Welcome to part 6, Peter is almost finished with his basic training for the RAF in Newquay. He writes to Joan his sister about some upcoming leave to go home, it is something he is really looking forward to. I imagine many of them were very homesick and looking forward to see their family at any opportunity:
" Well, there is only a fortnight now, and then for some home cooking and no 'wakey wakey' in the morning! My examinations begin a week tomorrow and last until the Friday. I think i shall do alright, at least i hope so. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! I'm a bit better at aldis now, as if my lucky star is out i should pass signals. I hope we have good weather conditions as it is most difficult when the sun shines brilliantly on the lamp, a dull day is best. Bob is taking his exams this week, unfortunately there has been a lot of illness in his flight, mumps and measles and when he last wrote, he was scared stiff of becoming a victim! "
On the 28th May 1943 Peter's mum writes to him, she doesn't have too much news but i was amused at the p.s. she added to the end of the letter:
" Send me some sand and water!! And a few pebbles, bring one home!"
I thought there was something really adorable about her wanting some sand and pebbles from the place where her son is, and water!
On the 31st May 1943 Peter writes to Joan again, he mentions that he has started his exams and describes the physical activities they have had to do:
" The last few days have been particularly energetic ones and i have a large blister on my heel. On Thursday last we went for a four mile run. On Friday we did P.T. in the morning and practiced the correct way to land by parachute in the afternoon (from very low heights). We also had rifle drill, on Saturday morning we had drill and in the afternoon we set off in blazing sunshine on the twice postponed defence exercise. We covered 14 miles in full battle order and lugging a rifle (which i did not fire), boy did i sweat! I looked like this:- "
On the 4th June 1943 Peter writes to his parents and is very excited to be soon going on leave:
" As far as i know, we are leaving here on the ten o clock train on Monday, but if anything should crop up and i have to catch the later train i will send you a telegram.
We finished our exams this morning! I think i have done quite well. I have even passed signals ok and in armaments i got 85%. We shall not know the rest of our results until we return from leave. Navigation we have had this morning, but i do not expect more than 70% as it was such a long paper. A plot for an hour and 25 theory questions for another hour. It is a lovely feeling to know that they are all over and that we have nine days leave ahead of us!
Our flight commander has fixed up a pass for us today from 2p.m to 11.30p.m so we're going to the pictures and generally enjoying ourselves. I will procure some samples of shells, stones, seaweed etc. The other day a dead seal was washed up on the sands! "
After this, the next correspondence is a post card on the 16th June 1943 from Peter to his parents saying that he safely arrived back at Newquay via the train, so i can only imagine he had a very enjoyable leave back with his family again.
Four days later on the 20th of June 1943 Peter writes to his parents again to let them know how things are going:
" They are keeping us fairly busy and we are doing fatigues, signals, navigation and P.T. On Thursday afternoon we went to the range and we fired off table 'C' - 25 rounds each. I did better than i have done before and i scored 84 out of 125 including five bulls in succession! A sheer fluke! In spare periods we are excavating a small swimming pool on the sands which has become silted up!
... We have not go all our marks yet but i did not do quite so badly in navigation as thought. My percentage for meteorology and Navi. combined being 85%, Cled got 88%! I got 100% for aircraft recognition "
July marks the start of a couple of moves for Peter, the next letter on 2nd July 1943 has a different address, he has left Newquay and his address is now No 16 E.F.T.S. RAF station, Burnaston, Nr Derby. E.F.T.S. stands for elementary flying training school. He says:
" We arrived here early this morning after travelling all night from Newquay. It is a pleasant surprise to be posted here as i shall be able to get up to see Joan quite easily. Well this is certainly a change from Newquay, though we were loath to leave such a pleasant place. We shall miss the sea and the glorious sands very much indeed. We are rather out in the wilds here, 5 miles from Derby. We have no NAAFI - it beats me why!
Some of us are billeted out but i am in a hut on the 'drome - a change from the comparative comfort of Newquay. I may be billeted somewhere in a day or so's time when i start flying. There appears to be very little discipline and we have spent a very lazy day - we spent the afternoon watching the flying and sleeping in the shade of a petrol lorry! This evening we are exploring the town and we have just discovered a very fine park in which i am writing this letter. The last bus back is at 9.45 pm. We get a fair amount of time off - 36 hours once a week i believe and are allowed out til 11.30pm Thursday to Friday, other nights til 10.30pm.
I've sent a parcel home mum, containing one or two books and some washing, well i'm afraid that's all for now - the gnats are biting like the devil! My love to you all, Peter "
Only three days later there has been a change however, Peter writes to his parents again on 5th July 1943 from a different address, this time - RAF Detachment, Henhurst Hill, Burton on Trent, Staffs. He says:
" As you will see, i've changed my address again! We were flighted here today and i arrived here this afternoon. This is but a small place, just a few kites and a few officers - a field on a hill. There is no NAAFI, no wireless and only a small rest room. We're nearly two miles from Burton, however i should be flying tomorrow and the course should only take a short time. Immediately after tea today our Flight Commander instructed us in engine starting, swinging the prop. etc. We each had a shot at it."
While researching the area Peter is now staying, i happened across a story about a massive explosion at a munitions storage area in Hanbury, although this happens about a year after Peter is there, it is something i had never heard of before and so did a write up here if you would like to read it.
On the 8th July 1943 the day before his 21st Birthday Peter writes to his parents to tell them about his first few experiences flying:
" On Tuesday i had my first flight - 30 minutes during which we did a few turns and went to the low flying area, very enjoyable indeed. In the afternoon i went up again and tried to fly straight and level - much more difficult than it sounds! I did not fly at all yesterday, but i've been up again this afternoon for 40 minutes and it was very pleasant. We did climbing, gliding and stalls and i did a little better this time. My instructor seems very decent and i hope he's patient, his name is Flying Officer Chandler. So far i have done 1 hour 50 minutes. We're supposed to do 12 hours here."
On the 11th July 1943 Peter wrote to his parents to thank them for sending Birthday wishes and money. He says he didn't get too much opportunity to celebrate on his Birthday, but did manage to visit Buxton to see his sister Joan, he goes on to say:
" It was a wet, miserable day for a 21st. I hung about all day waiting to go up and finally at 6 o clock my instructor gave me half an hour during which i practised medium turns. Not too successfully I'm afraid. So far I've done 2 hrs 20 min, we get a test after 7 hours and another one at 12 hours.
As i have said, on Friday evening i went up to Buxton, arriving at 10.30pm Joan seems fairly well. Her digs are most comfortable and beautifully furnished and i slept like a log in a luxurious bedroom! Yesterday i pottered about Buxton and we had lunch at Boots cafe. Unfortunately it rained hard all day, but nevertheless it made a pleasant change. My train back was the 6.30 and i got back with plenty of time to spare.
Incidentally it is quite probable that i shall be home on leave a fortnight this weekend! "
Peter's mum wrote back to him on the 13th July 1943, she says:
" We were so glad to have your letter, and to know you have taken to the air! I expect as you get more proficient, you will be in your element!
... Your parcel arrived yesterday, some dirts! Am sending the cleans off today, so you should get them on Thursday. If you do not get enough for eats, let me know, and i will scratch around for you! May has had a graph from Des, he was spending a few days with Brickhills before pushing on again. I think it was dated June 19th so it is time more news came along. May spent the weekend at Bromley, she sends her love!
The garden is looking very gay, with a grand crop of roses. The Budlia bush is in full bloom, a picture. Your books arrived ok, you seem to have some grand literature. I have taken book case upstairs in little room over porch! Behind door, so I can see your books! I have had your group photo framed, and it looks very imposing. Well my dear, you are always in my thoughts day and night. The best of luck and crowds of hugs, mum xxx "
This letter is so telling, how worried she must have been about them all, especially her two sons Des and Peter. I love how she moved the bookcase so she could better see Peter's books that he sent back. The words she underlines say a lot, i can only imagine how many sleepless nights she must have worried about them.
To be continued..
Comments