1944.4.22 Letter

Dear Mum

     Please take note of the above change of address.  I have been quite busy and have not been in a position to write for some days.

    I have received the photos you sent, it seems OK, do just as you please with the rest of the.  You know, just dish them around the family.  Thank Babs very much for all the running around concerned.
I did have a little touch of a cough again but has worn off.

I am having to dash away every so often during my writing to keep an eye on some tea I'm brewing. It will be a pity if when it is finished some kind gentleman walks away with it!

The laundry(?) has just turned up after a first night.  I think I shall have to close now, it is tea time.  I pick lovely times to make myself a spare brew of tea. I hope you all keeping well. Cheerio for now

Very best of love.

Charlie

17.04.1944 Letter

Dear Mum

    I hope you are all very bright.  I should be very much brighter myself if I could retard todays date by one week that would mean I would be with you tomorrow evening.

   I had a very comfortable journey back last Friday.  Only having one long wait in which I spent at the news cinema in Birmingham.

   I think I could have got away later than I did, I have an idea it was the Sunday train timings.  I must have collected from LMS at Oakengates.  The guy at the station was in a flat spin about some train due.  From the movement carried out it must have been due in about two days ago. 

   I was very close to getting drunk at the end of my journey which was in the company of a crowd of Yanks and a large bottle of whiskey.  They tried to impress of their drinking powers, but they conked out.  But the last one who decided to pocket the remaining whiskey before he did likewise.  I had consumed rather a lot and sat still expecting to be unable to move at the end of the journey.  But it was Ok.   I enjoyed the lunch you prepared for me on the walk back from the station this end.  I must have got to bed at about 2 o clock Saturday morning.

   I am feeling very well.  Affairs carry on Ok, well I will close now before I get too deep in reflection of the short but lovely leave I had.  And get moody and home sick, there's work to be done.

   See that everyone keeps fit and smiley.  Cheerio

Very best of love

Charlie

1944.4.15 Letter

Dear Mum

    As I write tonight I am once more on guard duties.  It is Saturday night too.  I have not clicked for guard duty on a Saturday for a long time. Never mind.  It is a rotten night too.  It is raining, what upsets me about rain is the fact that maybe it will warrant wearing a great coat, you know I am fond of them things.

I received the darts from Dad yesterday morning.  They are a fine job indeed.

   I bet it was thirsty work in the Brown Lion ect between Joe and Dad that planned out the design.  They were a very nice indeed.

   Be sure and thank the nurse for kindly sending me gloves and charming note.

Well I never managed to run anyone down on my spell of motor cycle riding.  But one wall got in the way.  It was harder than me.  They were only light motor bikes and would not go very fast though I often went fast at the wrong moment. 

   Some one has been enquiring of the signal sergeant who was the madman he allowed on a motor cycle.  First off I made a flying start in a speed wobble narrowly missing everything in my path.

    I have caught a bit of a cold.  Nothing to worry about.  But that I could not run so well on the cross country run today.   We have to wear these great coats on guard duty.  I suppose it is that which caused my cold.

I must say goodnight for now.  I hope you are all well.  By the way has Fred mastered his dancing craze or is the swimming season getting close now.  It is a pity I shall not be available this summer to teach him the finer points to get him out of the splashing stage.

Well Cheerio.  Keep smiling

Very best of love

Charlie