England. Nov. 29, 1943

Dear Mother,
        Well here I am back from my furlough.
I had a grand time, although I would have
enjoyed it a lot more if it had been in the
good old U.S.A.
         My furlough was spent in Torquay
England. It is a pleasure resort. I was there
over Thanksgiving and enjoyed myself very
much. I stayed at the Red Cross Club there
and the field director was from Wauseon Ohio.
We had a very interesting visit and I was the
first one nearest his home town since he
has been here.
      I am sending you a  menus of our dinner
there. It was a grand dinner to. In the afternoon
we had a dance. The W.R.E.N. were there.
These are the Womens Reserve Elisted Navy.
      I guess I will have to tell you more about
the place when I get home. I guess I will have
a lot to tell everyone about my experiences.
      There was hardly any mail all week until
yesterday and then none from you. I had plenty
of reading and I will have plenty of writing. I haven't
wrote at all while was on my furlough. I sure
had a grand time while I was away.

     How is everything at home now? Everyone
says you are trying to have a little snow
around there. I have seen a little around here
also. I wish it would freeze up and then a
person could walk half way descent.
         I hope I get a letter from you today. It seems
so long since I have heard from you.
      We have been haveing mice in our huts
and we have some traps now. Last night
we caught three. Everytime we catch one we
make a swatktita swatika on the trap.
     Had a letter from Freeman again. Gee it really
keeps me busy writing to everyone. Especially
when you get a week behind.
       Well I guess this will be about all for now.
Must get to work soon. Write soon and often.
                                             Love   Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on Dec. 2nd.

Background Information (and comments):

• From Wikipedia: Torquay is a seaside resort town on the English Channel in Devon, South West England. Known for beaches such as Babbacombe and cliffside Oddicombe, its coastline is nicknamed the English Riviera. Torquay Harbour near the town centre offers shops, cafes and a marina. Torre Abbey, a monastery founded in 1196, has art galleries and extensive gardens featuring plants from local native Agatha Christie's novels.
• Here is a photo from another website; it was captioned "The aftermath of the Luftwaffe attack on St Marychurch Parish Church on May 30, 1943"
  Read more at http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/1943-bomber-photo-taken-day-devastation-torquay/story-16846880-detail/story.html#gGEOrSRAg30SZtH5.99

• For more information about the W.R.E.N.S, here is a web link and one of their posters:
• http://caber.open.ac.uk/schools/stanway/Wrens.html

England. Nov. 21, 1943.

Dear Mother,
       Well another week has come
and gone. Gee time really flies
fast for me here. I have been
in London again. Next week I
am going on a furlough.
     Nothing very exciting ever
happens around here. I have
seen snow this season already.
It seemed good to see it again.
Our Christmas packages have
been arriving and have received
a few more. Got one from
Luella and some of Ruth King's
stuff was in it.
      Have received quite a few
letters this last week. It sure
seems good to hear from everyone
back home. It keeps me busy
answering letters, but I am

running out of things to write
about. I guess I have seen
about all of England from where
I am into London.
       It really doesn't seem like
we have very much day light
here anymore.
     Gee I don't know what to
write about anymore. I have
received Luella's letter telling
about Irene's visit, but none
from Irene telling me about her
visit at Luella's.
     I am glad you found a present
for Irene. No I haven't told her
what you got for her. I have
told her I was having you get
a present, because I can't get
anything over here for Christmas
at all.
      Have you sent me my
flashlight yet? If you haven't
try to send it or send me

a new one. We need them
to get around over here. It is
dark for breakfast and supper
both now.
      I guess this is about all
for tonight. Please write soon
and often. How is the drilling
comeing now? Wish I was back
there. So long for now.
                          Love Ralph.


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

Background Information (and comments):

• This letter was written on Nov. 21st and postmarked on the 25th. In the envelope I also found the V-mail pictured here. However, I have no idea if it was sent with this letter or separately

England. Nov. 14, 1943

Dear Mother,
      Received quite a few letters this
week so will try to answer them
now. Received two of your letters
and your Christmas card and
package. Of course I opened the
package right away. We don't have
room to store them and we
have mice in our hut. So the
mice get to investigating first
if we don't. I can use the present
very much. As for the soap I think
I will start a store.
     What is this about oil wells
around our place? Are they drilling
now? Freeman mentioned it in
his letter to me also.

     I celebrated my Armistice
day by taking in the show of
Irving Berlin's "This is The
Army." I liked it real well. It
is a grand show. I wouldn't
mind seeing it again.
       In one of Irene's letters she
said her and her folks had
been to Berkey Church. Did you get
to speak to her while she was
there? Gee I hope so.
       My name came up for a
furlough today. I don't know
where I will go. Everyone says
Scotland is a grand place. I
might go there. I suppose it
is really cold there now. It is
a raw day here. I suppose
we will have many just like them.

     I got a big long letter from
Luella the other day. Gee it
really was a newsy letter. I
like to get nice long letters like
that. Dick also had a letter
in it for me.
      Gee I can't think of anything
to write about anymore. I guess
I don't have a thing to say. Why
don't you have Dad write once
in awhile? Well I guess this is
all for now. So long.
                         Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on Nov. 21st.

Background Information (and comments):

• Ralph's sister, Luella Brown Spalding, had 3 children. Richard (Dick) was born June 9, 1936, so he would have been 7 when Ralph wrote this letter. The other children were Myrlene (May 10, 1941) and William (Bill)(Sept. 26, 1942). 
• I'm not sure if oil was found near the family farm, but if I remember correctly, natural gas was found and utilized by his brother Freeman when he moved into a house within walking distance of his family home. Here is a link to oil/gas production in Lenawee County MI:
• http://www.drillingedge.com/michigan/lenawee-county
• If you'd like to watch a restored color version of "This Is The Army", here is the synopsis and a link: (notice that Ronald Reagan is in it):
• As the United States enters World War I in 1917, newly married actor Jerry Jones (George Murphy) puts on an all-infantry musical to raise his fellow soldiers' morale. At the dawn of World War II, as his own son, Johnny (Ronald Reagan), ponders whether to marry his sweetheart, Eileen (Joan Leslie), Jerry and his old Army buddies -- including Eileen's father, Eddie Dibble (Charles Butterworth) -- decide to put on a new show for the boys marching off to battle just as they did years ago.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNYl15DXSjU

England Nov. 7, 1943.

                                 1
Dear Mother,
         Sunday afternoon in the E.T.O.
I believe today is one of the
prettiest days I have seen in
England. It is a little windy and
cold but real clear. It reminds
me of a nice fall day at home.
   Our working schedule has
been changed and during the afternoon
we haven't much work. I have
just finished a nice Sunday dinner
so will write you a few lines.
      I have been receiving quite a
few letters from Irene this week.
She said in one of them she had
a letter from Luella, asking her
over to spend a weekend. I think
this is the weekend. Gee I sure

                           2
would like to drop in and spend
a weekend at home again.
       Mother, I wish I could really
tell you all I wanted to. But it
is impossible to write at this
time. I wish I could explain just
what I can hear and explain how
things look here in England. No
doubt you will be reading it in
the papers a few day from now.
        Many times during my stay
here I have thought about my
school days. The studying of wars
and little did I realize at that
time that I myself would take
part in one. I guess one never
knows what lies ahead of them.
    I attended church services
this morning. It was a real
nice sermon. I believe you

                      3
would enjoy hearing our chaplin
speak. He can really get a
sermon out.
      What are you planning on doing
today? Well I can't think of much
more to write about now. I guess
I will wait and finish this
after mail call. I may have
some letters today.
        Well I didn't receive any
letters today but we stepped
out this afternoon. All of the fellows
in my hut chipped in and we
bought a chicken this afternoon.
We fried it in our hut and
ate it. Gee was it ever good.
We haven't had chicken since
we have been here. They don't
seem to have many chickens
in England. We had to pay

                   4
a pound and ten shilling for
it. In our money that would
be six dollars. But to us in
the money it is just a good
meal and lots of fun.
      It really is a beautiful night
here. I wish I was home though.
Well this is about all for
now. I must write to Irene
yet tonight. I hope you got
her present ok. Take it over
to her folks just before Christmas,
put a nice card in it from
me.     Goodbye for now.
                          Love Ralph.

The next letter will be posted on Nov. 14th.

Background Information (and comments):

• E.T.O. refers to the European Theater of Operations.
• I could not find information about what was happening in England to explain why Ralph wrote "I wish I could explain just what I can hear and explain how things look here in England. No doubt you will be reading it in the papers a few day from now."

England Nov. 4, 1943

                            1
Dear Mother,
      Received your airmail letter
yesterday the one written and sent
on the 26th of Oct. The letters
comeing over here are really
mixed up too.
     Before I forget it I will
tell you now. My APO
number has been changed. It
is now 638. So when you
write again please make the
change. Why it was changed I
don't know and I don't think
anyone esle does. We have
been so busy no one knows
what is going on here.
   A couple of weeks ago I had
my picture taken. They

                         2
are so good but I will send
one in this letter. My mustache
shows up little better now
than it did then.
       Who did Bob Ziss marry?
Gee things really are changeing
around back home. I always
thought of Catherine Paul as
just a kid. But I guess I have
been away from home longer
than I realize.
       It doesn't seem possible
that I have been gone so
long. But still when I look
back over what I have been
through and the places I have
been to it seems like I have
been away longer than I have.
I know that all my experiences
all have been worth while.

                         3
I have received two Christmas
packages already. One from Lenore
and one from Luella.
      How is Harley now? I was
surprised to hear that he was
going to the hospital. I hope he
gets along ok. I suppose he
will be out of work for a few
weeks now. Well I know he
will be a lot better when it is
all over with.
   I have answered Freeman's letter.
I answered it the same day I
received it. Has he the same
car as before?
     Mother about Irene's Christmas
present. It is ok with me
what you bought her. I was
going to tell you to get one
but thought maybe they were

                         4
all gone. So get one and take
it over there to her folks or get
her up home and give it to her.
I wish I could be there to see
her when she sees it. I bet
she will be really be surprised.
I have received quite a few
letters in the last couple
of days. It was almost 3 weeks
since I heard from you.
     Please send me Morgan's
address. I would like to drop
him a few lines. Luella told
me about him being sick.
     I enjoyed the newspaper
clippings very much and
sometimes I have a notion
to write to the Record so I
will receive a copy of it.
    Well mother I guess this

                       5
is about all I will write for
tonight. I hope a few more of
your letters comes this week.
Irene says she has been
receiving my mail more regular
lately.
       Goodnight for now. Please
advice all of my new APO
number.
                         Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on November 7th.

Background Information (and comments):

• APO stands for Army Post Office.
• Ralph switched from V-mail to airmail for this letter. Airmail paper was thin like tissue paper. An airmail letter cost 6 cents to mail. This one was written on Nov. 4th and postmarked on Nov. 6th (much faster than his previous V-mails). It still had to go through a censor.
• I think Ralph meant to say that his pictures "aren't" so good, not "are".
• The Record was a weekly newspaper called the Metamora Record. It was published from 1901 until 1974 in Metamora, Fulton County OH, with Harold Buck as publisher.
• Guess we'll all have to wait to find out what Irene, his fiancee, is getting for Christmas.
• To review some names:
• Lenore was a sister-in-law, married to his oldest brother Harold.
• Luella was his only sister.
• Harley was a younger brother.
• Freeman was his youngest brother.
• Morgan was a first cousin.
• I do not know who Bob Ziss and Catherine Paul were (my guess is classmates, neighbors, friends of family, or people from church).