AN AIRMAN TO HIS MOTHER

White Ribbon, Volume 44, Issue 538, 18 October 1940, Page 1

AN AIRMAN TO HIS MOTHER

THE iU.il I WITH EVIL

Vmoog tin- persona] belongings ot ■ R \ I- pilot in a Bomber Sojoadivho was recently reported "Missing, killed," was ■ letter to bis to be asm lo her if he were • letter was pi 1 have ever read; li pie a its wording, but spl< .i>'id Iplifting n its outlook,*" iayi mc r's station commander. "I' inevitable that I should . i a<l it in he must have intended mis, tor it ler mat I mighl bi n that no prohibited information lent the letter to the bereaved and asked her whether I n h it anonymously, ai 1 feel its conmay bring comfort to other mothers, ryone in our country may rood to read of the sentim Support 'an average airman' in the ".on of his present arduous duties. re erred the mother's permission, hope this letter may K read by itest possible numl>er of our countrymen at home and abroad." irest Mother,—Though I feel BO prei >nition at all, events are moving and I have instructed that this l>e forwarded to you should I fail urn from one of the raids which ill shortly be called upon to undertake You must hope on for a month, •t the end of that time you must the fact that I have handed my task over to the extremely capable hands "tnrades of trie Ro\al Air Force, many splendid fello*vs have already First, it-will cnrifort you to know that ni > role in this war has been oi the

:'«si importai ir patrol over the Norm Sea havi Lcep the trade routes cle*r for our com and . and on tfion our instrumental in saving men in a crippled light- • i lief ship. Though it will U difficult i will disapp »int me •i do not at least try to accept the

facts dispassionately, for I shall 1 ave my duty to the utmost <>f my abiHty. Mo man can do more, and no one ca n ..:ig himself a man could do less. I have alv. vine courage in me face oi manual a tbacks; in tl vou have given DM 31 good an education and badrground a-> anyone in the country; and always kept up appearances without ever losing fait the future. My death would not mean that your struck" has been in vain. Far from it. It means that your sacrifice II real as mine. Those who serve England must expect nothing from her; we debase ourselves if we regard our country as merely a place in which to eat and sleep. History FT fPllfUlf with illustrious names who have given all, yet their Sacrifice has resulted in the I ritish Empire, where there is a measure of peace, justice and freedom for all, and where a higher standard of civilisation evolved, and is Mill evolving, than anywhere else. Hut this is not only oon-

I with the great <alto Christianity and civilisation that <>rld ha- en, and I count mylucky and honOUl I the right ind fully trained to throw my full tins I ! to thank you. Yet tl < n iv | »rk The home front will still land united for years after >hc il won For all that can St it. I -till maintain t! I l- a I 1 thing : itlual is iare all tor his principle like However long time I shall and died an Englishman Nothir |ot nor can anything ever You must not gii me, for if you reallj belt* ve in i and all that .t entails mat would be hypocrisy. I have ear ol death; only • Queer elation. . . . I would have it no other way. The un;\ i isi and ag< l( ss that the life o! one man can only be justified by the measure ol his sacrifice. We are to mis world to acquire a personality and a character to take with us that can never be taken from pa Those who jttSl eat and sleep, prosper a-id procreate, ■re no better than animals if all their lives they are at peace. I firmly and absolutely believe that evil things are sent into the world to try BtJ mey are <nt deliberately by <>ur Creator to test our metl in IK Imows what km! for '-s. The Hiblc is full of the va-\ way out has been discarded for moral principles. 1 OOUn myself fortunate in that 1 fa teen the whole country and known nun

t with tlu final ira U r fully de\«loped. Thus .it m\ early age in\ ulhlled, nth jus! nl) that I could lining ■ bul you will live ii and I shall \ Contribute (111 n, printed 18/6

My Earthly Mission . . Is Fulfilled . .