Wartime letters

smartcurlywurly's memory. No date

I am submitting 2 letters, both written to an uncle of mine (John william Blackburn). The first was written by his mother sometime during the first world war and the second by his father during the second world war, approximately 26 years apart. The letters are in the possession of my cousin (his daughter) and I was given typed copies to keep several years ago.

An Introduction to the Family:

Annie Eliza Blackburn (born1875) and John Alfred Blackburn (born1872) were married in Walworth, London in May 1892. Eliza gave birth to 16 children including 4 sets or twins and 12 of these survived to adulthood. John William was the eldest son and my father Leslie Walter was the youngest son. The family moved from London to the Swansea Valley and back again more than once and the eldest 3 married and settled in Wales. The youngest siblings although born in Wales settled in London or the South East. Poor Eliza died age 42, 23 years before I was born and was therefore only a sepia picture to me and, to my father, a nine year old child's fond memories of his mother. Reading her letter, around 80 years after it was written,I was able to make some connection to this lady.

A year after she died, my grandfather, John Alfred, married again to Emma Leach
(referred to as Em in letter no.2). They had 2 sons.

I was born in 1940 and therefore letter no2 made quite an impact on me given that I was born in London during the blitz. My mother, Julie, is referred to in the letter. My father, Leslie had joined the navy and in 1944 Julie and her daughter went to family in Abercrave, South Wales for a short holiday but with the onslaught of the doodlebugs ended up staying there for a whole year until Peace was declared in Europe.

These letters are being written just as the typed versions of the original letters were typed. Errors in the grammar are likely to originate from the actual letter but maybe not in all instances.

1

Letter written by Annie Eliza Blackburn to her son John William Blackburn.
She died 12th July 1917 a few days after the German air raid on London
during the first world war.



Vauxhall Street
Kennington Lane
London S6

My Dear Sons,

I received your letter quite safe this morning and I thank you very much for the money. I am more than satisfied and I hope you are both looking after yourself. Well my Dear Son no doubt you have heard of the terrible raid on Saturday we all thought our time had come. There was 40 ?????? and aeroplanes all together. Your Father went over to Hyde Park about 9.30 for a walk before going to bed and while he was there he saw them coming over he thought they was our machines and said what a grand lot he counted 25 instead in about a minute the bombs began to drop and the guns began to fire and Sally she jump into a bus and run home. I was all by myself and the windows and the table was shaking. I put the little children in the cupboard they were all shivering with fright it was terrible I have been very poorly ever since. Your father had to try and get Brandy for me and the place where Lot works, next door, was blown down to the ground the GPO was on fire and any amount killed, Lill ran home crying also Florrie had to old her down I wish I had come to Aberdare.
Well my dear son I am very sorry to hear about your upset he ought to be ashamed of himself the next time he does that summon him or hit him with the first thing you come across he has a fine beauty to take advantage of a young lad nobody knows my feelings to think I am away from you but dont never make anything for him again. I must tell you Uncle Charley is in Cardiff Hospital Splotted Street and your grandmother is awfully worried about Ted as his letters and parcel have all come back so they don't know weather he his a prisoner of War or if something has happen to him my dear sons I hope you are able to get your shoses(?). I bought myself a pair with the money I paid for the shoses(?) How his George he dose not write home very much I had a letter from Albert he got a suit from D C Jones £2.10. I have never had a penny from him he tells me hes gained 2 stones since I have been away, we have heard from Will Hull on Wens he his in good spirits I must tell you the babies cry on Sat Morning weres our Jonny and George. They all clun round me it was a pity to see them.
Your father came home like a sheet. The sound of the guns were terrible,

well my Dear Sons don't forget when you want working boots to let me know as I have bought 2 pair they are good boots. Willie is allways talking about you and saying he wish we had stoped in Abercrave he has not grown very much and the babies are not near so fat and Leslie he has gone awful thin I often worry about them Leslie as got about 12 ringworm over his head he has his head painted 2 a day by the nurse and Lady Doctor, so he has not been to school for 2 weeks I don't think there is anymore to write about for the present. Lot sends her love to you both also all at home and axcept my best love.

From your affect,t
mother A Blackburn



for Jonny xx Ada for George xxx from Annie


2



Letter written by John Alfred Blackburn to his son John William Blackburn during the second world war when the "doodlebugs" started coming over London June 1944


Cowley Rd
Brixton SW9

Sunday Evening
June 19th '44


My dear Son and Daughter Jack and Annie

I am sending you a few lines which I trust finds you all quite well. I hope
Jack that you have picked up some of your lost sleep. I expect we shall have a letter from you Monday morning to let us know how you got on when you reached Neath. We have been wondering quite a lot about you. Annie had a great kick - very pleasant surprise when she saw you I'm sure. Em would not believe me when she came in and enquired where you was and I told her you had gone home. She had to go and have a look round in the bedroom for your things. Well lad I was very sorry to see you go so quick, but after our experience since you did go I feel glad you did now. We had a bad night friday night; we went down in the shelter. I came up about 4 o/c when the all clear went; I was just going into bed when the siren went again. Over they came and the guns blazed, only then it died down again. The same as it did the night before. I got into bed over they came again. I lay in bed looking out of the window and saw one come down about where I
thought it had. So it kept on till about 6.30. I think Saturday morning. It remained very quiet Saturday up to about 4 0'clock and you can believe me Jack they have made up for it since. It was quiet about 11.30 p.m. so I said we will go to bed, Em went in I followed in a few minutes, just about to undress. They started again and kept it up all night coming over in intervals of 20 to 30 minutes - sometimes it seemed there was a couple of them just a few miles apart. I came up and went to bed as soon as it got a bit lightl They have kept it up again today we have seen four land not far away. I was going down to see how Gladys and them got on, but it has not been really safe to go out far. It was a bit quiet from 4 to 6 p.m. we were sitting quietly when one came sweeping in. Em saw it dipping a few seconds and it exploded not far away well say perhaps 20 minutes walk.
The all clear has just gone now 8 o'clock from this morning. What you have missed Jack and we are pleased you have too I wish we had. Aunt Charlotte did not come today, we could not expect her. I am glad in a way but I think she would have felt safer here than she do over there where she is living.
I had a letter from Les yesterday morning & he got back alright. He said when he got to Streatham Hill he had to go from somewhere else. He got a bit worried but did it.
It is too risky Jack. There are times & I wish he would not chance it. I have wrote & told him to tell Julie to stop a bit longer.
We spend a very pleasant couple of hours together Thursday evening but it was not so pleasant through the night lad was it. We hope you have got over it now though. we are feeling very unsettled. It is not so pleasant here tonight as it was last Sunday night. We are hoping for a quieter night. Em has just taken a couple of pillows down and a couple of rugs to the shelter in readiness, what a game eh.
We will send your pyjamas Jack and toothbrush in a few days. I enclose herein the letter received for you.
I have taken advantage of a quiet period to write this in readiness to post to you tomorrow.
I shall certainly go to the Doctors tomorrow or Tuesday It has been rather bad today.
If you see Aunt Lizzie give her my love & tell her how very sorry we were to hear about Lennard & trust it is not so bad as your thoughts. We await your letter now.
8.35 sirens just went & another one just dropped down. I know near enough where it landed only a few seconds after passing us here.
9.15 another one just gone over, gone further on.

Monday Evening

Another day nearly over. I received your letter today Jack & was very pleased to know you reached home so well. I did not get your letter before late this afternoon. I had been down to Gladys. I heard they had had it 2 0'clock Sunday morning, landed in that ground at the back & what a mess. Through blast. Gladys escaped with few windows broke, 2 ceilings down, lock broke off the door otherwise alright thank God.
You know the theatre we were going to last week, opposite there, 5 streets I counted on the bus blasted. Its awful Jack. I cannot tell you all I know.
We went down the shelter last night. No guns are being fired now. We heard some going over. One came down close to where mums working, well, about 8 minutes walk about midday today. The sirens are on and off.
Fed up.
I will get the books & stuff first chance & send them on. Your watch is inside a bag which might be handy for one of the girls. Your pyjamas Em would have washed & sent but we are tired out so please excuse sending them like this. The warning has just gone out again.
I received a card from Julie today saying she is coming back tomorrow night. Very silly, she has just no idea what she is up against.
Been to the Doctor today & I have got to go to the hospital. I knew it was bad but it is a bit worse than I thought, double hernia on one side & single the other.
I note all you say in your letter Jack & we quite understand lad.
We much appreciate your kind offer to come down in a few weeks, we will see. We both wish we were going out of it tomorrow.
Jack I nearly forgot to mention it. The man who done your watch had the misfortune to break the glass. He managed to get a new one though it has a slight mark on the face.
I enclose the parcel we want you to take care of.
If there is anything I have forgotten to mention please excuse.
Trusting you are feeling quite well. I wish we were going to bed free from worry instead of that shelter. Well now cheerio Best wishes & love from us both

Your loving Dad &Em

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This memory was added 21st January 2008

Keywords: London war siren BBC Radio 4 - Writing the Century

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