30 Cdn Air Svy Liaison Sec, RCE
Cdn Army England.

13 Jun 44

Dear Jean:

Your letter of the 4th arrived today. It is a very newsy letter Axel has been a bit worried about his Mother, havent seen him for some time, but he said that likely his father had been writing instead of Mrs K, which made him "mighty suspicious", as that is a most unusual development. I told him he ought to be worried that something terrible had happened to his father. Anyway, no doubt he has the latest news, and it will be good news if Mrs K is getting better. So little Miss Fidlar has slipped away. Am so glad I did get to see her. No doubt on moonlight nights, if one watched very quietly, both she and Shelley might be seen among the other sprites dancing on her lawn. Am sorry that I havent yet caught up with Frank Benton, and now it likely too late, as he will likely be away with his unit. I remember Mrs Wilkinson's strawberries, or was it rasps. We should do another trip up there soon. Mary would get a lot of fun out of it too.

It was good of Mr Swannell to gather the dope on up-Island property, I think if you get a chance to drive up to see the Hayward place, you ought to go, and then you could give me a first hand impression. You are quite right about it being warmer up there than in Victoria. If one were to criticize Victoria, it would be the rather bracing "freshness" of the breezes off the straits. Bert's location on Mill Bay appealed to me on that score, because it is on the water facing south, but protected from the cold winds from the Straits. The temperature would average appreciably higher in all seasons. It isn't so far out of Victoria either, about 45 minutes drive, and they have improved the Malahat greatly in recent years. In summer there is the option of taking the Mill Bay ferry, to Brentwood, and coming down the Saanich, peninsula. It was Mrs Coles place at (or near) Chemainus Duncan and Nanaimo. It was a lovely spot, and what a cook she was. Had a letter from Col Broome, who lived with her about a year ago.

I have some snaps to send, a few that Harry Luscombe took, and some that my old dressmaker friend in Cobham sent me of herself in front of her very old cottage. In one she is standing with a bike, which is a bit of bluff, because she has been lame for years, however, I admire her spirit. It is her brother, Mr Aston, who lived with Dad Hall. If I had any influence with His Majesties Cdn ministers I would recommend the old lady for the BEM decoration. She has probably altered and fixed up more battle dress for Cdn troops than any other individual living, at ridiculously low prices, and double quick time. Her rule is to give the soldiers priority over civilian customers. She always sends me on her Sunday papers, which of course I never have time to read. There are few civilians in this country who are as well known and as gratefully respected as Mrs Waugh. If the King were to honour her with the BEM it would result in wide-spread satisfaction among Cdn troops, most of whom have been stationed within her "sphere of influence" at one time or another during the last 4 years.

One of the snaps that Harry took if of the blackboard we have after I had finished giving my chaps a lecture on certain aspects of our work. I think Mary would understand it at a glance, although I doubt if anyone else would. Harry calls it a prize example of doodling. If you can find out if Frank Swannell has the "Loom of Language" it is one of the same series as Mathematics for the Million, and Science for the Citizen. I have it, and I'm sure he would find it interesting. I could get it here and send it to him, or you might be able to buy it in Victoria, in which case you could give it to him on our combined behalf. It will take me a long time to get through it, and will likely reread it, but it is very worth while. There is certainly a wide scope for language reform, even in English-American , as the author speaks of our common language.

I finally got a letter off to Olive Andrews, and have sent her $100 from here, direct to her address at the hospital. I said it was from us both, with our love.

Bert Hammond and I were at Morris's again on Sunday for supper really we are pigs to go so much. Ecila insisted that I bring away 5 eggs for our breakfast here. We have been messing very well since we started doing for ourselves. I'm actually getting fat. That will never do. Think I'd better try to get down to Haywards to cut up some more wood. May be able to get down for one night this weekend. Got a chance to visit Bill Hall on Friday evening, was up in his part of the country on other business. He is a bit fed up that they didn't start fixing his leg up sooner. however he's had it trimmed off and now it's a matter of letting it heal and harden and then they can start fitting an artificial foot. He will likely have to stay in bed for another week, and soon after will be able to move around again on crutches. I may get him attached down with me for a while to help him readjust to ordinary life, and soon after will be able to move around again on crutches. I may get him attached down with me for a while to help him readjust to ordinary life, and he could help me in the technical work. We have a lovely spot here, and it would be just the thing for him.

Things seem to be going alright in France. Bad weather has interfered with using our full air potential, but it seems to have been improving the last couple of days. It looks as though our beach head is being made more secure all the time, and we must be piling in more troops and armour at a fast rate. The German radio is surprisingly pessimistic, both on it foreign and home service.

I think they must realize that it is only a matter of time now.

LOVE to my two best girls, ...GER