Joe’s Letters, WWII: “Nervous Debility”

One of my Uncle Joe’s letters will be posted to this Blog each and every Friday until they are done. Please see below for a link to Joe’s full story and the other letters in this series so far.

Joe and crew have experienced their first few bombing raids over Germany, the first of which ended in disaster. Joe is flying out of Chedburgh in Suffolk, New Year 1945.

 Letter 105; 20th Feb 1945

Letter transcript:

“Ched. Tuesday.

Hello Mom.

Well I’m back at Ched’ again. We went to Wesel on Sunday in daylight and had to land at another ‘drome ‘cos of bad weather here. I got back today.

I can only write a few lines as it is midday now and we can sleep ’til four pm for an op tonight.

I hope you got that £1 ok. I must write to Jean in a minute too, I last wrote to her on Friday. She’s away from work according to today’s letter with nervous debility or something. She asks me to ask you if it’s ok for her to come to our house for this leave I’m due for!! I first suggested it anyway. Drop her a line if you have time.

Well this is all for now so God bless and keep smiling, I DO!!

Your loving son, Joe xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx”

Cramming sleep and worrying about his girlfriend. No wonder Joe is feeling low at the moment. Little details of these raids in his letters, just dates and places.

To read more about Joe’s letters please follow this link. There you will find the full selection of letters to date, as well as more information about his fascinating yet ultimately tragic story. He was our family hero. He IS our family hero. If I knew how to complete an effective RAF salute, I would salute you now, Joe. Long may your memory live in our family stories. I hope to post a new letter from Joe’s correspondence with his Mother here every Friday until they’re done. It will be a turbulent and heart-wrenching journey. Subscribe to the Blog to make sure you don’t miss any of it.

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