking my neck – it would be a relief. Mr. Harbour, in his masterpiece, says he lived in sand and, in his crude way, shit, for three years but it wasn’t all in one heap, like this is.
I thank Mr Hunt for his very true representation of myself and this earthly paradise. I have had the elbow on more than one occasion but it is the first time I’ve had it twice in one arm. [page break]
However, when I realise the efforts that his tutors must have made to bash a bit of learning into his skull I realise that it is good enough for his limited intelligence. Once again, I thank him.
Otherwise – life runs its weary way – no change can be reported from this zone of war. Not that I should like to disturb the even tenor of your lives with lurid tales of my suffering in the sacred name of freedom but if I don’t get a bit more sympathy than I’ve had of late I’ll make your blood run cold with the awful truth.
Enclosed you will find two letters – one that Mr. Evans might care to read and one addressed to Bill. And I’m [deleted] one letter [/deleted] warning you. If you start any nonsense I’ll [deleted] y [/deleted] use your belly for a bath mat.
[page break]
Since starting this epistle, word has come from H.Q. that two of us have to stay for a few weeks more to train the new operators. I am practising the daftest expression I can so they won’t pick me. But if they do – the sufferings I experience will be nothing to the sufferings you will hear in all my future letters.
Now I must go and keep my eye on the sky. Be careful. Kiss Rusty.
Love to all
Pete.
P.S. This will teach you not to expect a P.S. every time.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes about life on Tiree including the terrible weather and having to stay on to train new operators.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Five page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonWXX0206
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6629/ELampreyPGuntonWXX0405.2.pdf
1c4eb40ec2acb3edace51cb97323a803
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Mr W Gunton.
Machine Room.
Waterlow and Sons. Ltd.
Twyford Abbey Road
Park Royal. N.W.10
London.
[inserted] EXAMINER 9081[/inserted]
[postage stamp]
[postmark]
[censor stamp]
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[inserted] OPENED BY [/inserted]
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined]Tiree [/underlined]
[underlined] Sunday. 5th. April. [/underlined]
My Dear Uncle Bill.
Listen. If you think this letter writing business is going to be strictly a one way matter you had better try another blasted think. Here am I, pouring my bruised soul out in an effort to collect a bit of sympathy and all I get is a sneer from the postman. I won’t do my friend – it definitely will not do. While admitting that you have a load of roughs around you, I still like to maintain my contacts with the underdog and any news of them is welcome.
[page break]
I hope the fact of my incarceration upon the island has not caused you to celebrate in such a wild manner that you have been apprehended and stuck in the jug. At least I don’t mind if you are in jail but you might try and kid one of the others to reply to my literary efforts. Your cribbage board has crumbled from dry rot through lack of use and in any case my side had been filled for weeks.
Things, much to my friends [sic] eternal disappointment, are not going too bad. I am still alive and taking whatever nourishment the gods bestow. As you will no doubt recollect from earlier bulletins from Tiree, the beer here is only fit for sub-humans, like
[page break]
[underlined] 3. [/underlined]
[RAF Crest]
Moloney, to drink. Personally, having the greatest respect for my linings, I am a staunch tee-totaller. This will doubtless cause Mr. Hunt to whimper with delight but – I can assure him that it is purely a safety precaution and does not mean I have joined his mob. In fact, when I get the chance, I shall have much pleasure in being sick on his carpet.
Things otherwise are very nice, thank you. We work like horses and if I was to part my bloody hair a bit different I’d look like one. The weather, for a change, has fell on its back and is lousy. One of these days it will turn out fine and the whole camp will be
[page break]
prostrated with shock.
The little job we came over to do seems to be stretching out longer than was anticipated. This is nothing new in my young life and therefore I can view the future with a calm mind. I shall very likely die of senile decay round here somewhere. The one snag is, I shall have to make fresh contacts when I get back to the mainland and that means you sometimes buy beer and she still insists on walking all the evening. Not that I dont[sic] trust the boys back there but, I wouldn’t let a dog run loose where they are, much less my black browed beauty. I must consider myself, I am afraid, a deserted man.
[page break]
[underlined] 5. [/underlined]
[RAF Crest]
The lack of news from your end of course, debars me from having anything to write about the rest of the mob in the den of thieves. At one time, I understand, Mr. W. Collins, was about to break out into a rash letter. Not having received one, I suppose the correspondence school gave up the idea of ever teaching him to write. If any other loafer should feel like writing to me, tell him to keep it secret and surprise me. After the last fortnight I’d be suprised [sic] if I got a letter from the income tax people.
Moving to less pleasant subjects, how is brother George these days? Still driving the Turks out of Salonika or planning the recapture of Singapore?
[page break]
Now the finer weather is here he can talk without fear of getting his hands frostbitten. And Rusty. I suppose he still explodes according to plan. Three times a week? As long as he can still keep a firm hand on the old roue [sic]– Mr. Evans – things will be all right but – if what I hear is right and my own eyes are witness – once he lets Dave off the chain – the chapel money will be frittered away in wine, women and song. And that would be terrible, especially the song part.
Seeing that Russia is doing so well, I suppose my two friends, Cocky Warren and Arthur Gilbert, are now comissars [sic] for the chapel. Who has got their places in the minders lounge now?
[page break]
[underlined] 7. [/underlined]
I shall – I hope – at some not too distant date, be [deleted] ing [/deleted] getting my leave. The fact that I missed it last time has by now penetrated into what goes for a mind with you. That you were very disappointed I can quite imagine. I have a wonderful imagination. In fact I should think the cheering has only just died down. However, when they turn me loose from here, I shall stuff in a pass and make tracks for the big city. Keep the striped awning – red carpet and bunting handy and get a crate in ready. Book my seat in a corner near the bar and I’ll let you know if I get a ticket.
Having spread my innermost hopes and aspirations over a number of pages I am
[page break]
afraid I must finish off as the war is awaiting my urgent attention.
Give my regards to the OPA’s, engineers etc. Kiss jack Denny for me. Remember me to all at home. That is if you dare go home. And dont [sic] forget to write.
All my love
Pete.
P.S.
Remember me to Fred. Cooper.
[inserted] signature [/inserted]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes complaining about the quality of beer, the weather and hard work on Tiree. He then writes to catch up with friends and includes friendly banter. The letter has been opened by the censor.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Envelope and eight page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonWXX0405
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
military living conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6595/ELampreyPGuntonW420509.2.pdf
75c59273c237f55cb89ab267d6258c7b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
GLASGOW
1.30 PM
13 MAY
1942
[postage stamp]
Mr. W. Gunton
Machine Room.
Waterlow and Sons Ltd
Twyford Abbey Road
Park Royal
London. N.W.10.
[inserted]
EXAMINER 6440
51-9912-G.W.D.
[/inserted]
[inserted]
X
[/inserted]
[page break]
[reverse of envelope]
[RAF Crest]
[inserted]
P.C. 90
OPENED BY
[/inserted]
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
Hut. Z14.
[underlined] Tiree [/underlined]
[underlined] Saturday. 9th. May. [/underlined]
Dear Unk and others.
So - at last my efforts reap their just reward. At least I have beaten into your solid ivory skulls the fact that I can read and would like the pleasure of laughing at some of you dumb clucks working for the inland revenue. It is more than you perishers ever did while I watched you. Then you had no excuse - and needed none.
Well - my better nature rising as usual to the surface - I thank you for your effort. But I still don't remember getting the March "Royal". If you are up to some of your usual skull-
[page break]
duggery and are holding out on me, I should advise you to stop and consider the horrible risk you run. I am very glad to hear Brother George is back in the folder but - for Petes' [sic] sake don't say he is back at work. That I know is a lie. A man that lies to an airman has as much [deleted] undecipherable [/deleted] conscience as a girl that wears her suspender belt over her panties.
It is nice of you to talk about promotion my friend but - the rings I aspire to most at the present, are a nice dark set round my eyes. And as to my prop going round - I hope it goes round London with me very shortly. You still seem to get the wrong impression of this place. Where do you get the idea that the island looks any better when the sun shines. You can see more of it. I think the place was very well disguised if you liked the scenery when you
[page break]
[underlined] 3. [/underlined]
[RAF Crest]
were around this part of the world. Sand my friend looks just the same in or out of a fire bucket.
Now that Brother George is back in harness - how apt a phrase - I suppose he is now doing his usual digging for victory. Raising his usual crop of bloated wireworms and fine looking sparrows. If he could only raise raspberries like he deserves them. Rusty as usual has his ex-pected failure with his plums - an annual event. The only bloke down there that get[sic] any-thing out of allotments is Moloney. He gets his suits.
So Frank Batchelor is going to carry the war into foreign parts. I hope you wished him luck for me. I can see the other boys are playing the good old minders game of letting
[page break]
someone else do it. But I am still a minder under the blue of the service and if you want me to do your bit my friends, you've had it. At the present moment I am easing the war along very nicely thank you and am capable of taking care of any stray pints the boys leave without an owner. In fact, life is rolling along without me having to leave my seat to help shove.
I do not like your dirty cracks about my bit of pash [passion] in Blackpool. That is a bit of the reserves the air force like to fall back on now and again. In any case tell Bert Smith to send that blasted photo back pronto in case he gets called up and sent up there. I'd hate to have my character blackened by an engineer who can't keep his mind above the [deleted] undecipherable [/deleted] navel.
Once again we are in the throes of expecting.
[page break]
[underlined] 5 [/underlined].
[RAF Crest]
Not what you mean, but expecting to get back to the mainland. It might be this week at last. If it is my lucky date, I think I shall pop in for a bit of leave straight away and get me a few days of riotous living. A few days spent under a bar room table.
Altough[sic] Although I really need not ask, I suppose Mr Hunt is still prostrate at the thought of having to pay for my enjoyment out of his own pocket. Every time I smoke a fag I think of him and hope he lasts long enough to see the war out. I also hope Maloney sees it out - in Libya. That thought also goes for those two fugitives from the rooftop.
They have now got a station band here and can those boys play. They all play in the station team.
One of these days someone will show them a
[page break]
sheet of music and then there will be some excitement. Still the boys are pretty good and now the place is getting civilised the natives are coming out of the woods and mixing a bit. As soon as I learn the language I shall pick me a nice hula maid and hang around until the hot weather dries the grass up.
This, I am sorely afraid, will have to do for a while. Remember me to the OPA's- engs.[engineers] old man etc. Look after Dave and give him his bottle regular.
Best of luck.
Pete.
P.S. Have a look at that red carpet, you might need it soon.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes a light hearted letter to his friends and mentions that he hopes to get back to the mainland soon. The letter has been opened and signed by censor.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-05-13
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-05-13
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Envelope and six page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonW420509
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6594/ELampreyPGuntonW420423.1.pdf
d91b1f2451d696f27e312f8637ec67d5
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
SCARINISH
ISLE OF TIREE
23 AP 42
[postage stamp]
R.A.F.
CENSOR
184
[indecipherable censor signature]
Mr. W. Gunton.
Machine Room.
Waterlow and Sons. Ltd.
Twyford Abbey Road.
Park Royal. N.W.10.
London
[page break]
[reverse of envelope]
[RAF Crest]
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] Thursday. 23rd. April. [/underlined]
Mr. Ashton or any other lug that likes to climb into the ring:-
With due consideration,
And a sense of emulation.
I reply, in manner fitting, to your screed but percieve [sic] with perturbation,
Though with something like elation,
That your style has suffered terribly indeed.
Now you, with no compunction,
Hold, that in a natural function,
Like a dream, I should express myself in rhyme.
I retort with righteous unction,
That working in conjunction
[page break]
With the R.A.F., I really haven't time.
Although this situation
Will cause mighty consternation,
I regret the tears my friends are going to shed.
But reflect, in rumination,
On the joyous jubilation
You will hold, when news comes through that I am dead.
If there should be some reaction,
Like a certain satisfaction,
At no rhymes or verse, a favour I would ask.
You will name me to the faction,
For my future line of action,
Will be, to take these certain folks to task.
I can see that my promotion
Has effected a commotion
But I hope that one and all will understand
I distrust your sweet devotion
As I have sneaking notion
[page break]
[underlined] 9. [/underlined]
[RAF Crest]
That you're working hard at something underhand.
I take the greatest pleasure
In recording - in full measure
My feelings to the chapel as a whole
But the hours I spend in leisure
I will everlasting treasure
And not in writing to a bunch of bloody dimwits that I have only heard from once in the last month.
Dear Uncle Bill.
From the foregoing you will see that I have heard from Mr. Ashton. You might thank him. I wouldn't. I also heard from our old friend Fred Baulch, who has some how [sic] picked up the quite erroneous idea that I am enjoying myself. I have a rooted objection to such tales being spread. Any
[page break]
further misinterpretations of my letters will find you facing a charge - or a summons for defamation of character.
Life has for some reason taken the easy road lately. I can now sit and stare for hours at a pile of work and not even sweat. This is where the training I perceived under my old friend Harry stands me in good stead. If it goes on like this, I shall leave my. [sic] saddle and bridle off and take things as they come. That's if some of my thieving friends don't take them first.
My short stay in this holiday resort seems to have got jammed up somewhere. If I am here much longer I can see myself marrying one of the Indians and forgetting I was ever a white man. Having been
[page break]
[underlined] 5. [/underlined]
[RAF Crest]
so long out of contact with civilisation – or what goes for civilisation in your neck of the woods - I am just a bit doubtful as to whether life goes on the same in your little bear pit. From reports that drift through it seems as if life is one long round of letting someone else do it. Business as [deleted] has [/deleted] usual.
The weather having climbed up off it’s [sic] knees we can look forward to being enticed out without our coats. Then I suppose - the urea will descend upon us from a terrific altitude. Never having evinced the slightest interest in my welfare this if course will not cause the slightest heartburning.
I hope Brother George is now back in
[page break]
harness and performing his usual acts. As soon as I know for certain he is well I will dig up the rifle again. Give my love to all at home, if you still have the nerve to go home. Remember me to all. Love and kisses.
[underlined] Pete. [/underlined]
P.S. I don't quite know what to to[sic] with this last half page but your mind is dirty enough.
P.P.S. What has happened to the "Royal"? Is it in one of the parcels?
P.P.P.S. You will notice the hut No. is different again. I dare say we will be in a cave next. We've been in every hut on the island so far.
[undecipherable censor signature]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey starts with a poem and continues with some banter. He continues with some light hearted comment on life in general. The letter has been opened and signed by censor.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-04-23
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Envelope and six page handwritten document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Text. Poetry
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonW420423
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-04-23
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
arts and crafts
military living conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6593/ELampreyPGuntonW420401.2.pdf
f784efdbf2eb49f84e85ee07bef93136
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[RAF Crest]
Hut. N3.
RAF. Station. Tiree.
[underlined]Argyllshire[/underlined]
April 1st. [underlined] 42. [/underlined]
Dear Uncle - others.
Why in hell I ever sit down and rack my already overloaded brain in an effort to write to such a lot of unappreciative loafers is a wonder. Since having reached this delectable spot I have received the total of one letter from you. If you really want to know the best way to use your cribbage board, I will be only too pleased to forward it by the next mail - with full instructions.
Having settled down into what, by a stretch of the imagination, can be called
[page break]
semi-comfort, I have at last found time to lash some of my esteemed friends out of their inertia.
As to news - there is none - at least from this end. The weather still stays either fine or wet, according to whether it is raining or not. The boat still leaves on its[sic] voyage of discovery in an attempt to find the mainland. But whether it has succeeded yet is as big a mystery as ever.
Eventually the skipper will find a spot where the bad weather only lasts six days a week and will be so pleased that he will never come back.
Not having heard from Park Royal for a period, I often wonder if my wildest dreams have come true and there has been a spate of funerals lately. If this is so
[page break]
[underlined] 3 [/underlined]
[RAF Crest]
let me know and I will wire congrat-ulations to those left.
As I mentioned in an earlier letter, the length of time we are supposed to spend here is ten days or so. This being another of those fairy tales they are so fond of dishing up to us, we expect to spend most of the summer moaning about being marooned. Not that any of you give a hoot in Hell if I spend the rest of my valuable life fighting your battles for you.
If I should receive a letter from you at any time expressing sorrow at the fact that I have missed my leave, I shall treat it with the contempt. [sic] that all such lying communications, deserve to be treated with.
[page break]
If you think I am disappointed in not having my leave, you don't know the half of it. This delay will however, give a few of you lugs a chance to save a few coppers in readiness for the magnificent celebration in honour of the weary warriors return.
The war, having no effect upon life in your quiet backwater of the world, is, I suppose, taking second place to usual scrounge round for something to plant in garden. With the memories of other days still fresh I can see Harry Straw bargaining for a handful of cabbage plants and Harry Beacham pinching them, as usual. Mr Hunt will, now that petrol has stopped, have to look round for other ways of augmenting his income as soon
[page break]
[underlined]5. [/underlined]
[RAF Crest]
as he withdraws the "Park Royal Passenger Service.". His chief scout and drummer Archie, will be able to work some of his superfluous fat off by walking.
I should think the inventors have invented a pretty marvellous excuse if they are still not in the services. The only reason I can think is, that no single service will take the responsibility of having its system twisted to suit their needs. As for Moloney, he would be of more use to the RAF if he joined the Luftwaffe.
I have still heard nothing from Bill Smith. If he intends writing - and I doubt if half the news I get from you can be really brand new - he had better start quick or they will have him overseas. As usual I
[page break]
have left his address on the mainland.
I could not write a letter without referring to that paragon of truth, Brother George. I should think that by now his plans for the successful winning of the war are complete and if he could only get someone to take notice of him, he would be able to put his hands back in his pockets.
Should Mr. Ashton care to send me a few more of his vile verses I shall be very pleased to burn them unread. If the muse should strike me at any time during my incarceration I shall pass the efforts along for your disapproval.
Remember me to all the others when you write. If I return to the land of hope before hearing from you I will
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
try and drop Bill a line.
Give my regards to anyone you like - I'm pretty generous these days. Remember me to the OPA's - maintenance etc. Kiss Rusty and Dave - give my love to Auntie
All the best.
Pete.
P.S. If the perishers can't read this, its [sic] not their eyes, its [sic] their bloody education.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes complaining that he has had only one letter and that there is no news from his end. He is hoping only to spend 10 days on Tiree and that he was disappointed to miss his leave. He concludes with some light hearted banter.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-04-01
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Seven page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonW420401
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-04-01
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6592/ELampreyPGuntonW420326.1.pdf
c593772b9663ecaf37a851ce1c0efef4
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
SCARNISH ISLE OF TIREE
28 MAR 42
[postage stamp]
Mr. W. Gunton.
Machine Room.
Waterlow and Sons. Ltd.
Twyford Abbey Road.
Park Royal. N.W.10.
London
[inserted] EXAMINER 1,679 51-5628 [/Inserted]
[RAF Censor stamp with indecipherable censor signature]
[page break]
[reverse of envelope]
[RAF Crest]
[inserted] P.C.90 OPENED BY [/inserted]
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
1384535. LAC. Lamprey.
Hut L6.
RAF. Station. Tiree
[underlined] Argyllshire. [/underlined].
Thursday. [underlined] 26th [underlined]
Dear Uncle Bill – Others.
Just in case you should feel like raising three hearty cheers over the above address, I might point out that I shall be getting leave at some future date and too much hilarity is likely to have repercussions. Either the postal services have gone to pot, or, there is a dumb cluck who doesn't read my letters. I wrote and told you that for the time being my leave was off - and here is a letter to hand
[page break]
[underlined] 2. [/underlined].
asking me to make arrangements.
We are - as you can see - back in this island paradise. This time for how long - we don't know. At the present moment it is only supposed to be for a fortnight but you can never tell. So far we have been so busy that the lull in the letters is unavoidable. Even now the news is very little. I am still fit - not that you care a damn. I am brassed off - and you care a damn sight less. If by any chance Brother George should once again start his blood and sand epic of Salonika I think I can shove one up his spout that will keep him quiet for the duration.
They tore me away, for the second
[page break]
[underlined] 3. [/underlined].
[RAF Crest]
time, [corrected] from [/corrected] Inverness, just as I had a whale of a time all lined up. Bags of going to town - bags of lovely dates - bags under the eyes next morning. The rest will do me good, with a bit of luck I shall return fit enough to get thoroughly dissipated in time for my leave.
You said that Bill Smith was writing to me but so far I have heard sweet F.A. from him. He - as myself - is very likely too busy winning this war to bother about telling other people how to run the show. You never mention Herbert these days. Is he still holding down balloons in London or has he finally taken the plunge and
[page break]
remustered.
I got a smashing cake from Wyn and Kitty this week and a certain person was mentioned but I will not mention the name in case any-one in the chapel should get curious.
There is nothing much I can write about - even Mr. Hunt can rest in peace for this letter. Give my love to all and I will try and write again over the weekend.
Best of Luck
[underlined]Pete.[/underlined]
P.S.
I should write to Inverness in case I move quick.
[undecipherable] censor signature [/undecipherable]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes that he is back on Tiree and reminds friends that he told them his leave was cancelled. He states that this recent move had curtailed his plans for a great night out in Inverness. He concludes with some banter. The letter has been opened and signed by censor.</p>
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-03-28
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Envelope and four page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonW420326
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-03-28
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
military living conditions
military service conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6588/ELampreyPGuntonW420125.2.pdf
cd648ffbcc924d9e988ab4986e57c2cd
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
SCARINISH
Mr. W. Gunton.
Machine Room.
Waterlow and Sons. Ltd.
Twyford Abbey Road.
Park Royal.
London – N.W.10.
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
Isle of Tiree.
Western [Underlined] Hebrides.[/Underlined]
Sunday. [Underlined] 25th. [/Underlined]
Dear Uncle [one word missing]
At last I have heard from the land of the living. The mail-boat has eventually made it, bringing joy to the natives – incarcerated airmen and other forms of life inhabiting the island. Unfortunately it didn’t bring fags and so with the usual style of getting things done “NAAFI” increased the weekly ration to 40 per. only there ain’t no bloody fags in “NAAFI” and won’t be until another venturesome seafarer decides to explore the islands.
Mr. Hunts’ note still proves my contention
[Page Break]
that a brain is not necessary just to write letters to me. He manages all right. This should give Moloney encouragement. However I am glad to hear even from such a low source as Hunty and with my usual good manners – albeit reluctantly – I thank him.
The way you crack on about being two letters up on me leaves me stone cold. I have enough worries on my young shoulders without the added one of supplying a load of loafers with light reading free of purchase tax. And another thing – don’t keep on about that address – you ain’t gonna get it. And another thing – if you think I can write poetry by candle-light – cold as charity and soaking wet you mistake my vocation. I’m an airman not a superman
[Page Break]
[RAF Crest]
[Underlined] 3 [/Underlined]
At least – I am the second only by comparison.
The small amount of news available is much the same. Nemesis has overtaken me and I am now paying for somebodies mistake. From the highlights and hilarity of the mainland we are still refugees – stranded in sand – s [letters missing] and sorrow. With luck however we might be away by another [inserted] week [/inserted] as we have done all we can. or want to. Mindfull [sic] of not giving away secrets there are just a few things we lack to make this a decent spot. These are water – food and light – barring not having a decent supply of these and having no fags – nowhere to go and nothing to do the place might be bearable if the bloody
[Page Break]
rain and wind let up for about an hour.
Still, we are managing to get by and if only the boat makes it soon we can get off of iron rations and have a look at some bread for a change. How in Hell “Old Railings” would get on here beats me. He’d have to starve. Not that he couldn’t do with a bit of dieting. When I get me back to Inverness I shall get as drunk as a newt even if I get 21 days for it. It will be worth it.
I take it everything is much the same down there. Still rubbing along nice and steady – doing sweet F.A and letting the third hand sweat his guts. I should think half of you perishers were sergeants – you’ve got all the
[Page Break]
[RAF Crest]
style.
Reading your letter through I come to the part where you say – I have no more news to tell. Wheres the news? I want to hear how Moloney fainted when his papers arrived and Charlie and the ginger cat beat it for the roof again. Give me some action stuff, I’m all for someone else having a basin while I put my feet up.
A trawler went on the rocks last week and the RAF helped the boys ashore. As a reward the skipper gave the station the cargo of fish. The boat was a total wreck and after two days on the blasted fish so were we. Breakfast – dinner and tea. Everything you could
[Page Break]
do to a bit of fish, the cooks did it. We looked like a bunch of cats in about 24 hrs. I hope the next one has something a bit more tasty on board.
I hope this is the last letter I write from here and that next week I shall be telling you of the Hell of a time I am having in Inverness. If I don’t you’ll get a letter that is one moan from beginning to end. So until then. Keep your nose clean. Remember me to Rusty and Dave. Kiss Jack Denny for me.
Lots of love Pete.
P.S. I’m too brassed off to write a postscript.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes that mail had arrived but unfortunately no cigarettes for the Nary, Army and Air Force Institute. He continues with some banter and comments about life at Tiree. He mentions that a trawler went on the rocks and Royal Air Force help resulted in a cargo of fish being donated to the station. He concludes by hoping this will be his last letter from Tiree.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-01-25
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Envelope and six page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonW420125
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-01-25
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
military living conditions
Navy, Army and Air Force Institute
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6570/ELampreyPGuntonW4201X3.1.pdf
d6bffd18d1baf317728ab186108985dc
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Scarinish
Tiree
3 JAN
42
[postage stamp]
Mr. W. Gunton.
Machine Room.
Waterlow and Sons. Ltd.
Twyford Abbey Rd.
Park [deleted] Roay [/deleted] Royal. N.W.10.
[underlined] London [/underlined]
[page break]
[reverse of envelope blank]
[page break]
Isle of Tiree.
Western [underlined] Hebrides. [/underlined]
[underlined] Tuesday. [/underlined].
Dear Uncle Bill and Others.
You will see by the above I have received the elbow rather severely. We are, at present, in the last place in the universe for an airman to spend his weary hours. We expect to be here a few weeks and hope a few hours. If they dont [sic] move us soon I shall proceed to chew mouthfuls out of what, in their inimitable way, the natives call the scenery. The place is one huge sand-bank with a few houses and no attractions. No trees, nothing but sand. If I wasn’t so brassed off I could be singing the Desert Song all day with the right background. Join the RAF and see life from a new angle – the wrong one. To think I ever ran Inverness down. When the old kite calls for us I shall be first and kiss the pilot. That is if I am still sane. After what seems like two years here I am already fit to babble. I should imagine someone was kidding you when
[page break]
[underlined] 2. [/underlined]
they told you this side of Scotland was best for scenery. Of all the hell holes this place is the giant panda. Whatever the poor perishers who are stationed here do I don’t know. Mr. Hunt – curse him – will be glad to know beer is practically unknown on the island and the nearest ATS camp is about sixty miles of salt water away. He, Mr Hunt, will most likely go into hysterics and I hope he chokes.
Tell Maloney – Cherry and Charlie not to DD it yet. I don’t know the answer to this one so they better wait until I can work it out. Not that is wouldn’t do old “Railings” a bit of good and show him that life is not all beer and bunk.
This jaunt has rather upset my schedule of writing and as this letter will take over a week to reach you it is likely – I hope – to reach you just as I return to bonny – bonny Inverness. So until you hear further the old address is still the one to write to. This part doesn’t apply to “Old Railings” as I expect he has only just got to the stage of marking a cross for his signature.
[page break]
[inserted] 3. [/inserted]
There are very few women here and the sheep are very fast so unless you find a lame one “you’ve had it”. I should imagine this is a lovely [sic] for a honey-moon. There is no earthly reason for going out except for the natural functions and then you dig your own hole. This letter was started Saturday but as the mail only goes on Tuesday I have kept it open in case anything should happen, which seems more or less a physical impossibility as there is nowhere for any bloody thing to happen. Talk about sand. You eat it, drink it, wear it and I dare say you get rid of it.
From the foregoing remarks you will doubt-less jump to the conclusion that I am cheesed off. If your perception is only half as good as I imagine you will realise “cheesed off” is a gross understatement. I expect the facts laid out will cause hilarity in some corners of the chapel
Dropping into personal matters. Have I ever given you the impression of being loopy? Then where the hell do you get the idea I would trust you with
[page break]
“Wyns” address. The last letter I had contained an impassioned appeal to me to strangle you at the first opportunity, which, being a perfect gentleman I have promised to do. She has however three sisters so when I get along again we will start visiting.
That lets me out so keep you [sic] nose clean. Kiss Rusty and Jack Denny for me. Remember me to all the boys. I will write [sic] Arthur Gilbert when I get to Inverness.
Three cheers. Pete.
P.S. Thank the knitter of my scarf for me, It is a treat. Let me know who it was.
P.P.S. This place has killed the poetic stirrings stone dead.
[underlined P. [/underlined]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey is complaining about the remoteness of the station on Tiree and the lack of entertainment.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942-01-03
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Envelope and four page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonW4201X3
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-01-03
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
military living conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6568/ELampreyPGuntonW42XXXX-02.1.pdf
afee1aebd35c2aac3cc214e7895c7f51
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[RAF Crest]
Still [underlined] Tiree [/underlined].
Thursday. [underlined] 1942. [/underlined].
Dear Uncle Bill.
I received, with some surprise, a most remarkable conglomeration of letters. From some people, epistles arrived that show they posess [sic] the power of using their heads for other purposes than a hat-rack. From others the epistles denote the fact that their brains are brand new. The latter - Messrs. Maloney and Standivan, with the ginger cat, should take care that this vital organ is only used sparingly as a seize up will deprive me of one of my few pleasures – that of deciphering the
[page break]
[inserted 2 [/inserted]
fly tracks that pass for their letters. I could not be certain it was Moloneys [sic] letter until I saw that every word over four letters was spelt wrong – then I knew. The ginger cat, as usual, got Moloney to heave the brick and Mr Standivan took a sheet of paper to tell me nothing. Still I thank one and all, and hope to be able to reply to every one of them.
Mr. W. Thornhill – my ornithological pursuits have unfortunately temporarily curtailed owing to the exingences [sic] of the service. Should however I resume my peregrinations, the study of the female, female of the species – homo sapiens, will continue to absorb my
[page break]
[underlined] 3. [/underlined]
[RAF Crest]
undivided attention, and you can rest assured that the collaboration existing between us; my performance and your applause, will continue undisturbed.
Felicitations.
Dear Mr. Denny, in your verse
You flaunt “the working four”
But just remember – I have heard,
That sort of tale before.
This wise old bird, I must point out,
Is never caught with chaff
I know the game, and therefore I,
Can well afford to laugh.
So if in future letters,
Into verse you sometimes drop.
Beware the pitfall and remember
Just where you should stop.
[page break]
[underlined] 4 [/underlined].
Eschew all bunkum, telling tales
Of any sort of size
And don’t you try and work on me
A load of blasted lies.
So Mr. Ashton – here at last
There comes your answer rare
Just when I’d given way to gloom
And unreserved despair.
The rest you’ve had, has nothing done
To sharpen up your wit.
As Mr. Harbour crudely says.
Its [sic] just a lot of nonsense.
Thanks all the same and I’ll give you one on your own next week.
Mr. Hunt. If you think I’m going to thank you for your letter you must still be the half-wit optimist you always were.
[page break]
[inserted] 5. [/inserted]
[RAF Crest]
If you turned down three hours O.T. it was because you were being measured by the undertaker. As for No. 6. being first in the queue for it. Who the hell held the job up? Well then, they [deleted] ders. [/deleted] should have it.
Mr. Gunton. I like you. I would do anything for you. I’ll bury you decently. I’ll come up and do it next week if you don’t lay off Wyn and Kitty and stop squawking about being two letters up on me. You are the bloke who said I should go to Oban to see Scotland at its best. I’ll remember that until you die, and I’ve got a short memory.
Thanks for the fags and the
[page break]
good wishes. May your friends never find you out.
As you can gather I still reside in this land of work - wet – wind and worry. I am still putting on the Crusoe act. I could do with a Man Friday – or a girl any night. Enclosed is a little thing I found after I went to sleep with my pen in my hand. I often find things in my hands these morning [sic]. Over virile I suppose. Let me know how Bert is.
Kiss the baby, she’s eighteen now and just lovely.
Yours in misery
[underlined] Pete. [/underlined]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes that he has received a large consignment of letters and he includes a poem addressed to some of his correspondents. He concludes with messages to friends.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1942
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Six page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Text. Poetry
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonW42XXXX-02
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
arts and crafts
military living conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6567/ELampreyPGuntonW42XXXX-01.1.pdf
f1fa2834bac042aa0f5a191412cf0292
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[postage stamp]
Mr.W. Gunton.
Machine Room.
Waterlow and Sons. Ltd.
Twyford Abbey Road.
Park Royal. London. N.W.10.
[page break]
[Reverse of envelope]
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
1384535. A.C. Lamprey. (Signals).
Site 2. Hut 6.
RAF Station.
Isle of Tiree.
[underlined] Argyllshire. [/underlined]
[underlined] Tuesday [/underlined] (I think).
Dear Uncle Bill and [underlined] Others. [/underlined]
Here I am still in this spot set in a silver sea – and I should like it put on record that I wish I wasn’t. After all my aims and ambitions here I am taking the lead in a Robinson Crusoe act. Just one laugh or a smirk from any of my so-called friends and I shall remember it like the proverbial elephant and exact toll when I next visit.
The excitement here grows on one and we have to spend a couple of hours a day on our back to get over it – I don’t think. The
[page break]
liveliest place on the island is the cemetery where they bury someone about every six months. There is a [smudged] gale blowing [/smudged] six days a week and it rains like fun on five. There is more wind about than a chapel meeting when Mr. Hunt has a grievance.
The beauty of this place is that all the letters are one way. I have the advantage that no one can come back at me with a snappy reply. Not that my correspondents have ever evinced the slightest sign of doing such a – to them – disasterous [sic] thing. In fact the majority of my friends seem more concerned with the super-human task of clearing their own characters than attempting to besmirch my lilywhite good name.
Having got over the initial horrifying shock of seeing this island I have had time to look around.
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] 3. [/underlined]
The first impression was wrong. The place only looks half as bad as it is. The only beer on the island is “NAAFI” – and tastes like it. If you want 14 days sick leave all you need is a good drunk on it and you’d be a cert case of violent poisoning.
We started off under the impression we should be here for ten days. Having finished the first ten we are wondering just how many more of them we shall have to do. From the looks of things we are getting almost as permanent a fixture in this job as Mr. Evans is in the special sorting. And it is well known just how permanent that is. The only difference is we are not so keen on keeping it. Although from what I can gather if he doesn’t alter his ways a bit and get in earlier somebody will have
[page break]
them sorted before he gets up.
Should this letter not seem to answer any queries anyone might have put lately it will be because I have had no mail for over ten days. I have wired for it to be forwarded but do not expect to get it before Thursday at the very earliest. Should you wish – you can – if your inclinations run to writing – write to the above address but – as I do not know when we shall move and when we do we shall just disappear by plane I should continue to write to Inverness for a while. Although it won’t matter where you write I’ll get ‘em [sic] in the end – I hope.
This side of Scotland is the side that you – my friend - are always cracking about. The next time I see you I would like a few words in confidence just to readjust your
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
[underlined] 5 [/underlined].
ideas as to what constitutes scenery, or a decent view. Your idea of a good view is evidently sand hills with sand between them. Mine is lashings of cinemas and an A.T.S. barracks with a few pubs in the foreground.
The corporal in charge of our party shoots one of the most horrible lines I have ever heard. What he hasn’t been, done or seen is hard to believe. I always get a thrill out of listening to him. If I shut my eyes I almost think I am round No. 7. listening to Brother George, all that is missing is the actions. After this I suppose I shall get the actions next time I call.
I hope the boys are now enjoying their last few days of liberty and I would like to know the three of them were coming here. Life would then hold some joy for me. That is if “old
[page break]
railings” can get by the M.O. without having an operation to have his stomach removed. Not that they haven’t ways and means of reducing said corporation without a knife. Charlie and Cherry should do alright in the same service. They are fond of making things. If they only make mistakes like they make their presents the squad they are in will just love ‘em.[sic] When you write to Bill Smith give him my regards and tell him if he will play at soldiers he’s bound to get hurt. Also if Fred. Baulch should be seen wish him luck.
This I think will be all for a while and if anything happens – which I doubt – I will let you know. Keep your nose clean. Remember me to everyone that matters, also Messrs. Hunt and Ashton. Give my love to the engineers and the OPA’s.
[page break]
[RAF Crest]
Kiss Jack Denny for me.
Heres [sic] fun. Love
[underlined] Pete. [/underlined]
P.S. If anyone has written I will thank them in anticipation and reply when I see the letters.
P.P.S. On second thoughts I’ll thank them after I see the letters.
[underlined] P. [/underlined].
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey indicates that he is not impressed with his posting to the Isle of Tiree and moans about the weather, not receiving post and the beer.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Envelope and seven page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonW42XXXX-01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
military living conditions
RAF Tiree
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/372/6553/ELampreyPGuntonW[Date]-43.pdf
fd1e59f3db7c55293b2eab91291ebedc
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lamprey, Peter
Description
An account of the resource
122 items. The collection contains letters from Flight Sergeant Peter Lamprey (1384535 Royal Air Force) to 'Uncle Bill' W Gunton and his former colleagues at Waterlow Printers, Park Royal, London. The letters cover all his stages of training and operations at Royal Air Force Ludford Magna. A wireless operator / air gunner, he was killed, aged 36, on 14 January 1944 during an operation on Braunschweig when 101 Squadron Lancaster LM367 was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at Lautenthal. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Dereck Titchen and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.<br /><br /> A photograph of Peter and his final resting place appears in the Arthur Standivan collection <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/show/35884">here.</a><br /><br />Additional information onPeter Lamprey is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113449/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-02-24
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Lamprey, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[RAF Crest]
Tiree
[underlined] Hooray. [/underlined]
Next [underlined] Wednesday. [/underlined]
Dear Unk.
Things [underlined] I’ve [/underlined] learnt.
I’ve learnt to fire a rifle
and learnt to aim it straight
I’ve also learnt the main idea
and that is – how to wait
I’ve learnt to walk with swinging arms
with upright martial gait
I’ve also learnt the lesson
Airmen hang around and wait
I’ve also learnt to rise and shine
and never be up late
and as a side line also learnt
to stand about and wait
[page break]
I’ve also learnt to think alone
(an idea up to date)
but over all – I think I’ve learnt
the motto – just you wait.
I’ve learnt to wash and sew and darn
and houswives [sic] emulate
but there again – it all boils down
to how long you can wait.
I’ve learnt to do – just this or that
or how to concentrate
on doing nothing but the same
old hang about and wait.
So if my future letters lag;
just get the idea straight
take lessons from the Service and
learn how to bloody wait.
For Petes [sic] sake don’t read any more
[page break]
[underlined] 3. [/underlined]
[RAF Crest]
I notice with elation
and a certain mild relief.
Poetic perorations have
for sometime, come to grief
now surely all the brilliant thoughts
are not completely dead
there must be something running round
my dear friend Ashtons head.
I’d take a guess at what they are
but might be rather rude.
And do not want to cause a row
or otherwise intrude
upon the sacred silence that
for so long has endured
and find out to my chargin [sic]
that he’s not completely cured
(Still game? P.T.O. then).
[page break]
I take it that “Old Railings”
is the keenest in the shop
to get into the Service
and he hardly likes to stop
to say goodbye to all the lads
he’d like to be away
but if I know that blighter
he’d be back again next day.
So Harry Rumbolds doing fine?
Well that is nice to know.
a few more weeks in that there job
and he’ll have pots of dough.
Does Rusty still go off his nut
and wave his arms and scream
he doesn’t? Well I take it back
it must have been a dream.
I wonder to – is Archie in
his Home Guard outfit seen
[page break]
[underlined] 5. [/underlined]
still holding back the wicked Hun
from number two machine.
And dear old David Evans
does he still the laggard play
and roll in hours behind his time
on every other day
while Eddie Hunt -------
Words fail me.
(Marvellous ain’t [sic] it).
This nonsense struck me when I felt browned off so I just thought of you poor suckers (the spelling is right) working for a living while I laze on a sunlit beach watching a ninety mile an hour gale knocking hell out of the hut I’m supposed to sleep in tonight. At last we have got
[page break]
running water in the hut. It runs straight in the door and puts the fire out. Not [inserted] that [/inserted] the the [sic] fire is ever going - bar going out. The bloody coal wouldn’t burn if you bribed it. We’ve been on iron rations so long that my stomach has started to rust. I believe the boat has missed the blasted island and gone and charging straight on to America – it hasn’t been seen for four days. When he does show up they’ll fire on the perisher as an unknown vessel. There are two sane blokes left on the island – they’ve locked themselves up for safety. I’m still free. I used to wonder how the natives used to live on this island – now I wonder why. About all they can grow here is old. “NAAFI” still sells beer – but
[page break]
7.
but not to me. I’ve had some, that is my last resort. Poison. This is one occasion where Mr. Hunt and I see eye to eye. To drink is definitely dangerous.
I know a bloke in Inverness who wants to come here – he wants locking up.
Well this is your lot. Why in hell I write to such an unappreciative audience I don’t know – my inherent good nature letting me down. Tell Bert Smith I’ll be writing soon. Remember me to Fred. Cooper. Kiss the Guv’nor [sic] – I couldn’t stand it. Love to you all at home
Your loving nephew
Pete.
P.S. over.
[page break]
P.S. Does Beacham work there now or is he still on No 6.?
P.P.S. Tell brother George there’s a fellow here fought in the last war. He’s a decent bloke otherwise.
P.P.P.S. Tell brother Jack Id [sic] like to see him - in clink.
Och Aye
[underlined] Pete. [/underlined]
[Morse code ]
Know what it means?
Youre [sic] right it does.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peter Lamprey to W Gunton
Description
An account of the resource
Peter Lamprey writes about life at Royal Air Force Tiree including the bad weather and terrible beer. He includes a poem about what he has learned in the Royal Air Force and his friends back home.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Peter Lamprey
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Eight page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Text. Poetry
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
ELampreyPGuntonW[Date]-43
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
Scotland--Argyll and Bute
Scotland--Tiree
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
arts and crafts
military living conditions
RAF Tiree