ĂŰŃż´«Ă˝

July 30 1941. Airgraph. MEF.
Dear Mother and Dad,
I haven’t had a letter off you for some two weeks now. It’s not long really, but for a few weeks after we returned from Crete, I had letters galore, and now things are more-or-less normal I think I am having a lean time with mail. A post card off Eve came yesterday, quite recent too, July 9th it was. I’m on guard again tonight. That’s three times in 8 days. I don’t know who figures these guards out, but I certainly get my share.
I put in for a transfer to the ĂŰŃż´«Ă˝ Guard, as you can imagine, it was rejected. I would give something to get back home and feel a few spots of rain. I’ve almost forgot what it is like. The last time was in Greece about April 18th. And only once between that date and the date we left England.
Promise me you won’t laugh too loud when I tell you, I’m on a week’s course of learning to drive a truck. This is the fourth drivers course whilst serving with the forces, plus 7 or 8 years continually driving in Civvy Street. Do you know, if I carry on at this rate, I shall get a truck, even if it’s only to fetch my old age pension. I’ve just had a spot of luck. The Post Corporal has just brought me a post card from you. I can’t quite make the date out. You’ve put June 10, that’s about 5 days before I met Harry Burton. You must mean July 10th, if so it’s come rather quick.
I guessed Mrs Burton would visit you a time or two. It was rather unfortunate about Harry and me. He moved off very suddenly and I don’t know where he is now. We were only together a couple of days or so.
Say, did Harry have his photo taken by the Pyramids? Were they on the photo? I met him only a few miles from the old landmarks.
.
Well, Mother, I guess that’s all for now. I’m OK for money and everything. Remember me to all. Cheerio, Mum, Dad and Levi, your loving son, Alb. Xxx.

August 26 1941. Airgraph. MEF.
Dear Mother and Dad,
I’ve just this very minute written a letter to Eve and sealed the envelope, and now I’ve had a letter off you (July 16). Of course it wasn’t much use telling Ev because you will get this a few weeks before she gets her letter.
It appears your letters are coming through without delay or loss. I am pleased. There’s nothing like a letter from home to make life worthwhile.
. It seems as Mrs Burton has been telling you all about Egypt. I met Harry about 10 weeks ago almost under the shadow of the Pyramids. I couldn’t tell you where at the time, but it’s safe to say so now. I haven’t seen him since, but I’m living in hopes.
Weren’t you lucky the other day, experiencing a real good thunderstorm. I shall never again criticise the weather. An Egyptian told me that if it does rain in Cairo (I don’t know about any other part of Egypt) it will be for 2 days some time in November, and if it doesn’t rain then, it won’t rain until next November. out.
You talk about the mock invasion as though it was one big joke. No doubt it was for everyone except the common trooper or private as it would probably be. I was on a few stunts back in Blighty and they were one big bore. About all I learned was how much petrol was wasted. I’m afraid our time is 3 hours after you , when you listen to your 9 o’clock news, it is 12.0 here. It’s ages since I heard the news (midnight).
.
Funny you should mention the Post and Illustrated. I was only telling Ev that I’ll send her one of our papers or our equivalent to the Post, “The Parade”, but there’s a risk of loss or confiscation. Anyway, I’ll risk it very soon.
Talk about getting on the front line, I’ve never seen a photographer yet - only once, I recall now. It was on the “Bonadventure”, a cruiser that took us to Greece. I saw the photos in this “Parade” of ours when we came back to Egypt. Quite good they were. One caught us as we were lining up for our life-belts. I’ll have to answer your letter more fully when I write again.
Good afternoon Mum, Dad and Levi, love to you all, your loving son, Alb. Xxx.

August 30 1941, approx. Airgraph. MEF.
Dear Mother and Dad,
I’ve just had 2 more of your letters (Aug 13 and 29). That makes 13 letters and PCs in the last 6 days, a record I should think. I wrote you an airgraph last night, but I can’t get much on them. I don’t know whether you have to read a magnifying glass to read them.

I like the news cutting which Evelyn sent me. It would stir the old ĂŰŃż´«Ă˝ Town up a little. I hear off Eve that my old fisherman pal has passed away. You remember him, don’t you? Mr Barnes from Newcastle Garden Street. I do feel sorry. He was a real gentleman. I never knew he was ill. I dare say it was like Mr Perry, short and sweet. I do hope so being as the damage is done.
So you’ve decided to send me a weekly “Sentinel”, well, I shall be very pleased. I have sent Eve 3 or 4 of our daily papers at odd times, more or less for curiosity. I suppose they will arrive with the Christmas rush (This year). I have a fellow townsman in our Battalion now. He’s from Stoke, Campbell Road, near to Campbell Tiles. Rather strange, his Mum’s brother is Mr Goodwin. Before he retired from Wedgwood’s he was our designer, known all over the firm. I’ve got all the local news up to June 24 this year off him. (This pal of mine, not Mr Goodwin).
Well mother, remember me to all our relations and friends. I’ll write sometime to them. Cheerio and all my love, your loving son, Alb. Xxx.

August 31 1941. Airgraph. MEF.
Dear Mother and Dad,
Excuse this queer ink, I’ve had to mix red and blue. The blue is too pale and so is the red, so this is the result. I had your cable, Eve’s and Auntie Ethel’s all at once, also your letter (June 25), the one in which Prue wrote to me. They came last night so you can see it only took 3 days for the cables. I noticed 27th on all the cables and take it for August 27 when you sent them. Thanks very much for the surprises, I had completely forgotten it was my birthday. All I was concerned about was Eve’s
I’ve just sent Eve her telegram and a book. I dare say the book will arrive early in November. You will no doubt see it. It’s our periodical, “The Parade”, price 20 mills. An outrageous price for what it is, I think.
Thank Mr Barnes for his letter and the Minister for his. It’s a very good letter and plenty of advice. I passed it around to chaps in the tent but I don’t think it will have much effect. The Minister asks us to write home as often as we can, yet there’s actually one chap who throws away these precious letter cards and we only get one a week (sometimes). Incidentally this is one he’s thrown away. He’s married, has a child, yet has several girls out here. There’s some rotters in the army, more than I ever dreamed of. Still it’s their business. We’ve just had a party of chaps to join us. Most of them were in Blighty at the beginning of June, and they’re the 34 age group. Getting on a bit, aren’t we.
Well, Mother, I should have liked to send a cable in reply to the three, I’ve just had, but I can’t just manage it. Yesterday I spent my week’s pay on postal requirements, 6 10d stamps, 8 3d and a 2/6 cable. It’s a good job I saw Major X; he paid me what he owed me.
Did I tell you we’ve left our RAF camp? We’re back on the same camp where I met Harry Burton; he’s gone away of course. Didn’t Churchill promise us some action on September 1st? I hope he keeps his word. I want to get home again right sharp, and don’t ever mention seaside holidays or I’ll go mad. Sand, sand everywhere. Well, Ma, I’ll be off. Cheerio. Love to all. Yours, Alb. Xxx.

September 7 1941. Airgraph. MEF.
Dear Mother and Dad,
I’ve had my first card off Eve. It came yesterday. Not bad judgement was it? Saying it was posted in July. I see Prue was over for a holiday in June. Did she manage to get down to our house? Fancy taking her to the Mission Dance, of all places. She ought to have gone down Trentham or the Arcade, but still, as Will Hay says, “Boys will be boys. I hope you’re successful with the present off Mr “Whatsisname”.
I’ve been very busy this last week or so. A letter I have just written to Eve has taken me 3 days to write. I’ve just this minute sealed it.
We should get one of these letter cards every week, but we’ve had 3 issues this last 6 weeks. Goodness knows who has them. This is one I have rescued from a rubbish bin, thrown in by a chap who evidently can’t write. I told you about him in my last letter.
So I may be meeting Tom and Fred Rutter one of these fine days. Well, there’s lots of chaps coming out here. We’ve had some come to this unit that were in Blighty at the beginning of June. What unit were Tom and Fred in?
It’s surprising, of all the thousands and thousands of chaps out here, I’ve only met Harry Burton, although a Serg in our Battn comes from Golden Hill. He’s too fond of his beer and, I think, his women to appeal to me.
You know the knitted ware that Mrs Chipperfield sent me? Well it’s going to come in useful very soon. The nights are getting cooler, and occasionally cold. You would hardly believe me if I told you that when we were up the desert in February this year, we used to go to breakfast in full khaki battledress, cardigan, overcoat, leather jerkin, scarf, balaclava and gloves. It was bitterly cold until the sun showed up. Then we could cast off almost everything.
Well, Mother, I will be off now. Remember me to Auntie Ethel and family, Uncle Levi and family, Auntie Polly and family and all my friends. I’m as fit as a fiddle so don’t worry. Cheerio, Mum, Dad and Levi. Yours, Alb. Xxx.

September 12 1941. Airgraph. MEF.
Dear Mother and Dad,
I have just received a letter off you (July 31), the one where you asked me to tell you how long it has been on the way. Well, it looks like 6 weeks doesn’t it? That’s about the average, I’m sorry to say. The post has dropped off just lately. I’m talking about the speed and efficiency, not quantity of mail. I am pleased with what I get, I don’t expect too much. At the same time, I’m all ears every day when the Post Cpl is reading the names of chaps who have mail, disappointed if there’s none for me, and too excited to have my meal if I get a letter or card. I had Eve’s first airgraph yesterday. It came very quick, (posted Aug 17.)
I see you listen in to “Greetings from Cairo”. It seems it will be all in vain. I’ve never heard of this arrangement, only what I have heard off you, but still, when I make myself known, the ESB will be after me.
. Everything we buy is one piastre or multiples of one. Still we get over it. I didn’t join up to make my fortune.
Dad looks like being very busy once more. Was it voluntary or a necessity? The former, I hope, although I rather suspect the latter. These chaps who have just come in from Blighty tell tales of severe rationing. I guess it’s hit the business pretty hard.
You had a full house during August Bank Holiday week. However did you feed them? Turn them out in the field to graze I suppose.
What a shock for the Misses Thornton. I know how she used to be so concerned with the lightning switch in the window. I was consulted a few times to see if it was quite safe, and now an incendiary bomb. Yes, it would cause a stir in the old ĂŰŃż´«Ă˝stead. Well, Ma, time’s up. Cheerio, love to you, Dad and Levi. Xxx. Alb.

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