A tribute to Flight Sergeant Don Lindsey

by Cathy Farr

For some months this web site has carried e-mail exchanges about the Canadian airmen buried in St Swithins graveyard. My uncle, Don Lindsey, is one of those airmen. I would love to share with you some photos of Uncle Don, his log book and other memorabilia.

You can also read more about how I discovered the final resting place of my uncle on the never too late page.

Uncle Don wrote to some cousins a few weeks before the plane crash. Letters were opened by the censors, thus limiting topics, but here is a transcription of what he had to say. (The lost addresses are a secret no longer!)

March 2, 1942
Sergeant DC Lindsey R69761
R.C.A.F.
England

Dear Blanche Mrs. Walker and Jack

How are all the Walkers. Its quite a while since I last heard from you so I thought I'd drop a note and see how you are. I hope you are all feeling fine.

I've been hearing from the family quite often lately and I had a big parcel of clothes from Dad this week. All the family seems to be fine. Mary claims that Mother's going back to nursing has done her an enormous lot of good. I sure hope it has.

Mary seems to want to join the C.A.T.S. I'd rather see her train as a nurse instead as she intended.

I've been thinking about what Ted should do in regards [to] joining up and I've come to the conclusion that he should stay around and look after Mother and Mary if he possibly can.

I've seen 2 of my Earl Haig school chums since I last wrote and I've seen quite a few new shows, such as Captains of the Clouds, Louisiana Purchase, Blood and Sand [and] Sgt York.

I was skating quite awhile back but I haven't been again for quite awhile. I haven't been to many dances lately either.

Most of the time I go to the show for entertainment or stroll down the road to a pub for an odd beer.

I really look the dude at present on account of the swell lot of clothes Shorty just sent me, new shirts, underwear tees and pyjamas. He really did a swell job.

Mary seems to be having a lot of fun at school. She's been writing exceptionally nice long letters lately.

From the sound of things the family have done a good job on improving the house in Battle Creek.

Say at present I'm wondering if I thanked you for the cigarettes I received from you about a month ago. I sincerely hope I did it before this but in case I didn't I'd like to do it now. So thanks very much.

I got 2 nice valentines to-day one from Mary and one from Mother.

I wonder if you remember Freddy Clark, he lived at OKeefes on Yonge St hill. He's in the Mounted Police now.

I'm afraid I've put Shorty in a bad humor lately as I haven't been around to see any of his friends or friends friends if you know what I mean. If he were with me and we went on leave together and I suggested going to see one of his friends I'll bet he'd say we ought to go to London on a jamboree instead. Anyway if he finds out I've lost all the addresses of his friends and Miss Potts relations he'll skin me alive. So don't tell him about it.

I'm afraid this is a pretty poor attempt at writing a letter but I'm afraid there's very little to write about and as mainly about all I've been doing is working and as you know I can't tell you much about that.

So now I'll close.

All the best

Love

Don

Notes:
1. Ted was Don's brother, Mary his sister.

2. "Shorty," I think, was an affectionate name for his Dad. Uncle Don was the tall one in the family.