Letters of Ronald Henry Etherton, March - May 1944 - Part 1 of 8









Letter 93
Wed. 1st March '44
Dear Sweetheart,
It's been a long time since I've
felt as happy as I do now. In fact, I've
never felt as happy in the same way. It's
a sort of contented, perhaps I should say,
peaceful happiness. Often I've been as happy,
I guess, but this is kinda different. I just
want to dream. I'm not quite sure why I
should be so happy. Not much! I received
the two most wonderful letters that have
ever been written. I wonder whether the
post office people ever realise what precious
documents they handle. Since I've read them
I've been so happy I feel I could jump over
the moon. I wouldn't but. I'd just jump from
here to your doorstep. Oh Jean, dear! I don't
think anyone has loved another as I love
you. Though I did not think so before I met
you, the future would seem very hollow if it
were not our future. But, with you to share it,
it cannot be anything but wonderful and happy.
Without you, I do not know what I would do.
I am very patient. I must be to bear not
being with you as long as this / but by please,
2.
God, let it not be much longer.
It has snowed heavily today. We've had
some great snow ball fights. There's about
six inches outside. I like it like this but
it's going to be terribly messy when it starts
to melt.
Seven years ago today I started work. Gee, it
seems a long time ago. And one year ago
we were at sea, a day out of 'Frisco. That
seems just as long. ago
This is rather a coincidence. Last night I
asked you whether your birthday was 12th July
as I'd got mixed a bit. In one of the letters
I received today, you mentioned that it was.
My! That's a quick reply.
Do you mind if I lapse into silence. I want
to think about you. I' m not going yet so I
won't say Goodnight. Just let me kiss you?
Ron X
First fold here
BY AIR MAIL
AIR LETTER
IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED
THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT
BY ORDINARY MAIL.
________________
93
Miss Jean Ayre,
13007 - 122 St.,
Edmonton
Alberta Canada
___________________________________
Second fold here
Sender's name and address:-
Aus423088
F/Sgt Etherton R.H
RAAF Base P.O
London England
to open cut here
Write the address in large BOCK letters in the panel below
The address must NOT be typewritten
498220
DATE STAMP
-4 MAR 1944
TO:-
Miss Jean AYRE
13007 - 122 St.,
EDMONTON
Alberta Canada
_________________________________________________
Write the message very plainly below this line.
_________________________________________________
Sender's Address Aus423088 F/Sgt ETHERTON RH RAAF Base PO LONDON Eng
Letter 94
Thursday 2nd March '44
Hello Sweetheart,
Gee you look beautiful. How do I know?
Oh, you always do. When do you usually get my letters?
I guess that except on Wed and Sat it's when you come
home from work. That's just about the time I'd be meeting
or calling for you. It's a magic hour. 7 P.M in Edmonton is
1 A.M. the next morning here so when you're reading this
or any of my letters I'm more than likely in the
middle of a beautiful dream all about you. Maybe I'm
dreaming about meeting you. I do so often that when it's
really true, you'll have to pinch me or else I'll think
it's still a dream. I wonder when that will be. It cannot
be too soon because I love you so much
Ron
________________________________________________________
This space should not be used.
MAKE SURE THAT THE ADDRESS IS WRITTEN IN LARGE BLOCK LETTERS IN THE PANEL ABOVE
Letter 95
Thursday 2nd March
Dear Jean,
This is my second letter today.
I've had time because I've been very lazy.
I should have been up early and to help
clear the snow off the runway but
instead, stayed in bed until about nine.
I really didn't do it / just because I'm lazy.
I'm developing a hell of a cold. To go
out on the airfield shovelling snow
wouldn't be the best way to treat it,
would it? Anyhow they were wasting
their time. A lot of the snow has
melted during the day and unless
more falls during the night, it'll all
be gone by morning.
I'm to play rugger with the
station team on Sat. The skipper, Sammy
and Freddie are in the team too. Not
bad - four out of our crew, is it? If this
cold is as bad as i think it's going to
be I'll probably have to miss it. The
Kleenex you sent is going to be very
useful.
2.
Friday 3rd March
A lot of snow fell again last night.
It was cold, too. There was a strong
wind blowing. It burnt our fire out very
soon and our room got as cold as an
ice box. During the day, it has been still
snowing. The strong wind makes it stick
to your clothes. When you've been out in
for a few minutes, you're snow from head
to foot. The snow melts during the day
and is very slushy. We've been wearing
our rubber knee boots, with our
trousers tucked in them we look like
pirates. If it wasn't so windy and the
snow didn't melt we could go tobogganing,
if we had a toboggan or sleigh riding
if we had a sleigh. No, I wouldn't go
for a sleigh ride because I want my
first to be with you. Don't forget! That's
a date.
Say, I've got another girl friend. At least,
I've got her photo on the wall. Her photo
was in a newspaper I got from home. I cut
it out because she is so much like you,
particularly her figure. That is, in the photo.
Her name is Ramsay Ames she was in "Ali
3.
Baba and the Forty Thieves," though I didn't
see it. I shall keep my eye open for her
name so I can see whether she really
is nearly as good looking as you or whether
this photo flatters her, which is probably
the case.
What sort of dog shall we have? I've
always wanted a cocker spaniel. Do you
like them? I like Irish setters better
but they're too big and too hungry.
Some people I know bought one once.
I and my pal volunteered to build
him a kennel - at a price, of course.
We measured the dog, allowed a bit
of headroom and elbow room for him
and it was so big H we had to pull
down the back fence to get it into their
yard. We had to hire a truck to shift
it, too. The people said they were
going to move into the kennel and
let the dog have the house.
This looks live like time to say
"Goodnight" may I? Right here
Ron
AWM2016 832.1
First fold here
BY AIR MAIL
AIR LETTER
IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED
THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT
BY ORDINARY MAIL.
_____________
95
Miss Jean Ayre
13007 - 122 St.,
Edmonton
Alberta Canada
______________________________
Second fold here
Sender's name and address: -
Aus423088
F/Sgt Etherton R.H
RAAF Base P.O
London England
Letter 96
Saturday 4th March
Dearest Jean,
I haven't very much to write
but what I have is frightfully
important. One might say that I should
not use this whole form when much
less space would suffice but what are
wartime shortages when compared with
something so important. Many battles
and even wars have been fought
for this. It's something that sometimes
gives men powers that are normally
far out of reach. What is it? I love
you. Have I told you before? I
pray to God that I can use those
powers for you.
Does this sound crazy to you?
I don't feel crazy. I feel wonderful,
just because I love you.
Ron
EXAMINER
1569
AIR LETTER
IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED
THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT
BY ORDINARY MAIL
___________
Miss Jean AYRE
13007 - 122 St.,
EDMONTON
Alberta Canada
_________________________________
Second fold here
Sender's name and address:-
Aus423088
F/Sgt Etherton R.H
RAAF Base P.O
London England
Letter 97
Monday 6th March,
Dear Jean,
I'd much rather write tonight
but as I probably won't have time. I'll
have to do so this morning. It was the
Skipper's birthday yesterday. Tonight we're
going into town for a little celebration
- supper, the show and perhaps to drink
his health. It's not much, but I guess it'll
have to do.
Last night we went to the
camp show - "Maid of New Orleans". It's
old but I hadn't seen it before and tho enjoyed it. There was a cartoon
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy". Gee it was
funny. I laughed and laughed just
like little Audrey.
Unless something delays us,
we'll be posted from here in a fortnight's
time, with a leave which should be
about 14 days. I've heard of a place
in Aberdeen where I can have my
photo taken without having to wait too
long for it. I have lot's of photo's
of you but you have hardly any of me.
I've asked Edna to send you a copy of
2.
one I had taken just before I left
Australia but she hasn't mentioned
anything about it in her letters yet.
I've nearly finished a roll of film on
which there are a couple of me. I'll
send them when they're printed.
I'm going to lunch now. I wonder
whether there are any letters from you.
I hope, I hope.
No letters! I was sure there would be.
Guess I'll have to be patient until
tomorrow. Your letters are well worth
waiting for. Sure that's the trouble. They're
so nice that I can't help being impatient.
This afternoon we're playing football.
It's a nice day for it. There's quite a bit
of cloud about but the sun has been
shining quite lots of the time. All the
snow has melted and indeed, it's hard to
imagine that it was snowing' a couple of
days ago. It'll be a lovely day to go
for a walk with you. I wish we could.
I arrived in Edmonton just a year
ago today. It was early in the morning.
In fact, I was asleep when the train
pulled in. We didn't leave it until
3
about 6.30 A.M. To think that just five
days before we had been getting
around in shorts and shirts and here
we were where everything was snow
covered. I had liked what I had
seen of Canada up to then and
expected that our stay there would be
a wonderful experience but I didn't
realise that in this city in which
we had just arrived there could be
someone more beautiful and more
wonderful than anyone else in the
whole world. It was a long time
after then that I did meet you but
next time I arrive in Edmonton I hope
you'll be waiting for me. Oh, hurry,
hurry, happy day! And please stay
just as you are, Jean because that's
how I dream of you and how I love
you most
Ron
X X
AWM2016 832.1
First fold here
BY AIR MAIL
AIR LETTER
IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED
THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT
BY ORDINARY MAIL.
_____________
97
Miss Jean AYRE
13007 - 122 St.,
EDMONTON
Alberta Canada
___________________________________
Second fold here
Sender's name and address:-
Aus423088
F/Sgt Etherton R.H
RAAF Base P.O
London England

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