Lillian Smith to Albert Edward Lane

I have a few bits and pieces that were my Dad’s. This V Mail sent to him in India, is interesting and easy to read.

Dad was Canadian, but served in the RAF Sevice No 1182301. I know he was in India. He never talked much about what he did.

The photo is of 102 squad on 21 August 1940.

Transcript:

Dear Edward,

I was very glad to receive your letter yesterday. I answered it last night and enclose a couple of snaps taken last summer on our vacation in Canada, but I am trying to find out if this V-mail is any faster than regular mail to India. Have you received any of my other V-Mail letters? Your letters are always so very interesting, especially about India. I'd like to hear more about it. We had a lot of fun last Saturday evening, six of the girls from work came over to my house and we spent the evening taking glamour pictures. We were surprised at how well they turned out. Margie, the girl who went to Canada with me, is a very good photographer, and she took them and developed them herself. Film is very scarce here so we all kept our fingers crossed that they would turn out. Starting today there is a twenty per cent tax on all luxuries, such as cosmetics, hand creams, nail polish, and an increase on postal rates and transportation rates. I used my last shoe coupon a couple of weeks ago. I don't know when another one will be valid. So far, no clothing except shoes has been rationed. But we're still a lot better off here than most countries are in the best of times, I suppose so we're not complaining. Liquor is very scarce here, in fact it's almost impossible to get, but then that doesn't bother me, as I don't drink anyhow. It doesn't seem possible that next Sunday is Easter. We have a service at 7:00 o'clock on Easter morning and it is always so beautiful, I hope the weather is nice. It looks as though I'm at the end, so I guess I'd better get back to work. Hope you receive the snaps. Yours Lillian

Tagged:
Food and drink, Home front

Contributed by:
Heather Drury

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