Uncle Ray was a war poet

To Warrington for photos

 

Uncle Ray at school

My Grandma was a great collector. She kept Uncle Ray's school reports from  Christmas 1932 when Ray was 8 and attended St. Mark's Junior School through 1935 at Wheatley Street Senior Boy's School when Ray was 11 and John Gulson Senior Boy's School from Christmas time 1937 to midsummer 1938 when Uncle Ray was 13, (all the schools were in Coventry.) There are no reports after this. During the year of 1936, when Uncle Ray was attending Corley Open Air School,  there are no reports.
All the reports make interesting reading. Uncle Ray was a bright pupil and achieved a lot of good results in his exams and class position. There were times when he was absent from school through illness and it affected his position in the class. The last report in midsummer 1938 showed Uncle Ray to be 1st in his class. During 1938/39 Uncle Ray attended evening classes in a technical couse, an art course and the junior evening institute taking English, Keep Fit, Maths and Drawing. He was awarded a prize for the technical course.

Take a look at the cake on the bottom photo. I remember my Grandma making wonderful cakes.

A young Uncle Ray with his younger brother Theo at the stumps and Olive with the bat.

Pen and ink - at last

The address on the top right hand corner of this letter has been torn off at some time in it's history. It means that some of the lines on page two are partially missing. Never the less, it is still understandable and gives some interesting insights into the P.E. regime.

More tomorrow!

Ray gets three letters!

2203780

ADDRESS AS USUAL

9-2-43

19.30

Dear Mother Father and Theo,

            (I expect a letter from each of you for this,)

Received three very welcome letters this dinner-time, thanks very much for two of them – yours and Jess. You must have forgotten in your excitement at Jack coming, to let me know how everyone at home is, including yourself. I am in the best if health and spirits despite a day of hard labour – I thought we had finished with fatigues when we came over here but since , I have reconsidered my decision.

            Doris Arnolds programme “These you have loved” is on the hut radio so I do not miss my classical music ration. We are treated pretty fairly here with radios in all of the huts, large sheds to drill in when it rains, organised games every week N.A.A.F.I. canteens in  all 4 wings complete with reading and writing  rooms and easy chairs, so you see, we are not so badly off. Especiallly, a big point, as we have a decent sergeant – one of the best N.C.O.s on the plant. The meals are quite up to the standard to be expected in such a large kitchen, in fact, we get much better cooking than in the Intake Wing, that is the first I  went to. One good improvement in me already is that I clean my teeth, boots and buttons regularly. Another, I have converted my taste for porridge, more through necessity than choice.

            Glad you received my clothes so early, I did not expect them to arrive for some time yet. Did you check them on the list? I hope the hole was not too gaping, in the case, I mean.

            I will approach my N.C.O. about  a week-end pass soon but I shall not be able to go out of camp until (as I think I told you before) I have been in the Training Wing for 14 days, i.e. 2 Feb. – 16 Feb, next Tuesday. A week-end pass is not leave, therefore railway fares must be paid at Services prices, (single ticket price for a return ticket) it lasts from Saturday 16.00 hrs until Sunday midnight. So it may not be long before I am home, let me warn you that I shall go to the Majestic for a shuffle, if I am in time.

            Why didn’t you take Mr. Walsh “spooning” with you on Saturday to Skipton – did you succeed in getting any? [I think this must mean sugar.}

            The rain seems to have gotten you down to the extent of using my phrases. Rain is a common factor in our daily life, although, today we saw the sun for the first time in about a week!

            Thank you very much for getting the handle, am expecting  to receive the parcel tomorrow so I will then be quite confident about my “confidentials.”

            I shall get some more paper soon, at this rate, four pages eh! Then Dad will be satisfied and so will I.

             We went outside the camp yesterday, on a route march. What a relief it was to breathe fresh country air! Still, the one I am looking forward to is the 25 mile route march – taken at the end of the eight week course.

            Well, must close with the best of luck and fondest love to all.

                                                            Your loving son

                                                                        Raymond

P.S. Better tell John about this for a letter.

                                                                        R

Brother John, why don't you write?

Letter to my dad (John)

2203780

31 – January – 1943

Dear John

            Don’t you think that it is about time that you wrote? We don’t know how things are going on down there [Coventry ed] or what things are going on for that matter. I will now give you the opportunity of sending me some parcels, with cigarettes in them.

            You must be well aware of the situation, being regularly supplied with letters from home.

            My official designation is now:-

22307

A.C. Harris R;

R.A.F.

and my address is – SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND. Until I am posted to my “square-bashing” unit. This is approximately my 12^th letter since I came here on 22^nd.

            What about keeping up the family tradition or maybe you are invaluable to the war effort -  gercha. I’m glad that you are not in the aircraft trade, not wanting to be brought down in flames. Of course with my recently gathered knowledge of floor scrubbing, dish washing, potato peeling and kit-packing (invaluable for air-crew duties) I should bring the plane safely home.

            By the way, how is everyone, (no-one in particular) in general? The morale of the population of this country rose in coincidence  with my calling-up.

            There was some grand beer in the NAFFI canteen here, I celebrated on Thursday last with a lad from Barlick – a mere rookie, he was, arrived the same day. We had a grand time, and I repeat that was some grand beer in the NAFFI.

            That’s all for now, best of luck for the future,

                        Your loving brother,

                                                Ray

                                                            T.T.F.N.

Waiting for a letter

2203789 AC2 Harris R

Intake NO.18. Hut NO. 154

“E” Flight  No 2 Squadron

   6 February 1943                                                                No1 R.T.W. No 3 R.C.

RAF Station, Padgate.

Nr. Warrington ,Lancs

Dear Mother,

I have written the address again so that  you will not forget it  - apparently you have as I have not received a letter from you yet. Still, I’ll forgive you because it may be delayed in the post. Knowing Barlick’s train service that is very possible.

                        We were all inoculated and vaccinated this morning and are spending the afternoon in bed, are we glad to have the afternoon off!  I am attending mass tomorrow morning definitely, our flight being on Church Parade.

Please tell me if the writing is illegible, ink will not take to this notepaper that is why I write in pencil.

            The whole flight went on the parade ground and did 2 ½ hours “square bashing” at a stretch but we had a cup of tea at mid-morning so were quite satisfied.

            I shall not be able to go out of the camp tomorrow after all. We were depending on winning a pass-out by having the cleanest and tidiest hut. We came second,  so we get a kick in the pants.

            How is everyone at home, working hard right now, I bet. Do you visit Mr. Aspinalls? If so, just let me know his telephone number, then I might able to ring you up on Thursdays at 3.30 p.m. I doubt this very much because I shall be on my training course. Of course, you could to be there at, say 6.00 p.m. when I could ring you. Tell me what you think.

                        Well, I will close with fondest love to all,

Raymond

P.S. Ask Theo to translate this – to himself

Ray

P.P.S. I’m still waiting for that letter

                                                            R

Photo like dad and pay day

2203789 AC2 Harris R

Intake NO.18. Hut NO. 145

“E” Flight  No 2 Squadron

   2 February 1943                                                                No1 R.T.W. No 3 R.C.

RAF Station, Padgate.

Nr. Warrington ,Lancs

Dear Mother,

                       This is in answer to your last but one letter which I received, together with Syd’s and Jess’s, yesterday. Glad you have had some decent weather for a change, we are having a spell of weather free from rain – as much a change here as in Barlick. I hope to find out soon what the climate is like in Canada if that is what you mean for your mysterious request for a smile.

Talking about smiles, I was asked to do same on Saturday before last by the photographer, the results, which I called for last night are amazing to say the least. Sorry I cannot send them to you yet, until I can get some post card sized envelopes. Can you send me two or three in your next letter?

                The first point that struck me when I saw them was my likeness to Dad in his younger days. Maybe you will notice the likeness yourself. I only went to the shop with a pal (not Harry).  We all have been taken separately.

     Was it Marion or Jessie Kippase who went to Scotland? You see, I wrote to Marion, being Secretary of the Youth club, so if she has gone up Jessie may as well open it. It is pay day again tomorrow – about time: hope you enjoyed the whist drive on Saturday night, did you win any prizes? We have one on here tonight but I am resting after another route march. I am getting to enjoy these route marches now, settling down to them more.

                 Sid has not a great deal to look forward to, that is, without Jess: on the whole he will like it though, if he does not expect too much. That is the secret of how I have got on so well.

     The Griffin Hotel has not such a great attraction for me, having only been in twice. “Smokey Joe’s” snack bar is much better, I called there last night and had a grand meal – real home cooking (non- alcoholic) Lovely ground coffee and beautiful sweet apple pie. Altogether, we had a great time.

                     That’s all for now, lots of love

                                                             Ray

[I would guess that the photo at the top of the blog is the one that Uncle Ray is talking about in this letter, ed.]

Still waiting to be posted

Letter dated 30 January 1943

Dear Mother

       Here’s hoping that you received my parcel of clothes safely or maybe you won’t have them for some time yet because they are sent by goods train – I think.

                  Please tell Mrs. Walsh and all the others that I will write when I have been posted – so that I can give them a permanent address. By the way, do not be surprised if I am posted to this camp, you see, they have started training ground crews here. This includes me, for I have to train for a FLIGHT MECHANIC (ground crew) before I become a FLIGHT ENGINEER.

I may be allowed out of camp for an afternoon on Sunday 7 February – gee it must be and  will be grand to feel free again, even for a couple of hours.

    There is a lot of “square-bashing” done here, but as I have an elementary knowledge of this type of sport,   am a long way towards the ultimate aim.

      I have mated up with a lad from London, he is going in for an F.E. same as me and I hope to keep with him during training.

       There is a service tomorrow at 10.15 a.m. in the Station “church” which I hope to attend – if I am up. Remember me to Jack (Thompson) when he comes on holiday and tell him that before I have finished this job I shall have three chevrons, no, but tell him I fulfilled his wish – he will understand but don’t ask why?

Lights out now, good bye, lots of love

                                             Ray

 P.S. Sunday night –missed church – cookhouse fatigues again.

In the N.A.F.F.I.

2203780                                                                                       28 January 1943

Home Sweet Home

Dear Mother,

     I am writing this letter in bed after enjoying a lovely evening in the N.A.F.F.I. canteen with Harry Widdup. He is a Barlick lad and came here today. (Thursday) We were good friends before we came here so we naturally had a very good time.

                               We have not been posted yet and are still waiting – during which time we do “fatigues”. I should make someone a good wife by the time I’ve finished scrubbing floors, cleaning potatoes, sweeping yards and tidying blankets  - still it’s all in a days work so why worry? We are hoping to be posted early next week, but who knows? It  will be a pleasant change to receive a letter instead of writing all the time.

       How is everyone at home? (not that it makes any difference for my asking, as I shall not find out anyway.)  I made a mistake about “Dangerous Moonlight” being on at the beginning of the week, it’s at the end, not the beginning of the week. Harry saw it last night, he appreciates good music as well.

       We have a programme of classical music every Wednesday night in the NAAFI, I must remember to go next time as I forgot last night. Did I tell you that we received our kit on Monday? Smoky job.

[I have to be up at? ed] 6.30 a.m. tomorrow, so lots of love  for now.

Ray

I have come across some more photos taken at Corley open air school. They include Uncle Ray's dad, Amos (my grandpa) playing cricket and his mother Olive (my grandma) sitting with Ray and Autie Florrie.

Corley Open air school

When Uncle Ray was a boy, he must have had health problems. He went to Corley open air school to recover his health in about 1936, which would have made him 12 years old. Open air schools were quite an institution and no doubt came into being to try and fight the terrible disease of tuberculosis which was prevalent at the time. Here is an article from the 'Coventry Evening Telegraph,' (I think.)

Here is a photo of Uncle Ray with his older brother Sidney and their paternal Aunty Flo. The buildings in the article above are clearly shown in this photo

Letter dated 24 January 1943: to Mrs. O Harris. 8 East Parade, Barnoldswick, Via Colne, Lancs.

2203780

“Per Ardua Ad Astra” [through adversity to the stars – ed]

Dear Mother

Just a couple of lines to let you know that I m getting on well, I suppose you will be in bed when I am writing this – 9.00 a.m. Up in the morning early that’s me. Today was the earliest I’ve got up on Sunday for months. We are still at Padgate, so hold on till I tell you to write – the exchequer is quite good for a fortnight at least, then I shall get my pay (as we are paid fortnightly.) we have all been advanced 10/-(not my idea) which will be retrieved from our first pay;

As regards voluntary allowances we were advised to postpone our intention of applying for permission to join in this scheme for about two or three months so that we can settle down. The government do not allow any addition to voluntary allowances, only to dependants and other allowances.

How are Jess, Sid,  Amos and Theo? As well and happy as me I hope. All the same, I wish we could get down to brass tacks and get cracking. At present we are having a day of rest meanwhile waiting for our uniforms and kit; then perhaps we shall get posted.

Went to see Will Hay in “The Black Sheep of Whitehall” last night, it was a very good laugh. Tell Theo to see “Dangerous Moonlight” at the Palace this week - they play the Warsaw Concerto in it, of course, I would come on Friday and miss it.

That’s all for now so I will close with fondest love.

Ray

P.S. By the way, how’s yourself? Still missing your powder, I bet.

P.P.S. Hope John is O.K. Who cannot write letters? This is the fifth in two days. It’s all there is to do.  Ray

Happy Birthday Uncle Raymond

My Uncle Ray was born 86 years ago today, on 9 November, 1924.

  

Uncle Ray was close to his mother Olive Harris, who the family called Mam.  I remember her as a white haired, gentle old lady who loved to play cards... my grandma. Raymond's father and my grandfather was called Amos. Uncle Raymond had two older brothers, Sidney, and John (my dad) and a younger brother Theo.

When he was young, probably in 1936, Uncle Ray spent some time at Corley Open air school. Between 1932- 35 he attended St, Mark’s Junior School, Coventry. From 1935 he attended Wheatley Street Senior Boys’ School, Coventry. From 1937 to 1938 he attended John Gulson Senior Boys’ School, also in Coventry.  In addition Uncle Ray attended a junior evening course in art and another in technical studies. Some of the cartoons and drawings he left behind show that he was a skilled artist.

Uncle Ray joined  the R.A.F. and became a  flight engineer. At the time he was living with his family  at 8 East Parade, Barnoldswick, Lancashire, where the family had moved from Coventry due to the blitz.  He also had a girlfriend -  Phyllis who lived at 7 Lower West Avenue, Barnoldswick

Between January and October 1943 Uncle Ray sent letters to his family and particularly his mother several time a week. He died, aged 19 in a flying accident in Lancashire and is buried in London Road Cemetery, Coventry. We are very lucky to have many of his letters, saved by his family. They provide a portal into another time and show how the every day things in life were just as important then as they are now.

Over the next days, week and months, I will be posting the letters and other information on this sight. Join me on a voyage of discovery about an outstanding young man.

 

                      

 AC.2 HARRIS  2203780         No 3    R.C.

Padgate,

22-1-43    11.30 a.m.                                                Nr. Warrington

Lancs.

Dear Mother,

   I am having an hour and a half wait on Preston Station so have started this letter to you. You will note the address that is provisional on my arrival. It will be two o’clock when I get there now, still, why worry it certainly is not my fault. Do not get worrying about me, I shall be O.K. – when I get there.

Thank you very much for the food, it is coming in very useful, and thank Mrs, Walls for the set, fountain pen and propelling pencil, they are becoming like pals already. Excuse me while I have a gill (milk!) that’s better.

    I must ascertain, when I arrive, whether mail is accepted there, as it is only a temporary station, so do not write, unless I tell you at the end of this letter.

   Well there is no point in asking if all at home are O.K. because it is only four hours back when I saw them.     

 6.0 p.m.

Time flies, I arrived at 2.30 p.m. am going to listen to a broadcast tonight by the BBC Northern Orchestra, it should be good. 

9.00 p.m.

         It was grand in fact. Especially (I did not know until I went) as the orchestra came to the camp and played in the gymnasium. Did you hear about me coughing?

          Please do not write to me until I let you know my new mail address, as I have been advised that I shall not be here long enough. I shall be sending my vests and pants back with my other clothes because we are issued with them. Well I will close now and post this letter, lots of love.

Ray