14 Aug 1945

Dear Renie,

Many thanks for your letter of 7^th arrived yesterday with one from Auntie, and one of 8^th arrived today. Thank you for the views and cutting, there look to be some very pretty places at Bournemouth.

I could write to you tonight during my quiet time, but then I wouldn’t be so fresh and full of sparkling humour! Have only been up long enough for a shave and cup of tea. I was going to write anyway, today, and now I’ve two letters to answer instead of one. I usually begin on writing paper to you because I never know when I’m going to stop! But haven’t very much time today so am writing air-mail for a change.

You don’t need to worry about being too ‘flattered’ Renie, in your photo, it would be very hard to surpass the one I already have of you, but I’m eager to see how much you have altered after so long, whether you really look so tired as you say you feel, so don’t delay it.

Glad you don’t think I’m wasting my time or being ‘silly’ by writing so often, very nice of you, it does seem very strange doesn’t it, the way we have begun to correspond so often, I’m all for it myself, as long as you do too, but there is a word of warning I’d like to offer, probably unnecessary if you are at all sensible (pardon me). You say I may be disappointed if seeing you, well I hope not, it would be disappointing to us both I feel, but perhaps you would be about me too, very likely! Though equally I hope not. I don’t remember you well at all, you were rather taller than Joan I believe, rather quiet and I didn’t take much notice of you, so can’t say I even know what you are like now. Lots of people think they like someone because they want to, you know that don’t you? But only to discover that they don’t. Well to be quite truthful with you Renie, we don’t know how we stand, do we? I like your snap, letters and think you are a very decent sort, but I would hate to disappoint you in any way, or perhaps you will meet someone you like before I get home, so lets make a bargain, that we will be honest with one another? Don’t be afraid to say what you think at the risk of hurting me, it’s the only fair way, if you don’t meet anyone else, well I for one would like to continue writing as a close friend, if that’s alright with you. That’s at least fair, isn’t it?

You say so much that’s very interesting and I would love to answer more thoroughly, I don’t think you use a wobbly table any more and I’m sure I never meant it.

You don’t make me conceited about all Dad and Pat say, they probably exaggerate anyway. My ears weren’t burning! They think an awful lot of me really and I’m lucky to have such a good family.

Didn’t know you played the piano! Good show, but don’t neglect it altogether. I’ve a few songs, and you could play them as I can’t do both very well, would you?

Yes, do send some snaps, if not too much trouble, anything of interest.

Oh yes, I know all about minors on buses, having observed a few uncomplimentary remarks in pre-war days. I don’t envy you your job at all.

Oh, you are a cheerful soul! Saying I’ll probably get so tired that I won’t be awake to hear all the noise! Well, I didn’t reach so pitiable a state, I found an empty hospital tent where I sleep very well, but the only trouble was the ants, I had to put tins of water to stop them climbing all over my bed!

That’s a funny shift, 3 hours off midday; no chance of pictures etc is there?

Very interested in your account of the holiday, so glad you enjoyed the rest. Are you going to Bristol? I hope you will, it will be a great change for you, only wish I was able to take you about, but perhaps I will one day. Grandma, always took you around, I used to feel quite ‘out of it’ Perhaps that’s why I don’t know much about you.

No, am not working too hard on night duty but have plenty to do, the worst job is cutting chips for 200 which happens most nights, and I get so ‘browned off’ with the scroungers. Have only two more nights to do however, as I go away on Saturday. Don’t forget to write will you? I’ll need somebody to drop a cheering word. I hope you aren’t hurt by my remarks in this letter, if you are, please say so, and don’t go “all quiet” or funny like so many people do.

I think this is a rotten letter, but know you would rather have a scrappy letter than not one at all, don’t forget your photo Renie, I’ll write again before the weekend, am looking forward to your letters, write as much as you can, I love your letters too.

It’s raining now, miserable day, just like Bristol! Wish I was there, or at Bournemouth.

Cheerio for now Renie,

Keep smiling,

Lots of love

Eric, x.

Best wishes to Auntie, have written to her.

You don’t think you’re wasting your time either do you?

Excuse the above mess, I’m not wide awake. I wrote, “You don’t think you’re wasting your time either do you?”

29 July 1945

Dear René,

I’m hoping this finds both you and Auntie, keeping well and jogging along alright.

I don’t know much, what to write about, there’s practically nothing new since I last wrote. Anyhow I thought I’d be a “good boy” and say something. It’s one of those days when one feels a little “fed up”. I don’t know why, no mail again today as no planes are in yet, perhaps that’s one reason. Another reason is that there’s so little to do unless one makes effort, and I’m frightfully lazy and tired, more lazy than tired. This evening I have promised one of the chaps that we’d go over to the farm for a look around, it’s too hot at present to go for a walk, so thought I’d take this opportunity to write you again on my free afternoon.

How are you René? How’s work progressing? And what do you do in your “off” time. Have you been anywhere special? Seen any good shows? Are you going to send another big list of films for my opinion? What’s the weather like now?

I see in today’s paper that the Conservative candidate “got in” again for Bournemouth. Did you vote? We did, we had a special ballot day, some of us sent ours direct by post as I did. It was a new experience for me, it seems an awful lot of fuss to make over a cross doesn’t it? Well, let’s see what sort of job, Labour makes of parliament now, I wish them luck as I do any party which gets in but prefer to see a plain spoken, straight forward, fair to all policy, I hope there is one and I really think there is.

It’s Saturday afternoon, I’ve just finished work and am now sitting out in the garden, writing on an old form, not very comfortable, so please forgive the wobbly writing, I believe you use a wobbly table too when you write to me? Do you? I would have gone into Bologna today, but really René, it’s too hot, and you have to wait around in town ‘till 10.30 for the return lorry, and it’s usually very late when we eventually rattle up the hospital drive.

Last night the mobile film unit gave us “The Woman in the Window” E.G. Robinson and Joan Bennett, it was quite a thrilling murder, tho’ I don’t like that type so very much, think I prefer a good story, serious perhaps with good acting, rather rare these war crazy days. What type do you enjoy most? “The Good Earth” I think was the best film I ever saw. Haven’t had chance to see the more recent ones, well adventured ones, and I hate the silly Yankee shows of plenty of noise and glamour, rather see a quiet well acted English film. Do you ever go to a play? We have some theatres in Bristol, I often used to go with Mother, Pat & Gwen, they are very keen on amateur dramatics themselves. I used to be too and look forward to getting back for a spot more if I’m not too busy after I get home. We, that is, mother and I, Gwen & Pat differ here, were very fond of singing, I still do a bit occasionally, we have had one or two concerts and I sang at them, we had a choir for about six months, until everyone was posted away and now it’s “frozen”. Mother was also very fond of elocution, she used to go out a good deal, reciting, even after she began having trouble with health she persevered. Gwen still does the same too, I gather from her letters, perhaps she told you, or was she more modest?

I expect Dad & Pat will have come and perhaps returned home by this time, did you show them around the town? Were you on late shift as you feared?

We are rather busier than when I last wrote, lots of diets, that’s my job, bits of this and pieces of that. Indian diets (curry, rice, fish & eggs) light, fat free, dysentery, officers etc etc: at the end of our twelve hour day we feel absolutely “corked”, something like a bank holiday rush on your job I expect. Are you looking forward to your release? What are you going to do, have you any plans? It’s a very big problem to some of us, it probably is to people in similar war-work.

Well René, sorry this is such a bad letter, I don’t honestly feel like writing, a bit “browned off” today, will do better next time, or else you can tell me if I don’t.

I hope you are both keeping very well. Please give my best wishes to Auntie. To yourself, best wishes too, and here’s hoping to hear from you shortly, when you are not too tired, and sitting in front of a large coal fire!

Best thoughts & wishes,

Your’s very sincerely fondly,

Eric