Page 38 - Leonard Tebbenham

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Thursday 18 October 1945
RAF Maiduguri,

N. Nigeria,

West Africa

My own darling Blodwen,

My posting date came through today and I fly to Maiduguri by Transport Command plane: take off
07:00 hours tomorrow. The trip should take about 7 hours (1050 miles) with one stop at a place
called Kano. Maiduguri is near Lake Chad on the border of the Sahara. It is a small camp now
with about 10 officers and 60 men. Eggs are said to be 15 for one penny there, and so much
game that you get fed up with it.

I met Flt Lt Owen the equipment bloke I had a row with at Fiskerton. He had apparently forgotten
and was most gushing at seeing an old face. I sent the soap today by sea and the handbag will
go tomorrow. I expect it will be mid-November before you get them. Now about pay – you should
get my 13/6 a day all the time, with income tax and NHI each month. You will also get my fuel
allowance up to 1st Oct, i.e. 11/- approx.

Maiduguri is a good place for shoes and leather, but little else. Please let me know what sort of
material you would like and what colour and Wilson will get me a specimen to send to you. He
can get cloths and the other chaps at Yundum silver. They will be organised by next month, or so.
Well dear I have not got any letters from you yet, but I expect I will next week with the move. I
miss you and things do seem strange. I hear I may get out by June or July so here’s hoping. So
long my sweet, all my love.

Yours ever, Len xxxx

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Friday 19 October 1945
Dakota F 1350CF

Accra 06:25G – Ikeja [Lagos] 08:10 – Kano 11:30arr (1h30m) 13:00dep – Maiduguri 15:20G

8000’ Total Hours 7h25m Total Miles 1110

Total hours UK – Maiduguri 36h41m Total Miles 5510