Joe’s Letters, WWII: “Plenty to Chin-wag About”

It seems fitting to be posting one of these letters on the anniversary of D-Day. Lest we forget…..

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 100; Mum writes – 22nd January 1945

Letter transcript:

“16 Elmdale……

Dear Jo ‘Enery,

Well son, it’s Sunday night once more, so here I am again hoping this finds you fit and ready for your leave. I have not yet had a letter from you to say whether you received your parcel safely (your last letter was Tuesday I think), but hope you did. The weather here this last week has been a bit of all sorts – mostly snow – and Brian and Joyce have been having the time of their lives with the old sledge.

How’s things going down your end of the map, are you still as busy as ever? I hope you are getting some good food to keep the cold out. Buster is home on leave, Den says. When can we expect you, if it’s the 25th as you said that will be Thursday, so you might as well bring your laundry including pajamas and have it all done.

I was glad to know Aunt Emm had written you again, squeeze them a line when you can. I wrote Aunt Doris to thank her for the 10/-, which I’m holding ’til you come because I haven’t heard what else you wanted done with it – and explained to her that your time was fully occupied but perhaps you will get a chance to thank her yourself.

Has Jean got your watch done yet? Remember us to her. By the way I’ve clicked for a good pair of fur lined boots off the nurse who lived with Mrs Adams. She has left to take up a good position in London and gave them to me because she prefers Wellingtons, which proved lucky for me now the weather is so bad.

Well son, I suppose we shall find plenty to chin-wag about when you come, but at the moment I can’t think of anything more to write about so I’ll say

Good night and God bless you always,
Love from Mother xxxxxx“

Both mother and son are clearly looking forward to Joe’s leave. Snow and sledges for the kids at home must make Joe home-sick, but war or no war, a kid has got to sledge!
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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