England Dec. 27, 1943.

Dear Mother,
         Received two of your letters today. One was
written Dec. 5 & the other Dec. 13. Both of them come
together.  The mail has been awlful slow in comeing
to us lately.  I hope it gets righted around again
soon.
       Yes it is over a year ago now since I have
been home.  I was thinking the other night that
in 1943 I haven't seen any of my folks.  It looks
as if 1943 was just a lost year for me.  Your
letter didn't get here before Christmas but it got
here anyway, so that is all that matters.
      I guess your family has sure decreased since
I was home last.  It would seem queer for me
to see just 3 or four of you at a dinner table.
Maybe someday next year you will be able
to look out and see me comeing through the
gate.  I have dreamed of comeing home two or
three times and just walking in.  Gee it sure
would be wonderful.  I'll bet Duke would even
remember me.
          I have been receiving some of your letters
telling about the oil well but never remember
of you saying anything about leasing the land
around home.
       I hope Irene spent Christmas day with
you.  I hope she enjoyed the gift you bought
for her also.  Gee it would seem good to

see her again.  I believe the U.S. Army would
be hunting for a soldier A.W.O.L. if ever I got
back in the U.S.
      I have received two copies of the Record
now.  It gives me a lot of news and I am
real pleased to be receiving it.  I also would
like to receive the Advance if it would be possible.
      You know mother, I don't believe I would
be able to eat a fresh egg again.  Gee that
would really be grand to go out and gather eggs
and fry some of them.  They can by a few around
here.  It costs the fellows about 2'6* a dozen or
50 cents.  Those marks mean two shilling and
sixpence or in other words half a crown.
     In your letter of Decemember 13 you tell how
bright the moon was that week.  Yes it was
really bright here and I don't believe I will
forget that moonlight week either. It is one
of my experiences to tell about when I get home.
I hope you have sent my flashlight by
this time.  This is the time of year a person
really needs one over here.  I haven't received
any package yet from the Riga Womens Club. Maybe
it got lost on the way over.
     I really got my share of presents this year.
soap, razor blades, shaveing kits, sewing kits,
socks, sweater, billfold, candy, nuts and Christmas
cards.  Probably will receive more of them yet.
      I try to answer all those monthly letters
from the church.  I have received two so
far and have answer both of them.  The
last one was from Orren.  I answered it.

     Well mother I guess this will be the last
letter to you in 1943.  New Years day probably
will just be a work day.  That is if we don't
celebrate to much the night before.  I hope
I will be able to return to a normal
life again in 1944.  Things look good and
I hope the war does end.
     I will try to drop my letters to you
as often in 1944 as I did in 1943.  It is
rather hard to write from this side sometimes.
At first it was easy.  But now everything is
getting old to us.  I guess we need a change of
scenery every few months.  But not as much
as we changed in 1943.
     Goodnight for this time.  Keep all the
news and letters comeing.
     I had a slight attack of the grip but I
guess I have thrown it off now.  I feel better
tonight.  I guess our mail raises our morale
about 80% when we receive it.  Goodnight
and love to all.
                                    Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on January 2nd.

Background Information (and comments):

• Duke was the family dog.
• Ralph's actual marks for the shilling and sixpence looked like an apostrophe and the degree symbol.
• The Advance refers to the Blissfield Advance newspaper. It was published weekly and I found it existed back in 1899, but could not find when it actually began. It is still in business.
• I'm not sure what happened in England during the full moon (it was Dec. 11th), but since he worked on airplanes, it may have been the following that occurred on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14:
• A wave of 1,462 American airplanes flew an early afternoon carpet bombing raid over the German citiees of Bremen, Hamburg and Kiel. In a departure from previous missions, all bombers in a unit would release their high explosive bombs and incendiaries, simultaneously, on the population centers.
• In the heaviest bombardment ever of Greece, more than 300 Allied warplanes dropped bombs on the German Luftwaffe airfields near Athens at Eleusis, Kalamaki and Tatoi, as well as the harbor facilities at Piraeus.
• When Ralph refers to an attack of the grip, it was actually spelled grippe. A medical website has written this: 
•  Usually referred to as the flu or grippe, influenza is a highly infectious respiratory disease. The disease is caused by certain strains of the influenza virus.

England Christmas Day 1943

Dear Mother & all,
            Christmas day. Almost four thousand miles
apart.  I would like to be there spending it with you,
but this year it can't be.  Next year I will be there.
I suppose you had all the family home today for
Christmas. Did Irene come? I hope she did. I hope she
enjoys her cedar chest very much.
           We have just finished our dinner and what a
meal. Our menu for Christmas dinner is included.
Roast turkey, mash potatoes and gravy, roast dressing,
cream peas, cranberry sauce, pineapple pie, coffee
candy and cigarettes. It was a very good meal and
I have just finished dinner and I am enjoying a
nice cigar while I am writing this letter. I smoke
once in awhile. It gives me something to do in my
spare time.
        We worked this morning or went to work. We
had church services at 9:30 this morning. I am sending
you a bulletin of our services.
        Mother, I would have liked to send you something
for Christmas but most everything is rationed over
here. What isn't rationed is so high priced and no
use for it. I am still looking for a present for you.
      I hope you had a merry Christmas. It is a
different experience for me this year to spend Christmas
in a different country. I sure would like to spend it
at home though.
       Well Christmas is over now and we can begin
to think about the new year and a year of peace.

     We had no snow here for Christmas just mud. It
was rather was [warm?] and a haze all morning.  Did you
have snow this year for Christmas? I hope it was
a white Christmas.
       Well mother after such a good meal it calls
for a little sleep this afternoon.  We are off for
the rest of the day. Some are on pass, others sleeping,
writing, and playing cards.
          I may write more later on today, but for now
I will say goodbye.
         Well here it is night. I slept most of the afternoon
and now I feel as if I can write a few more lines.
     We prepared our own meal in our hut tonight. We
had toasted cheese sandwiches, popcorn, fried salomie
and the Martin Bomber people gave us beer for a
beer party. The toasted cheese sandwiches were really
good. Just like a light lunch after a big meal. One of
the fellows had a fruit cake from home. So I guess we
had a very Merry Christmas for being in the European
Theatre of Operations. I must close for now and heres
hopeing I receive a lot of mail. I enjoyed your letter of
Thanksgiving Day. Received five letters yesterday. So it was
a nice Christmas after all.
                                          Love and best wishes
                                                        Ralph.
         Here are some pictures taken on my furlough.
         Divide them up.


The next letter will be posted on December 27th.

Background Information (and comments):

• This was sent as an airmail letter
• I do not have the menu or photos he said he enclosed. I donated many items to the Blissfield Historical Society prior to moving to Florida in 2013. The photos were not with the letters and most had no dates or information about location, etc.
• The church bulletin was still in the envelope with the letter, so it is pictured below.
• The last page is hard to read. Here is what it says -
• "From the Chaplain"
• I am deeply grateful for your wonderful response which made possible the bringing of cheer into the hearts of nearly sixty evacuee children. May the Lord who set the example richly bless each and every one of you.
• I have a Christmas wish for you. It comes from the depths of my heart, and I believe that you will appreciate it more than any other I could possible make. Our wish is that next Christmas you may spend it with your loved ones around the  fireside of your own home.
• May never again, under God's great heaven, bombs crash, cannons roar and the wail of the despairing be heard, but nations shall live in loving brotherhood. Then will the song of the angels who told of the birth of the Savior who came to bring Peace on earth be not in vain.
• 

Dec. 23, 1943

Dear Mother,
      Just one night before Christmas Eve. But as
for Christmas spirit to me this year it might
just as well be fourth of July. It doesn't seem like
Christmas at all.  It will just be another day here
for us.  I would love to be with all the folks
back home this year but it is impossible.  I will
be thinking of you this Christmas.  It will be my
second away from you.  I hope all the rest of them
will be there with you.
      As usual news are scarce.  We keep on with
the same old work. Once in a while something
new and interesting comes up and then it gets
to be the same old routine.
     Received my first copy of the Metamora Record
today.  It is good to get a paper from home.  I have
found a lot of enjoyable reading in it.  I hope it
continues to come to me.  Hope I begin to receive
a few letters. I know everyone is writing.  It will
arrive after the Christmas mail rush is over with. I
can't find anything to write about to anyone.  I hope
everyone doesn't get mad at me for not writing.
Goodnight for now.                        Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on December 25th.

Dec. 19, 1943

Dear Mother,
     Another week has gone and another started.
Just a few more days until Christmas.  This
will be the second Christmas away from home
and the first out of the U.S.  I hope this is the
last one to.
    This being Sunday I figured on going to the
service today but I didn't get up in time and
I don't like the idea of getting out in this weather
anymore than I have to. I see by the Stars & Stripes
that winter has hit the U.S.
     I have received a couple of letters from you
this last week. Our mail is comeing in a little
better now. Received quite a few Christmas cards
also. I hope you received my letter by now.
I try to write every week. But it is awlful
hard to write when we have the same thing
over and over. I really don't know what to write.
There will always be things to write from that end
so send me all the news you can. I am working
every day and have been in London just once this
month. Getting rid of my cold and feeling much better.
Write soon and often.                      Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on December 23rd.

Background Information (and comments):

• Stars & Stripes began as a newspaper during the Civil War; it was for Union troops.
• It was on a decades long hiatus before resuming publication during WWI and then again during WWII.
• It has been published continuously since 1942 in Europe and 1945 in the Pacific.
• The average daily readership today is about 850,000.
• It is authorized by the Department of Defense and is editorially independent. Its publisher and most of its employees are civilians.

Decemember 18

Dear Mother,
     Received your letter of November 30th and was glad
to get it.  The mail is slow in coming in now, it
must be held up in the states.  Also received two
V-letters from Cliffs.  Irene's letters are awlful slow in
getting here. The last I had was postmarked  the 26th
of Nov.
        I really don't know how many packages I have
received. They have been arriving for the last two
months and with everything esle here it is really
hard to remember everything.  I told you about most
of my packages in an airmail letter.
        I suppose the oil well is progressing right
along now. Wish I could be there and see it. I suppose
it seemed good to have Marie stay for awhile. I sure
would like to drop in and stay for awhile.  It sure
would be good to have a good home cooked meal
again. I sure am going to eat when I get home again.
       I must write quite a few letters tonight.  I haven't
received many but I don't want to get behind in my
writing.
     Well this will be about all for now. I must sign
off for now. Write soon and tell me about all the
happenings around home. So long for now.
                                                                  Love Ralph

The next letter will be posted on Dec.19th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Ralph sent this as a V-mail. It was not postmarked until Dec. 24th.

England December 14

Dear Mother,
              I really don't know what to write about. Your
last letter I received was written just a month ago today.
I imagine it is so slow now because of all the Christmas
rush in the states.
         We have been busy here as usual. Everyone is
beginning to talk about home and Christmas. I sure wish
I could be there myself. Some days I get so lonesome
and blue I just don't know what to do with myself.
I have received about four letters from Irene in the
last three weeks. When our mail does roll in again
I imagine we will be swamped with letters for awhile.
    Talk about me getting lost in the English fogs. Well
I have seen some of them and we have had about every
kind of weather there are to have. I have a chest cold,
but it is beginning to breakup. I bought some limey
vapourub in London from a chemist.
      Everyone has been receiving packages from home. I guess
all of mine have arrived ok. Tell me what you all sent
me and then I will know if I got everything.
      Everyone has donated part of their Christmas candy and
our weekly rations for all the British children. They are
giving Christmas parties all over the U.K. for the kids. They
really like the Yanks over here.
       I haven't had  my Metamora paper arrive yet, but
I hope it does soon. Irene said my letter I wrote appeared
in it. It really is nice to receive all the clippings. I know
quite a few of the fellows and it is nice to know where they
are stationed. I have written to Dean Mohr but haven't heard
from him as yet. I hope to in a few days.

   Maybe I will be able to see him over here. I sure
hope so. It would seem good to see and old friend
again.
       Received a Christmas card from Donna Dague the
other day. I have written her already and thanked her
for remembering me. I could think who in Wellington
be writing to me. Received cards from Charley Ray's
Virginia, Doris Irma and almost everyone. I guess I
wasn't forgotten only by some of my own relatives. I did
send all of them a card though. So they can't say I failed
on my part.
        Gee, I sure hope Irene will come over home for
Christmas. I wish I could see here when she opens the
present you got for her. But I guess I must wait until
all of this mess is over with.
     I suppose by now you have the tiling all done at home.
I guess Dad has put quite a few improvements in the old
place lately. I won't know it from the painting it has
had. Freeman says it looks so different now. Home will
always look like home to me though.
        I bet it really seems queer just for three of you
there now. It seems as if the family all grew up fast
and left soon after I did. This war has really changed
things an awlful lot.
        Well this is about all for tonight. Sure hope your
letters all come soon. I try to write every week but
sometimes it is hard to write about. I wish I could write
just what I wanted to. This letter would be sheets longer
and a lot more exciting. But that will have to be my
talk when I arrive home in the good old U.S. Goodbye
for now. Tell King's I wish them a merry Christmas.
                                            Your son.
                                                  Ralph.

The next letter will be posted on December 18th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Ralph's use of chemist is what the British refer to as a pharmacy.

Sunday Evening December 5, 1943.

Dear Mother,
          How are you this nice and crisp December
day? How is the weather at home? Is it like any
of the weather back there a year ago? Remember I was
home just a year ago. Gosh I sure wish I could
be there this year. But I guess it has to be this
way. Oh well maybe we will be able to be together
before another year rolls around. I guess after
a fellow is over here for a while and the new-
ness of the country wears off he starts thinking
of home again. It will soon be 18 months that
I have been in the army. It really seems longer
than that.
          Today was my day off. I didn't go into London
this time. I was into a little town near our field.
It is dead on Sundays and most everyday of the
week. It is about 2 mile into town. I walked it
both ways. Gosh the only way a fellow can get
around is by walking. Then you are liable to be
run over by a bicycle or a baby buggy. They
sure have enough of them over here. I don't know
if they get them lend lease or not.
     Our passes for over Christmas have been canceled
from going into London. They figure the railroads
will be crowded enough anyway. The trains
are always crowded now.
     My money is rather short this month. I
borrowed money to go on my furlough so now
I am rather flat. The weather isn't fit to go
anywhere so it don't make much difference. I guess
it is a lot better this year than it was last
year. Maybe our seasons are changing.

I received a letter from the editor of the
Metamora Record. She said they were glad to
hear from me and my name had been placed
on their mailing list. So maybe I will receive
the paper now. It will be good to get all the
news instead of just clippings. She told me where
Dean was at, or what outfit he is in and also
her son-in-law. I think I know just about
where one of them are stationed. Maybe I will
drop him a short letter soon.
     I suppose you had company today. Did
you have a good meal? I sure would like to
set down and eat all the chicken I could. I bet
I would clean up a plate full.
     Well this is about all for tonight. How is the
oil well comeing? Please write soon, and tell
everyone I said hello. I am glad I didn't receive
any of the V-mail stationery. Ours is different and
the government furnishes it to us. Tell everyone
not to send any of the V-mail stationery.
Goodnight for now.
                                  Love Ralph.


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

Background Information (and comments):

• Here's general information about the Lend-Lease Act (from Wikipedia) and a chart about motorcycles (not bicycles) from http://www.theliberator.be/

The Lend-Lease policy, formally titled "An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States", (Pub.L. 77–11, H.R. 1776, 55 Stat. 31, enacted March 11, 1941)^[1] was a program under which the United States supplied Free France, the United Kingdom, the Republic of China, and later the USSR and other Allied nations with food, oil, and materiel between 1941 and August 1945. This included warships and warplanes, along with other weaponry. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941 and ended in September 1945. In general the aid was free, although some hardware (such as ships) were returned after the war. In return, the U.S. was given leases on army and naval bases in Allied territory during the war. Canada operated a similar smaller program under a different name.

A total of $50.1 billion (equivalent to $660 billion today) worth of supplies was shipped, or 17% of the total war expenditures of the U.S.^[2] In all, $31.4 billion went to Britain, $11.3 billion to the Soviet Union, $3.2 billion to France, $1.6 billion to China, and the remaining $2.6 billion to the other Allies. Reverse Lend-Lease policies comprised services such as rent on air bases that went to the U.S., and totaled $7.8 billion; of this, $6.8 billion came from the British and the Commonwealth. The terms of the agreement provided that the materiel was to be used until returned or destroyed. In practice very little equipment was returned. Supplies that arrived after the termination date were sold to Britain at a large discount for £1.075 billion, using long-term loans from the United States. Canada operated a similar program called Mutual Aid that sent a loan of $1 billion and $3.4 billion in supplies and services to Britain and other Allies.^[3][4]

Lend-Lease Part 3B – Page 13
Line	Item Description: Motorcycle	Totals	Remarks
5	Solo, Chain Drive, 45 cu in	38,103	Harley-Davidson WLA
6	Solo, 30.50 cu in	26,914	Indian Model 741
7	Chain Drive, w/sidecar	1,789	Indian Model 340 Indian Model 344

December 2

Dear Mother,
   Well I will start the month of December out right
and send you a letter right away. It isn't much
more than 6 hours old yet either. My morning
to build fire. That is why I am up and plenty
of time to write.
    I have just about caught up on all of my
letter writing now since getting back from my
furlough. Seems good to get a little time off to rest
up. Wish I could have spent it at home though.
   How is everything around home now? Have they
started to drill for oil anywhere esle yet?
   Received a nice billfold from Irene yesterday. It
is rather small for these English pound notes but I
hope not to use it in England all the time. I hope
we will be able to be together long before this
time next year. Gee a year ago I was headed
for home. It seems like it has been longer
than that. Time hasn't stood still since we came
across. It really seems short for the time we have
been here But I am glad it does go fast.
   Just about to end of the page, so will say
goodbye for now. Hope I get some mail again
soon. Write soon and often.          Your son
                                                               Ralph

The next letter will be posted on Dec. 5th.

Background Information (and comments):

• This was sent as a V-mail. I could not read the date he wrote, but the censor stamp was Dec. 2 and the envelope cancellation was Dec. 17th. 
• A British pound note could measure 80 mm by 149 mm (or 3" by 5.8"). The dollar measures 2.6" by 6.14".