July 1942
| 30.3.42 | Clare to Lez | written in the office and put on Lez’s desk. It was found interleaved with letters from June 1943, but must be pre-call up. Date is a notional date. is writing because she won’t be seeing him for lunch or going home with him on the bus. |
| 15.7.42 | Lez to Clare | Lez’s first letter, written after arriving at Pwllelli. Is to have an interview to train as a motor mechanic. He asks Clare to give the gist of this to ‘Mother’ to save him writing it again He is on HMS Glyndower. The censor crossed out all references to location. He addresses Clare as Clara Belle inside and Claire on the envelope. |
| 18.7.42, 11.45am | Lez to Clare | Very short note to say how much he’s missing her, understands how prisoners feel |
| 18.7.42, 2.45pm | Lez to Clare | Has 24 hrs off because of inoculations. has an acrobat in his chalet who does back flips on the way to the mess! He is trying to be cheerful to overcome homesickness. Clare now has an engagement ring. He is the deputy Class Leader Is he staying in a chalet? As Jill did at Butlins Pwllelli in 1967! |
| 26.7.42 | Lez to Clare | Out of 50 in his class he was the only one who could ‘box the compass’. Is learning to sail. Talks about having their own boat. Says proposing to Clare was the thrill of his life |
| 28.7.42 | Lez to Clare | Letters are his only pleasure. Nothing to do. Pleads with Clare to write v often, writing ‘I love you’ on a bus ticket would do |
| 30.7.42 | Lez to Clare | Reasons for saying ‘no’ to an offer of a commission |
August 1942
| 1.8.42 | Lez to Clare | Philosophical letter. ‘take no notice of anything my family says’…Doris had upset Clare by saying a weekend’s leave would only be 1 day. Nonsense. And Auntie Millie had upset her….ignore them. |
| 7.8.42 | Jim to Lez | Description of local gala. Vera is pregnant |
September 1942
| 12.9.42 | Jim to Lez | Giving Hux & Tom’s address. Jim is now a fireman. Claire coming to see them on Sat. eve. Vera is going down to Christchurch ‘with her mother’. |
| 13.9.42 | Hux to Lez | He and Tom together in training at Colchester |
| 26-29th Sept 42 | receipt | Hotel Merville, Bournemouth |
October 1942
| 9.10.42 | Lez to Clare | His philosophy about love and marriage, ‘I’m funny that way’. Wishing they will go sailing each weekend Lez is now at Mrs Coppin’s house, on the motor mechanics course and able to come home at weekends |
| 14.10.42 | Clare to Lez | Discussing the wedding arrangements. Lez phones her everyday, now at Mrs Coppin’s. Lez is training to be an engineer on MTBs, in a workshop. His letters are addressed to o/s LHF Westaway, ie Ordinary Seaman |
| 20.10.42 | Clare to Lez | Writing letters to all friends saying they are marrying soon. Very happy, calls Lez ‘hubby mine’ |
| 29.10.42 | Lez to Clare | Short note to say he has the money to pay for the divans and will keep the change in cash in case of future expenditure |
November 1942
| 10.11.42 | Clare to Lez | She has seen the vicar and confirmed 2.30 on 12th Dec ‘is OK yippee!’ ......we get organ music and two wedding marches but no hymns……Mum and Gerald have gone off to the flicks writes: “I hope I shall never fail you in thought , word or deed, sweetheart” |
| 17.11.42 | Clare to Lez | Less than 4 wks to go. she has bought a carpet. Joan and Frank visiting tomorrow |
| 18.11.42 | Clare to Lez | Telegram: happy birthday angel have a pint on me |
| 25.11.42 | Clare to Lez | Had a day at home, feeling unwell. Lez was home at the weekend. Tomorrow she’s going to the Food Office about extra wedding rations Won’t be able to send the engineering book until Wed. |
| 27.11.42 | Clare to Lez | Very pleased with herself: She had been called in by Mr Melling to acquaint him with the details of three agreements. She was asked to stay for a meeting with people from a Scottish Board, a solicitor and engineer. The engineer said that he thought our agreement was full of traps for the unwary and Mr Melling said ‘don’t blame me, Miss Pitcher here drew the document up’ Has bought Lez a bag as a wedding present. |
| 28 .11.42 | Clare to Lez | Getting ready for her first fire-watch. Not looking forward to sleeping at the office. Joan, work colleague not sister, and she are going to have dinner together |
| 30.11.42 | Blanche to ‘Leslie and Claire’ | To accompany her wedding present of pastry forks, wishing them ‘happy landings and safe harbours’ |
December 1942
| 9.12.42 | Betty to Rose (Clare) | Betty was Clare’s best friend at The Brown School. This letter must have been within the present Betty talks about, the envelope is just addressed to Rose. letter from Rhyl wishing Clare a lovely wedding and everlasting happiness. Is sailing for Canada very soon. |
| 10.12.42 | Lez to authorities | Application for leave. |
| 12.12.42 | Telegrams | The Butlers Mr and Mrs Thomas Huxley Lena and Ted Bill Cufley Penfold The Coppins ( to the White Horse Hotel, Miky Dorking) Gerald (lodger at Clare’s mother’s flat) |
| 12.12.42 | messages | Blanche and Ernest Doris and Albert Edgar, Muriel, Baby Phillip |
| 17.12.42 | Clare to Lez | First letter after the honeymoon. So happy!! : Full of love and excitement, now Mrs Westaway on all papers!
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