April 11th, 1944

Hi Mommy;

Well how is the patient today, very well I hope. I rather expected a letter from you today dear especially after my Mother told that you had written on Sunday and am I ever anxious to see our little daughter dear. I can’t do anything else but think about her, it is sure going to be tough coming back here the next time.
Well how are you feeling darling? Well I hope. My Mother says that you look wonderful. I just hope hat you will be able to come out when I come home. You should be out around Saturday.
I have not done hardly anything since I last wrote you expect go around in a daze. I have still that that darn cold of mine and it has been lingering around for some time. Saturday I did not do anything at all. Sunday it was such a swell day and I went for a walk with the rest of the boys and was in bed by 10PM. Last night they had a concert on at the station and I went, it was pretty good. Tonight there is a show it is “The Imposter”, it is real new and it might be OK.
Well how do you like hospital life dear? I hope they are taking good care of you and have you got your radio there? It should help make the days go by faster. Gee darling, do I ever wish I could visit you every day. I guess I’ll just have to finish this war up right away so I can get home to my darling wife and baby daughter.
By the way dear who does she look like, but I guess you have given me all the details in that letter you wrote. I certainly hope that it comes in tomorrow because I really was disappointed when I did not get it today.
I will be in Friday night dear but I won’t be seeing you until Saturday I guess. How does Pop and Mom Booth feel about it? My Dad bought $5.00 worth of cigars for the boys in his office. I guess he is just like a kid again.
Boy am I ever happy dear, with a beautiful wife whom I love very much and a beautiful daughter who I will also love very much, what more could I want except I want to be with you and her right away. I will just have to put my trust in the Lord and say your prayers and I will not be long until I am back home with you both. I really think that is why we have so much love, and we really do have a lot to be thankful for and I will keep remembering that and hold that close to my heart.
Well darling I think that is about all for now dear and I will be seeing you before you would receive another letter so I won’t write again and so for now dearest give my love to our daughter and to you dear I give all my love and take is easy dear and get lots of rest.
So for now dear, all my love,
Your very loving husband, and now father,

Bill

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April 7th, 1944

Hello Darling;

Well dear, I received my mothers telegram yesterday morning and I am just about the happiest guy in the whole world right now. Just what I wanted, a baby girl. I was talking to my mother last night as I guess you know by now and she was saying that it was the most beautiful baby that she had ever seen. I guess that she would think that anyway so I will leave it up to you tell me all about my new beautiful daughter.
I hope that you are feeling alright darling, so you just take it real easy and do not leave the hospital until you feel like your usual self. I hope you have the radio there dear. By the way darling let me know if I can phone you next week some time or you can phone me just tell me when you will and i will be ready.
I could have got home for Friday, Saturday and Sunday but I’ve got a bad cold dear and I thought I would wait until I found out when you are coming home and I would come down then. I thought next Saturday, Sunday or Monday would be OK, so let me know darling. Gee I am so excited that I am going to see our baby girl that I don’t think I will sleep next week at all. I am doing nothing but think about it all the time as it is.
You were certainly taken by surprise I guess eh darling? I had made arrangements to get the telegram as soon as it arrived and I was so darn scared when the fellow came over and said there was one for me. I thought something had gone wrong. But when I read the telegram, I let out one loud yell. I bought Sundaes for all the boys. Harry, the other Pop, was passing out cigars but the boys wanted the sundaes so that is what I gave them. His wife had a awful tough time he said but that always do with boys I understand, at least it is more hard then a girl birth. You wanted a boy didn’t you dear and I wanted a girl, but is she is as nice as they say, you don’t mind do you dear?
I guess we won’t get our carriage until the next time I come down after this time; and we will go out and pick it ourselves and anything else that you need darling, you just go ahead and get it.
My Mother says my Dad acts as though he was the father, but not nearly as proud as I am. Oh by the way dear will you send her birth certificate down to me so I cam apply for dependants allowance for her, did you call her Donna Doreen, I think that is a lovely name dear, but leaving it up to you dearest.
Everybody is calling my Pop and I don’t mind it a bit. How does Mommy sound to you dear? I bet there is not one so lovely in all of Toronto as you are darling, we certainly will make a happy looking threesome when we go walking along the Danforth.
Now dear if there is anything you want let me know. I’ve got $100 down here if you want it darling so do not be afraid to ask me.
Well dear that is about all for now but I will write as soon as I hear from you and I’ll give you a phone call next week if you say so so let me know the numbers. So for now darling,
Your ever loving husband and very proud Pop,

Bill

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April 3rd, 1944

Hello darling;

Well dear I received your very welcome letter today. I almost thought you had forgotten that you had a husband down here in Montreal.
I have not done anything very exciting since I last wrote you darling. Thursday night I went to the station show and saw a fair flying picture. Friday night I did not go out of the barracks and on Saturday I went to a show downtown. Yesterday I had to work all day bit there was not very much doing, so I read all day.
Tonight I am going to the station show I think., It is “Lady In the Dark” with Ginger Rogers.
I saw Ted a couple of times dear and he didn’t seem to be quite as happy as he was when he was just thinking about going overseas. I felt rather sorry in fact for him dear, especially the way Marg is. I think the reality of him going overseas has now sunk in and it might just be a little overwhelming for him, considering that Marg is now in the family way and will be alone when the baby comes.
Just think darling it will only be 2 more weeks dear, by the way dear give me your phone number darling because I would like to phone you next week and see how you are, so do not forget and don’t be afraid now dear. Thousands of woman go through it every day who are not in nearly as good condition as you are, and your doctor is one of the best in Toronto. I think myself dear that you won’t have any trouble at all.
Do you know the fellow, I think I told you about his wife expecting on the 25th or so, well it was just a week late. They had a little boy and they both are doing fine.
How is Marg taking it about Ted. I guess she is not very happy but it is nice that you are so close to one another and can keep each other company when he is away. I am also guessing that seeing as you will have babies so close together it might be easier for you both to share the same clothes and such in the event that Marg does not have a chance to go out and get some of her own. I can’t imagine how she is feeling being locked up in that Simpson house, and they never seem to let her out of their sight. Darling I am so glad that you can help and be there for her.
The weather is lovely down here today and I just hope that is continues for a while. I don’t know what to do this weekend. We get Good Friday off but I would rather save the money and come home after the bay is born but I will see, what would you rather have me do darling?
Well Lloyd brought his wife back this morning and he is as happy as can be. He is really lucky, but we had a wonderful 6 months together didn’t we darling. Boy do I ever remember those lovely Saturday afternoons, we certainly had a good time and there will be lots more too dear.
Well darling I think that is about all for now and so with all my love dear, please take good care of yourself and it will not be long until our little bundle of joy will be in our arms.
Your very loving husband,

Bill

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March 30th, 1944

Hello darling

Well here it is Thursday evening and you have left and I decided to sit right down and write you a few lines hoping that you get this before this baby of ours decides to make an appearance.
Bill dear, I miss you already and I was actually hoping that when you were here on your leave that the baby would come so that you could be here and you would have a chance to see the baby before you went back down there. But we know how these things go and we cannot rush what mother nature has in store for us.
I am feeling OK, but as you know my feet and legs are so swollen that it is hard for me to walk around. So here I sit and wait but that is OK as it gives me time to think of names for the baby and prepare all of things that I will need once the baby comes along.
As you know darling we have officially moved into our new place and I decided that I would stay with my Mom and Pop rather than moving over to your folks’ place because all my things are here and having to move them back and forth just did not make sense as I did know know if the baby would be here or not by now.
Irene and Jessie came by today after work to see me and they thought with all the excitement that the baby would come today but I told them that seeing them was not very exciting (HA HA).
Have you bought the cigars for the lads down there yet? Are they all teasing you about become a father? I hope that you do not take too much rubbing from them and that they are as happy as we are that you are going to become a “Pop” very soon.
The weather has turned rather nice down here dear, and we can expect nothing but sunshine today and hopefully for Easter as it is right around the corner. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the baby came on Easter darling, as it would really be a sign of spring with a new baby. And then the baby would be the right age for the summer to go along the Danforth and have ice cream together, even thought he baby will not be eating ice cream by that time.
Marg is so excited for the baby to come as she will get to experience what it means to have a baby as she will go through the same experience soon enough and it certainly is something that she is fretting over. She knows that she will most likely have to do it alone, but we are all alone when it happens and then we all get to rest and stay in the hospital once it is all over.
So darling, with that I will end the letter here but I will leave you with I love you very much and before long we will have an addition to the family and we will love them with all of our hearts. So until then darling please be safe and keep well and we will see you soon.
Loving you always form the bottom of my heart,
Your loving wife and Mommy to be,

Doreen

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March 16th, 1944

Hello Darling;

I have just come in from supper and I thought I would sit right down and write you a letter so that you would receive it by Saturday. I am not taking my 48 hour leave until next week and dear and I would just as soon do that as it would have made it too long until the next time I saw you if I had come home this weekend. I figured that we get Good Friday, Saturday and Sunday off but that I would take mine the weekend of the 15th or the following weekend, I think that would the best poker, but we could discuss it next weekend when I am home anyway.
Well dear I received $1.00 from the Service Union and a paper they are putting out monthly with all the news. Emile Andrews is now a father I rather think that it was another case and example of someone not being too careful before they were married dear.
Well darling let me see what I have done. Monday night I saw this picture “Tender Comrade” and it was a real tear jerker, the girls might like it but I did not think much of it. Tuesday night I went to a concert on the station and it was only fair. Thursday night I went to the Rotary Club in Lachine. Tonight “Cry Havoc” is on at the station show and I guess I will see it.
Lloyd is planning on brining his wife down here on the 1st of next month, it isn’t much trouble to get a place down here at all. In fact they had a number of signs on the notice board at the Rotary Club. One was for 2 rooms and asked for a airman’s wife and child. I feel rather sorry for Marg and Ted, if I had to go overseas. I wouldn’t mind so much if it was after the baby was born. Then I would know you were alright and I know you would feel better if I was around and it is comforting to know that you are only 7 hours away from me and by the way dear we will just have to decide on a name this next time I am home.
The weather down here is not so good today but we have been having wonderful weather lately. What a difference form Halifax. It would be nice if you could get down for a week or so in the summer dear but maybe the war might be over by then.
You tell me that I am going to be very excited and nervous when the baby comes dear, but I think that I will make a very good husband and father to help and assist you with the baby. I think that changing a diaper will be a great thing and I look forward to the chance to do it. Walking with the baby, feeding the baby and all the things that come with being a father is what I have been looking forward to and any help that I can be you can rest assured that I will do my duty.
Well dear I guess that is about all for now but I will drop you another letter on Sunday and so until then from the very bottom of my heart.
All my love darling,

Bill

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March 12th, 1944

Dear Doreen (pardon, I mean Porky)

Well darling as you can see by the letter head on the paper that is where I am spending this evening, I am at the Rotary War Service club and it is Sunday night and it was such a lovely evening. I thought, or Norm and I thought, we would go for a walk and this is where we landed. It is really a lovely spot, the house is right on the shore of the St Lawrence andI can look out the window and see the light on the other side.
Well dear I received your very lovely letter this afternoon and as you see I am answering it right away. I knew about Ted being posted overseas as we received a posting list from Ottawa and I noticed his name on it. I guess Marg will take it pretty badly, one thing you can count on dear and that is I won’t be going over until after our baby is born dear. In fact I have practically lined up 3 days off for the next weekend after the baby is born and I don’t think I will have too much trouble getting it. You see Good Friday is a holiday in the Air Force but I am going to try and work that day and take it the second weekend after with a 48 hour leave, that will be the weekend of the 22023rd and I will be the happiest and most excited guy in Toronto that week. So let me know whether you think I should take a couple of days of my leave with it. I don’t know whether to take this months 48 hour leave next weekend or not. I could maybe be of some help to your folks in their moving but I will decide later in the week and let you know in my next letter.
Talking about postings overseas, Norm was just telling me that they have frozen us all in our jobs, they consider us key embarkation men now I guess and that they only way that we can go overseas is by volunteering and you won’t catch Poppa Lewis doing that until he has to.
We’ll darling I have not done anything very exciting as usual besides going to bed with a couple of red heads. I only did that 3 times this week so that does not really count, they don’t equal one of you though dear, so don’t you fret or worry (HA HA).
Seriously though I went to the show last night and saw a couple of fair pictures. Friday night Norm and I dropped in at the dance but it was pretty dry so we left early. Thursday night I read in the library and was in bed early. I slept this afternoon and so that brings my activities up to date.
Well dear I hope you are taking real good care of yourself and getting lots of rest. I am sorry to hear that you feel a little under the weather now and again but I think you have done wonderful so far and you look like a millions dollars. You will be the most beautiful little mother in Toronto and I will certainly be proud of you and our little baby, I mean daughter. Boy that sounds wonderful. I just hope I will be able to make a real good after.
By the way dear if you want you could go over to our place until your folks get settled in their new place, you can decide later if you want dear.
Well darling that is about all for now and so I will drop you another few lines either on Tuesday or Wednesday and let you know whether I will be home on the weekend and so darling from your very loving husband,
All my love,

Bill

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March 9th, 1944

Bill dear,

Well it is me again your little porker of a wife and I have decided to write you a few lines to tell you all that has happened since we spoke last.
I am glad that I was able to get a hold of you, and that was after trying a few time as I guess the telephone lines were busy and they did not know how to get a hold of you. I sat for a long time waiting as I told you and then there you were. Talking to you was better than writing but don’t expect that to happen all too ofter dear, I was just so lonely to hear your voice and speaking to you certainly got my spirits up.
Well darling the big news around here is that Marg got a letter from Ted and he let her know that he has been posted overseas. He is not sure exactly when he is going but he thinks that it will be rather soon. Marg was just beside herself, and of course she is always concerned when Ted is involved.
I told Marg that she can only pray for the best and that he will be not close to all the fighting whenever he goes but that is not what I think she is afraid of. She will be all alone when the baby comes and I think that is what is her biggest fear is. I told her that she is not alone and that me and Aunt Jessie and my mom will always be here for her and that we can do this together. Darling it feels like I already have one baby under my belt with Beverly and now we will have our own and then I can help Marg with hers and it will be like having one big family. But as we know she will have to stay in the that horrible house being kept under the eyes of those Simpsons so I am sure that is not giving her any comfort.
I have been feeling well, but I do have some ups and downs when it comes to feeling OK, and I think it is just all the extra weight that I am carrying. My legs and ankles look like they belong to an elephant so Mom keeps telling me to raise my legs up and drinks lots of water or milk. Dear, it will not be long now before our little ones comes into our world and I truly cannot wait to become a mother and for you to become a father and hand out all those cigars you keep talking about. i am sure that the fellows will be happy for you or will they be more happy just to get that cigar.
We have been busy finishing up the packing for our move, that that I am much of a help. I just try and keep Beverley occupied so that she is not in the way once Pop comes home from work and he has to get to getting things ready. I will have to make sure that in my next letter or so that I give you our new address.
Bill dear what do you think I should do once we move, should I stay with my Mom and Pop or do you think that I should move into your place so that I am not in the way and that I have a better place to stay while the house gets in order. Let me know what you think in your next letter.
When are you thinking about taking your leave dear, and how long do you think you will be able to get away and come down to Toronto? Can you let me know as I think it will be wonderful if you are here when the baby comes but we really do not know when that will happen, it is completely up to mother nature.
Well darling I will end this letter here so for now, loving you very very much and hoping to see you in just a couple of week.
Love always,

Doreen

March 8th, 1944

Hello darling;

Well dear what a lovely surprise you gave me when you called me yesterday and was very glad to hear all the good news. You really are quite a little “porker” aren’t you, now do as the nurse told you dear and do not eat those fattening foods, especially those candies.
I expect to be getting my week-end leave the week-end of the 18th that is in 2 weeks. I could either take it then or the following week so let me know when you would rather have me home darling. I guess I should wait until you are settled in your new place. It looks like you are not going to have any trouble at all getting into your new place. I am glad to hear that dear as I would not have liked you to be living in that other place as it would have driven your Mom nuts.
Well dear I have not done very much this week. Sunday night I went to the station show and Monday night I went as well and saw Robert Taylor in “Song of Russia”. Last night I stayed in and tonight they are having a dance on at the station but I don’t know whether to go or not.
Well old Tom is certainly quite glad with his whole “situation”, who would have thought it, but everybody is doing it now, its a good thing we got married when we did to something like that might have happened to us dear…HA
They are certainly giving us lots of lectures on V.D. I guess that the situation is really bad in Montreal. You almost have to wear rubber gloves to shake hands with a girl here.
Our meals are quite good now, we have ice cream 2 or 3 times a week and as much as you can eat and all the juice you can drink and that includes “cow squeezing” but none of these meals will look nearly as good as the ones we have in our own little place dear with our babies at the table and you looking as lovely as you are. It certainly is nice to look forward to dear, and it won’t be too soon to suit me. One of these days we will wake up to read about the big invasion starting and it should not be long after that to have this darn war over.
Darling, I have never been so happy as I have been since I have been married. I was just thinking this morning all those good times we had about this time last year, boy the time has gone fast hasn’t it? Gee I used to look forward to coming home at night to you dear and not to sleep either even though you did (HA HA). I shouldn’t think of those things like that to I’ll be running out the back door here and beating it down to Toronto, but we will catch up on all our loving dear, as soon as I get home for good. And there is an awful lot to be caught up with.
The weather down here has turned cold again but I think that this is going to be the last gasp of winter and before you know it spring will be here and you will have that little wonderful baby.
Well darling that is about all for now but I will write you on Sunday again and so dear loving you from the bottom of my heart.
Your very loving husband,

Bill

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March 5th, 1944

Hello darling;

Well dear I have just come in from having supper and I thought I would write my wife a nice long letter. I received your letter Friday and as I did not have very much news to tell you then I thought I would wait until today but I have not got very much to tell.
First darling I am glad that you are feeling better and that darn cold of yours has finally left you. I was getting very concerned that you were not taking good care of yourself and you did not go and see the doctor. But I am very happy to hear that you are on the mend and that you are happy.
I went to the hospital on Wednesday to visit Pere but he had been let out on Tuesday so I guess he must be ok now and not having too many difficulties from the accident.
I don’t know if you knew Paul Picard I think you met him once when you were down here. Anyways he was not feeling very well about 2 weeks ago and so he went into the hospital anyway, he died last night. I don’t know that the trouble was but he certainly went fast so as I knew him pretty well I might be asked to be an escort for his funeral.
Well I am going to go to the show as soon as I finish your letter dear. The picture is “Holiday Inn” and as I have not seen it yet I am rather looking forward to it. I went to church this morning and it was a really good service. We have been having real nice wether lately. It has been a little cold but every day has been bright and sunny.
Last Tuesday night I went to the station show and saw “Star of Russia”, I think that was the name. Wednesday night I stayed in as I had a touch of the flu, do I have you to blame for this dear? Wednesday night I saw “Cross of Lorraine” with Gene Kelly. I guess they are not showing these pictures in Toronto yet, it was a very good, but bloodthirsty picture.
Lloyd left on Friday for his weeks leave and I gave him a few pointers on how to get himself to become a father. I hope it all works out for him.
Gee dear I guess we really have a lot of clothes for our baby now, and only 6 more weeks to go. I can hardly wait for next month to come around so I can pass out all the cigars to the lads.
Well darling what is the news about you house, are you moving in next week and take it easy dear, don’t do any house work. I think you should spend the first night at our house dear. It will be real handy where you will end up as it will be real close to everybody and you can visit everyone with our baby. Marg and you can go out together and who knows I might be able to go out with my wife and little baby finally.
Well darling that is about all for now but I will drop you another few lines on Tuesday or Wednesday and so dear until then , from he bottom of my heart,
All my love, your very loving husband,

Bill

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March 1st, 1944

Bill darling;

Hello dear, here I am your very pregnant wife writing you a few lines to tell you that I am finally feeling better now that I have gotten over this darn cold.
Things have been pretty exciting around here with all the things we have to do with the upcoming move to our new house. I will be glad to be closer to the Danforth and be close with your Mom and Pop and Marg so that will be something that will ease my mind as the baby is so close to coming.
We have been packing up the house even if we do not have that many things to pack. Beverley has been trying to help me pack clothes but she is getting in the way more than she is helping. Mom is happy to be out of this house and she is exciting to be moving to a new place, and dear, this is the first time that I think I have seen her happy in quite some time. She is so excited to be back closer to her friends and Pop thinks that we will have some real happy times in the new house. I cannot believe that we will finally be living on Glebholme after living in the awful place so such a long time.
Darling, I have been getting so many baby clothes from so many people. First Jessie and Irene dropped in and gave me some lovely blankets for the baby and some clothes that they knitted. Then Jan came over and as I had not seen her in such a long time we had such a nice time catching up and talking about old times. She did not bring her baby with her as she left it with her parents to watch so she could make a day of it.
Then last night Dot dropped in for a very quick visit to drop off a lovely baby outfit that she picked up from the Eaton’s baby department. She did not even come all the way into the house dear, she just stood in the doorway as she was going out with her fellow for some supper. She was saying that she is still waiting for that ring that he promised her, but we know that she has been waiting for over 6 months and I am not sure that she will ever get that ring.
Marg and Aunt jessie cam over today to help us do some packing and I had a chance to have a chat with Marg in the kitchen. She is having some sickness in the morning still and I think that it might be nerves rather than being pregnant. She says that she still has so many things to do and get ready for seeing as she is still working. I told her to take it easy as you always told me dear, but she said that she has to keep on working to contribute to the household expenses. I just hope that those Simpsons do right by her when the baby comes along.
I was thinking dear, when you come home after this war is over where shall be staying? I am thinking that we will be living in your house with your parents but I have been thinking that we should be looking for a place of our own, but I know that we have lots of time to think of that once you are back home for good.
Well darling, that is all the news from here so with that I will say that I love you very very much and from the bottom of my heart, I love you
From your very very big wife,

Doreen

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