Apr 021942
 

Thursday
Aberdeen
Sweetheart,
I have just been doing some washing – my blue jeans and a pair of socks – and that has made a hole in the evening so I’m afraid this will be rather a short note, especially as I want to drop a line to the children. It’s ages since I wrote them and your letter with their notes arrived today. You say you didn’t get my letter until Tuesday. It was posted by the only Sunday collection there is, 9pm, and yet was postmarked Monday morning. That must mean there is no sorting done on Sundays here. I have only received one of the letters you sent to the R.N. unit so far, but the others will probably be at the other school and nobody has been down there for mail today. Someone will go definitely tomorrow.
As usual school did not go too well today. I always think that things seem to go best on the first day. After that it may be that the novelty wears off or enthusiasm flags, but you seem to go off a bit. No doubt it will improve again later on.
Well, sweet, I must get on to the children’s letters or I will miss the post.
All my love, darling. I’ll try to write more tomorrow. Cheer up, sweetheart, one of the 17 weeks ends tomorrow and the second begins on Saturday.
All the same, I wish it was the last week in July!
Bye till tomorrow, precious. I still love you. Amazing, isn’t it?
Ever your own,
Arthur X

Dear Wendy,
Thank you very much for the letter you sent me. The postman brought it while I was at school and when I came home for dinner it was waiting on a table in the hall for me. Has Mummy told you that I go to school now? Do you remember my tapper thing? Well, every day I play with one of those at school. I can still spell your name and Michael’s name on it. So you had tea with Nanna by the fire, did you? Wasn’t that nice! I am so glad Margaret is back from hospital and that she is quite better now. You WERE a good girl to give Jennifer your tiny dolly. Did you like going to Freshfield with Valerie? I do want to come home soon to see all the surprises there are and to see the new curtains Mummy has put on the windows. But I don’t think I can come home for four months because I have a lot to learn yet and I can’t come home until I know all my lessons.
I had not forgotten it is your birthday on Monday. I do hope you have a nice party, pet, and I wish I could be there to have some of your cake. When you see Cynthia will you tell her that Daddy sends his love?
This is all for now, Wendy, because I have to hurry to catch the post.
Love from
Daddy
P.S. Is your cold getting better? I hope it is.

Dear Michael,
Thank you very much for your long letter which the postman brought at dinner time today. Wasn’t Uncle Durham good to send you all that chocolate? So you have been working with Mummy in the allotment, have you? That is a good boy. You know while I am away I want you to be the Daddy and to look after Wendy and help Mummy all you can. That is what all big boys do, you know, and you are getting a big boy now, aren’t you?
The nights are not so dark now, are they, and I’m glad you can play out after tea. You used to do that last summer, didn’t you? I will come home as soon as I can and see your nice settee in the bedroom. Teddy will look nice sitting on there. Tiger will be a big cat now and should catch some of the mice to stop them eating our peas. I’m glad you can put your shoes and socks on by yourself. Can you dress yourself without mummy helping you? You should be able to now, shouldn’t you? Has the doctor made your cough quite better? I hope so.
Will you tell Mummy that while I was washing my sailor’s collar in the kitchen I saw a parrot in a cage and he said to me, “Hello McGregor. Hurry up.” There is also a little tiny Persian kitten here. Do you remember how little Tiger was when I brought him home? Well, he is as small as that and he chased a piece of tape I have on my collar.
I think that is all I have to say tonight. Goodnight, son, and be a good boy and look after Mummy while I am away, won’t you?
Love from
Daddy