#34

Sept 5. 1944.

Dear Mother:

There is not a great deal to say about my short leave in Belfast as I did not do very much—less than usual I suppose because the boys can travel where they like now and so not many stayed in B. However I did meet some instructor types from this station which somewhat prepared me for the move. Another night I got mixed in with some American naval officers at the officers club. After the place closed one of them got a bottle of rye off the ship which we took on to a night club. It was a pleasant change from what I have been used to. Also saw one play—the first thriller I have seen on the stage and quite good.

Getting back to school in this place has several disadvantages. Rising at 0700 every other day is only one of them—the general spit and polish of any training station is almost intolerable to anyone coming from the free and easy life of an operational squadron. One blow was to find the course a month longer than I thought.

After I have been overseas a year I will be able to say that I have had only one fourteen day leave (the normal leave period) and since joining the squadron last Dec. only one leave in England part of which was spent in hospital. What a disgusting state of affairs. I am beginning to wonder whether I will get a decent leave before saying goodbye to these Isles.

I have been given a crew now and am well pleased with them. They are all English except two New Zealand WOPS who I haven’t met yet. The engineer used to be at my old station and has considerable experience which is a god thing.

Parcel N^o 15 arrived a few days ago. Thank you but don’t send any more cocoa. It is too complicated a drink to brew successfully and I have hardly started the first tin as yet. I think you might as well arrange it so that no parcels arrive after the end of November as I don’t know where I’ll be and its no use having parcels travelling all over the world.

With love from Tony.

[Editor’s note: Transcription provided by collection donor.]