Life back in Civvy Street

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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Bramley History Society and has been added to the website on behalf of Susan Brenton with her permission and she fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

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Not everyone demobbed after WWII was thrilled with life back in England.
My father had been a pilot with the Pathfinder Force and was demobbed in late 1945 at the age of 33. He had no idea what he would do with the rest of his life and despite his recent marriage obviously missed the camaraderie of the crew and station life as these excerpts from some letters show:

December 1945
“Hiya Pal!
……if you get this you’ll read that I have now shaken the dust from the RAF off my shoes and am attired in a gent’s natty hacking coat and green hat. Geeze! How I wish I were with you; apart from Betty, of course, civvy life is bloody from what I’ve seen so far. Absolutely nothing laid on! However, I’m preparing to corner the market in matches after X’Mas.
……When do you come out? I can’t remember your release number. For God’s sake let me know when you are coming back. I’ll go nuts if I don’t see some of the old gang again soon. ………”

January 1946
“Wotcher!
…..England is just about the dreaded end now. When are you coming back? I did not go to the P.F.F. do because I was afraid that if I got among the mob again I’d find myself back on extended service; I suppose I’ve got to settle down to civvy life sooner or later.
……I can’t give you much news because damn all happens nowadays apart from a few strikes and lock-outs. You know, of course, that the old horse buses have gone and that English women now wear their hair short…… “

May 1946
“Hello!
………Life drifts along here apace. ……This place (the Pathfinder Club, Mayfair) is bloody good because I see so many of the old types and we are doing a roaring business. Most places in London are desperately short of booze but I’ve managed to keep up to high water mark here in everything from Drambuie to lemonade.
……… By the way, what are you going to do when you come back? Matches are pretty scarce and the curbside market is just about to be nationalised, so that’s out!……”

The letters were written by G. Alex Thorne DSO DFC, Master Bomber, one of the founder pilots of the Pathfinder Force 635 Squadron to his navigator Boris Bressloff DFC who was then stationed in Bangalore. After the War he ran the Pathfinder Club in Mount Street, London until about 1956. There was a club bar and dining area in the basement under a butcher’s shop and overnight accommodation available above and in the building next door. I lived there with my parents for a time in 1952. “Down Your Way” (BBC Home Service programme) visited the Pathfinder Club and I have the 78 rpm disc of the programme. Later in life he wrote “Lancaster at War 4: Pathfinder Squadron” published by Ian Allan ISBN: 0-7110-1882-0. When I first read the book, I sat up till 3 in the morning wondering if he got back from the various missions! Statistically he should have been killed three times over.

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