Post #711 - November 22, 1945 Final Boarding Pass for Ship Sailing to U.S.A.

 

This appears to be the last of the communications that are in my collection of WWII letters. My father returned home in time for his beloved daughter, Adele’s third birthday. Philip and Evelyn Strongin lived and long, happy and blessed life together with all the usual ups and downs that most families experience. We were all privileged to help them celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Philip died in June of 1993, and Evelyn in August of 2009.

Post #710 - November 4, 1945 A Farewell Letter from The Davieses, Mabs and Wallie

 

Nov. 4th, 1945

In recent elections Alfred Edwards increased his majority by 8000 and poor Cdr. Bower was knocked out by labor candidate.

Meadowcroft

Eston

Middlesbrough

Telephone Normandy 238

My dear Philip & Evelyn,

It gives me the greatest pleasure to address you thus, for I think by this time you must have had that wonderful and happy reunion. First of all I want to thank Evelyn for her kind letter, Philip for your letter before leaving England, and yesterday the first copy of that delightful magazine arrived. For your great kindness in making us a present of such a generous subscription, we both thank you most sincerely. We were so sorry not to have had a last visit from Philip, but maybe the next time we meet it will be in the United States.

Some 50 years ago, or nearly that, my grandmother with most of her family landed in Philadelphia, and I have never seen or met any of the family. I look forward very much to a trip out one day & then I shall have a host of friends to visit, including you dear people. Someday when it is possible again to get negatives developed here, I will send you some pictures of the garden. We are all well here, but longing for peace really to become a fact. Apart from the release from danger & the glorious knowledge that precious lives are no longer being sacrificed, we hardly know the war is over. Conditions are infinitely worse in so many ways, not the least the food problem. Our meagre rations have been cut and our surgeries get bigger & bigger. For after five years of very bare living, this further cut is showing itself in the health of the community. No one grumbles for we know it is the price we must pay for war, but it complicates life. Wallie & I are alone now, for our maid has left & Tim has gone to the Far East, and somehow one doesn’t manage so well on just two rations. We are ourselves alright for we haven’t to do heavy manual labor but it’s most difficult for the men on the furnaces here to exist on it. Many of them are going to work on potato sandwiches and jam sandwiches. The cut in the meat has made a big difference to them. The rations now are 2 pts. of milk per week, 1/2 lb. of meat which must include some corned beef, 2 ozs. butter, 4 ozs. margarine, 1 oz. cooking fat, 1 pint dried egg every 2 months. But what the winter will bring for the rest of Europe I shudder to think. If we weather this winter without serious epidemics, then I think the silver lining will appear, and after the next harvest, the world shortage will be adjusted. I give you these details for I know Philip was always so interested. I am so thankful now for my domestic science training. By the way, I am broadcasting at present every Wednesday at 8:20 a.m. on the Kitchen Front. I have another three to give. I give my last on Nov. 21st from London. I don’t suppose you could get it in America. It’s on the Home Service programme. Do forgive this sheet of paper. I have exhausted the supply at hand & did want to finish this tonight for my broadcast keeps me so busy now—2 days each week in London. Tim has got his brass hat. He is a Commander now & is in command of H.M.S. Home Sound bound for Hong Kong.

We miss you all so much but do come & visit us some day. Our dearest regards to you all. Write when you can.

Yours ever,

Mabs & Wallie Davies