Living & surviving in "Bomb Alley", England. WWII Letter.
Surrey, England: October 19, 1944. A 6 page wonderfully descriptive personal letter on surviving in "Bomb Alley" England during the war. Written from "Deepdene", Epsom Road, Ewell, Surrey in 1944, signed Charles Collett, and addressed to Evalyn in Nantucket.
Charles writes two pages describing "doodle bugs", which were the first of Hitler’s pilotless planes carrying high explosives: "the first flying bomb came over on June 13th but our first experience was 3 days later when we heard a terrific noise over our house in the middle of the night. ... Since that time hundreds of these "Doodle bugs" as they are called have come over or near us on their way to London and the suburbs, as many did not reach London". (p2). Charles also relates his sons' Niels and Edward's military experience.
The 1939 England & Wales Register lists 4 of the Collett's at the above address, Charles O(tto) Collett (b. 30 Oct 1878), electrical engineer (retired); Ida Alice Collett (b. 21 Oct 1887) living with sons Charles H(arry) (b. 8 Oct 1912) rubber planter and Niels W. (b. 24 Mar 1915) articles clerk accountancy). Although not mentioned in the letter, Charles and Ida suffered the loss of son Charles, age 28, 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry Royal Armoured Corp., who was killed on 2 September 1941. "Charles was born in 1913 and was the son of Charles Otto and Ida Collett of Ewell. A plaque carrying his name is at St John’s Crematorium in Woking – Panel 1." (information extracted from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register).
8 3/4 x 7"; folds to 4 3/8 x 7". Letter is 6 pp, with one folding sheet of 4 pp and an additional sheet. Very good condition. Item #26274
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