Below you will find a small selection of letters written during WW2 to Vera Daws, an evacuee from Ewell who was billeted in York.
There is a common theme amongst Vera and her friends - despite the horrors of war and the fear of the doodlebugs, there’s always time to talk about your favourite Hollywood crush! They are almost blasé in their description of the bombs and are mentioned just in passing. Letters from her mother are both practical and informative trying to resolve the everyday issues of Vera having enough money and buying presents for her hosts.
Full transcripts below.
9067/2/1/31 from file 9067/2/1/31-41
42 Quarry Park Road
Cheam
Sept 6th
Dear Vera
I’m writing this in a hurry because I’ve just realised that you are coming home on Saturday, and if I don’t’ get a move on you won’t’ get this.
We arrived home at 9pm on Monday, after a somewhat tedious journey. We had to take a train from Corwen to Ruabon and then catch the 10am London train. When it arrived, it was packed and there were hundreds of people trying to get on. When it went it was packed to suffocation and we had to let it go. The next London train was at 1o’clock so we messed around for three hours and by a stroke of good luck all managed to get seats. All the way up the corridors were packed and people were standing in the carriages. It arrived at Paddington 1.5 hours late. We just missed a train at Victoria, so we had an hour to wait.
On Thursday we went to Rhyl. The weather wasn’t too good, and my cousin and I spent a good bit of our time in the slot machine places.
After tea we decided to paddle, but the sea was miles and miles out, we could only just see it from the beach and an absolutely terrific gale was blowing. We got about halfway there but we couldn’t get any further, so we had to content ourselves with the puddles left in the sand.
Bin was very glad to see us when we got back. He has grown a lot and his fur is lovely. We have to keep an eye on him because he would make a lovely pair of gloves for someone.
I wonder when the results are coming. I’d like to know the worst.
We are going to the pictures this afternoon to see “Lady in the Dark” and “Killers of the Sea”.
We haven’t as much as smelt a doodlebug for ages now, touch wood, thought they had one or two while we were away. In Wales they test the sirens the first Monday in the month to see that they work. They set them off just as were leaving.
Let’s hope these V2 things never come off. I knew they were rockets but I hadn’t heard about the chemicals. If they don’t hurry up, they won’t get a chance to use them. I just can’t believe that we’re nearly in Germany. It doesn’t seem long since we were wondering when the invasion would take place. According to a sort of prophecy which Daddy got hold of the war will end at 2pm tomorrow.
It will be horrible at school if people don’t come back. We had a letter from Miss Dickie today urging parents to keep their children evacuated and send them to a school where they are evacuated. Eileen doesn’t know whether she’s coming back or not. I hope she does.
I must stop now as it is dinner time and I must post this.
Don’t forget to come and see me when you are back.
Lots of love
From
Jean
9067/2/1/1 1
17 Ewell By-Pass
Kingston Road
Ewell, Surrey
Monday night, 24/7/44
My Dear Vera
I am as disappointed as you are yourself that you are not with June or any of your other girls, is it not possible for you to see June at all somehow and see if her people could not take you as well, so sorry also to hear you had such a tiresome journey, please give my regards to Mrs Black, try and settle down to things for a while and by all means try and see June. Mum & I had a very nice weekend at the caravan, Sally was looking everywhere for you. Write to us as often as you can as you may know we shall be anxious to know how you are well and what you are doing, are you actually in the town and can you get to see June by bus or train, if so don’t spare any expense. Go and see her, if you cannot see her write to her and tell her you would like to be with her and that you are unhappy where you are and ask her to talk to the girls she is staying with and they may be able to do something for you. Mum has written to Miss Dickie and asked her if it is possible to shift you, she has told her that you are unhappy having no young girls near your own age near you. Now dear keep your chin up and all will be well. Write as soon as you can again and let us know all about everything, good night and God Bless you dear.
Dad
9067/2/1/21 from file 9067/2/1/21-30
30 Clandon Close
Stoneleigh
Ewell
Surrey
29th August 1944
Dear Vera
Thank you for your letters which I received the other day. What exactly is the “Merchant Adventures?”. It sounds like a cross between a museum and a public house. It is a shame you cannot see the planes land, or do you want to see the airmen inside? I personally have never seen one land, in fact, I have only seen one on the ground at all and that was at Croydon before the War.
Please excuse my scribble but I am trying to get this letter finished so that I can post it in the morning. I am going by myself to Poole as Pop has to work that week and he has had his holiday anyway.
We don’t get as many doodlebugs as we used to, so we are thinking of sleeping indoors soon.
I did go to see “In our Time”. You ask me what it was like and well, it was really smashing. If you have never seen Paul Henreid you have missed a treat. He is of French birth and a darn good actor. I also like Gene Kelly, but not as much as you seem to. Did you see him with Jeanette Macdonald in “Smiling Through”? It was on at the Odeon at Epsom quite a time ago. I have not got a favourite film star. At least, if I go one week and see Gary Cooper, I like him best but if I see Clark Gable the next week, he is the best.
I think I like all men film stars except Mickey Rooney. He doesn’t look very old in his films although he is supposed to be 23 or round about.
I went to see (can’t remember the name of the film for a minute but if I think of it, I will tell you). It is a story of a family who live in Clapham and it dates from 1919 to 1939. John Mills was in it. Perhaps you know (got it). This Happy Breed. It was quite good, especially for an English film.
Well, suppose I must close now as we are about to depart below (shelter) but will try to write a longer letter, also one you can read next time.
Love
Mary
P.S. Maybe Spencer Tracey is my favourite. Anyway, he has a nice face.