October 31, 1943 (postmark)

Here is what Ralph sent; there was no letter with it:

Canterbury Cathedral

The next letter will be posted on November 4th.

October 29, 1943

Dear Mother,
         Here it is the end of the week already. Haven't
done much of anything but work hard and
sleep. I have braved one of the famous English
fogs. It really is dreary while one is on. I
suppose I will see many more of them latter
on.
    I see by the papers that the U.S. has
lifted the blackout and dimouts. I bet on Nov. 1
all you will hear played on the radio is
When The Lights Go On Again? I hope they
soon come on all over the world again.
I believe I would like London if it was lit
up. Gee it really is spooky during the black
outs.
      I haven't received hardly any mail for three
weeks now. The mail and Christmas packages
is holding everything up. But I know it
is on the way. I have received a few
packages already. It doesn't seem like
Christmas will be here. I hope next
Christmas can be spent with all of the family
being together. Goodnight and write soon
and often. Always thinking of you and home.
                                                 Love Ralph


The next letter will be posted on Oct. 31st.

Background Information (and comments):

• Ralph continues to use V-mail services for his correspondence. Written Oct. 29, censor stamped Oct. 31, and postmarked on Nov. 5.
• Here are some links to websites with information about blackouts in the United States:
• http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/exhibits/ww2/protect/blackout.htm
• http://www.americainwwii.com/articles/busy-with-the-blitz-proofing/
• This is a link to a public service announcement about air raids and blackouts:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP7rvR-rgKE
• Here are links with videos of the song Ralph referred to:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzlFaY0s_QI   (Vera Lynn singing)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD8sEFpbk-w&list=RD33IU0QrBFFcf8  (Vaughn Monroe singing)

October 24

Dear Mother,
          Another week has finally rolled by and
maybe it is a week less until I am able to
be home again. Did you have lots of company today?
We are haveing visitors now.
           I attended church this morning and the
rest of the day was spent just like any
other day. Work, work and work.
         I am writing this from our new Red
Cross Club on the field. It is a grand place.
They have refreshments for sale here. Sandwiches
cookies, pie, cake and fruit. I just had a
delious pear to eat.
      Our mail has been awlful slow in
comeing over again. I suppose soon we will
have bunches of it to read.
          Well mother, I can't think of much to
write about tonight so I guess I must close.
I am fine and wish I was home. Someday
we will be together again. Goodbye for
now. Please write often.     Your son
                                                  Ralph


The next letter will be posted on Oct. 29th.

Background Information (and comments):

• This was another V-mail written on the 24th, censor stamped on the 26, but not postmarked until Nov. 1.
• I was surprised to read that the Red Cross charged for refreshments, so I did some research and found the following: athttp://www.npr.org/sections/money/2012/07/13/156737801/the-cost-of-free-doughnuts-70-years-of-regret
• The photo is from the website; it is a Red Cross Clubmobile (probably not the "grand place" Ralph wrote about.

Go to any VFW hall, even today, and you'll get the same story: During World War II, the Red Cross had comfort stations for soldiers overseas, with free coffee and free doughnuts. Then, in 1942, the Red Cross started charging for the doughnuts. Soldiers have held a grudge ever since.

Turns out it's true.

"It keeps coming up, that they were charged for coffee and doughnuts," says Susan Watson, archivist for the Red Cross.

The organization started charging only because the U.S. Secretary of War asked it to. British soldiers had to pay for their snacks, and the free doughnuts for Americans were causing tensions. So the Red Cross complied, after protesting to no avail. It didn't last long — for most of the last 70 years, Red Cross doughnuts have remained free — but veterans haven't forgotten.

October 19, 1943

Dear Mother,
          Received quite a few letters from you last
week. You asked me what I wanted you get get for
Irene. Well it really is hard to say. I don't know
what they have to offer for Christmas this
year. You can call her mother and ask if she
has any good suggestions. You can get something
she can use personally and everyday. If you can.
I can't think of a thing. Try to get something and
I don't care what the price will be. Use all my
monthly allotment if you want to.
          I received a nice letter from Rev. Meyer
today. I will try to answer it soon. I have
been to London again. I always seem to have
fun there. I was at the Queensbury Club this
time. They entertain all forces. It really is
a nice place.
        I have received quite a few letters in the past
week. It keeps me busy answering letters. Well
I must close for tonight. Please write soon and
often. I read and reread all of all your letters.
Goodnight.                             Your son Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on October 24th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Ralph continues to send his letters as v-mails; this one was written on the 19th, censored stamped on the 21st, and postmarked on the 22nd.
• The Queensbury Club was originally called Prince Edward Theater and opened in 1930 on Old Compton Street. In 1935, it was renamed the London Casino and was a dance and cabaret hall. During London's worst air raid on May 10, 1941, it was badly damaged, losing all of it windows. After making stage alterations, it re-opened in 1942 as Queensbury All Services Club. Its shows were broadcast on the BBC. After the war it was restored to theatrical use and the name changed back to London Casino.
• For much more detailed information about the club you can check out this website: https://themanfromthesuitcase.com/portfolio/queensbury-all-services-club-program-witness-to-a-historic-performance/
• Glenn Miller's last performance before his disappearance was at this club on Dec. 12, 1944.

     

October 15, 1943

Dear Mother,
          My mail finally came through today. I
received two of your letters today. In all I received
eight letters and one Christmas card. I guess
the mail just comes in bunches.
     From the sound of your letters the old
place is going to look different when you get
it all painted up. I sure wish I could see
it. We have been rather busy here and will
be for sometime. I do miss being home, but
I guess I would be about the only fellow around
back home. I have been hearing from Irene
regular now. I guess I just got a little to
anxious there once for mail. But now from
Irene's letters I won't have to worry about
anything now. I know she will be right there
when I get back. Fern is at home with her
folks. I get a letter from her quite often. I guess
she really has a nice baby. She says it
really makes time go a lot faster for her. It
gets her mind off of Vernon being away. Well
mother don't worry about anything. I had a letter
from Freeman today. It really was a surprise.
Goodnight for now. Please write often. Enjoyed
the clippings.                                  Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on October 19th.

October 14

Dear Mother,
          I guess it is about time I dropped you a
few more lines this week. I think I wrote about
Monday to you. I haven't received a letter from you
for almost two weeks again. All our mail must
be comeing in by boat. About every so often
we receive a big shipment of mail. Then
everyone is happy again. I received two V
letters from Lenore today. It took them 16 days
to come through. So all of it is slow. Don't
feel to bad if I complain about not hearing
from you. They all will come through in time.
It does seem queer to receive a letter so old
though. In away it really doesn't seem as if
we have left the U.S. as yet. I hope that
day will be comeing soon when we can
see the old statue of liberty again. I can
still see it fading away in the distant
with the New York City Skyline in the back
ground. I hope I can see it appear again soon.
     Well this is about all for tonight so I
must close. I have gotten rid of my cold and
feel ok again. I believe I am getting thinner
over here.                               Goodbye. Love Ralph

The next letter will be posted on October 15th.

Background Information (and comments):

• The dates for this V-mail are written on Oct 14, censor stamped on Oct 16, and postmarked on October 22nd.

October 11, 1943

Dear Mother,
        Haven't received a letter from you for over a
week now. Our mail is slow in getting here
again. I haven't much to write about anyway
so will make it a V mail. We are busy
and doing the same thing day after day.
Hardly know one day from another. I thought
after I got overseas time would just drag
by, but it is just the opposite. Seems like the
month just begins and then there is another
one right away. Time never has went as
fast for me before.
        I have just got rid of a swell cold and I
am feeling like myself again. Hope I get some
more mail this week. It started out ok with
me. I received five letters today. Three from
Irene, one from Cliff and Luella. I have wrote
four letters tonight already. Maybe I will write
a couple of more tonight if I have enough
ambition left. Please write often as you
can. I will try to do likewise. I guess you
are the one that can write most of the news.
I can't write much news. Goodbye for now.
Tell all I said hello and I will be seeing you.
                                               Love Ralph.

The next letter will be posted on October 14th.

Background Information (and comments):

• This V-mail was written on Oct. 11, has a censor's stamp of Oct. 13 and a postmark of Oct 20. This explains Ralph's frustration with the mail service (although he wouldn't know these other dates unless his mother points it out to him in a letter).

England Sun. Oct. 3, 1943

Dear Mother,
       Well October has rolled
around already, I received your
letter of Sept 19, and it was very
welcome. Last week, Uncle Sam
was good to me in our mail.
I received 18 letters last
week. I sure would have
like to been to the fair this
year. It sure would seem good
to see some of those good
vegetables and everything there.
       The letter that came from
the girl was in California was
address to me but it was
a different outfit.
       Gee the old neighborhood
sure is changing, isn't it?

I really won't know it when
I get home.
       I have been in London again.
Everytime I go in I find new
places to visit. This time
I visited Madame Tussaud's
Exhibition. It is a wax
museum and have figures of
all the notables of England.
It really was a grand place
to go. I enjoyed every bit
of it.
       I was to short church services
again today.They had a real
nice sermon. I sure wish
I could drop in and visit our
home church for a change.
          Well I really don't know
of much to write about. Everything
runs along just about the same.

Receiving letters every week
and answering them as fast
as possible. Nothing to say
in any of them though. I sure
hope I receive the Blissfield
paper. I sure could catch up
on all the news.
       Well I haven't anything more
to say. So must sign off for
now. Please write often.
                           Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on Oct. 11th.

Background Information (and comments):

• If you'd like to read about the history of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, here is a good website: https://www.madametussauds.com 
• Here is a brief history:
• In 1835, Madame Tussaud and her sons established a base in London at The Baker Street Bazaar
• Madame Tussaud died in 1850
• In 1884, her grandsons moved the attraction to Marylebone Rd.
• In 1925, it was devastated by fire
• Restoration was completed in 1928, adding a cinema and restaurant
• In 1940, it was struck by a German bomb which destroyed 352 head molds and the cinema.
• For more details and photos of the bombing, see http://www.westendatwar.org.uk/