ROYAL AIR FORCE,

 HEMSWELL, 

  LINCOLN.

                                      TEL. HEMSWELL 256 & 257

Monday 11th November, 1940

Dear Dad,

          Thank you for your letter - glad to hear your all bearing up at home.   I think it is a splendid idea to go to Cookham, if Alan can be fitted in somewhere, as long as you don't mind an occasional moan about the apple crop, or a discussion about some article in the Daily Mirror.   Old Biddy is a funny chap, but you can have a jolly good discussion on the latest publications and the arts generally, so I don't think it would be too dull down there.   It would certainly be more restful than the present life in London.

          We have been very busy since the moon came up - no doubt you have seen references to some of our efforts - they say Munich was bombed the other day!   There was a tremendous show of fireworks that evening, and I expect it put Hitler off his speech - it ruined the broadcast, anyway!

          We have a good deal of fun here, and we only have one job to do, though the trips seem to get longer and longer, and the loads heavier and heavier.   The Jerries, of course, can come from France, and have a vast choice of areas in which to land if the weather is bad, whereas we are never sent out if there is no chance of there being a fit aerodrome in England on our return.   It is obviously wasteful to have everybody bailing out over England because there is widespread fog over the country.   We don't mind a foggy take-off, but we cannot land in thick fog with safety.   The weather at the moment is our worst enemy.

          I had a cheery letter from old Tom the other day - he seems to enjoy life at Stoke, but it is a bit too far for me to run over in the MG unless I can secure some petrol from somewhere - I have used my last coupon for November already, and can only manage another hundred miles this month unless I can supplement it by some means or other.   I hope he manages to get that grant from GLC as I expect he wants to keep on at the College as long as possible.

          We manage to get into Lincoln quite frequently as a tender is run for officers each evening at a cost of 7/6 to be shared among all those who make use of it - the individual cost rarely works out at more than a bob or 1/6, so it is an economical means of transport.

          While I remember, I shall be very pleased to subscribe 10 shillings towards Alan’s scarf and porker, and enclose the same in this letter.   I hope he doesn't have to wait long for his first XV colours - I reckon he will earn them all right.

          I have just noticed that this 10 shilling note is signed by B.S. Catterus instead of old Peppiatt - has he lost his job, or is this an old note?

          I'm glad that mother was able to get across to Roehampton to see Granny and Ethel, as I'm sure she misses the regular visits she used to pay very much.   Tell her I shall be very careful how I drive and fly, as I am very fond of life, as she knows, and don't go about bashing into things as a rule.

          Well, I don't think there's any more news, so I will say cheerio for the present.   I hope to get along sometime, but I cannot see the possibility of more leave just yet. 

          With best wishes, 

                    from your loving son, Geoffrey.


P.S. If you like to sell autographed copies of my photographs at five shillings a time, I shan't object. All profits to the local Hampden fund!