Dearest Darling;

Well darling, here is that man in your life again. It is Thursday afternoon and I am sitting in the lounge at Milford it is a miserable afternoon and all the boys are just lounging around the hotel reading, playing cards and writing letters.
I am going to write my mother as soon as I finish yours. Well I am having a real good time here. Yesterday I had to work at meal times as it was out groups turn to work. We helped in the kitchen and I had to peel potatoes for the first time since I got into the service.
We went into a little town about 5 miles up the road last night. We were going to the show but we had all seen the picture, and now we have heard that they changed the show so we will be going there tonight. Last night one of the fellows was beaten up. 4 or 5 lads jumped on him so we went out in groups of 6 to find the guys but we did not have any luck but we are all going out again tonight to find those little rascals.
I played tennis all afternoon on Tuesday as it was a beautiful day and I had a real good time. We played at a lovely exclusive English Club out here. We can play golf too but it has not been nice enough to go out in the last couple of days but I hope to het a game in before I go back.
I received a letter from you yesterday and was glad to hear that Ted had arrived in Quebec and was more than a little bit jealous of him. But I hope it will not be very long before I am home darling.
So little cupcake is on the go all the time eh? Well you just look after her until Daddy gets home and then I will take her under my wing.
I went for a walk yesterday and saw the most loveliest place, it has a blue roof and was half brick and half wood and it had a red gravel path for cars in a big circle in front, exactly what I had in mind and I will be the happiest guy when I drive up in our car dear and we three walk into our own home and dear, God willing it will not be too far in the future.
Oh by the way I heard from Pop and he think he will be going home about anytime now, about time too.
Well darling I will end this here so again, all my love to you and our darling daughter.
All my love,

Bill

XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX

Hi Darling;

Well dear I am writing on a bed in my room at our rest camp at Milford-On-Sea which is about 20 miles from Bournemouth. It is really a wonderful place with tennis, boating, swimming, golf, etc. They are giving all the staff boys a weeks holiday here and I really think I am going to have a good time. It was a lovely day today and we played volleyball and baseball then I went for a walk along the beach.
Yesterday I went to the show and saw an old picture of Robert Young’s “HM Pullam Esq.”, I thought it was a good show. Saturday afternoon I went swimming and at night I saw “Roughly Speaking” with Rosalind Russell, it was also very good.
I guess you are thinking that I am one big holiday here, well darling I would give it all up this minute to be able to get home to you. I imagine Ted is on his way now if he is not already home. Is Jack Shearman stuck over here as a key person as well?
Well dear here I am again asking for some more stuff. I would like some more soap darling. I have 4 bars left and some more razors blades. I would like to give my Aunts and Uncles something for Christmas in appreciation of the way they treated me so would like to speak to my mom about it and sort of go in together. I will pay you when I come home so put it on my bill, lets just call it our “loving” bill and knock a dollar off every time I……you…..tisk tisk. Seriously though darling I love you an awful lot but now that the war is all over and I really can see getting home for good in the near future. I still get awfully fed up at times but I just have to see the next few months out and then it is home for good for me. I can’t imagine that it is over 6 months since I last saw you darling and I can remember you on that Sunday morning in the car with me so very well. Just think that when next I see you we will not have to say good-bye any more Sunday nights again. It was certainly tough at times wasn’t it?
I was just reading in the paper that last year there were 52,000 illegitimate Canadians born each year, and that certainly is a shame. I do not understand why people just don’t get married and have all the fun on the wedding night, but I guess each person has to make their own choices, and I am glad we did just that.
Well darling, I guess that just about winds it up again but I will write Wednesday.
All my love dearest,

Bill

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hi Toots:

Well dear here I am again, it is a really miserable day today but I am sitting in out club right now and am quite cozy. I received two letters from you on Wednesday and one from my Mom. I hope that you are feeling well darling because I would certainly worry about you if there was anything wrong with you dear because confidentially, I love you very much. Of course do not tell your mother or she might make us get married and then we would miss all the fun, oh but then it would be legal wouldn’t it?
Well things are just the same here, we are a little more quite here now, about 500 men left for home today. But the station is still pretty full. When I look around and see the conditions that some people live under here I realize just how lucky we are. They have gas lights in a lot of the homes here and outdoor plumbing and I have not seen a meal like our usual Sunday meals back home. They usually have bread and jam and some stewed fruit at 6 o’clock and then at 10:30 or so bread, potatoes and fish. No wonder most of the people look like they have been cragged through a barbed wire fence.
I imagine the was has caused most if it bit I do not think they will change very much even when conditions are better. I was very pleasantly surprised with my room and where I was staying, and I thought that they were really swell.
Well darling I am going to our recreation camp on Monday for a week, they exercise and play games etc. SO I am looking forward to a nice weeks vacation. I am applying for my leave for the first 12 days in October so I will definitely try and get to Aberdeen for a few days anyway.
Thank you dear for sending away for those books and plans and you can bet I will give you $4.50 worth of loving. I will give you so much that you will have to have a months holiday to rest up, boy that sounds wonderful doesn’t it? It is wonderful to know that I have such a swell wife and daughter waiting for me at home when this whole thing is over. But I want you to know that I would not do anything to spoil our love for each other. There are some of the lads over here who have found themselves in a particular situation of having a wife back home and a girlfriend over here, and in some cases a little one has surprisingly shown up…..almost like a miracle don’t you think dear? HA HA.
Well darling that is the works for now but I will write you on Sunday again and as always darling,
All my love,

Bill

XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX

Hello darling;

Well dear, here it is Saturday night and I am writing this from our Beach Hotel and that song “Saturday Night is the Loveliest Night of the Week” is certainly true. They are having a dance in the next room but I am just not interested in anything.
I have just got up from having a nice little nap. I had to work all day today and quite likely I will have to work all day tomorrow too but I really do not mind as it helps keep your mond off of getting home and that seems to be all everyone is talking about these days.
The station is a Repot station now and we are sending the boys directly on the boats from here. The station is full right up now and accordingly to our paper there is a big draft leaving in the middle of the month, so I imagine Ted will be going then if he is not home already.
Oh dear, while I remember you had better not send me any liquor, one of the boys wives was fined $15 for sending a bottle so I do not think it is worth taking the chance, but you can still send something to eat (haha).
Well Ross got out of his posting OK, and he has gone to Torguay to play ball this weekend so I am all alone in the room. I am going up to London for a couple of days on Monday so I will drop you a card from there.
Well how is my little cupcake? I hope that I am home for her 2nd birthday, gosh dear I certainly do a lot of day dreaming about us three and then perhaps us four or us five (ahem) that’s enough Lewis, I do not want to get too excited. How about taking some more pictures of you and Donna dear, I would rather have pictures of you and her than have you send the film over here but I could use a film or two dear if you can get any.
Well darling I hope your Dad had a nice holiday, he really does deserve it. I hope they are both well and Beverley is too. Gosh darling I love you. I just wish I were there to prove it so lets go government, send Lewis home so him and his wife can get cracking on some heavy loving and he can start being a father to that little daughter of his.
Well dear that is about all for now and so as always,
All my love,

Bill

XXXXXXX
XXXXXXX
XXXXXXX

Hi Darling;

Well here I am again darling with not very much news I am afraid. I received 3 of your letters this week darling and I was very glad as usual. I received a letter you mailed on the 25th, one from the 29thth and one from the 3rd so I got them fairly quickly isn’t it?
Well, Ross got his posting to Germany so is not very happy about it and I can’t blame him. He might get out of it though as there is a lad here who really wants to go in his place. I am so darn fed up at times. I should not be squawking all the time about getting home but when you see guys with half the service that I have going back home it does burn you up.
They say we are key personnel but any guy with half a brain could take over in 10 minutes. This is what they call sweating it out and boy that is what I am doing. But then I have only been over here for 6 months and even though I got home now we would have a place of our own. So dear I will just have to get along without you and Donna for a little while longer.
I am going up to London for a day so I will drop you a card from there. I had 2 free theatre tickets so last night I saw “Salome” and tonight I think I will see another western picture. They are both good shows, then I will go and spend the rest of the night at our Club.
I have been doing a lot of night work this week. I did not get to bed until 5AM on Tuesday morning. There were 5 of us so we went down in our mess for an early breakfast. The nights are quite chilly now but I am getting sheets now so I am quite cozy and comfortable in bed but not a comfortable if you were with me darling.
I am rather disappointed that my Mom has not sent me a parcel, particularly one that gurgles. I thought she would, oh well. Thank you dear for everything that you have sent over to me. I heard from my Mom, I finally got a letter from here and I do feel sorry for her as my Dad has been over here for 10 weeks and there is no news on when he will be getting back. I can only imagine how nervous she must be, but knowing Dad he is over here having the time of his life.
Well so long for now darling, I love you.

Bill

XXXXXX
XXXXXX

Hi darling;

Well here I am again, Sunday afternoon and I am writing to you from the lounge at the Beach hotel overlooking Lake Ontario, pardon me, the Atlantic Ocean. It has been rather poor weather the last 3 days.
Well I have been a lot of night work the last week (now do not get the wrong idea!) I am working in the quartering section and we have been getting in a lot of men from the continent at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning and we have got to get them into the different hotels. I am actually the only NCC in the section and we have got about 20 hotels to look after so it is really a big job. I have to do a lot of ridging on a bike just to check up on them.
I see by our paper that half the Air Force is now gone home from here now and that leave about 32,000 left here. They are going to give all the staff here a weeks vacation at our summer hotel at Milford-on-Sea. They asked us when we wanted to go and I said next week so I imagine I will be there for a week. All they do is play games and take hikes.
Well let me see what I have been doing. Last night I saw “Mr. Sheffington” at the show, tonight I think I will spend a quiet evening here and play records. Friday night I went to the dance, we had it in an ice rink, it is quite nice, but I left because it was too crowded.
Well dear, how are you, well I hope. And our little daughter? I received your pictures Wednesday and was very pleased with them, you really look like a glamour gal don’t you. And Toots is certainly growing and she looks so cute sitting on that bench. Well, it is nice to think that I will be seeing you both in about 4 or 5 months and we will be together for a long time.
Well, I was pretty well tanned up a month ago but the tan has faded now due to the poor weather.
Say dear, how about sending another bottle over or how about 2 13oz ones. I could sell one for $10 and make enough to pay for the other one. I wish you would and you said that you would. I have not had a drink since the last bottle that you sent over. I really do not like the English beer.
The beach is pretty well deserted this morning except for all of our boys walking around. It just reminds me of Sunnyside.
Well darling that is the news for now, so looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Lots of love,

Bill

XXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXX

Hi dearest;

Well here we are on a very dreary long Friday afternoon. It is drizzling out and I have not had a letter from you since Monday of last week. I have just finished sealing an envelope with some pictures I took on my leave. I have also enclosed a slip which I would like you to send away for me dear. The address is on the the top and when you receive then just send me the official book and not the plan. I am certainly enthusiastic about it darling, and I just hope you are as well. I think it is a wonderful opportunity for us to have our own place and build something on our own land out in the country. They have raised the maximum price to $6000 so we should be able to get something really nice. When you get the plans I want you to look it over and let me know. Try and keep it under your hat dear, as people might try and discourage you but I have thought it all over and it is really what I want and as I have said before I hope you want it too darling.
Well let me see what I have been doing, Tuesday and Thursday evenings I stayed in our club all night. Wednesday night I went to a dance but did not have a particularly wonderful time. Tonight I think I will go to the show. The people on vacation this week have had an awful week, it has been miserable every day and quite cool at night. Harry, the fellow whose wife went home to Canada received a letter from her today and she is just thrilled with everything. She can’t get over, so much to buy and so many choices. I gather that growing up over here all this time you get used to having not many choices, but back home in Canada we are so lucky to have options. He was due to go home but he is frozen over here like the rest of us.
I received a letter from Dad yesterday and as of yet he has heard nothing about his return trip to Canada. He sent a registered letter yesterday to find out where he stands. I think she should get some sore of an answer soon.
Well how is out little darling, is she talking yet? I should have those pictures tomorrow and I cannot wait. Does she still like that top corner of her bed? I can just see her now sound asleep up there. I am just hoping dear that I will be home for her second birthday and everyone after that.
Well darling I will end it here but I will end this by saying how much I love you and our little daughter and looking forward to the day when I can wrap my arms around the both of you and hug you tight.
Your loving husband,

Bill

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hello dearest;

I received your letter of the 11th yesterday dear and also one from my mother. It is 10 o’clock and I am listening to Jimmy Dorsey and as soon as I finish this letter I am going out for my morning cup of coffee.
Well dear I had yesterday off because I worked all Saturday night, boy is war an awful grind. I had to meet the boys coming off the trains, one train came in at 3:30 in the morning so you can imagine what I felt like Sunday morning. I managed to get a little sleep in though. I lounged around the beach all day Sunday and went to the show Sunday night.
Yesterday it was a very miserable day and I slept in the afternoon and thought about how nice it would be to be home with you dear. I received a card from Dad yesterday, and he has not heard anything about going home yet. I didn’t blame him for wanting to come over here but he could have surely waited until things settled down over here, and I Don’t blame mom for being a little peeved but I do not want to get involved so I will not say too much.
The weather the last 3 or 4 days has been very miserable, quite cloudy and drizzly like. So, you were up at Doris’ and her cocktails really floored you? Do you remember the one I gave you that night? Boy we did have a lot of fun that night didn’t we? Looking forward to other night like that is the only thing that make me feel content dear and you can bet your boots that there is going to be a lot more for us darling. It is pretty tough for me to hear that all the boys are getting their discharge, but I will just have to be patient for a few more months. I am rather worried about where we will stay dear. I know that your mother would welcome us but I know that you would like that and I know that I would not mind.
Gosh I think Mom made a mistake when they sold Browning Ave, but you might be able to find something you would like in the way of a nice apartment. I wish you would let me know what you think dear so we could make some sort of plans about the future. We will not be able to start building until maybe the spring of 1947. I am getting some plans when I come home and when they are approved by the Veterans Land Assc. We can pick out the spot and go ahead full steam with our own builder.
I am getting quite enthusiastic about it and I am all set to get cracking as soon as I can.
Well dear I have not received those pictures your sent. I am looking forward to receiving them. I have 3 rolls at the store, but I will not be able to get them for a couple of weeks. But I will send them over to you as soon as I get them.
Well I guess that is all for now dearest,
All my love.

Bill

XXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX

Hello darling;

Well dear I guess you are resting up from V.V day right now eh? Well it is finally over dear and it is just a matter of time before we will be together again for good darling. It was a pretty quiet time here. We had a big “doo” in our mess, dancing and so on but I did not do anything particularly exciting. In fact I was in bed by 12 o’clock both nights. It would have been an entirely different thing if I was with you in Toronto.
We drew straws to see who would work over the holidays. I lost so I worked yesterday but I was off the afternoon before, I did not mind as I will get an extra 2 days on my leave.
I have just come in from a very nice swim in the tank thus afternoon. Things are very quiet here and it is just like a holiday. We have a radio here and we get real solid “music” pretty well all day.
I received your very nice letter that you wrote on the 5th of this month, the one you wrote on regular paper. I was very pleasantly surprised to hear Ted is going back, he certainly deserves it. I imagine Marg is quite excited and I really do not blame her as she can now start planning on getting out of that prison that she has been living in.
Well darling do not count on me coming home for 6 months anyway. I do not know anything more at this time but I do not want to get your hopes up just yet. Of course anything can happen of change on a dime. I miss you and our little darling. Gee I think of her whenever I see any little girls here about her age. I enjoy reading about those little things that she does. So let me know about them dear in your next letter. I bet she is like her mother.
I am really glad that we had a daughter because she will remind me of you. I had a better start reading some books on how to be a successful father since I am going to be making a full time job of it in the near future.
Do you think that I had better start reading some on how to be a successful lover or do you think I will pass the test? Won’t it be wonderful on Sunday nights when there will not be any trains for me to catch? I was getting harder for me to leave every time I boarded the train. Gosh dear, you and Donna mean so much to me and I am going to try and make sure that I give you everything that the both of you want, particularly a nice home to live in. Why don’t you take a ride some day up north and see a nice spot for us to build a home and settled down.
Do not forget to send over those pictures dear and I have just thought will you send my suede windbreaker too. Weill dear I am working tonight but I am getting tomorrow and the next day off so I do not mind.
Well dearest I guess that is all for now and so darling,
All my love as ever,

Bill

XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX