The letter was sent by my uncle, Sgt Richard (Dick) Stuart, of 61 Squadron, Bomber Command, to his mother and father and sister Jean. Dick was stationed at RAF Skellingthorpe and his family at Astbury, Cheshire. This would be the last letter he wrote.
It makes poignant reading. The crew were meant to have Christmas off, but this was delayed until New Year, due to “ops”. He’d been looking forward to going home, especially for his Mum’s home cooking. But he planned to go to his sweetheart’s family in Nottingham for Christmas. Dick tells the family of activities in the Squadron, and how, with 21 missions, he was not planning to go back to “ops” once he’d reached the required number.
The crew, captained by Flt Lt George Harvey, from Australia, left Skellingthorpe at 16.22 on 29th December, target Berlin. Dick was rear gunner. They left ahead of the main squadron to make wind observations. Their Lancaster, DV399, R for Roger, was hit by flak near Madgeburg, Berlin. George ordered the crew to bail out. One crew member survived: P/O Don Thomas (Tommy) from Canada.
My grandparents kept Dick’s letters, and other treasures, but he was rarely discussed. It was all too upsetting. When they died, the letters passed to my mother, Jean. They were stored in a bedside chest which came to us from our grandparents’ home.
In 2013, nieces and nephews decided to research Uncle Dick’s life, ahead of the 70 year commemoration of his death. His letters tell of hopes and aspirations, the camaraderie of the crew, and his growing fondness for his girlfriend, and of course missing his family. We had an article published in the local paper, the Congleton Chronicle to coincide with 29th December. 70 years on.
Our appetite increased, and we were able to find relatives of the Australian pilot, George. And we tracked down Don’s (Tommy) family in Canada. Don wrote of the ill-fated flight, losing his colleagues, incarceration at Stalag 3 and the Long March.
Dick was 21. Lest we forget.
Stuart letter
1681268 Sgt. Stuart R.
Sgts Mess.
R.A.F. Skellingthorpe
Lincoln
Wednesday 22/12/43
Dear Mum, Dad & Jean
Very many thanks for letter received some days ago Jeannie & glad to hear you are about O.K. again. As yet I haven’t received my parcel of laundry, but imagine it will roll up to-morrow. I have had a small parcel of eats to-day from Mary, but sad to say the two tomatoes inside were beyond eating condition, but a lump of slab cake looks real good.
Glad to hear you getting a bit of work all set up for me & all being well I’ll be home for abt a week on Friday the 31st. I understood it was the 28th , but it is definitely the 31st so I guess I’ll let the New Year in with you. What I’m doing at Xmas I can’t really say. Of course I have an invitation to Davies Rd (very strong too) but it all depends on Bomber Harris.
The weather as yet isn’t too bad, & a little bird tells me if it does turn out good the old lad will have us out there. (Note 1) Actually I won’t mind a great deal, it would be one nearer finishing & there has come some good news out this last day or so. The Wing Commander has now the power to finish any crew after twenty-five trips so l guess we’ll be finishing after another seven at the most.
Went to Berlin again last Thursday night which brought the total up to twenty-one & also our Berlin visits to six. As a matter of fact I think we hold the record on the Sqdn for Berlin visits. I suppose you’ve seen in the paper we boast the new V.C. “Jock” Reid. He’s a hell of a nice bloke too is old Jock. Incidentally he came back on the squadron yesterday. Whether he’ll go back on “ops” I dunno, but there’s one lad here who wouldn’t.
If he’ll work his cards probably he’s made for life, judging by Lady MacRobert’s £1000 in the papers yesterday. It was certainly a good effort on his part, but the papers didn’t give his engineer “Taffy” Norris enough praise. In fact on the squadron here a lot think he should have had the V.C., but what did the rest of the crew get out of it (b-all) maybe a D.F.M.
I’m expecting old Harvey’s D.F.C. to come through soon.
We did a bit of an heroic effort (Note 2) over Berlin last Thursday but we won’t do it again. Oh! Had some good news last week, our crew has been picked to make a film. It should take place any time now & will be of R.A.F. interrogation after an “op”. Be quite a lengthy affair & of course be shown to the general public in fact be the standard de-briefing film.
Of course it has the usual tripe attached to it. The scenes will be “shot” after an actual “op”, but we are supposed to enter looking as fresh as daisies, clean-shaven not a hair out of place & a crease in our pants. I ask you all that tripe after probably a gruelling eight hour trip. Also to address our skipper as “Sir” & to refer to each other by his air-crew trade i.e. “navigator” engineer etc. All this of course is the A.O.C’s idea as he wants to show the Army & Navy there is a little discipline in air-crew. I can see the general public thinking “ops” are like going to a tea-party & also old Ginger & I causing them a few retakes. The next time old George gets called “Sir” will be the first.
Did you have a good time at Astbury last Friday night? & wasn’t it such a good do.
By the way what have you decided for Xmas dinner, I can see old Sam licking his chaps. I’ll bet there’s no holding him down at Boots this last day or so with the thoughts of seeing his Rene this weekend. To tell you the truth haven’t been to see him yet to get my towel & I don’t suppose I shall manage it now. Haven’t been to Notts quite so much of late its rather expensive, but I am still going strong at Davies Road, I shall certainly try to spend Xmas there. I’ve found out she’s still the nicest girl I know as yet, so I’ll see what the New Year brings.
Well! I guess I’ll say cheerio for now & here’s to seeing you next week. Have some good grub l’m looking forward to some home meals Mum. Enjoy yourselves this Xmas I’ll be thinking of you & don’t let the animal eat up everything for me.
Oh! I’ve had my note off Mrs Dunckley. Very nice too.
Anyhow here’s to next Friday & tell old Joe to buck up & get out of bed, hope he’s keeping improving.
Cheerio,
Lots of Love
Dick
P.S. are those other shoes of mine ready for when I come home?
[Notes:]
- He went to Berlin the following night.
- According to the Squadron records, they had an engine failure on the way out, jettisoned the large “cookie” bomb to maintain height, and carried on to Berlin.
