Tues 30^th July 1940

Gnr D. F. Wooster 1611188 373 A.A. Company R.A. Pollington Barracks Snaith Nr. Goole Yorkshire

My Dear Sally,

I have got the afternoon off as I had to go and see the major about not turning up last Monday. He said he was taking a lenient view of the case and said don’t let me see you before me again. If you do anything wrong they don’t half make it hot for you. It is a lot different from what I expected not half as bad. We get lovely food although it is thrown at you first come first served – you can guess where I will be every meal time. You move up one on your table, and the one at the top serves it out for that day. We get up at 6.30 get washed, dressed, clean all the buttons on your uniform and I can tell you they take some cleaning then you clean your boots and when the second bugles go you go on the parade ground and march into the cook house.

After breakfast you get inspected in your barrack room. An NCO comes around and looks you over sees that you have shaved right etc. Of course it is all red tape. We get drilled then till dinner time with the sergent shouting in your ear-holes and, what a voice he’s got. Off duty he is quite a nice chap, only 23 and we have good fun with him you can hear him a mile off. We have dinner at 1 o’clock and then either drill or a route march in the afternoon. They go about 12 miles on these marches and what with the sergent’s voice in your ears it can make you sweat. We finish nearly every night at 5 so that’s o.k. isn’t it. There’s nothing to do at night as we are 8 miles from the nearest town and that’s no better than Colne.

I haven’t got a cap yet they don’t have one to fit me. Don’t say I have a big head because there’s a chap who needs a size 8. We have been changed from the R.E. to the R.A. so don’t forget to put R.A. instead of R.E.

It is a lovely place for conveniences. Baths – showers – beds – and a wardrobe each – boiling water all through the day. It was built for the militia before the war. Half our battalion are going away to another place at the weekend to Otley but I’ve heard it is a poor place and sleeping under canvas. I would rather stay here even though it is further from home.

We will stay at this place for about 2 months to finish our drilling and then we are being put onto searchlights from what some of these old sweats say it is one of the best jobs you can get there will be 10 of us to each searchlight. From here we will go to a place to start training on those of course we don’t know we are only going off what the sergent tells us. Well how are you going on on your own do you feel lonely as I do. I think we can arrange some meeting sometime soon as one of the lads here had his girl up here and they come from Manchester. Has Hartley (ed. Sally’s brother) heard anything yet. Tell your mother to have that cock chicken ready when I come over. Tell Hannah & Lincoln & Clifford (ed. Friends) that I will write as soon as possible and I have not forgotten them. By the way has Tom Terry come home on leave. Remember me to him if he has. Also Sally & Niel. Will you send a couple of 2½d stamps when you write next time as they are like gold here?

Well Sally it is nearly tea time so write soon and often. As time goes on it will get quiet out here. I will write to your mother soon. You can send me a bit of chocolate if you want as stuff is very dear in the canteen. Snooker costs 1 shilling a game. So let me know all the local news and scandal. I think it was for the best when I came on Sat. I don’t think Mother & Dad & you really wanted me to do the other way.

Anyway I shall have to close now and just think a little bit of me as I think of you all day baking at the shop.

With all my love from Douglas xxxxxx

These aren’t the same as the real thing xxxxxx