Winter Term 1944
Undated
I had a fair journey. My trunk and box both arrived very safely last night. I will send the box back soon. There is one thing I have forgotten to bring and that is a red note-book in the sitting-room on a chair. Please could you send it as soon as possible as I must have it. If it isn’t on the chair it may be under it.
Another thing I have forgotten is my Spotter’s Club membership card. It is on the mantelpiece in Dennis’ room near the book-case. Could you please send it soon. I am sorry I forgot these but I usually forget a lot more.
September 30th
I am very happy here and getting on well in my work and I have played one game of rugger so far and that was to-day.
Sunday
I am wearing one of my new shirts and it is very comfortable and VERY warm indeed.
I saw something this morning which I think will interest you, if it doesn’t make you cry. It was that 30,000 bottles of brandy, intended for export, had been burnt in Portugal.
The sandwiches which I had on the train were very good indeed. So were the cake and biscuits, which were in my trunk.
The term probably ends on the 14th of December. School Certificate Exams start on the 30th November.
I don’t think I told you but I am in Colts game in rugger. If I get into the team I will miss seeing Denis Corkery 1 because he said he was going to come over here for the Wellington match (He was at Wellington) and on the same day Colts have got an away match.
I am going to have some Partridge for tea, because Soames shot two the day before he came back and they have been cooked to-day and the smell in here is lovely.
Undated
My apples arrived yesterday. They are very good indeed. I think they are Worcester pomaines. You could send me the man’s address so I can send back the crate to him, or doesn’t he want it.
I had a game of rugger yesterday. I enjoyed it very much more than I did last week. I am getting on quite well in my work and I got two pluses this week.
October 15th
Dear Mummy and Daddy and the Snottie if he’s still at home.2 (Dennis was on leave changing ships, leaving the Ramillies but not knowing what his next posting would be. Snottie is a rude word for midshipman.)
I hope you and all the family of egg-layers and hair-scatterers (Simon3) are all very well.
I am very well and getting on fine in everything. I got 5 pluses this week and took the list to the Warden.
I am VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, Jealous of you and your car rides to Abergavenny and the Red-Lion. I think it is disgraceful; I do really!!!!!! 4. I am glad the car is still in working order, if Dennis has been driving all the time. I hope the dog enjoyed it. Did you climb up either of my mountains.
I have started rugger in earnest this week and I have played about 4 games. I am probably going to be in Colts team, but I don’t know definitely yet. I am glad you made some crab-apple jam; is there any left, or has Dennis eaten it all?
October 21st
I got six pluses this week and am taking the list to the warden to-morrow.
I nearly got into Colts team for the match to-day but didn’t quite. I did not mind much not being in the team as it wasn’t a very interesting match and we were easily beaten.
On Friday there was a Junior Social Rugger match against the social called Cocks which we won 24-0. I was playing and scored 1 try.
October 29th
I only got four pluses this week but I am taking the list to the Warden again.
I forgot to tell you but I managed to get a pair of size nine rugger boots, so I won’t need Dennis’s. I have played quite a lot of rugger this week and I have enjoyed myself. There was another Junior Social match on Friday, against Easons which we won 8-3, although we had our two best men missing. I played in it.
Yesterday I went to Oxford and got a book to the value of 10/- for my form prize. If I hadn’t tied top I would have been able to get one to the value of £1. I got a book called ‘Just Dogs’ by C.F.Barker. It is full of lovely sketches by him.5 (I was mercifully ragged for choosing such a mundane book when I should have been selecting something highbrow).
I had a good tea this afternoon consisting of some very good pilchards, some toast and treacle and plums and they were very good.
I am having a very enjoyable time this term and am very happy and getting on well in everything.
November 8th
Last week has been quite a good week as it was All Saints week-end and all the Old Radleians, who can come, come down. Also all the masters give a play, which I saw last night; it was very, very good indeed and very funny indeed. It was more or less a whole holiday yesterday, but in the middle of the morning we had another Junior Social match against Southams which we lost 14-nil and in the afternoon there was a 1st XV match V the O.C.T.U. at a place called Purbright which we won 24-nil.
I am getting on quite well in all things and quite happy.
November 18th 6
I had a lovely time seeing you and I really, throughly enjoyed it all. Did you have a nice time in London, with luch with Uncle Lionel at Fracasti Botoms?
There was a Colt’s match on Thursday against Wellington which we lost 11-0 nil, and another on Saturday, to-day, against Eastbourne which we won 3-0 nil. I did not play in either of them. The other Colts matches have been cancelled and so I shall be able to see Denis Corkery here on December 2nd, you remember before there was an away Colt’s match that day.
I got on well in my work this week and got 5 pluses and am taking the list to the Warden.
Have you had any more news from the Pilot-Officer in the land of the Canadians.
The night before last it rained very hard and my cubicle got flooded. I do not know if it was due to that or to my walks with you but I think I have got a bit of a chill and have been off games for the last two days. I feel perfectly O.K. and will be allright soon, so don’t worry.
A thing I must tell you is that my Daks, the old one’s of Dennis, have gone, well and truly in the seat, so I don’t think they can stand much more use.
Undated
I have quite recovered from my cold now. The cake was very good indeed thank you, but it went very quickly.
I am taking the School Certificate beginning on Thursday. I do hope I do well. I feel quite confident about passing, but I want to try and matriculate (i.e. get 5 credits)
December 3rd
The exams which I have done so far are ‘English Language’ which was quite easy on the whole; Elementary Maths I which was also easyish and the Practical Chemistry exam which was good fun and very easy.
I got my hair cut on Friday and it was cut very well, for a change.
I have got my sweet coupons now, which I’m very please about. I haven’t got this months rations but have got next, which means 1 ½ lbs of sweets which isn’t too bad.
I did not manage to see Denis Corkery as I discovered the match v Wellington was away and not here, and I sent him a telegram not to come. On Tuesday there was a Junior Social match against Patons which we drew 0-0. On Thursday there was the last Junior Social match against Watkins which we won 28-0 nil. I scored one try.
There is going to be a steeplechase on Tuesday, it is only about two miles long. I am going in for it. I hope I get on well. The 1st eight people in count.
There is only a very short time till I come home to see the sea, the seaside, the sands, Simon, Llancarreg, the hens, some fresh eggs!! and You.
Undated – Friday
I am writing this during an exam as I have finished it. Don’t get worried, I think I’ve done quite well in it. We have had a lot of our exams this week and there are only six more left now.
I think I am doing quite well in the exams but I don’t really know, I can’t tell.
In the steeplechase on Tuesday there were 144 people going in for the junior one (under 16) and I came in ninth, which isn’t too bad, but, what is annoying, only the first eight people get places.
I am probably buying a desk this term for about 25/- but I don’t know yet.
I very much doubt if I shall play any more rugger this term. I am going to send my bicycle home as it needs repairing badly and I doubt if it worth keeping it really but I shall send it home and see. I haven’t got any exams to-morrow and so am going home with another boy for the morning. It is very nice and near the end of term now isn’t it? only about 5 more days till I see you. I shall come home on the 14th
- one of the Southerndown family who was at Jesus and had been at Wellington ↩︎
- Dennis was on leave having left the Ramillies but not knowing where his next ship was or would go. Snottie is a rude word for midshipman. ↩︎
- Simon was the dog ↩︎
- Presumably I was jealous that my parents were going without me but with Dennis ↩︎
- I was mercilessly ragged for choosing a book about dogs rather than something highbrow ↩︎
- A previous letter had been all about my failure to find a room in either Abingdon or Oxford for my mother and father and Dennis. In this one I had obviously been up to London to see them. ↩︎