Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 31, 2015 12:43:23 GMT 12
It is interesting to read this letter which was published 75 years ago in the Auckland Star, 31 Aug 1940, to boost morale of the NZ readers during those dark days of the Battle of Britain!
N.Z. AIRMEN.
FIGHTING SPIRIT.
ESSEX WORKER'S TRIBUTE.
The ability and fighting spirit of New Zealand airmen now with the Royal Air Force has so frequently been recognised by officialdom that it is interesting to know what the man in the street has to say about our boys overseas. "Writing from a town in Essex, on June 29 last, Mr. A. West, who has arranged for two of his four children to come to Auckland, has this to say:
"Please do not think the Huns will conquer us and take our fort from us. If they try they will certainly have to fight for it. We in England are resolved to see this out to a finish, and I can assure you the 'sausage eaters' are in for a sizzling time. Tell all the chaps from 'down under' that we in 'up over' are going to fight to a finish, also that we are very grateful to all the cobbers that are helping us, and I voice every Englishman's thought when I say we love you for your effort.
" 'Cobber' Kain, your wonderful airman, has shown the Germans what to expect. If he had come through this war he would have been idolised by all of us. He was, of course, only one of your countrymen to show the fighting spirit. We have several of your 'great men of the skies' defending us now and bringing the bombers down. They are a wonderful combination, the Spitfires and your boys. Of course our boys are good, but I want you to understand that we realise that your boys are in this right up to their ears.
"We are getting hardened to air raids — it is an every night performance. The Huns cannot face us in daylight. Last Saturday morning two came over at great height, but they vamoosed when the Spitfires went up. Those two never saw home again. The Spitfires and Hurricanes are wonderful 'planes, and their guns bite holes out of the Huns' machines. The Hun will never get the English to ask for terms — we will die first. We used to dread the coming of night, but now that we know our defences are in order we are quite confident of the issue. I keep awake until midnight or 1 a.m., not because I am windy (although I get a funny feeling inside), but I like to give the family time to get to the shelter. When the guns go' off it is hell, but the family stand up to it well. They are down in the dugout sometimes singing at the top of their voices. You can hear others in the shelters doing the same. That is what we think of German frightfulnces. Sometimes I pinch a couple of winks of sleep during the day. Where we live we are liable to be ordered to leave our homes at any time. I have only four years to go when I will be able to say that this is my bungalow, bought and paid for, to live in for the rest of my life. So you see I hope we can remain as otherwise all my work for years will have gone. The German airmen call this area, 'Hell's Corner,' so we give him a pretty hot time."
N.Z. AIRMEN.
FIGHTING SPIRIT.
ESSEX WORKER'S TRIBUTE.
The ability and fighting spirit of New Zealand airmen now with the Royal Air Force has so frequently been recognised by officialdom that it is interesting to know what the man in the street has to say about our boys overseas. "Writing from a town in Essex, on June 29 last, Mr. A. West, who has arranged for two of his four children to come to Auckland, has this to say:
"Please do not think the Huns will conquer us and take our fort from us. If they try they will certainly have to fight for it. We in England are resolved to see this out to a finish, and I can assure you the 'sausage eaters' are in for a sizzling time. Tell all the chaps from 'down under' that we in 'up over' are going to fight to a finish, also that we are very grateful to all the cobbers that are helping us, and I voice every Englishman's thought when I say we love you for your effort.
" 'Cobber' Kain, your wonderful airman, has shown the Germans what to expect. If he had come through this war he would have been idolised by all of us. He was, of course, only one of your countrymen to show the fighting spirit. We have several of your 'great men of the skies' defending us now and bringing the bombers down. They are a wonderful combination, the Spitfires and your boys. Of course our boys are good, but I want you to understand that we realise that your boys are in this right up to their ears.
"We are getting hardened to air raids — it is an every night performance. The Huns cannot face us in daylight. Last Saturday morning two came over at great height, but they vamoosed when the Spitfires went up. Those two never saw home again. The Spitfires and Hurricanes are wonderful 'planes, and their guns bite holes out of the Huns' machines. The Hun will never get the English to ask for terms — we will die first. We used to dread the coming of night, but now that we know our defences are in order we are quite confident of the issue. I keep awake until midnight or 1 a.m., not because I am windy (although I get a funny feeling inside), but I like to give the family time to get to the shelter. When the guns go' off it is hell, but the family stand up to it well. They are down in the dugout sometimes singing at the top of their voices. You can hear others in the shelters doing the same. That is what we think of German frightfulnces. Sometimes I pinch a couple of winks of sleep during the day. Where we live we are liable to be ordered to leave our homes at any time. I have only four years to go when I will be able to say that this is my bungalow, bought and paid for, to live in for the rest of my life. So you see I hope we can remain as otherwise all my work for years will have gone. The German airmen call this area, 'Hell's Corner,' so we give him a pretty hot time."