Welcome to part 4, Peter is still doing basic training for the RAF in Newquay, on the 1st April 1943 Peter writes to thank his dad for sending him the theory of flight books, he gives a bit of information as well about how his course is going, he says:
"Everything is going very well, the third week of my course is nearly over. There is a hell of a lot to learn, but i shall master it somehow. We had our anti gas exam yesterday - i hope i've passed. Last night i went to the pictures with three of my friends and saw a Dr Kildare film - very good indeed. This afternoon has been our sports day and a lot of us went swimming in the sea. It was a bit cold, but the foam was very invigorating and i felt fine afterwards, it was quite like old times!"
Peter then writes to his sister Joan on 5th April 1943 and starts off with:
"I was very pleased to receive your highly amusing letter and to read of your escapades at Brook House!"
Oh how i wish i had that letter, i would love to have known what Joan was getting up to at Brook House (I have tried to research this place but have not been able to find out anything about it). Peter goes on to tell Joan about his room mates, Cled, Pete and Russ as she had asked about them in her letter, he says they are all aged about 19 years old. He goes on to say:
" This evening i am duty cadet, which chiefly consists of yelling 'wakey wakey' in the morning and distributing the communal gargle! Last Thursday being our sports afternoon, i started swimming and i have been in every day since then, including twice on Saturday! The sea is a little cold, but the foam and spray is wonderfully invigorating and it is grand fun. I wish you could enjoy it too!
You will be glad to know that i go to communion most Sundays, the service being taken by the Padre. Last Sunday however i went to normal church parade instead and in the morning we sat on a seat on the cliff and wrote letters. In the afternoon we went to the fishing quay, one of my favourite spots, and did some revision and then spent the rest of the time 'til tea time swimming. Tea was excellent - salad of cold meat, beetroot, potato etc. with cheese and bread and jam. After tea, Cled, Russ and i went for our usual Sunday evening walk, this time to Crantock Village and back along the banks of the river Gannell. Getting back was a bit of a mudlark as we had hoped to cross the Gannel at Trenance Gardens, instead there was no bridge so we had to do this"
"So that instead of crossing the river at A we had to squelch through the marshy ground and back along the road. We had to keep to the marshy ground owing to the field of bulls!"
I love the little picture he drew, i can just imagine them tramping up and down the river trying to avoid a field of bulls.
Peter also wrote to his parents on the 5th April 1943 thanking them for a parcel and mentioned sending his 'dirts' back. He talks about the events he wrote to Joan about but adds:
" I have got a lot of teeth to be stopped and one out maybe. I went to the dentist this morning and he started on my front ones. He is refilling them and has put temporary fillings in until tomorrow morning when i go again. I shall just need my usual laundry this week, namely - 6 hankerchiefs, 1 pr pyjamas, 1 pr pants. Also please would you send 'Flight' dated February 25th.
Is there any further news from Des? I should be pleased if you would let me have his new address so that i may write to him. How is the garden going, i hope Dad is coping with the lawn alright. How are the birds and Frisky? I hope you are all well and that everything is alright. Well that is all for now, i am duty cadet tonight and have to shout 'lights out' and 'wakey wakey'! All my love, Peter."
On the 12th April 1943, Peter writes to Joan again, it seems she has been unwell, he writes:
" I was very pleased to have your long and interesting letter, particuarly as it broke a spell of several days without one. I am very sorry to know that you've not been up to scratch recently, i hope the coming better weather will make you feel fit again. My throat rarely troubles me now i'm glad to say, and apart from one or two colds, i have been keeping very well. I was again interested in your adventures at the kids home, it must be a thankless job.
.. The course continues very much the same and the time literally flies - only another 7 or 8 weeks to the finals. We have our progress exam in Navigation next Saturday afternoon, so am keeping my fingers crossed. We are going to have evening practice in aldis lamp signalling, on which i am very weak at the moment, and a plotting room for navigation has just been made available to us."
Peter went on to say he spent a week having his teeth filled and that he still goes swimming every day, he says:
"On three evenings last week Cled and i went at 7.30 in the evening and the sea was surprisingly warm. It is grand fun. I have been so busy here since we came that i haven't had a speck of alcohol since i left Brighton! The weekend for me was very pleasant. On Saturday afternoon Cled and i went for a swim and in the evening, Cled, Russ and i went to see a very old film with Jackie Cooper called 'Gallant Sons' - not bad at all.
I hear from Enid periodically and she still seems to be having a most interesting time at Gloucester. I thought i'd told you where Bob was, he is at an I.T.W. at Paignton and seems to be enjoying life. Eric is probably still at London. I hope you like the flowers which are enclosed. I picked them during a lovely walk i had yesterday with Pete and Joe."
The flowers are not still in the envelope, i like to think that Joan enjoyed receiving them, there are still marks on the letter from where they were tucked in. Luckily i have a letter for the next year that does still have flowers in it, so i will get to that one at some point.
The next letter to Joan from Peter is 19th April 1943, he thanks her for her letter and lets her know that he is pleased he passed his navigation exam, and had a lovely weekend with no work at all:
" The weather was perfect, on the Saturday evening i went with Cled and Joe to see Arthur Askey in 'King Arthur was a Gentleman'- very funny and a pleasant change. On Sunday i went to early communion and from 10 - 12 am Cled and i sat on a seat and read the newspapers. After lunch we sunbathed all the afternoon. Almost the whole of 'A' flight installed themselves in the warmest part of the beach. It was more like summer than spring. After tea (Russian salad) we sunbathed again and then Cled, Joe and I went to the Y.M.C.A. and wrote letters. I enjoy my weekends.
There are only another 7 weeks before our exams and we shall have to get cracking. We have a super pianist in the wing who used to be with Lou Preager's band and with the assistance of another fellow who is hot stuff on the drums, he entertains us in the NAAFI. He really is terrific and certainly one of the best 'hot' pianists i have heard.
I had a letter from Eric this morning and he is at the I.T.W. at St Andrews Scotland! He was only in London for the minimum period of 19 days. I have heard from Barbara again too, i'm glad to say she is still on dry land, though she has to report every four hours and by now she may have left. I hope they do not send her anywhere unpleasant, though Africa seems the most probable place.
Tomorrow morning i am detailed for clay pigeon shooting which is part of our training here. I'll let you know if i hit any! Well i guess that's all for now sis, all my love, Peter "
On 23rd April 1943 Peter wrote to his parents again, what struck me about parts of the letter, is the conversation being the kind of conversation you can never in a million years imagine having with your family and yet circumstance dictated, he says:
" You seem to have had one or two raids lately, i hope things don't get too hot. Incidentally, what sort of condition are your gas masks in? If there is any fault, i should get them replaced. I have heard from Enid and they have had news about her youngest brother Roland, the one in Tunisia. He was reported missing, last seen wounded, but it has been announced over the Vatican Radio that he is a prisoner of war in Italian hands "
What a worrying time it was for them all. To be continued...
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