2nd page censored, probably because he mentioned the Queen Elizabeth.
England
October 25,1944
Hello Folks,
While I’ve got a little time now I’ll start a letter and I’ll do my best to get it finished before too many days have past. This is the last air mail stamp I have so I’ll try to make this a fairly long letter and then I’ll have to use V-mail or the “Free” method till I can get some more. Till they get some kind of a PX opened up around here and I can get some ink and V mail forms I wish you would sort of share your letters with Grandma Carver, Aunt Mary and whoever else you can without putting yourselves out. After things get to working on schedule here I don’t know how much writing I’ll be able to do but I’ll do my best. It’ll sure be a happy time for me when we start getting mail from home. Of course, it hasn’t been any extended length of time since we got mail but even a few days seem like a long time when you want news so badly. I hope it won’t take too long for letters to go back and forth.
I might tell you a little about the country here that I got a chance to see. Of course, it’ll have to be very general facts. After the boat ride [CENSORED] I saw some of the territory. The scenery certainly was interesting and in some places very beautiful. Since its time for the tree leaves to be taking on their autumn colors the scenes were doubly beautiful.
There are enough people on this island that you don’t see any wide open spaces like those at home. When riding along it seems as if you were passing through one small village after another with only a very few small fields between. Everything is done on a small scale and I guess that’s why you can see so much in a very small space. The whole country-side is built of small irregular shaped fields, a few very small patches of trees and small groups of houses crammed together. You can see that things haven’t grown up according to a pattern but have just been built up as the population grew. A look at things in general reminds you of a crazy quilt with hedge or stone fences separating the pieces.
Because of the lack of trees, you see no frame buildings. Everything is built either of brick or stone. Things are picturesque to say the least but I can’t say that I would enjoy living permanently under these circumstances. You have to read about English weather and it really is damp, but so far I haven’t seen any of the extremes that you often hear about.
We are living in a very interesting place that I’ll tell you about one of these times when I need a little chatter to fill up space. I’ll also have to find out just how much I can’t tell.
I sure wonder how things are coming at home. Of course, one of the questions in my mind is the outcome of the last few of the football games. I guess Dad’s Indianapolis trip should be coming off about now too. I forget whether it is supposed to be last week or this one.
I hope you are all well. I can truthfully say that if you are all as well as I am there would be nothing to worry about. I have felt no ill effects at all from my change. Don’t you dare worry about me because it wouldn’t do any good and definitely isn’t necessary. I have a decent place to sleep, am not working too hard and get plenty to eat. By the way our food is very interesting. You can see that all of it comes from the United States. All of it is processed - canned or dehydrated but it is very good, especially when you’re hungry.
God bless you all. Write when you can.
Lots of love,
Donald