Description
Object description
Papers and letters relating to his service as a Aircraftman, later Sergeant, in the Royal Air Force (RAF), including: a Temporary Permanent Pass from No 52 Squadron, Upwood (31 August 1939); a small address book kept while with No 2 Depot, RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire (pre 1944); an RAF pass from No 16 Maintenance Unit, Stafford, No 1 Wing Orderly Room (October 1945); a Temporary Pass Form (December 1945); his Royal Air Force Service and Release Book (January 1946), containing a certified true statement of his RAF Service (December 1960); his National Registration Identity Card (1948); and Driving Licences (1954 – 1963). Together with: three ms letters (9pp) written to Francis Woodgate by his brother, Private Dennis Arthur Woodgate (December 1943 – January 1944) of 'C' Company, 9th Platoon, 7th (Light Infantry) Battalion, Parachute Regiment, saying that he could not get leave to attend his wedding (December 1943), preparing for a night jump, signing his overseas papers, but that Francis and his father were not to tell mother, telling him that he hoped to get engaged to his girlfriend Pat next leave (January 1944), and then the shock it caused their parents when he did get engaged (February 1944) [Dennis was later killed 20 June 1944]; Six ms letters (25pp) written to him by his Mother, Mary (and father Arthur, and brother Bernard) at home in Orpington , Kent (1943? – December 1945), updating him on the family's news, saying that she was sorry that he was turning down Connie, who she had always liked (n.d., 1943?), his dad pulling his own tooth out, their worry about his brother Dennis, hearing about his wedding to Eveline and asking if he wanted his parents there (c. December 1943), the continuous air raids and leaving Bernard under the table, quoting a letter from Dennis of 14 June 1944 saying he was OK in France [her letter was written 21 June, the day after he was killed although she did not then know], staying in Catforth, near Preston, due to the 'Rocket Bombs' in Kent (September 1944), and preparations for Christmas 1945; and four ms letters (16pp) from Mrs Woodgate to Evelyn (February 1944 – March 1945), with family news, films they had seen at the pictures, confirming that Dennis had got engaged to Pat (February 1944), the weather, air raids, news of Francis, and a V2 rocket hitting Orpington, Kent (March 1945).
Content description
Papers and letters relating to his service as a Aircraftman, later Sergeant, in the Royal Air Force (RAF), including: a Temporary Permanent Pass from No 52 Squadron, Upwood (31 August 1939); a small address book kept while with No 2 Depot, RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire (pre 1944); an RAF pass from No 16 Maintenance Unit, Stafford, No 1 Wing Orderly Room (October 1945); a Temporary Pass Form (December 1945); his Royal Air Force Service and Release Book (January 1946), containing a certified true statement of his RAF Service (December 1960); his National Registration Identity Card (1948); and Driving Licences (1954 – 1963). Together with: three ms letters (9pp) written to Francis Woodgate by his brother, Private Dennis Arthur Woodgate (December 1943 – January 1944) of 'C' Company, 9th Platoon, 7th (Light Infantry) Battalion, Parachute Regiment, saying that he could not get leave to attend his wedding (December 1943), preparing for a night jump, signing his overseas papers, but that Francis and his father were not to tell mother, telling him that he hoped to get engaged to his girlfriend Pat next leave (January 1944), and then the shock it caused their parents when he did get engaged (February 1944) [Dennis was later killed 20 June 1944]; Six ms letters (25pp) written to him by his Mother, Mary (and father Arthur, and brother Bernard) at home in Orpington , Kent (1943? – December 1945), updating him on the family's news, saying that she was sorry that he was turning down Connie, who she had always liked (n.d., 1943?), his dad pulling his own tooth out, their worry about his brother Dennis, hearing about his wedding to Eveline and asking if he wanted his parents there (c. December 1943), the continuous air raids and leaving Bernard under the table, quoting a letter from Dennis of 14 June 1944 saying he was OK in France [her letter was written 21 June, the day after he was killed although she did not then know], staying in Catforth, near Preston, due to the 'Rocket Bombs' in Kent (September 1944), and preparations for Christmas 1945; and four ms letters (16pp) from Mrs Woodgate to Evelyn (February 1944 – March 1945), with family news, films they had seen at the pictures, confirming that Dennis had got engaged to Pat (February 1944), the weather, air raids, news of Francis, and a V2 rocket hitting Orpington, Kent (March 1945).
History note
Cataloguer SJO