February 22 1945

8 C.I.T.R

Cdn Army O/S

22 Feb 45

Darling Isobel:

I am on duty tonight in the Orderly Room and things are pretty quiet so I think I’ll drop you another line. I’m doing pretty good lately as I think this is the fourth letter four days in a row. For a few days there I was going so darn hard I found it pretty hard to write as regularly as I should have done, but I’ll write as often as I can. I don’t imagine you will be getting them very regularly anyway, probably two or three at a time. This is an awful typewriter and if I had known that it was as bad as it is when I started I’d have left it alone. The keys stick and one of two of them are missing. By the look of it it must have come out of the Ark anyway.

I haven’t had any mail from you for an awful long time it seems to me. I guess I got one last week, only two altogether since I came over here. I know there must be some others on the way. It sure seems a long time though to go without mail from home and I miss your letters very much. Please write me as often as you can. I don’t know whether Hugh is out of the Hospital or not yet. I believe he was due to come out today. I have written to both Henry and Norman but haven’t had a reply from either of them so far. I believe the mail service from here to the mainland is very slow and that they give a priority on mails from Canada, which is fair enough.

Boy, you should have seen the planes going over to Germany last night and today. Honestly I could never have believed there was anything in the world like it. A flight will go over heading east and the sky will be covered from side to side with planes, and it will take an hour for them to get by. The papers today said that there were three such flights over last night and for the first time since I have been here they went over in similar formation during the day, and there sure were some big baby’s among them. I never saw anything like it in all my life before. Some of the people said that there hadn’t been so many go over like this since “D” Day so I guess Jerry is catching it hot and heavy somewhere, and it looks like the big push on the Western front is about ready to start. The planes sure look great going over but sometimes not so good when they come back.

My cold is getting better but slowly. I don’t ever remember having one that held on quite so stubbornly as this one has. My head has cleared up a lot but my ears are still pretty sore and only one is working properly. It is just like the tube inside has plugged up and won’t come open. When I scratch my head it’s just like a piece of wood or something dead --- maybe it is for all I know – but it’s the queerest darn feeling. I feel right stupid too because I can’t hear very well what’s going on around me. I guess I’ll have to get me a horn to wear in my ear or something like you see in the funny papers. We’re expecting a big shot here tomorrow and it sure is funny to see everyone running around getting ready to put on a show. That sure makes me laugh. But the place looks pretty good here now – everything has been cleaned up and tidied and it makes a big difference.

I miss the Halifax papers a great deal. The papers here have been cut to a minimum due to the shortage of paper. Most papers are only four sheets, that is a double sheet printed both sides.

The quality of the reporting is really good, I think better than our own. Every little item seems to be of interest and is well written. But I miss the news from home. You are not supposed to send papers over here to England but you can send cuttings. So whenever you see anything of interest would you cut it out and send it to me. I am especially interested in any of the news from Aldershot or Kentville, and from Skye Glen and Whycocomagh. If you see anything of the Hockey Teams from Aldershot send that along too. I think every Saturday here there is a column made especially for service men over here. Perhaps you could save that and send it along too. Just stick them in an ordinary envelope and send them along with a letter. I certainly would like my magazines too if you could wrap them up somehow. Jonnie and I are going to Aldershot this Saturday again on business but we are not staying over as we did last time. We are really lucky to get these trips as we get a swell chance to see the country. We will be going by truck and if the weather is decent it will be grand. If you can send me a film, any size, I’ll get you some real nice pictures. I can get a camera here quite easily but films are extinct. There doesn’t seem to be much room left on this paper so I guess I’ll sign off for tonight and go to bed. I guess you are just having your supper now. All my love, darling and I miss you very much. Kisses to the kids.

As always,

Frank.

xxxxxxx