28 November 1940

56 Bond St
Monkwearmouth
Sunderland

28.11.40

Dear Angela
May I excuse myself for not writing before now, and may I thank you very much for the birthday-card, it arrived a little late - but what is the difference. I hope this letter reaches you before Xmas - I think it will, I have used the strongest envelope I could find as the others were very thin. I am not certain what kind of Xmas I will have this year, as I may have to work all the holidays. I am expecting at least three parties - allowing for air-raids. I will have a fortnight’s holiday from evening classes at Xmas but there will be no moon out, and it will be too dark to go out. One of my pals is coming home from London at Xmas, so I have something to look forward to, even if not holidays.
I had my first and probably last Cross-Country run the other Saturday, I was running for Sunderland Harriers Junior Club against my old school, the result was the best possible - a draw. I don’t think I will run any more this year as it is too tiring after work and I didn’t run very good - 7th out of 16 runners. I am having to do nothing else but work these days and my weekly table-tennis has been replaced by homework - I hope you don’t get as much work to do.
You will have seen some photos of the damage in Coventry and Birmingham, it must have been terrible. Everyone says our turn will come soon so we are just hoping for the best. If we do get bombed here I don’t know what dad and I will do, as mam will be called out nursing - but we haven’t been bombed yet! I hope we are doing just as much in Germany. I often wonder where my French and German correspondents are, and I think I will try and contact them when all of this is over. Another plane was brought down here a few days ago, the “Jerries” haven’t been over for about two days, but they will give us a call soon.
There was a war -poster exhibition in the Art Gallery and one of the Bede girls won a prize. The exhibition was in connection with War Weapons Week. There was also an exhibition of war weapons ranging from prehistoric axes to machine guns, the sword of Dundee, who fought in the Battle of Killiecrankie, was there. The total war savings of the town was well over one million pounds which wasn’t too bad.
There was no parade on Armistice Day, as is usual; the poppies were sold. - The siren is blowing now - I will continue writing until any explosions are heard - mam is complaining about the shelter being cold (and saying nasty things about the Germans under her breath) I should say the sirens - as others have joined in. Mam has just gone out like a scarecrow - carrying blankets, rugs, scarves etc. into the shelter.
I must close now as I have run out of news-
A Merry Xmas
And
A Happy New Year
Harold
P.S. Excuse style and mistakes as I have a headache, and I am not feeling extra good