Hello my dearest;

Well here I am your very cold and tired wife giving you a few lines of gossip on what is happening down here in Toronto. The weather has been horrible, with the cold and the snow, I can barely feel my fingers holding the pen while I write you this letter dear.
I am happy to hear, or not hear, that you are still safe and sound down there in Kingston and there has not been anymore news about you going overseas. Lets just keep it that way dear as I do not know what I would do if you were to go overseas and leave us here. It would be something that I would just have to get used to but again, the very thought of you going makes me very scared and worried.
Our little daughter is doing very well dear and I cannot believe in just a matter of months she will be 1 years old. I certainly hope that you will still be on Canadian soil when that special date arrives.
Everyone around here is fine, your Mom and Pop and Aunt came over for a visit and you were correct dear, she will be moving in with your Mom in the upcoming months. They will just have to sell her house and as the demand for homes in Toronto is rather high I think she will be in good standing with the sale of her home.
I had a letter from Dot this week and she is now settled in in Vancouver with her new job in the management office of Eaton’s. She certainly is going to make a name for herself in the management ranks of the company. I just hope she stays on the straight and arrow and does not get too distracted with the gentleman at work. It was so lovely to hear from her, but it makes me sad that she is so far away from me now.
I had a nice chat on the phone with Marg last week and since then I have not heard from her or seen her. She was telling me that Ted and her talked over the holidays and it seems that he told her that they would be staying put at the Simpson house for the foreseeable future. Darling, I could hear it in her voice that she so wanted to find a place of their own and move out of that house, and now to be told that she has to stay until who knows when? I feel for poor old Marg.
Well dear, I think that is about all these cold fingers and hands can write so for now, I will end it here with I love you from the bottom of my heart and I cannot wait to see you home soon.
Your very loving if not cold wife,

Doreen

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Hello dear;

Well here I am writing you with relief in my heart. Your last letter certainly took me by surprise knowing that there is a real possibility that you could be shipped overseas and that your fellow servicemen from Lachine all went expect for you. Darling I am worried that you will be next and that you will be sent before long and I can tell you that scares the wits out of me.
Darling, are you sure that you have told me all the truth and that you do not know when you are going and if you are going overseas? We can certainly talk about it when you are home for Christmas but it would be a very big shock to me and everybody at home if you came home and let us all know that you are being shipped overseas. So if you know more please do not wait and telephone me as soon as possible.
I think I will be waiting by the phone every evening until you get here just to make sure.
Darling I have only bought one Christmas present and that is for your Mom and I did buy her a make up case as we did talk about it the last time you were home, do you not remember or were you just not listening to me. I guess I will have to get out tomorrow and get some of that shopping done. Everyone here is fine and we have been so busy getting ourselves ready for Christmas. We are expecting Marg and Ted if he is home, your Mom and Pop, Aunt Jessie, and if we are lucky we will also have Irene and Percy. We are planning a large turkey dinner with all the fixings and I am sure it will be a lovely time.
Our little daughter is sitting up all by herself and she looks just so precious. She loves to look at the Christmas tree and she actually loves to lay on the floor and look up at it when it is all lit up. She is just like a doll. Beverley has taken to removing some of the Christmas decorations and hiding them in her bedroom. I think she thinks that they are her presents, isn’t that funny?
We have finally had some sunny weather here this week and some of the snow actually had a chance to melt so getting around the city has become a little easier. There are still lots of cars hidden under the snow banks and I am sure that they will be there until the spring thaw.
Well darling I will end it here as you will be home soon and I will have so much to tell you. I am looking forward to having you home for Christmas and I am still very nervous that you will be gone before I know it. It is just the worried wife me in wanting to make sure that you are safe and sound here in Canada and not overseas where I cannot see you every other weekend.
So with that I am sending you all my love and looking forward to seeing you soon.
Your loving wife,

Doreen

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Hello Darling;

Well dear your husband had a very exciting three days. There have just posted 25 of our fellows overseas and I thought for sure that I was one of them. Of the 6 of us that came down from Lachine I am the only one that is left. In fact I was so sure of it I was going to phone you last night and tell you. I would be home today on 14 days embarkation leave but I thought I would wait until today when I heard the final word, but luckily I missed it. So I think I am safe again for a couple of months.
Well dear I received your very nice letter and was glad to hear that everything is OK at home. I am certainly looking forward to getting home next Friday afternoon. I expect to be in at 5:25 as usual and I have until Thursday morning which makes a real nice time to look forward to dear. We are having a party tonight in the Corporals Club and I think it should be alright. The fellows that left today had one last night and they all left feeling pretty good.
I imagine that I will see a big difference in our little girl this time when I come home and I certainly miss you and her dear and I really feel good not having to go overseas for a while yet anyways, but I do not think that there will be another draft for quite a while now but you can expect anything when you are in the services.
Toronto really had some storm. I read about it in the papers. You are not snowed in down there are you dear? We had quite a bit here too but nothing like at home there.
I was just thinking dear of 2 years ago this New Years, boy the time has certainly slipped by hasn’t it. I never thought I would be this close to home at Christmas 1944 and we are going to make the most of every minute of it (especially at night) aren’t we dear?
By the way dear did you get anything for my mother and father and my aunt. Will you look after it please? You could get my dad some tobacco and some tie clips and my mother a sweater or a make up box and my aunt I think would like a pair of gloves or a subscription to the Readers Digest, they are only suggestions dear and if you have any ideas go ahead dear and get what you want.
Well dear that is about all for now but I will drop you another letter as soon as I hear from you so write soon darling and for now dear I love you very, very much.
Your loving husband, and Pop

Bill

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Hello Dear,

I just have a few moments to myself so I thought I would write my lovely husband a letter before I go to bed for the evening. I hope you are doing fine and not spending too much time in town and going to the movies too often.
Well dear we had quite the snow storm here over the last few days. The snow kept on coming down and I thought that we would never see the light of day. Pop and I were out shoveling and left mom to take care of the babies. She sure did have her hands full. We shoveled 4 times and that did not even make a dent on the amount of snow that we saw. We heard on the radio that it was the first time that the streetcars could not even get down the Danforth due to all the snow that was piled up on the streets. Was I ever glad dear that we had lots of food in the house for us and the babies.
Darling, I bought a little Christmas outfit for Donna the other day at Eaton’s and boy oh boy does she ever look cute in it. I thought it would be just lovely for her to wear it on her first Christmas when she meets all the people that are going to come over to see us for the holidays.
Speaking of the holidays dear, I am guessing that you will be home for Christmas? I sure will be lovely to be home together at Christmas for the first time in years. I cannot wait, and time seems to be going by so slowly.
I had a nice visit from Irene the other day. She is beaming and I can only guess why. She has been seeing this nice fellow from work, and he is not in the service so I wonder how he got out of serving.
Marg also dropped by last night with the baby for a cup of tea and some cake. She brought a cake with her, a vanilla cake and it was just lovely. You know how good of a baker Marg is. She seemed to be in good spirits as I think Ted will be home for Christmas. It has been a long time since she has seen him and it makes me so happy that you are so close to us and can get home at least once a month dear. She said that she has been thinking of looking for a new place to live one Ted is home for good, but you know how fast a good place goes in Toronto. I told her to wait until everything is for sure and to hang in there as I know it has not been easy for her.
Well dear, is there any more news on your front about being transferred out of Kingston? Have they let you fellows know if you are staying put or are they keeping that information close to the chest. I would be very upset if they sent you somewhere else again dear, but we will just have to wait and see what comes of it.
Well dear my eyes are getting heavy and I think I will have to cut this letter short now. So darling I am looking forward to your visit and spending time with you alone so until then, loving you from the bottom of my heart,
Your loving, but tired wife,

Doreen

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Hello Darling;

Hello dear, here I am writing a nice letter and still waiting for one from you. I do not think I will be able to make it this weekend and I thought I would write you now and let you know.
Well thing are going along pretty well the same down here dear, the weather today is very miserable but since I am not doing anything very important it does not worry me very much.
Tuesday night I went to the station show. Wednesday night they had a concert on at the station and last night another show. Tonight I think I might go into town with George, he is the fellow that sleeps in the same room as me, and take in a nice show and dinner.
I will not be able to get New Years dear, so I will be home for Christmas. I will have 5 days from the night of the 22nd and I will take my 4 days annual leave on the 8th of January, (45) for 4 days.
I received your package with my shirts in it darling. Thank you very much. Oh by the way do not forget to give me the addressees of all those people I asked for and also the other ones you want me to send Christmas cards to.
Gosh, but I miss you and our little daughter dear and I am looking forward to having a wonderful time with the both of you during the holidays. I also sold that ticket that I won during the quiz night for $2.00.
Frankly dear I am just glad that I got Christmas as New Years. I have never been home at Christmas since I have been in the services and I think it will be just lovely. I remember last New Years eve as I spent it on the train from Montreal to Toronto.
I hope you nave not finished off that little bottle yet dear because we are going to celebrate when I come home and do not forget to het lots of rest and sleep dear because it has bene about 4 weeks since I was last home.
Well dear I better get this away by the afternoon mail and so I will cut it short so for now dear, I remain your loving husband and proud pop,

Bill

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Hello darling;

Well here it is Sunday afternoon dear and it really is a beautiful day! I went to Church this morning and there really was a crowd, I think there was six of us!
I received your letter yesterday darling and was very glad to hear that you received your $73, but you get everything you need dear and try and put $50 in the bank. I thought I might have been able to get away this weekend and come home for Saturday night and Sunday but I did not make it, however I hope I will be able to get home next weekend. But if it is a bad time of the month I will make it he weekend after, so let me now that you think darling.
I did go off the station at all last week until last night when another fellow and myself took in a show, that is one thing I will say for this town they have some good shows.
I was thinking dear that if I should get my discharge before the summer you and I could take a trip to Montreal for a couple of days but if I should not be out of this outfit until the summer we could go up to Mrs. Deans for a couple of weeks.
Well we certainly had quite a snow storm down here, how about you? We must have had about 5 inches of snow, the scenery is very nice, we are only about 100 yards from Lake Ontario and it is really lovely.
It is sad to hear that your friend Dot has decided to move to Vancouver dear, I know she has meant a lot to you over the past couple of years and that she has been a good friend. I wish her the best in her new adventures.
I bought a dozen Christmas cards dear, so you can let me know the names and addresses of anybody you would like me to send ones to, also give me the address of Mr. and Mrs. Lillie in Philadelphia.
Well how is our little daughter dear, she will almost be eight months, gosh how times flies. What do you think we should get her for her first Christmas? I will leave that all up to you dear.
A few discharges are starting to trickle through, so who knows what the near future might hold for me. So we can hope and pray for the best anyway.
Well I guess that is all for now dear, but I will write you as soon as I her from you and so dear, look after yourself and all my love,
Your loving husband,

Bill

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Bill Darling;

Well here I am finally getting a chance to sit down and write you a few lines to let you know that everything is fine here and that everyone is doing just grand.
It has been a busy few days here in good old Toronto and now that I have a few minutes to myself I thought I would let you in on all the goings on.
Bill dear, I finally did receive my tax return and it was the grand total of $73 dollars. I think it came at the right time as I will use some of the money to buy Christmas presents. Can you believe that this will be Donna’s first Christmas? I certainly want to get her something special but I do not want everyone to spoil her. I hope that we get snow at Christmas as I think it would make for some lovely pictures with the baby outside, don’t you think?
Your Mom and Pop came around for a visit yesterday. Your Mom went straight passed me and Mom and grabbed the baby and held on to her for the rest of the night. Your Pop was saying that he has been very busy at work, so I am guessing that there are a lot of folks who want rings for Christmas.
I also has a visit for Dot 2 days ago, and Bill dear it was a very sad visit. She came in with her usual flair and she sat me down on the couch in the front room and told me that he has accepted a transfer to the Vancouver Eaton’s store and that after the holiday’s she will be moving to Vancouver. I was very happy for her but I asked her why was she moving. She said that she needed a fresh start and that many of the service men were moving to Vancouver after the war or after they are discharged and she thought that she could find a husband. I think that she is putting many of her eggs in one basket dear. She looked so happy I did not want to say anything. I hope that we stay in touch and that she finds what she is looking for.
Marg has not been by since the Saturday party that we had dear and I have not heard from her on the phone either. I think I will make a stop by at her place today when I take Donna for a walk. I hope that Mrs. Simpson does not answer the door as I suspect that she will not allow Marg to come outside for a walk. It is horrible seeing her like that caged up there in that house.
The weather here has been fair but I am guessing that it will run cold soon enough and we will begin to see the snow fly.
Well darling that is all for now and you are now officially all caught up so please write soon and let me know when you will be home and what leaves you will be planning for Christmas and New Years. So with all my love from the bottom of my heart,
Your loving wife,

Doreen

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Hello Darling:

Well here it is Tuesday afternoon and time that I dropped you a few lines to let you know that I arrived back here in Kingston OK. As usual I managed to get some sleep ad arrived in at 3:30PM. They had dance here last night but I did not go as I was feeling a little tired. Tonight “Holiday Inn” is being shown on the station show so I think I will have a work out in the gym first and then go tot he show. Tomorrow night is Quiz night so that is what I will be doing.
As usual dear I had a good time on my 48 hour leave and as usual is went by too fast. I might be getting one in December so let me know when would be a good time to come down. It is pretty hard for me to leave such a wonderful wife and daughter, but just another three or four months (I Hope), won’t be too bad. I do not know whether I will be able to get New Year’s off or not dear. They want as many to get away at Christmas, so I will try to get away at New Years but do not be disappointed if I do not make it down.
Thank you dear for organizing such a wonderful Saturday party when I was there. I was nice to see some of the old gang, have a dance or two with you was also a swell thing. I was happy to see that Marg was able to make it out for at least an hour without the baby. I know she was worried about leaving the baby with the Simpsons, I am glad that we do not have to worry about such things.
Now dear, in regards to Christmas presents. I will have to leave everything up to you. You can get something for my Mom, Pop, Aunt and Uncle, that is all you need to worry about as far as I am concerned. On your side of the family get whatever you want dear. Will you have enough money? If you only get your income tax return before Christmas it would really come in handy.
By the way dear, do not forget to get that magazine, “Better Homes and Gardens” if you could get it sent down here to me that would be a good idea, but if you bought it and sent it down yourself you could read it as well.
Well darling I am afraid that is about a; for now but I will drop you another letter as soon as I hear from you, and so for now, all my love,
To you and Donna,

Bill

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Hi Darling;

Well here it is Wednesday morning and I have just finished writing out my pass for a “48” hour leave so, I expect that I will be home on Friday at 5:17. It certainly is nice being able to get home every second weekend. So figure out what you would like to do Friday night darling.
Well I am really taking life very easy down here dear. I went to the station show last night and saw Henry Aldrich and I really enjoyed it. Tonight is the Quiz night where they ask questions. Last week I won 100 cigarettes on the program and sold them for $1.00.
We had a crash here last Monday and the poor fellow was killed. I saw what was left of the plane and it was certainly an awful mess. It makes me realize that the war is still going on and anything could happen to any of us at any time.
I received the papers last night dear, so thank you for arranging them to come down here, so they will give me something to read for the next day or two. Boy the hours around here are a cinch, from about 8:30AM in the morning until 11:30 and then from 1:30 to 3, when we have 2 hours of PT and sports. So I guess I will be a mass of muscle when I come home. I really feel like a million dollars since I have been getting all this exercise. I am just afraid that you will not even recognize me when I get home, so I better wear my ID tag (HAHA).
Darling, I was wondering if you would like to have a little party at the house on Saturday? I think it would be lovely to invite all our friends over and have a dance or two. You could even invite Marg and see if she can escape that house for a while, I think that would bring a smile to her face. I will leave all the planning to you dear.
I see by the papers where they are going to discharge 6000 in the Air Force by Christmas. I figure that I won’t be out until March considering the work that I do in the office. But that is only 4 months from now so I do not mind waiting. As long as I have a lovely sweet wife and baby like you and Donna. I don’t know what we will do about getting a place. I know that is practically impossible. But I don’t imagine your Mother minding if I stay there for a week or two until we do find some place. But we will talk that all over when I come home.
So dear, until Friday night I remain,
Your loving husband,

Bill

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Hello darling;

Well here it is Sunday morning and I thought I would drop you a few lines and give you all the latest news. I know I promised to write on Friday or Saturday but things have been quite busy around here. I finally got the general address so you can mail my letters to me. I am at Station 4, Kingston, Ontario, K7M 6V9, attention W.A Lewis. So now you have so get cracking on those letters.
Well I have now get my things together in my new barracks and I have a few pictures of you and the baby hung up so I can look at the both of you when I am in bed.
I saw “Bataan” on Thursday night as you remember when we saw that together. I think it must have been over a year ago.
Well things are pretty good here and I think I will the place. The food is good and with a “48” hour leave every second weekend it is OK with me if I stay here for the duration of the war. Just think dear in 5 days more we will be together again. This past week seemed to go fairly fast but I think that those next 5 days will crawl.
We had a crash here on Friday and one of the boys were killed. I think that I will go to the church service this morning, we have a nice little chapel here.
I hope you are getting lots of sleep dear because I feel that we have a lot of catching up to do, and lots of people to see and lots of places to go, besides the bedroom dear (Ahem). Is there anything you would like to do, or anyone you would like to see or any shows you would like to go to. I do like spending time ta home with you and the baby but it would be nice if we could go out somewhere.
Well dear I think that is about all for now so goodbye dear for now. But I will write you on Wednesday again and so for now to you and our lovely darling daughter I say,
All my love,

Bill

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