24 June 13th Okanagan Mission B. C
My dear Tony
We have just got your letter [RAS450527] saying your crew will probably be split up which seems rather disappointing after training together for so long—However it will be nice for you to get some more leave in England or better still back here! That would be simply wonderful! We don’t quite gather if you would be stationed out here or coming on leave on your way to the Pacific. Probably your next letter will make that clear.
I hope you all weathered the “terrific party” all right! but I don’t see why the surplus cash had to be got rid of in such a hurry. We seem to be stuck with old McKenzie King for another round and all the worry over the CCF was quite unnecessary when you service folk go and upset the apple cart. Poor old Grote Sterling is still in bed with sciatica and was not able to attend most of his meetings, however he spoke on the radio several times, and on election night he thanked us for voting for him again. Daddy and Archie [Stubbs] had the job of conservative scrutineers in the afternoon and Archie had to help count the votes. After we had voted, Mary and I went to tea with Mrs Fuller, who is Beryl’s aunt. We met Beryl [Archie’s fiancee] and Mrs Painter at the store and all walked over together. Yesterday we took Beryl to town with us and she came back here for tea and supper and Archie drove her home at night. She is very nice to have around and easy to get on with.
Daddy is feeling much happier as Mr Collett has found him 3 thinners, Kelowna housewives. They will have to be fetched each day so on the strength of that he has written to the oil controller to see if he can get some extra gas for the Plymouth. Today he got a terse reply telling him to forward his licence number at once so we feel quite hopeful of getting some satisfactory results.
Mr France has heard from Alan that he will probably be home by the end of the month—he did not know whether for good or on leave. We have just been listening to a rebroadcast of speeches by Mr Churchill and General Eisenhower, the former sounded as though he had drunk a great many toasts already! It stioll keeps unpleasantly cold with bitter winds and fresh snow in the distance this morning.
I think your friend must have found somewhere to live in Kelowna as I read in the Cap. News that a Mrs Tom Hamilton was among the war-brides (though she isn’t really one of them, I suppose) at a tea party at the Willow Inn, got up by Mrs France of the rehabilitation committee.
When the thinning rush is over I will try and find out where she is if they have not got in touch with us before that.
There are masses of strawberries beginning to turn but they need a little hot sun. So far the robins take them as they get half ripe.
If you should go to England and see anything of Dick [Stubbs], stick a pin in him for me. We have not heard a word from him since a letter written from Germany, just before V.E day. I feel he ought to have some idea what his prospects are by now. Mrs Collett does not know much about Nan’s young man. He is called Martin but she does not know if that is his christian [sic] or sur name! He is 26 and in the navy.
Best love from Mother