Читать книгу We Were Young and at War: The first-hand story of young lives lived and lost in World War Two - Sarah Wallis - Страница 58

Dear Trudie,

The Battle for Britain has begun. But we are prepared for them. I have had 3 bombs dropped within 300 yards of me. We were out on duty with the Home Guard when we heard the aeroplane overhead, the scream of bombs, thuds and flashes of flame. By the time this letter reaches you I bet I’ll have had some dropped nearer than that. The Home Guard brought its first Nazi bomber down on Sunday with rifle fire. I tried to machine-gun them but it did not come off. I am practising bomb throwing every night now. We are to fight guerrilla warfare and will be tougher now to kill a sentry without making any noise and such as that. Oh Boy. What fun!!!!! The thing I am dreading most is the army boots, big hefty things with studs in the bottom, Oh oh!!!!

What do you think about our Air Force, grand work, what? A friend of mine saw an anti-aircraft gun shoot a bomber clean in two only 16 miles away from home.

Yes I did make the plane in my picture. It is only 30-inch wingspan. I did make them 60- and 70-inch wingspan. But now the war’s to be taken seriously it’s no time for a boy old enough to fight to go flying model planes.

I went to a dance last Saturday night and they had a fine new dance called the kiss waltz. It’s a waltz as you may have guessed and every time the lights go out you kiss your partner. It’s good, fine, delicious. Do you have anything like this?

You still don’t ask me any questions in your letters. When I write I have to think out all my own stuff. Write plenty. You don’t know how I look forward to your letters they buck me up fine. So don’t forget write plenty.

I suppose you are basking in the sun as I write this letter. I bet you are as brown as a berry.

I read in one of today’s papers that conscription may be reduced from 20 years to 18, that means if it is true I’ll be in it next year ready for when we invade Europe.

Have any of your letters from me been censored?

I don’t like to think some old faggot in the censor reads our letters do you?

Hoping you are well and in the best of health.

Yours,

Brian