Archives Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2022.50.125.3 |
Object Name |
Letter |
Title |
Letter, Nancy Ward to George Ward, 1942 |
Date |
15 June 1942 |
Year Range from |
1942 |
Year Range to |
1942 |
Description |
Letter (.1 - .3) from Nancy Felicia (Howitt) Ward to Captain George Everett Ward, dated 15 June 1942. A three-page letter handwritten in blue ink on blue air mail paper. The letter reads: 221 Woolwich St., Guelph, Ont June 15, 1942, Monday night. George Darling I am trusting all to luck that this letter will reach you Sweetie in record time! The last one I sent via this way didn't! remember? But I'm taking one more try at it. Last night when I was coming home on the train from Toronto I bumped into an Australian A.F. chap I met last Fall when he was stationed in Guelph. He told me he was going over this week (he is in the Ferry Command) and would take a letter over for me - so here is hoping this note will go over this week and not weeks and weeks from now. Last Thursday Mum and I had a few people in for tea for Mary Farrell. That morning by the by Betty Quint had a baby girl. The day before Walt zoomed up to the hospital to see Betty and brought a baseball bat and ball along! I haven't seen Betty yet but I heard she had quite a hard time - felt awfully sorry for her because the weather was something terrific - hotter than all get out. Thursday night Pat Hamilton, Issy Alyward [sic], Billy Gummer and I went up to Betty Howitts for cocktails then out to the Country Club for dinner. I think I have told you Darling they have a buffet supper out at the Club every other Thursday night - they just started having them about a month ago and so far have been a great success. After supper we went off to a movie. Friday morning Grace Morgan and Irene Torrence came up from Toronto - During lunch Aunt Irene mentioned something about a fortune teller she had been to - I told her I knew of quite a good one - she got so [Page] two keyed up about it thought it would be fun to go to him after lunch so we picked up Mary Farrell and the five of us whipped off to see Pat Johnson - a coloured joe who lives just outside of Guelph in a horrible little shack. I only wish I had had my camera with me - "Pat" told Mary and Aunt Irene's fortune with cards on a dirty table outside his shack! Mum, Aunt Grace and I sat on the verandah - we didn't have one told because we didn't have time - had to be back in town at four - as a matter of fact we had to push off before he could finish with theirs. This Pat Johnson is quite a fortune teller and is known for miles around and everyone I have spoken to about him has given him the best build up. That night after dinner I went out to Exhibition Park where the C.W.S.F. had their drill and once again I was almost eaten alive by mosquitos. When I got back to the house after drill found Fiorenza, Aim, Hydi Auld and Mrs. Foster here - we had a collins and around midnight after the others left - Grace, Irene, Mum, Dad and I had a hot dog!! Played a few Gilbert & Sullivan's and then to bed around one. Saturday morning at 9.30 the whole C.W.S.F. unit pushed off for Niagara Falls, N.Y. - It was the magna Charta weekend. We had lunch in Toronto at the Prince George Hotel - the Toronto C.W.S.F. unit boarded the train with us after lunch. We arrived in Niagara Falls, Ont around five - had dinner - at 6.30 we were called on parade - and at seven we finally started to move on. There were thousands in the parade . We marched over the Rainbow Bridge and miles and miles around Niagara Falls, N.Y. I thought for sure I was going to conk out a couple of times. - Air Force, Army, Navy were parading too. The parade didn't break up until 11.45!! Our unit was competing against several other units and what do you know Sweetie? We won the cup! [Page] three Isabel Fuller and I stuck together on this expedition. She is one of the nicest gals in the unit and was married about the same time we were. If we hadn't been able to share a hotel room together I wouldn't have gone over because some of the girls are pretty peculiar creatures. When Isabel and I got back to our hotel shortly after eleven we washed & cleaned up as best we could (we were only allowed to take over what we could put in our pockets!! & that being only a tooth brush, powder, lipstick etc!!) and then we made a bee line for the "Indian Room" at the Hotel Niagara - at my instigation!! Do you know it Sweetie? I think it has one of the nicest cocktail lounges over there. It was simply packed and there were slews of Canadian Army & Air Force chaps there too - They can cross the border now with no trouble at. The chaps who are stationed at Niagara are the ones who zoom over all the time. When I was filing through the crowd a Lieut in R.C.A. spoke to me so I asked him where he was stationed - and it was Petawawa!! He was over with a couple of friends and shortly afterwards brought them over to our table - It turned out to be an amusing evening. The chap who spoke to me was Rodger Murphy & his friends were Bill Coy, Hartley Bromwell & another chap I can't remember his name - Bill Coy's wife is Hope Pigotts sister!!! & I went to school (B.S.S.) with his sister & Rodger Murphy knew several people from Guelph I know so it was all great fun - We danced to a peach of an orchestra which was in an adjoining room, you would have loved it Darling and oh; how I wished and wished you could have been there. On every sip of a collins I drank a silent toast to you and when a chap in the orchestra asked for requests I told one "It had to be you" and "Ain't she sweet" I alwalys [sic] look on these pieces as being "ours" and always remind me of the wonderful fun we had that night at Fox Hill, and lots of other perfect memories of our being together. [Page] four The evening was quite fun and the only reason was because it was so totally unexpected and being "across the border". It was an age since I had been in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Nothing will be REAL fun for me until we can share it together Darling. Sat. night after the parade broke up I sent you a P.C. and Sunday afternoon a silly little something I bought in a souvenir shop. It might be an age before they turn up. Saturday night apparently was the big night in Niagara Falls - bands were playing on the streets at all hours and people were milling around all over the town - It was rowdier than on New Years Eve in any town to me. After lunch on Sunday we had to parade around again. We had two free hours before we left so Isabel and I bought some American cigarets and tooted in and out of upteen shops. Nearly all the girls went home "bulging" with little nick nacks and what nots tucked inside their uniform! I had a package of Chesterfields stuck up each sleeve and five around my upper half so I was pretty well laiden down! We had to go right through to Toronto on the train and then back to Guelph! So we didn't get home until after midnight last night and all I could think of was a hot bath and my bed. This morning I could hardly move I was so stiff as Ang would say - "in great pain and suffering"! Outside of a few leg muscles being strained Sweetie I'm in the "pink of condish" My only hope and prayer is that you are and that all is going all right. I may be on this side Darling but you are in my every thought and prayer day in and day out I have every faith in things turning out our way in the end but it is so painfully slow. I love you and miss you so terribly and more than often wonder how I'll be able to get through another day without you. I've been so tempted to go on "active" with the chance of being sent over [Page] Five I know if I did, things more than likely wouldn't pan out our way and it would be all the more unbearable to take but I'd risk anything if it meant I might be able to see you. Darling I'd be a much happier girl if we were living even under the same living conditions. Last week I had a letter from Tucky Sayre - Poor Tucky hasn't had any further word about her fiance "Kit" since he was reported missing in Nov. - I didn't know until I got Tuck's letter that Dids & Johnny were married in Dec. - Johnny went over in March - have you you [sic] seen him Darling? Betty Mortimers husband who is with the navy left shortly after they were married & has a land job over there! This morning I got a letter in the mail from Lois (Best) Murray inviting me down for a luncheon at the National Club she [is] having for my cousin Virginia Ryerson and to stay over a couple of days with her. I am going down for it but expect to be back on Wednesday. Virginia is marrying a chap from Vancouver - a doctor - John Whitelaw whom I think just graduated and going into the Air Force. They are being married on the 30th of this month. Today is Mums birthday and Friday was Dick's. It was Mum's night at the canteen and she just got back. I know it is after eleven Darling so I must away to bed. Hoping and hoping I'll hear from you this week. Good night Darling will [sic] all my love, kisses and hugs and the very best of luck in the world to you and God Bless you. Ever your own Nan |
People |
Auld Drew, Fiorenza Johnson Dunbar, Amy Grace (Howitt) Gummer, Billy (Miss) Howitt, Betty Johnson, Pat Morgan, Grace Saunders Ward, George Everett Ward, Nancy Felicia (Howitt) |
Search Terms |
12th Field Regiment Guelph Country Club Woolwich Street World War II |
Subjects |
COMMUNICATION - LETTER LETTERS AND MAILINGS VETERANS WORLD WAR II (WWII) - 1939 -1945 |
Collection |
Archives |