Letters relating to William Arthur Allsopp - Part 8

2

but still isnt as big as Sydney
and not as good though to our way
of thinking is the best is Canada.
I remembered that letter Jack got from
[[Nayby?]] as I heard it nearly word
for word from one of the taxi
drivers who take you around the
city sight seeing. It is 80% french and
one section about half, do not speak
a word of English, retaining all the
customs of France, these three
characteristics being religion, politics,
and the raising of by families. It is
a strange city being morally bad ^yet with
about 105 Catholic Cathedrals. I went
and looked a few over and one in particular
would keep me interested for a week.

They call it Notre Dame and can seat 10,000 

people whilst everything on the ceiling
and the altars is hand carved whilst
stuck everywhere is paintings of saints etc.
So the value, the guide says so, of a million
dollars. The French have also built a

shrine on the mountain after which
the city is named Mont Royal, to a little
fellow by the name of Brother Joseph, who
used to perform miracles. The church
near the shrine is half filled with
crutches, walking sticks and umbrellas
and whilst the priest preached a sermon
in french, I sat and twiddled my
thumbs and had a go at him about
my hay fever, but up to date have
 not noticed and appreciable improvement

PR05361

3

some  of the fellows got down to New
York and had a great time being 
entertained in all the posh places
the people just picking them up
off the street. That [[Ranee?]] of somewhere
or other who is an Australian got hold
of a few of them and took them
everywhere shouting them to all the
high class night clubs and the boys
reckon she’s a great scout. We are
supposed to have five days off at
Christmas So if we are anywhere near
there it looks like New York for us.
Montreal is the home of window dressing
having all the novelties in the world to
attract attention, with all the bright
colours in the world but still “Macky’s”
windows looked just as well the last
time I saw them, so I can’t offer any
ideas, except where there are any
awnings they slap up outsize Bon
bon boxes and Christmas toys, just
out of reach of a tall man.
I went out to the school to see a few
of the fellows and met Alan O’Brien,
Frank [[Falkinnie?]] and the [[butt?man]] whilst
everywhere I went I met fellow’s from
Tamworth or from around there.
It snowed nearly every day we
were there, but it clears off very
quickly on account of being situated
on the st Lawrence, as we never 

got a chance to have a slide

down the hill. We are just about

immune  from the cold now as
we left our last station when it
was 24° below zero, but the cold only
effect the hands and ears as long
as will you are well rugged up. 
We have now meeting up with all

the fellows we were at Bradfield with
but are unable to celebrate on account
of this being a dry province, beer only
being procurable from liquor stores.
What is Bede doing now I never
heard from him but that’s his bad
luck as long as I’m in Canada in the
Air force. I can get good cigarettes very cheap,
but can’t get them once we leave the
country, so it’s not much use sending him
any if I don’t know where he is.
If and when we leave the country
I will send you a cable and should we
happen to go to England keep on addressing 
the letter to the above adress as I think
the quickest way to England is across
Canada. Anyhow I had better say goodbye

for the present, Mum, with love to all
at home and hope that everything is
allright.

Love.

Bill

PRO5361

AUS 411063

Sergeant W.A.G. ALLSOP. W.A
R.A.A.F.
C/- R.A.F. Records Office
Gloucester 

Gloucestershire 

England
2nd January ‘42

Dear Mum,

Maybe it will be about Easter 
before, you receive this, but [[stop?]] to tell 
that everything is still pretty good
and that we have at last arrived in England.
We were in [[Hal?]] for a fair while

and we’re glad to leave it as I didnt think 
a place could be so cold and be still 
inhabitated. Everything was covered in
snow and ice it being practically impossible 
to walk at all owing to the streets having  

a coating of about an inch thickness of ice.
We saw plenty of water coming across

the Atlantic and the accommodation was
the other extreme to what we had coming
across the Pacific. It was quite a sight to see
the sun come up a few feet above the horizon

and then after about five hours of daylight
pop back in again never at all worrying
about following the path we had been used

to seeing it do. I always wanted to see a

storm at sea and we were not disappointed

but managed to survive it all right without

being seasick. We spent Christmas day on

the water and had a good feed of stew

for dinner, without any liquid refreshment

so we all had a good moan and

thought of what we would be missing

at home. At the present time we are
loafing around at a seaside resort in

the south of England, being billeted in

hotels taken over by the Airforce. It is a

great place and plenty to do though its a

pity its not summertime as our hotel

is right on the beach. The weather is

not the best but still its not half as

cold as Canada but maybe being ear

the sea has something to do with that.

We go on leave tomorrow and a few of

us are going to London for a few days

and then the rest of the leave are going to

spend in Aberdeen or Glasgow.  Theres a Lady

Ryder who looks after the Aussies whilst

on leave and gets us billeted out to

country homes or arranges sight seeing

tours of London so maybe our money ought

to see us out. We are not allowed to draw

more than the R.A.F personnel so are drawing

8/- a day sterling which leaves me with

a balance after deferred pay is taken out,

of about 36/- or 37/- Australian a week. I

will make arrangements for this to be paid in

to a banking account over there weekly, but

if you want to have it x cable and let

me know and I will transfer it to

an account where you can get at it.

We were told that England was short

of a lot of things, but if you have the money,

can do alright for yourself. Of course everything 

is rationed; even beer, so its hard to get a

good cheap meal in the cafes, but the R.A.F

feeds us better than the R.C.A.F ever could.

I've been looking everywhere for that adress

of Letty's friend but cant find it so when

you reply to this let me know will you.

PRO5361

I met Colin Doudy the other night in

Bournemouth, he was down on leave

from his squadron and was telling

us he was flying Hurricane Bombers,

and seemed to be enjoying himself.

He was asking after Bede but I couldn't tell

him much as I never heard from him

We have a fair chance of being posted

to the same place as Bede but that wont

be for a long time yet, and again its a

pretty popular choice, as most of the boys are

keen to go there.

We received a couple of Christmas

Hampers from the Australian Comforts Fund

and a few days after I received that

parcel Mrs Edwards sent, so that you can

see how long it taken for mail or parcels

to catch up. I meant to send a cable

for Christmas, but I sent you one for the

New Year which I hope you received.

Things dont seem to be too good out there

at the present and I suppose you will

have to put up with blackouts etc.

for a while. There's no doubt those yellow

buggers started off well but I think

they are very spiritless and will get a

hell of a hiding later on. The A.I.F.

were camped close to here, where

and did over the town now and again

and the people haven't forgotten them,

but I havent seen an A.I.F uniform

since I left home. The trip down

through the English countryside was

pretty good and the only thing that

we hope for now is enough leave to

enable us to see it more closely.

They still hold their race meetings

and I think the pups too, and seeing how

good my judgement is in such matters

should bring me in a steady income.

Well mum I dont think that I

have much more to say, except

to hope that things keep quiet over

there, and everything is alright at

home there. I suppose the go will get

a bit tough with the racing going,

but if they keep going here should

do the same over there. Anyhow

I will say cheerio, and give my

love to the family

Love.

Bill

PRO5361

411063.
8th April '42

Sgt. Allsopp. W.A.

Overseas Headquarters.
Kodak House
Kingsway.
London W.C.2.

Dear Mum,
Received a letter from you today and was
glad to get some news of how things are going, also
tonight when I walked into the mess I saw a table
half covered with food unmistakeable packets of

Readers- totalling altogether 18 papers, and I  going to have

a great time catching up on back news.

Your letter was certantly brimful of news &

fancy Jacky getting caught or catching, at last, but I

suppose the war regulations and call ups may

upset his dreams a little. It does look as thou the

family is beginning to break up, but I dont think you

should get rid of the house and move, as Tamworth

is a pretty good place. I also received a letter from

Rene the same mail and she was saying that

she has lost a further part of her anatomy wont

be much left soon I suppose.

The weather is beautiful now, sometimes

the rain hanging off a whole week, and with

double daylight saving, even now it is light till

close on ten o'clock, so I dont know what it will be

like when summer offically comes. On the other hand

I suppose you are getting in a stock of wood for
the winter and also laying in a stock of wool
for your knitting. England is very pretty in the spring
and everywhere the daffodils are growing wild,
and all the shrubs and fruit trees around the
Manor we are billeted in are bursting into
flower- but they need a lot of beauty to make
up for the long winter they have to put in.
That fellow Ross lobbed in the other day and also

Les McLeod so it looks like a collection of

Tamworth fellows getting together again.
There is not much to write about, though
I suppose a note now and then lets you know
that I am OK and quite happy in the service.

What with everyone over there getting married

I think I had better look around and take

home either an English or Canadian bride-
have to live on love I suppose. Anyhow cheerio

and love to yourselves and the family
and hope that things improve

Love.

Bill.

11th July '42

Dear Mum

Yet a bit of a surprise [[?]] [[?]]

I received three of your letters mailed in December

and a few Christmas cards from other people so
my mail appears to be catching up.
Have been leading a pretty quite
life and not doing much and have just
come back from 7 days leave which I
spent in Scotland. Went to Edinburgh for a
few days but seeing cities are a bit expensive
to live in went bush as it were. I tried
to augment my savings a little by going
to the pups but even though I backed four
of seven winners only won about £1 so you
see that the prices are about as good as
those at Tamworth. I thought the class of
dogs would be better than they were but
I suppose war time would have something
to do with that. Whilst there we went down
to have a look at the Forth of Firth Bridge