Dearest Dimples: letters from a saucy sailor

‘Dearest Norah’: as March runs into April, Jim takes the lead in stepping up the level of intimacy with his sixteen year-old correspondent. He teases her with his suggestion that her favourite (unnamed) radio star is chosen purely on account of his good looks, unlike his own choice, Bruce Belfrage, famous for his masculine stiff upper lip, calmly carrying on as the bombs fell on Broadcasting House.

He imagines (wrongly) her hair colour in his cheeky signing off:

Jim to Norah, 23rd March 1941

‘I try to picture you, Blonde about 5’6”. Please forgive such a short letter but I have been travelling all night but I like to answer your’s so I can receive one from you. I also wish you free from raid’s, and will now close and sleep with you in my thoughts. I remain, yours friendly, Cheerio Blondie? Jim. “Smilin Thro”’.

Norah must put him right…