October 3rd 1943

Backtracking a bit.

Oct 3/43

Dear Mom-

Well I really must apoligize to you for not writing for quite a spell but I have been on leave. I told Mildred where I went and what I did so she will tell you after finishing my OJU quite successfully. We jave all been recommended for commissions, I and all my crew so I hope it comes through. I am moved again so I can't say to where but it's where we go East from so I hope we are on our way soon. Right now I am on 7 days more leave but I'm staying right on the station and getting all my equipment back into shape. Washing my clothes and pressing everything, etc.

Well, how are you Mom? I hope you are not working to hard. I'm glad to hear you are working for Roger's instead of being shoved all over the place, seeing as you insist on working. How is Dad? I hope he is fine and dandy, tell him to drop me a line if he has time. I would certainly like to hear from him. Have Milton and Patricia wrote to Frank or myself yet? I hope they have. I hope Milton gets through with Mrs Howe's teaching. It would certainly be a shame for him to spend another year in the same grade.

How are Grandpa and Nanny? I hope Nanny is okay and not working to hard. How is Grandpa's back. It is any better?

Well the food on this station is quite an improvement from our last one. But we will likely be shipped East before long- I expect to see going in about two weeks but that is just my guess-persoanlly I hope it is before that.

Well I'll close for now-I'm pretty tired. I have just finished writing to Mildred and all day I have had big ironing to do so I'll think to go to bed. I hope to hear from you soon. God bless you all and love to all.

Ed

October 17th 1943

Skipping some months a head now to mid October.



Sunday Oct 17/43

Dear Mom-

The last time I wrote you I was in London on a supposedly 21 days of leave but we had a recall after 6 days to return to our station and from there we were sent on a Battle Course and here I am after three days of it and I have finally found time today to drop you a line.

I had a fine time in London nothing to brag about. I visited several places of interest. Mde Toussauds Wax Museum, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge-Alleyn College of which my Bomb Aimers Great Great Great Grandfather built and went to a couple of shows.

The course we are on now will eventually end up the end of this month and then we go up to a conversion unit where we learn to fly 4 motor jobs instead of two motors. I think this course will do one the world of good in regards to getting back into a fair descent condition for flying again. I'm certainly soft after lying around for a month and a half.


I haven't heard from you for over a month now hope you haven't forgotten me. I hear Mildred has been up to see you recently. I hope she comes up regularly. It was four months ago today we were married- as you know doubt would remember the date. I certainly miss her something fierce and I miss you an awful lot too.

Oh well, I think it won't be very long now before this whole nasty business is over by the looks of the news each day it won't be long. If it ends soon there are going to be a lot of disappointed people-including myself.

How is everything going with you at [illegible] I hope you are not working too hard nor to long hours- especially working until 9 or 10 at night this is not good. How is Daddy? I hope he is well and fine- I would appreciate very much some more snaps of the whole family including Nanny and Grandpa. I hope Nanny is not working to hard around the house because I want to see her looking as young as ever when I come home. How is Grandpa's back? I don't suppose it is much better.

By the way how are the two babies- that will make Milton boil- getting on at school?

I hope to goodness they are grown up enough now to settle down and do some concentrating on studies. They are having the best time of their life right now- I didn't realize it when you needed to tell me the same thing but now I do.

I have just finished a long letter to Mildred and I had lots of time so I decided I would write to you. I shall drop Frank a line when I close this letter. He certainly must be a busy lad on that course he is taking. I'm sure he will get through okay.

I don't know what the score is in regards to my Commission. I was recommended for one when I got three “ops” done down east but seeing as no more Canadians are going down there for a while at least I'm not sure but I hope it comes through over here just the same.

Well, Mom, I should close this short note for tonight. It has been raining all day long and everything is so damn damp. I hope to hear from you soon. Love to all-Ed


["ops"-flying operations]

The Crew of Lancaster DS776 426 Squadron

F. Allyn, P. Cox and Edward




H.Hancock (Navigator) F.Allyn (Bombadier) A. Mackenzie (Pilot) E. Dowe (Air Gunner) and P.Cox (Wireless Air Gunner)

August 22nd 1943

Somewhere in England
Sunday 22 Aug 43

Dear Mom-

I haven't numbered your letters so I guess this is about 5 or 6. It is funny I got your letter dated July 11 two weeks ago and I got one dated July 27th. It sure is a mystery to me.

I shall answer July 11 and then July 27th. I am fine and dandy and have a few flying hours in now. I'll soon be finished here and then I'm going out East- I guess you know where at least.

I have seen Frank and he is fine and dandy but won't give up his girl friend- I had a letter from her the other day- I don't know why but I did.

I'm glad you didn't tell Mildred about that summons. What it was for is a mystery to me. I wish you had have opened it and found out what it was for. It has me kind of worried and mystified. Maybe I was spending a bit when I was home on leave- who cares they certainly have a lot to do when the pinch is on servicemen to send out a summons to. Is that happens again let me know and I will write the Mayor of Toronto a letter he won't forget. I believe that is the right place to write to.

You done right I guess. By sending it back and putting on it I am overseas-thanks.

It certainly was nice of them the Coulsons to have Patricia up to their cottage for a week she could use the change as could you.

I'm surprised and sorry to hear Nanny's back and head were bothering her. I would certainly like to hear from her if she has a chance to drop me a line tell her to do so and I shall do the same either today or tomorrow. I guess Grandpa's back will always bother him now. I hope to see them both in a couple of months.

Yes, Mom I hope Milton does go into 8th grade this fall. Tell him if he wants to get out of school before his family passes him he had better hurry up before his long gray beard gets so long that he trips over it. Tell them both to drop me a line or I shall be plenty mad at them and also to Frank he wanted to know all about them.

Yep, I remember poor old Mr. Dobson too bad but it comes and that's that.

I wasn't sick when I came across and I can't tell you how long it took or when or where or anything about- security reasons of course. I couldn't have seen Howard if I had of come down that is all I can say about that. Howard is certainly good to his family etc, he can well afford to be if I had his position etc. I would be generous too. Keep it under your hat.

I opened the dollar bill- I was broke when I got over here and wanted some smoothies so that was what I did.

Well I shall close for now and by the time you get this I will have had my embarkation leave and then it won't be long until I'm home after the “ops” are done.

God bless you all and love to all from your son-Ed

July 23rd 1943

Friday 23 July 43

Dear Mom and all,

I must apoligize all ready for not writing soon but seeing as we are once more back on course I am settled down to a sort of daily routine. It's very long hours from 8 in the morning until 9 at night. Of course that means getting up at 6 each morning Sunday included. No rest for the wicked as the saying goes.

Well Mom, how are the folks back home? I hope you and Daddy are in good health and happy. I do hope that you are as happy as possible. How is Nanny and Grandpa? You can tell Nanny for me that as soon as we get a day off I will write to her. I hope they are both well and the two kids how are they? I hope they are not to bothersome and not to much bother to Nanny while you are away during the day.

I am fine and dandy as possible, of course I wish I were home especially now that I am married to the best little girl in the world. I think an awful lot of her as if you didn't know but wishing never does any harm. I have a hunch I will be home sooner than anyone thinks so have your fingers crossed. It has been 3 weeks since we got her- time sure does go fast.

Well I can't say very much about what I'm doing as you know but I can say this much I am working damn hard for the RCAF and only hope they appreciate it.

I really must close for tonight as lights out has brrn blown and I'm pretty tired.

So long for now Mom and all my love to all of you back there- it won't be long before this whole war is over the way things are going down in Sicily. I hope I can get in on the invasion of Italy which is bound to come soon. I imagine the Toronto paper really gave it a write up second to none as a second front,

Bye for now

Ed

July 15th 1943

Thursday July 15/43

Dear Mom-

Well we are still here (whereever that is) We are leaving here pretty soon by the time you get this I shall be well on my O.J.T. Course. September should find us in the soup for [ineligible] I hope that is so because the soner we start the soner its finished.

How are all the folks- Milton and Patricia. I hope Milton passed because I don't want to come home and catch him in public school because if he is he wants to watch out.

I have wrote to Frank but as yet I haven't had any reply. I hope they didn't send him to fight the Wops.

Well I am fine and dandy not homesick but I miss being in Canada and being able to rush home once in a while it sure is tough getting married and then going away. I don't regret it and would do it again if I had to. Mildred stood up well at the station and so did you. The next time you go to the station I hope it's to see both Frank and I coming home for good and believe you me it will be for good. I am very anxious to see Frank but I hope it doesn't take to long to contact him.

We had a night vison test today and I'll be okay (I hope)

Well Mom, how is Daddy? Did he get [sentance illegible] How is Nanny and Grandpa? I hope they are not working to hard around the house. I'll drop Nanny a line one of these days. I mustn't forget Pat, I hope she stays on passing at school and gets a good education. How is yourself Mom, you are not working to hard?

Well so long for now Mom and I'll write again soon. Love to all

Ed

July 9th 1943

Somewhere in England

Friday July 9^th/43

Dear Mom,

This is the first opportunity I have had to drop anyone a line. I wrote to Mildred so now I shall write to you. By now you should have the cable I sent you and I know you will be happy to hear I landed okay. I know you worried I told you not to but I know you would regardless of what I said. So quit worrying about me. I haven't contacted Frank yet but I shall drop a line to him tomorrow to let him know I am here so I'll be able to write to him until I can see him. I hope we get a weeks leave so I will get a chance to see him.

How are all the folks at home. I am well and as happy as possible. But not near as happy as I would be if I was at home. I'm not homesick because I have completely got over those fits while out at MacDonald. I'm just sick of traveling so much. There is just one more trip I want to make and that is to good old Toronto and if I leave there again, once I get home, I won't travel alone again.

I can't tell you where I am or what I'm doing but I hope we are not here long.

The trip over was very good. It was nice and calm and was enjoyed by yours truly. The Red Cross gave us a crate full of cartons of cigarettes so they will last me for a while. If I see Frank I will give him a carton (that's if I don't smoke them before)

Well Mother I shall close for now and will write again in a few days. How does Dad like the camp? How is Grandpa. I hope his back is better and I hope Nanny is okay and Milton and Pat.

Well so long for now Mother and love to all.

Ed

P.S.

Excuse the short letter will try to let you have a longer letter next time.

June 28th 1943

I'm happy to tell you that Edward graduated from his Air Gunner's course and earned his wings along with a promotion to Sergeant. Like many before him, Edward is now eager to get on to England. Between the last letter and this one Edward also married his girlfriend Mildred. After a quick honeymoon Edward returned to active duty.

 

Edward and Mildred

Monday (Morning) June 28/43

Dear Mom-

Well, here we are at the Y depot in Halifax- we got here Saturday evening and [illegible] Boy of boy we sure were busy.

I'll defenatley be seeing Frank starting to-night so by the time you get his you will know just about where I will be seeing him.

Halifax is a dirty hole in every respect I would hate to live here very long. The trip down from Toronto was a short one compared with the trip out West. I have met several fellows I knew from St. Thomas so I have quite a few pals and chums.

Here is my overseas address:

R-188194

Sgt. Dowe E.A.

The squadron goes in here so put attached Royal Canadian Air Force, Overseas.

Well, my dear, I shall close for now. I feel well and I hope I will be able to recognize Frank.

Love to all

Ed

May 30th 1943

Another letter from May, Edward is just finishing up his A.G. course. Very happy news in this letter as Edward has just proposed to his long time girlfriend, Mildred.

Sunday May 30^th/43

Dear Mom-

I had your letter of Sunday but last Thursday but I decided I would wait until today when I would have lots of time to answer it. I didn't think you would be very surprised when I told you we were getting married. I know she is a very lovely girl and I'll certainly so my part to make her happy as possible and I will also be good to her and true that is most important.

I hope I am spared to come back to her but we Air Gunners have funny ideas about dying in battle and I'm not afraid. An Air Gunners job is to protect the plane and the lives of other men so I think I'll come back. The Hun are frightened. Silly to attach a bomber now- it's not like it was in the days of the outbreak of the war when we had no equipment not devices for protection it is completly changed now and is reverse so I'm sure I'll come back- if I get over.

We had another medical Wednesday and I'm glad to continue flying. I have had awful headaches and the M.D. took me off flying for 3 days until it gets a little better. It is pretty well cured now but I still can't wait.

I was up for 2 hours 5 minutes yesterday on a cross country flight it sure is okay just to sit there and take in the scenery.

You aren't losing me, Mother, so forget that part of it, you are getting a nice daughter in law. I know you think the world of her.

Mildred told me she saw Art Cousins the other night on the Danforth he isn't an A.G. yet so I guess he is not on his course yet.

Mildred told me that she and her mother are going up to the house Thursday night. How did the planning work out? I hope everything turned out okay.

I hope Frank gets his application to go through and get a commission he deserves it for the length of time he has been over there. I hope he isn't on the way back when I go over. I want to see him it has been so long since I seen him. I'll bet he wouldn't know me if I did see him. He left here as a young soldier and I was only 16 I think, 4 years ago. I think it was when I was 16.

I got the cigarettes and chocolate okay Mom and thank you very much for them. They came in handy seeing I have only 25 cents left from pay day. It's a lucky thing pay day is tomorrow.

About the Wedding Present. Don't get a silver tea service because Mildred will likely get one from the bank. A mantle radio is a nice gift but of course I'm not dropping you a hint- I just merely dropped a brick on your head as far as that goes so if you care to, well, I won't say no.

Well, Mom, I shall close for now. How is Nanny and Grandpa? I hope the will be able to come to the Wedding. I would be very disappointed if they were not there. How is Daddy? Are Milton and Pat studying hard for their exams- I guess schoo1 will be getting out for the summer pretty soon. I hope to goodness they both pass. You can tell them I will be writing my exams by the time they get this letter so their big brother who has been out of school for 3 years is still studying and writing exams.

Bye for now, love to all

Ed

May 10th 1943

The letters skip ahead a few months to May of 1943. Edward is now at RCAF Station MacDonald in Manitoba finishing his Air Gunners course at No. 3 Bomb and Gunnery School.


Monday May 10/43

Dear Mother-

Received your letter of Thursday to day and was glad to know you got it. I was disapointed also not to see you at the station the Friday night. I came though Mildred was down and we both walked around looking for you but we didn't see you anyplace. I felt kind of blue leaving the old home town to go out to a place such as this barren hole.

It has been snowing all day and there must be at least 8 inches of wet snow on the ground. I'll bet it is like this at home. Do you mean to tell me that you had to go down to the station all by yourself? Where was Dad?

How is Nanny and Grandpa? I would like to write to Nanny but I just haven't got the time to do very much writing to anybody. I have been flying and it is quite a thrill. I have also been air sick. Please ask Mr. Ottaway what to do to not be air sick. It is an awful feeling. I felt just like dropping right out of the hatch. I hope he knows what to do so don't forget to ask him. I'm confident he will know. Mind you it is not persistant I have only been sick once. Don't mention it to anybody- nobody at all keep it to yourself because I don't want it to get around. I told Mildred I was sick- I mean for you not to mention it to anyone that you are going to ask Mr. Ottaway. I don't want anybody to know I'm writing home for a remedy lots of the fellows have been sick but I don't want to spoil a good record.

I think you understand. I'm glad you sent me Frank's letter. I wrote a long letter to him just before I let St. Thomas- but I guess it went down. Mildred was telling me in her last letter that a fellow I know quite well, Stan Dean by name went down in the Atlantic only 16 were saved he was listed by Ottawa as missing at sea. I feel sorry for his mother. We go over by aircraft so you won't need to worry. Well, I shall close for now and hope to hear from you soon.

Ed

P.S.

Keep it to yourself, please

Edward's Letters

Now that I've told you about Granddad's early experiences during the War, I'm going to move onto his brother Edward. All of Edward's surviving letters (except for a few to his brother) are to his mother Alma. Each letter has been perfectly preserved and as such I have transcribed each one instead of scanning them. My Granddad wrote this introduction to the letters:

This is a book of the letters of Sergeant Edward Dowe RCAF written to his mother and a few to his older brother from the time of his enlistment in 1942 until his death on the night of 19/20 February 1944. His death came as a result of the action of German night-fighters shooting down his bomber aircraft, over the Netherlands, returning from a bombing raid over Liepzig Germany.

It is important that these letters be preserved because they record some of his hopes and aspirations which by his untimely death were left to be realized by others. It is also important to remind ourselves that the price, for the freedoms we enjoy, were paid for by the thousands of young men, like him, who never counted the cost.

-F.S. Dowe

On July 18th 1942 Edward Dowe, leaving his job as a toolmaker, followed his brother into the military and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Edward's letters begin in November 1942 while at St. Thomas (RCAF No.1)

Thursday November 12/42

Dear Mother,

I received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you that everyone is well.

I most certainly like it here Mom, it is nice and clean, etc, plus the fellows are nice with 1 or 2 exceptions.

Yes we have started our studies. Maths is very easy. Aircraft recognition is real hard plus Morse Code is twich as hard, so I'll have quite a bit of studying to do. I go on guard duty in a little while again, so I'll have to make this a short note, but not too short.

Don't be working to hard, gee I wish you could quit and stay at home and help Nanny. You know she isn't getting any younger.

I'll send my ration book in as soon as I come to Toronto. I don't like any place as well as Toronto and I don't think I ever will.

How is Auntie? By the way, give me Vern's address and also don't forget to put Frank's address in I have wrote him a letter but haven't mailed it, no address, so please send it.

Yes, we are very tired at night. I haven't been outside baraccks on any days off so I don't know what St. Thomas or London is like, I just stay in, no point of spending money foolishly.

Well, bye-bye for now Mother, dear, I'll be seeing you soon.

Love to all

Ed

January 1942

The unit started the New Year with a vehicle holiday. The Army Commander Lt. Gen Montgomery lectured the officers in the Brighton on 2 January. It was during this month that Lt.Col Southam left the unit as he was promoted to Brigadier and assumed command of the 6th Cdn Inf Bde.

Very early in the month I caught a severe cold which developed into pneumonia which hospitalized me for over 6 weeks. I was one of the early cases treated with the new Sulpha drug. It was used experimentally and worked quite well. I was evacuated from the unit to L cdn Ind Bde Forward dressing station and from there to the No 1 Casualty Clearing Station and from there to the No 1 Canadian General Hospital at Horsham. After being discharged from the hospital I was sent to the Infantry Holding Unit. While there I was ordered to report to London for duty at Canadian Military Headquarters where I was employed as a claim clerk with the JAG Department on 15 March 1942.

This is the end of my journal with the 48th Highlanders. Of course the war went on and I had many other experiences, but never again as a Highlander.

December 1941

[note: there are no October and November entries.]

I reported back to the unit at Avisford House located in the Littlehampton area on 21 December. The unit had moved to Littlehampton from Kingswood while I was away on course. Littlehampton was quite near Arundel Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke of Norfolk. Christmas was a little more pleasant although it was the third Christmas that most of us had spent away from Canada. Sunday routine was observed on Christmas Day and Christmas dinner was served in the company messes. The year ended with cool and cloudy weather and Major Hendrie in command.


[America enters the war this month after the attack on Pearl Harbour]

September 1941

Vehicle holiday on 1 September and a wiring party supplied to airfield at Redhill. Exercise Protector commenced 2 September and carried on till 4 September. this required several defensive moves in the Kingswood area to assume better defensive positions. Slight enemy air activity at night in the early part of the month. Unit training as laid down in the sylabii including range firing. Unit held first rehearsals for trooping of the colour which is being held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the battalion. I was not on this parade as I had been detailed for the Ab Initio Clerk's Course in London for three months.

I left London as the unit prepared for exercise Bumper, the first large scale army exercise held in the South of England and it was conducted by the famous "Monty." The course in London was held at the Balham and Tooting High School of Commerce. While on this course we were billeted in requisitioned houses on the edge of Clapham Common and each morning we went by underground to Balham Underground Station where the school was located.

I was away from the unit until the 18th of December and during the period I was away in London I qualified as a short handed typist. As I had no opportunity to practice my shorthand when I returned to the unit it was not long before I forgot most of it. The course was a concentrated course and when you are taught under those circumstances you cannot afford not to immediately practice what you have been taught. We were in the Army while we were in London but we attended a school for civilians and while in the school we had to conform to the code of conduct in the school. Our night were spent mostly visiting the local pub, "The Plough" which was a second home to most of us.

August 1941

Battalion required to resume exercise Albert which was originally started on 20 July. In the filed overnight and then returned to billets at Kingswood on 2 August. Church parade held and Brigadier E.W. Haldenby M.C. visited the unit.

Vehicle holiday on 4 August and record books MFM 1 issued to all ranks. The "hosepipe" method of AA fire with Bren guns introduced into the unit's training syllabli. Everyone required to go on 15 mile route march on 6 August and a brigade drumhead service was held on Walton Heath on 6 August at 1000hrs. We were out on exercise Roft and had to march to Witley via Pebblescombe Hill in preparation for it.

Further marches required in the Reigate area up to Up Park. GOC 1 Cdn Div held conference at Caterham on exercise Roft on 18 August. CO acting Brigade Commander for the week 16-21 August.

Canadian Corps Sport's Meet held in Aldershot on 23 August and the unit represented by the Pipe Band and 65 all ranks. I was working at BHQ and did not get a chance to attend the meet. Battalion paraded at Redhill in the rain to be inspected by the Prime Minister of Canada, W.L. Mackenzie King on 26 August. We participated in War Weapons Week held in Reigate. The unit tug a war team under RSM Jamieson won the tug a war pull. Captain Trumbull Warren left BHQ and his appointment as the Adjutant.