April 16, 1944 – Bognor Regis, England
Bear and I arrived in Bognor Regis, where Bear’s stepdad was stationed in 1944. Our accommodation is undoubtedly more comfortable than Albert’s was, and we never had to evade enemy fire on our first night here. We have some jetlag, but that is the extent of our discomfort.
While we are recovering, I concocted this fictional letter written by Albert to his parents the day after he arrived in southern England….
April 16, 1944
Dear Mother and Father
I hope this letter finds you well.
I am happy to report that I have arrived in southern England after the long journey from Calgary. We travelled five days on the train to Halifax, then 13 days on board the “Louis Pasteur” to Glasgow, and another full day on the train to Portsmouth. Needless to say, I am happy to have my feet on solid ground again.
This prairie boy had never seen an ocean before, but I am making up for lost time. Two weeks on the Atlantic and now, here I am living on the English coast! (I made the mistake of calling the water at Portsmouth the “Ocean”. A local Brit soldier laughed and said, “that’s not the ocean, that’s the ‘sea’. Imagine! What’s the difference, I say.)
The war has been nothing more than a dream for me the past month. It seemed so far away as we crossed the vastness of Canada and the Atlantic. The other recruits and I played cards and enjoyed the scenery, not thinking much about the conflict we are headed toward. We had just settled into barracks when the air raid siren sounded, and we were ordered to take cover. The peace of the past month was broken in a very big way! German Heinkel bombers dropped shells all around us. The anti-aircraft guns I built back in Ogden shot back at them, but the damage was done. Several aircraft and support vehicles were hit just across the runway from our bunker.
I knew when I signed up that I would be heading into danger, but I never anticipated that it would happen within hours of joining active duty, or just how furious the fighting would be. I don’t regret my decision to join the RCAF, but the war has already become a terrifying reality I wasn’t quite prepared for.
But please don’t worry about me. I intend to stay safe and will be home as soon as I can.
On a happier note, I met a fellow from home while on the ship. Bill Balmer, from Grande Prairie, is a leading aircraftman like me. He and I are assigned to the 414 Reconnaissance Wing. We will be working together through this fight. Safety in numbers, I suppose, and good to have a pal from home!
There are rumours that the Allies will invade the continent soon. No one knows when it will happen or where exactly the attack will take place. I expect that 414 RECCE will be very active the next few weeks, flying over the Channel to find the enemy and their supply chains.
I better go get ready for it. I will send another note soon, and please do the same.
Your Son,
Albert
P.S. I am enclosing some photos. Me, and my Alberta pal, Bill, in Glasgow. Our Wing Commander, Moncrief, and a Heinkel Bomber we won’t have to worry about again.
This is the third in a series of posts following Albert Allsop on his trek through Europe in 1944-45. The series begins September 28, 2025
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Terry J
Coincidentally, Jim and I are just back from a trip to Europe – one highlight was in the Netherlands, specifically Holten Cemetery (near Arnhem/Zutphen) with 1355 Canadian soldiers’ graves. His Dad helped liberate that area in WWII. It was an incredibly solemn occasion for us.
Russ Paton
Such a sacrifice! We must stay diligent to avoid such atrocities in the future.