蜜芽传媒

My mother kept the last letters that she received from Leslie, and their contents reveal the usual endearments between a young couple. Particularly moving is the letter written the day before Leslie died, illustrating clearly how the war split people apart so unexpectedly, with no chance to say farewell. Transcripts of those letters are given below.
The first letter was written to me on the occasion of my first birthday and is the only record that I have of a direct communication with my father. It remains one of my most treasured possessions

Isle of Anglesea N.Wales
Sunday 13.7.41

To Dearest Tony
Here鈥檚 wishing my little Son many happy returns of his First Birthday, and may God bless him and guide him for many more birthdays to come.
From his ever loving
Daddy
xxxxxx

845761 LAC Ford LA
615 Sqdn Site 7
RAF Station
Valley
I.of Anglesea

Thursday [uncertain date]

My own Beloved Anne,
Many thanks for your parcel received yesterday, it was a real treat darling. I keep tucking into it every time I go to my Billet. Well How is my little precious one and my little Tony Boy? I hope you are keeping well and looking after my son for me.
I had a letter from mother and she seems to be getting along OK which is a good thing isn鈥檛 it, I hope she will not be too long in hospital.
Your little Leslie has been doing some more flying dearest and I had a terrific thrill the other day 鈥榗ause I did my first take off and landing without any aid from the other pilot so you can guess I am very bucked about that.
I was flying with one of our Polish Officers and he said it was about time I tried a take off and landing so off we went, he took of and landed the first time just to give me final instructions and then he said OK take it away, so away we went with me at the controls. We hurtled across the 鈥榙rome and one of the Hangars seemed to be getting mighty close so I eased the stick back and gave her full throttle and up we went like a rocket. I did two circuits of the 鈥榙rome and then he said OK now land so after fiddling with scores of knobs and levers I eventually brought both of us down safely, and it was quite a good landing, it fact he said it was 鈥渂loody marvellous鈥� and said it must be born in me, anyway I did three more take off and landings and all together we were flying for two hours so I had a wonderful morning as you can well imagine darling.
It is amazing the number of levers you have to manipulate and the things you have to watch and remember but you get used to it in time and I feel quite at home flying an aeroplane now.
Have you done anymore about going to Farnham? And what about my leave when do you want me to have it dearest? Don鈥檛 forget to let me know 鈥榗ause I do so want to be with my Kitty again and feel her arms around me, you know how I have to be made a fuss of and I want only you to do it sweetheart so I think as soon as you get to Farnham I must come down.
The weather is glorious now, I am getting quite sunburned, I sat on the beach yesterday afternoon an had 40 winks in the warm sunshine so you can see I should be fit after a short while here.
Now my precious I must away again
Cheerio till later
Yours forever and a day
Leslie

Same place

Saturday [2nd August 1941]

Anne, my Beloved,
Am sorry to have kept you waiting so long for this letter, actually I wrote one to you last Tuesday but did not post it because I have been hanging on trying to get something arranged, and at last it is all settled, so I will now spring the surprise on you -------------
If all goes according to plan I shall be home to see you next Friday night (8th Aug) until Monday morning, just a long weekend pass, won鈥檛 it be wonderful darling?
But dont forget that is all if things go OK, you know how they are fond of changing things about, but my pass is all signed complete with ration card so it should be OK.
Our Adjutant is taking me in his car as far as Birmingham so I shall either get a train from there to London or else get a lift as it is easy to hitch hike from B鈥檋am as it is the main road, but I will see what time we get to B鈥檋am.
You see it all came about by the Adjutant asking me if I would like a 48 hour pass and I said it was no good to me as it was too far to go home, so he said he would try to get me an extra 24 hours for travelling which he did, so my pass will be from midday Friday till midnight Monday. So I shall get three nights at home.
Well my precious that is about all for now so will close so as to get this letter posted ------Oh dear I have missed this afternoon鈥檚 post and there is no post at all tomorrow so it wont go out 鈥榯il Monday but you should get it in time.
Cheerio Sweetheart and here鈥檚 to three wonderful days with my Kitty, I can hardly wait Darling, so be ready to greet me with open arms.
Bye Bye Dearest,
Yours forevermore
Leslie

845761 LAC Ford LA
615 Sqdn Site 7
RAF Station
Valley
I.of Anglesea

Thursday [14th August 1941]

My Darling Anne,
Here I am safely settled down in camp again after a very uninteresting journey. I did not manage to get much sleep on the train but I went to bed early the next night and so am back to normal again now.
I have just been asked to take the Adjutant鈥檚 wife and son out Riding on Saturday morning at 10.30 so you can think of me precious, enjoying a good canter across the country.

Friday Darling, what a busy night, I was interrupted last night to take the officers out on the Booze so must finish this letter this morning, have just had breakfast.
Have just received your letter and collars. Yes sweetheart I also miss you an awful lot, everything seems so empty doesnt it. Never mind precious I shall soon be with you again, holding you tighter than ever.
Must away now but will write a nice long letter tomorrow or Sunday so Cheerio darling
Yours forever
Leslie

845761 LAC Ford LA
615 Sqdn Site 7
RAF Station
Valley
I.of Anglesea

Monday [18th August 1941]

My Darling Anne,
Here is your Leslie again, still fit and well and hoping you are the same, also my 鈥淲ee Man鈥� of course.
Well dearest I had a very nice ride yesterday morning and we are going again on Wednesday they were very nice horses and quite well mannered.
What has my lovely one been doing lately, behaving herself I hope and not forgetting all the promises she made to her Leslie. Do you realise darling that if all is well I shall be with you again a fortnight on Friday, the time will soon pass dear and I shall be holding you in my arms tighter than ever before.
We had a nasty crash the other day about 8 miles from the 鈥榙rome the pilot was burned horribly and that of him that wasn鈥檛 burnt was smashed to pulp and the CO and I dashed off in the car and were the first to arrive on the scene, the CO wouldnt go near the body (I suppose one pilot doesnt like to see another in that state) so I had the awful job of mauling the charred remains to try and find means of identification, which was very difficult but the Medical Officer arrive shortly after and between us we identified him as our officer. When we got back to camp the CO told me to go and get some dinner and of all things it had to be stew with chunks of fat and gristle so of course I could not face it after my experience in the morning as the smell of burning bodies stays in your stomach for days. Anyway it is all over and forgotten now.
Have you heard from Mum and Dad, I hope they are well. Have you any news from the rest of the family or the folks at Stoneleigh?
I am playing in the Squadron Tennis team and we are arranging a match with the 蜜芽传媒 at Bangor, so that should prove a good day out don't you think?
We had a concert in the NAAFI last night, not too bad but rather amateurish, however it passed an evening away, and Sunday is absolutely dead in Wales, nothing opens and everything just dies for the day.
Now my precious bundle of love I must close and get to bed, so cheerio Sweetheart, God bless you and Tony, will write again soon
Yours forevermore
Leslie

Same Place
Wednesday (27th August 1941)

My Own Darling Anne,
I expect I am in for an awful nagging for not writing sooner, but really darling I have been very busy this last week with repairs and overhauls on the car. Yesterday afternoon was my first leisure period for a long time and I went into Bangor and played tennis.
Well my precious one the time is drawing very close for my leave, and as far as I know it will be OK for Friday week, Sept. 5th.
We had a Junkers 88 over here yesterday, but two of the Boys went up and shot it down, so that called for celebrations.
How is my dearest Anne and my 鈥淲ee Man鈥� is his cold better?
What about that film I put in the camera, have you taken any snaps with it yet? Don鈥檛 forget you must send me some.
I had a letter from Mum and they seem to be quite well, she sent me some stamps so I can write to you now even though it is just before pay day.
Have you been to Stoneleigh at all? If you go do you think you could manage to convey my grey suit and a couple of shirts collars and ties also my brown shoes to Farnham so that I can change into them when I come on leave ---- please darling.
You know dearest I keep getting so excited when I think of my leave 鈥榗ause I do so want to be with you and Tony. I keep showing people those two snaps that Hubert took and they all think Tony is a beautiful boy, it is so lovely to have him in the world with us isn鈥檛 it darling. I don鈥檛 know what I would do without my Anne and Tony to love, and when I say love I mean love ----- see?
Now precious Angel I must away to work again so cheerio darling, will write again soon.
Yours for evermore
Leslie xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx
Tony xxxxxx

On 28th August 1941 the following entry appears in the Operations Record Book for 615 Squadron at RAF Valley:
鈥淚n a violent gale a Botha landed just offshore at Rhosneigr Bay and in addition to the crew of three, twelve of the rescuers were lost. They included 845761 LAC Ford, LA, the C.O.鈥檚 driver, who apparently tried to swim out. No one saw him go. Also, 819139 LAC Bannister, D.W., a Flight Mechanic out of 鈥楢鈥� Flight. Ten of our aircraft were patrolling and a number of Mae Wests and dinghies were dropped, some of which were picked up by those in the sea.鈥�

The following is an extract from the History of RAF Valley:
鈥淓arlier in August, Valley had assumed responsibility for 2 air/sea rescue launches which were based at Rhoscolyn Bay close to the airfield; during that month a tragic incident occurred in which the launches were unable to help when a Blackburn Botha (L6417) of No 4 Air Observers School from West Freugh force-landed in rough sea off Rhosneigr beach. The crew were drowned and so also were 11 other people including airmen from the Station who attempted in vain to rescue the crew and were lost when their boat capsized. Two young boys from Rhosneigr fearlessly put to sea in a sailing dinghy in an effort to reach the aircraft, but were unable to save the crew who were swept away by the towering waves which also overturned their little boat. They were fortunately rescued by the spectators on the beach who roped themselves together and waded out to them; for their bravery the 2 boys were awarded The George Cross by The King.鈥�

Below is the partial text of two letters sent to my mother following the accident. The first is from Squadron Leader Gillam, Officer Commanding RAF Valley, the second from Station Adjutant Flight Lieutenant Wise.

Dear Mrs Ford,
You will already have received notification of the fact that your husband, 845761 LAC Ford, L.A. has been missing from this unit since the 28th August.
On that day, an aircraft crashed into the sea some 300 yards from the shore nearby, and those of our personnel who could be spared from their duties voluntarily went down to the beach to render whatever assistance they could.
Your husband was amongst them and although he was seen walking along the sands, no-one saw him enter the sea, although it is now assumed that he did.
Since that day a week has passed, and we are forced to conclude that he drowned in an attempt to save the lives of the aircrew concerned in the crash.
I believe he was an excellent swimmer and it would have been typical of him just to have gone out there without saying a word to anyone.
I should like you to know how greatly we all admire the pluck and courageous spirit shown by your husband in this gallant effort of his to save the lives of others.
He has been with the squadron for a long time and was deservedly popular with every one of us, more especially with our pilots and myself who knew him so well.
As you are no doubt aware he was my personal driver, and I felt he fully deserved promotion to a higher status in the Royal Air Force, and had decided to recommend him for a commission.
Yours faithfully,
D E Gillam (signed)

Dear Mrs Ford,
I am writing to you quite unofficially to record my sorrow at your great loss. I had known (Leslie) for quite a while and it would have been difficult to meet a more charming personality. Indeed it was just a few weeks ago that he was kind enough to take my wife and small son out riding at Trearddur Bay. This kindly service did much to make my family鈥檚 stay here pleasant.
Signed F/Lt Wise

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