Welcome back to part 8, Peter has now been classified a pilot and will be going abroad for further training, it must have been a very nerve wracking time for them. The next time Peter writes is 7th September 1943:
" My Dear Mum and Dad, thank you very much both of you, for your letters and good wishes. I am glad your cold is better Dad. I am definitely not going on the course for which i volunteered at first.
I came out of C.S.Q. yesterday after a cushy weekend in bed with my arm in a sling and eggs for breakfast. I also have 7 days light duty. Next weekend is somewhat uncertain, but if it is humanly possible i shall go over to Buxton on Sunday. If i cannot make it mum, i hope you have a very happy time there, and that the rest will do you good. Enclosed herewith is the £1 note i borrowed from you mum! "
After this there is another short note on the 13th Sept to his mum saying that he had a really nice time when they met up on Sunday, so i am glad they did manage to get together before he left. On 3rd Oct 1943 Peter sends a telegram to his mum, it says:
" Am well and fit, letters sent, all my love, Peter"
Also on the 3rd Peters Dad sends an airgraph to him:
" I got your letter just before you left and my thoughts and good wishes go with you with Gods blessing. May you be cared for in all your travels. We are wondering where you are and how soon it will be before we hear from you. We shall miss not seeing you from time to time, mother is alright, May hears from Desmond frequently. She had a lovely photo of him taken soon after he was commissioned, he looks the typical Naval officer as mum said very dignified, we are proud of your brother as we are of you. I wonder if you will see any of his friends.
Things are alright here and your pal Frisky still looks around for you. Joan is coming home for a few days leave next Sunday. Do you see much of Bob? Hope you keep together. The winter evenings are upon us, black out at 7pm."
Peter is on his way to South Africa and he sends a wonderful letter to Joan telling her all about the trip on 5th Oct 1943:
" My dear sis, i am writing this aboard ship, some day i suppose we will reach our destination! So far, life is very enjoyable, the first day most of us were sea sick, myself included! I can imagine now, how Des felt on his trip to Iceland, i have the greatest admiration for him! I was sick at short intervals all day until tea time (twice whilst i shaved). At tea time i ate a chunk of bread and i have not looked back since! I eat everything i can lay my hands on and we are fortunate in being able to obtain plenty of chocolate, biscuits, sweets etc!
Life at the moment is really quite enjoyable, i sleep in a hammock, a new experience. (For description of method of entering a hammock see my letter to Mother) We rise at 6.15 am and try to rid myself of the close atmosphere of the mess decks with a salt water shower. Breakfast is at 7.30am. We then look forward to lunch at midday, tea at 5pm and supper at 7pm! During the day (i.e. between meals) we eat, sleep, read, revise or gaze at the sea or the sky!
It is very warm now and i wish i could have you and mother and dad and Enid etc. to enjoy it with me. I wear khaki shirt shorts and stockings. Even in this rig, i drip perspiration and am now quite brown! I am very fortunate in having Bob in the same mess and with luck we should be together for some time. We do nothing but talk and think about Ruislip!
Each day is lovely. In the morning the sun climbs rapidly into the sky and paints the sea a beautiful orange. At night it sets a blaze of red and pink. The sea is wonderfully blue, not so much as where one looks across it to the horizon but when one looks over the side of the ship at the water close to us. It seems to be a pure blue liquid! Sometimes it is very calm and it sparkles brilliantly in the sunshine. At night we look over the side and the phosphorescence sparkles like the stars! We see birds which we cannot recognise. Sometimes they fly a few inches above the water, or they may settle on the mast, the other day we even saw a butterfly!
We are not without entertainment on the boat. There are a few amateur musicians who combine with quite good effect, and last night there were a number of very good boxing matches! Well sis, this is where i close - i'm just going for a shower. I hope you are well and enjoying life, All my love, Peter "
I love this description of the things Peter experienced while travelling to South Africa. He really seems to notice everything, appreciate the scenery and enjoy himself once he got over his sea sickness.
The mail seems to take a very long time to get back and forth at this time, which is no surprise and the only other letters for October are two airgraphs from Peters mum, one on the 23rd Oct and one on the 28th thanking Peter for his letter and airgraph and saying they are glad to know he is safe so far.
On the 1st Nov 1943 Peter's brother Des sent an airgraph to his sister Joan, he says:
" How is the world treating you? I am keeping fairly well apart from a slight chill earlier in the week. Fancy old Pete passing so close to me and unable to do anything about it. It makes me want to say some rude words, particularly as it is unlikely that we will have another chance of seeing one another for many a long day.
It is two years ago today that i was last home, i never dreamed that so much would be crammed in to the time. One thing that it has taught me is that England with all her faults takes a lot of beating. I wonder how Peters travels will impact him, but think that he will have the same ideas as myself. At least i hope he wont be away as long as myself."
On 6th Nov 1943 Peters mum sends him an airgraph:
" Another week has passed and now we are hoping to hear from you soon. Trust you have fully recovered from your illness, no doubt you will have reached your final destination by now and will be finding life most interesting!
Dad is off to Scotland on Monday, returning on Friday as usual. Have not heard from Enid lately, but i believe Joan has. Your snaps at Boots are still not ready! Don't forget to tell us if you are wanting anything we can forward. What a pity we cannot send you a tuck box. Oh! the pity of it all! I have no incentive for cooking now. Joan hopes to get a few days leave before Xmas. Des says he does not hope for any leave until the spring! What a shame he was moved before you arrived.
Well my dear, Christmas is only about 6 weeks off, it will be very deadly without your bright self! No doubt you will be much looked after."
I really feel her pain in that letter, her sons are miles away where anything could happen to them and Christmas is coming but i doubt she feels like celebrating it at all. On the 8th November 1943 a special festive airgraph is sent to Peter with a message:
" My Dearest Pete, We all join in sending our love and Best wishes for Xmas and hope you will all have a jolly time. It will certainly be an unusual one for you. Joan will be home, but we shall be very quiet without you. What a long time it seems since you boys used to put up the colourful decorations!
You and Des will have plenty to talk about when next you meet. i am sending you his photo, also Mays and Frisky, but i am afraid they will be a long time reaching you. Take care of yourself dear, expect you will enjoy lots of fruit! Best love and Xmas wishes from us all. Your loving mum."
Aside from the one he sent to Joan, i seem to be missing the letters from Peter to his mum and dad for November as the last two letters are from Peters mum to him, one on the 10th Nov 1943:
" Herewith the photos of the family! Desmonds is not too good, looks as though it was the day after! Frisky and May both look very sedate. Well my dear, we expect Xmas will be over before you get this. We have to exercise a lot of patience these days! But 12 weeks certainly is a long time. I am hoping to hear from you any day now saying you have arrived, and have survived the journey! Which i expect you all found a trial!
We were sorry to know you had a touch of dysentery. It is certainly a distressing complaint. Do be careful of the drinking water! I should think the war will soon end with the number of planes going out to beat them up! They are going in 10000 s tonight, it is just like thunder! For over 1 1/2 hrs!
You will be tickled to know i have taken the plunge, and have offered to do sewing repairs for a small officers mess at Denham. I go at 2 o/c and return at 6 o/c but next week i am packing up and catching the 5 o/c train as the later one is so crowded! Dad does not know yet!! There will be some explosions when he returns! The pay is 25/- plus 5/- fares. It is good fun and i quite enjoy it."
The last letter i have for November is again from Peters mum to him on the 18th November 1943:
" My dearest Pete, expect you will be well settled in your surroundings long before you receive this epistle! We have received your graph saying you were on board ship on last part of your journey. We were amazed at your description of your struggles to master your sleeping hammock. Sorry you were sea sick!
The first letter we received was marked no. 4 we have not had the others yet, but perhaps they will soon turn up! A few words were deleted from the one in which you said you were on deck watching various objects! So glad Bob is with you, i have not seen his mother, as now i go to Denham to help. I do not get home until 5.30 just in time to do black out and get supper. After which we do not go far from the fire!
Your bedroom and your suits look very empty without your bright presence, and your bike! We are hoping Enid will be able to come for Christmas. I hope we shall be lucky in getting some poultry this year!! What a hope! May and i are going to the Albert Hall on Saturday to hear a concert in aid of - - - (cant read it) Sir Henry Wood is conducting, so should be good! The country around Denham is looking lovely, today the sunset was marvellous, red and gold against the fir trees, also the river with swans and baby moorhens."
Airgraphs.
To be continued....
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