April 10, 1943

Dear Mother & Dad,

I was down at Uncle Jim's house the other day and I received your letter dated Feb 28. It seemed funny to hear how cold it was back home when it has been so mild over here all winter. I was sorry to hear that Billy was sick with a cold, but I suppose he is quite well by now. There has been very little happening of which to tell you about here lately. Last week I bought a bicycle and I found it quite handy for getting around in for awhile. However, I was posted to a new station for a few weeks the other day, and I had only been here a day when I sold the bicycle to another fellow. I think I'll buy another one, though, as this station is out in the country and the nearest village is about two miles away. A friend and I walked down to the village last night for a few beers in the pub. The place was full of Gypsies who were camped abut a half mile out of town. It was quite interesting to hear them talk and sing.

At the present time we are stationed about five miles from that small city in the centre of England, which everyone heard so much about a year or two ago. It didn't look too bad when we were through it the other day. Uncle Jim's boy Kenneth is going into the Army next Wednesday. He tried to get into the Air Force but his eyes aren't quite good enough for air crew.

The other Saturday Uncle Jim and I went out in the afternoon to see a football match between the Army and the Air Force. As it was the first professional football match that I had seen, I found it very interesting. I met quite a few fellows that I knew back home last week. They had just arrived. One of them was in my class at school and another was Doug Cornfield. He worked at Fairbanks Morse with me. He was up at the house a few times so perhaps you will remember him.

How is everyone keeping at home these days? Is the big dog still running around the back yard or has the darn thing run out in the street and got killed yet? By the way, let me know how long this letter takes to reach you. These letters are supposed to be air mail, but I understand that sometimes they go nearly all the way by boat. I imagine by the time you get his letter, you will be thinking about going up to the cottage again, or will you have sufficient gas this year?

Is Douglas still running his car, or is he in the Army now? In case you didn't get my other letters, did you find out anything about that war bond yet? Let me know if you are receiving my letters regularly.

It looks like I am running out of space, so I'll say goodbye for now. I'll be writing again next week.

Your loving son,
Arthur