Letter of Flying Officer Ronald Leslie Tanner to his wife, Enid Marcelle Tanner, 1944

149 Sq'n.
England.
22 9.1944.

A.C.F.
AUSTRALIAN COMFORTS FUND

Enid Darling,
This is a letter I have
been intending to write for a
long time, but have kept
postponing, as I hope you never
receive it. If you do, then
you shall know that I have
gone, and that you shall
only see me in your dreams,
or in a hallowed grove of
memories where I shall be
watching over you and my
little man, and wishing you
well. We haven't started
ops yet, but we shall, any day
or night now, I expect.
I have always tried to
be cheerful and optimistic in
my letters, and yet, even as I
write now, I have a haunting
premonition that I shall never
see you again. I just cannot 
imagine that I could be

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so lucky, and although I have
loved you so much, I know
that I do not deserve the love
you have given me. It is
nearly two years now since
I came into the Air Force, and
although I am justly proud of
the uniform I wear, I have
hated every moment of it, for
it has kept us apart for so
long. It is strange how many
people would give so much to
see the beautiful Niagara Falls,
 the Panama Canal, the night
clubs of New York, the bustle of
London, and the blitz & the
flying bombs, the green fields
of England and millions of other
sights, and yet I would gladly
give all I have seen for just
one minute, or even one second,
with you. Some day, perhaps, we

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shall see all these things
together, and really enjoy them
as they are meant to be. Yet
at present, I feel that I shall
never want to go beyond home,
our home that I dream about
so much, and which I love,
because I know that you are
there. It is strange how much
you can remember at a time
like this, and yet it is difficult
to put your thoughts into words.
Perhaps it is that they haven't
words to say all the things that I
have wanted to tell you.
Tonight while it is raining
heavily, and so dark outside I
can think of you clearly, and
I can remember so well all
the wonderful times we have
spent together, and dream of
all those which I hope are

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yet to come. I shall always
remember, and love, Uralla, for
it was there that I met the
only girl I have ever loved, and
it was there that I tricked
her into coming to the pictures
with me. Remember? And shall
we ever forget the nights we
stole together? Perhaps we
knew then that we were to
miss so many later. They were
beautiful times and I find
much solace in these long,
lonely nights, just dwelling on
times that we had there -
Sweet memories, that are dearer
than life or death - memories
that kings could not afford
to buy, nor would they have
the power to steal. Sometime,
soon I hope, we shall re-enact
all those times, and live
again in our first love.

5.
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AUSTRALIAN COMFORTS FUND

Another day has passed
and it is now 9 p.m. We are turning
in now for tomorrow, if the
weather clears, is the big day -
our first op! Of course I am
very excited, but I am thinking
so much of you all at home.
If anything should happen to
me. I would like you to spend
a while with mum & dad, for
I realize that few fellows have
had such fine folks as I. They
have done everything possible
for me, & I shall never forget.
I hope my big brother never
has to go through a show
like this. I realize too, how
good your mum and dad have
been to us too. There are so
many things I have to be
thankful for, but tonight
I can think of little else
besides you, and my little

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man. I am so glad that you
think he is like me, and I
know that when he grows up
he shall be a credit to you,
and that I, too, shall be proud
of him.
I want you to feel that
your life is your own too,
darling. Live it as you can,
or as fate chooses. You know
what I mean by that. Don't
grieve too much, or for too
long, for that will not help.
Remember that I shall want
you to be happy, and do all
you can to fulfill my wishes.
Then some day we shall meet
again, and I shall be
waiting for you patiently,
and watching over you, and
then when we meet, it will
be really for always. And
I shall go on loving you

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my darling for always.
So goodnight my sweetheart,
a last good night perhaps,
and a special kiss, and loving
memories and sweet dreams.
To my little boy, it is goodnight
too, and a special hug. Look
after your mummy, little man, 
for your dad loved her so
much, that he is not afraid
to die for her. Be good to her 
son, for my sake.
I want to keep writing
tonight sweetheart, as I feel
so close to you, but I must
get some sleep. Good night
my darling, and remember
that I shall be with you
always, for even death cannot
dull my love for you.
Till we meet again, be
it in reality or in dreams, all
my love darlings,  Ron.