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Transcription of Letter
From
E. A. Derbyshire
Co Liste House
105, Boughton Green Rd
Northampton NN2 7SU
England
To
John & Lynette Derbyshire
15 Chestnut Street,
Huntington
NY 11743
U.S.A.
July 17th 1995.
My Darling children,
I'm wondering how things are with you, wishing I could help you Rosie now you
are on your own. I can vividly remember my own experiences with John and Judy with sirens[1]
wailing and doodle bug bombs[1] dropping I kept them with me day &
night in case I thought if
one had our name on it we would all go together. Though I was lucky to have Dad near. And John did come at the end of
the war, but rationing went
on for ages.[3] We queued for everything It seems like a bad
dream now. I think of all the
poor souls caught up in war It seems so senseless. But I mustn't get morbid at this happy time. Actually we've
had some lovely babes
recently, even twins, the carers bring them in and doting grannies visiting, Doris[4] for instance
has a 5 month old great grandson & her grand daughter brings him in every week I am very envious, though I
picture you all Rose, I
know it will be hard going for a while, but he'll soon grow and settle down I can't beleive how Nellie has
grown She's quite the little
Miss now. I hope she's adapteted to little Daniel. I forgot to ask John how
Boris has reacted.
You are in my thoughts every minute. Look after
yourself Rose, you are a very important person dear. I know John will help when he can I just wish his hours
went so long and his job so far
away Ther are train strikes here, riots & looting in the towns & cities, Moslems and Blacks and other
troublemakers burning cars and
shops attacking people & causing mayhem amd murder. I seems there is no answer. What a world. The weather is a
mixture, sun showers very
muggy It makes me very wheezy and lethargic I'm still having struggles with the
DHSS. over
this income support. I can't understand the
jargon I've just written them a stinker not that they take any notice but it makes me feel better.
1 pm. Just back from lunch, horrible!!
Cloudy now. Shall probably lie on the bed & go to sleep. Ever in my
thoughts Love to you all
X X X X The chilren for me Love X X X X
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Notes
- Air raid sirens during WW2.
- V-1 flying bombs, popularly called "doodle bugs" in England. However, I think Mum's imagination was running away with her here. My parents were living in Northampton by the time my sister and I were born. The town is at the extreme range of V-1 flight, and could not have been visited by many, though I seem to remember that one fell on Duston, a few miles outside the town.
- Indeed it did. I remember my own ration books. The color changed from green to blue (or perhaps the other way) when I turned three years old. Candy was rationed until 1953, I think.
- Doris was another resident at Lister House.