May 11, 1941

Today being Mother’s Day and yours truly being too broke to send a wire, I thought I could at least write a few lines wishing you many happy returns. I just got back from Church parade, which was held outside. There was a heavy white frost on the ground and we were very glad when it was all over. That’s a strange thing about the weather over here; it can be so bitterly cold in the morning and so hot in the day. These white frosts we have don’t seem to injure the plants though the grass is stiff with it.

Things are very pretty here in Surrey at this time of year. Many of the flower gardens are in bloom already and the trees are coming into full leaf. As you know, we set our clocks ahead one hour on the first of May, so now we actually have two hours of saving time, as the clocks were never set back last year. This just means that it is broad daylight at this time of year, right up to ten o’clock. In June and July, it will be light until twelve o’clock. I have often thought it would be a splendid thing to have saving time in Alberta, as it gives a nice long evening.

Well, I suppose you are very busy with your flower gardens again and I hope the sweet peas reached you safely. Wouldn’t it be a joke if they were received in time for Mother’s Day. This would certainly be a Scotch trick, sending seeds in lieu of flowers. I haven’t heard from you or the gang for some time, but expect this too is due to enemy action as we lost a quarter of a million tons of shipping last month.

We had another long alert last night which sounded early in the evening, with an “All Clear” sounding at six this morning. During the night, I woke to hear the sound of enemy planes intermingled with ours and the rattle of machine gun fire and explosions from the cannon our night fighters now carry. Apparently, London caught it again last night, as the morning papers are late which is usually a sign. Our night fighters are beginning to take a heavy toll on night raiders, particularly when the moon is full. Perhaps Hitler will be forced to try more daylight raids, which always prove very expensive.

Things don’t look so good in the East these days, but I won’t go into that, as you must read your papers too. They tell me that we are scheduled to go out under canvas again on the first of June, which won’t be so bad if they pick a suitable spot. We had a three-day scheme early in the week, during which we slept under the stars. Well, I must close now and prepare for dinner, but will write again soon. Am hoping to hear from you next mail.