Training completed - a letter home

Petty Officers’ Mess,
Royal Naval Barracks,
Devonport, Plymouth,

Friday 19th, 1940
Dear Mum + Dad,

As you can see, I have finished training now + am in the Petty Ofs Mess. So if you want to write to me at all, just add my name on top thus;-
W.G. Poynor, E.R.A.,
Petty Officer’s Mess, etc.,
I’m afraid I’m not rated as a P.O. yet, but one of the chaps, in the same boat as me, has seen the commander once, about turning 21 whilst in training. He is going to see him again when sent for, as the Commander couldn’t give him a direct answer, as to whether he would be a P.O, or a Leading Hand. There is evidently no fixed rule about that. You last letter, written on Sunday, arrived up here before me. We shifted into Hut 1. last week and they thought we had shifted up here so sent it on.
As regards getting into the work-shops Dad; if we are kept here any time, the E.R.A’s do go into the work-shop + do odd jobs whilst waiting for a draft. On the other hand, however, we may be sent away tomorrow, who knows?
You said, “if I asked when my training finished”, well we only have eight weeks training (which I have just finished), after which we just wait for a draft.
It’s fine Jack getting a bike of his own, he won’t mind spending a bit on it now to get it properly ship-shape. I certainly wish I was home now. It shouldn’t need half as much repairing as Pat’s did, with it being a newer model. It was the best thing to do really, buy a newer one.
The shooting we had was at 100 + 200 yards. For 100 yards, we were given’ — 10 rounds to fire at our own time, the target going down after each sot, + coming up again with a black spot marked on it, showing where your shot went. Then we went to the 200 yards range + fired 5 rounds at our own time, then 5 rounds of ‘rapid’ firing, where the target came up for 35 seconds, during which time you tried to get your 5 rounds in. We then got 5 more rounds for ‘snap’ shooting, where the target came up 5 times for 5 seconds each time. We had to fire a round in each 5 seconds. Below gives a rough idea of what the Range is like:- (a sketch is included)
There are twelve targets al-together, + the Ranges go up to 1000 yds..
I wish I could have been there to clean the car for you, it must have been hard work, on top of which you’re busy enough all ready. It’s worth it though isn’t it, but the only fault is, it doesn’t keep polished long enough. I wonder if anybody will ever invent a permanent polish, it would be a very welcome invention I’m sure.
I hope you enjoyed the “Playhouse” last Monday. I went to a theatre myself to see a variety show, with I’m afraid I’ve absolutely forgotten his name, he’s a very good comedian. The show was called, “Old Soldiers never Die”, it was very good.
I have heard no more about the Indefinite leave yet, but I’m pretty positive we won’t get it now, as the chap I came down with, when I first came, has gone to Scapa Flow. He is an E.R.A + if I hadn’t been in Sick Bay, + lost a week’s training, I’d be there now as well.
I hope it was the cigarette case you gave me, that you found in my suit. The one you gave me had a pattern on the front. I was sure I had lost it. I won’t need that small brown wallet, that was in my pocket, down here as I have this big one.
I’m glad to hear you have got a new allotment Book alright. I was wondering if I would have to make out a new allotment or not. Were any pages torn out of the back of your new one?
I’m certainly going to live in fine style from now Mum. We have chairs to sit on now in place of benches, table-cloths, + instead of helping yourself, a chap places a plate before you as soon as you sit down, with hot food on it. Supper tonight was fried egg + chips, -lovely + you can go in to meals at nay time. We have eight full size billiard tables here + pay 2 d for 1 half-hour’s play. We also have our own reading, writing + lounging room. There are six large settees, seven arm-chairs, + about 40 straight back chairs with arms on. Our own stamp machine is also in the room. Paper, envelopes, pens + ink, are supplied free. Long white curtains are on the windows, + the floor is polished linoleum. We can also stay in bed (hammocks) in the morning until we think fit when to get up. It all depends what time we start work. We have to report at 7-30 a.m tomorrow to the E.R.A.’s Regulating Office so I won’t get up till about 6-45. What a life!! I don’t know what we have to report for, it may be for draft, or it may be just to give us a job in the work-shop. If it is a draft, I will let you know right away.
We can also go ashore any time we like after 3-45 p.m., instead of having to wait for the liberty-boats at 4-15, 5-30 + 7p.m.
I hope every thing is going on well at home + Jean is getting on all right at school.
Well Dad + Mum, I think that is all just now, so I will close as I want to inspect my new quarters a bit closer.
So, Au Revoir,
Love
Bill.

P.S. I hope the hospital is doing better every week. It certainly seems to have caught on all right.
P.P.S: When I say “we” in my letters, I mean all our class. We all move about as ‘one’.

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