Box CLX-A-1541

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1 album: Created by Irene J. Young and remembering years at Edinburgh University, 1937-1942, and moments of wartime service, 1942-1944, the album in maroon buckram case had been lent (along with correspondence) to the Imperial War Museum to be displayed in the exhibition, 'Forces Sweethearts', 1993.

Scope and Contents 1 diary/notebook: Notes, manuscript, kept by Irene J. Young, containing things said by Cairns, from Summer 1938 to Spring 1940.The notebook is a record of things said by Leslie G. Cairns to Irene J. Young during their relationship between the summer of 1938 and the spring of 1940 when he joined the army. Irene J. Young evidently wrote down these verbal expressions of love and devotions. The two poems by Irene J. Young at the beginning of the notebook are among those of hers...

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1 folder: Letters and postcards, manuscript, 27 December 1937 to 16 January 1940, from Leslie G. Cairns while at University, together with additional printed material.

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A handwritten family tree entitled "Cairns Family", starting with Robert Cairns m. Mary Jane McMichael.

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A photocopied photograph of Leslie Cairns, aged 18

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A postcard sent from Leslie G. Cairns to Irene J. Young on 27 December 1937. On the front of the postcard is a picture of East Bay, Dunoon and in the card Leslie writes about his Christmas.

Scope and Contents Three letters sent from Leslie G. Cairns to Irene J. Young. Sent on 30 March 1938, in the letter he describes a photograph enclosed which he calls "a portrait of a gentleman" taken of himself by "Jack" and developed and printed "by the two of us". He also tells Irene that he will be coming home on Friday 1 April (1938). Sent on 22 March 1938 describing a weekend at school and travelling...

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Five photocopied newspaper cuttings from the University O.T.C. Notes section of The Student newspaper. These are dated: 19 October 1957; November 1938; February 1939; May 1939; and May 1939.

Scope and Contents Forty-three letters written from Leslie G. Cairns to Irene J. Young while at University between 5 January 1938 and 16 January 1940. The letters are all handwritten and some contain drawings and illustrations by Leslie Cairns.Notable letters include: A Valentines Day card in the shape of a red love heart, sent in February 1938. A letter sent on 1 April 1939, expressing...

Scope and Contents Two folders: This folder contains sixty-three Letters, manuscript, 5 May to 8 September 1940, from Leslie G. Cairns, on leaving for the army and Uniacke Barracks at Harrogate, and then Yeadon, and at OCTU at Ilkley. Some notable letters include: 28th May 1940, Leslie writes of "unexpected developments" on censorship being imposed, so "no more letters for a short while." The next letter, sent on 31 May...