Box CLX-A-1542

Scope and Contents Forty letters, manuscript, 10 September to 15 December 1940, from Leslie G. Cairns, Officer Cadet, Royal Artillery (commissioned into RA, December 1940), and jeweller receipt/invoice for blood-stone signet ring.Some notable letters include: Sent on 10 September 1940, Leslie describes that "there was a small invasion", "most came by air and landed, but some tried to land from the sea," and...

Scope and Contents Thirty-five letters, manuscript, 6 January to 16 March 1941, from Leslie G. Cairns, 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Artillery, 152nd Field Regiment Royal Artillery, Ayrshire Yeomanry, while at Montrose; the front pages of a book entitled Great Love Scenes from English Literature chosen and edited by Lancelot Oliphant and dated 26 March 1941; and two jeweller receipts/invoices for diamond ring and "gold safety".In the letters, Leslie describes his daily...

Scope and Contents Letters, manuscript, 18 March 1941 to 29 June 1941, from Leslie G. Cairns, 152nd Field Regiment RA, Ayrshire Yeomanry, while in Caithness. In the letters, Leslie describes his daily life in Caithness, as well as a short period for a training course in Brora, Sutherland. He describes events like a barn dance, a fete and a sports day (where he ran a mile) being organised at Caithness. He also discusses his ambitions for a future with Irene J. Young such as travelling together and imagines what...

Scope and Contents 56 letters, manuscript, 1 July to 18 November 1941, from Leslie G. Cairns, 152nd Field Regiment RA, Ayrshire Yeomanry, while in Caithness. In the letters Leslie writes to Irene about life in Caithness, reflections on his relationship with Irene, visits to family remembers and excitement towards seeing Irene when he returns home on leave.He describes some living difficulties such as a period of being without running water and trouble with mice in the food stores. Across the...

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1 folder: This is a hand-drawn 'map' of Edinburgh with a numbered list of wry notes on local and Scottish customs and manners which might have been obtained by Cairns from a Polish officer during a period of coastal defence service, 1941-42.

Scope and Contents 1 folder: Thirty-eight letters, manuscript, 17 November 1941 to 23 March 1942, from Leslie G. Cairns, while with 152nd Field Regiment RA, Ayrshire Yeomanry, in Epping, Essex, and during the beginning of his estrangement with Irene J. Young and their broken engagement.In the letters, Leslie describes life in the Epping especially in the period over Christmas and New Year, which he spends away from home for the first time. He describes weekly trips to London to shop for the mess,...

Scope and Contents One folder containing letters send to and from Irene J. Young, Leslie G. Cairns and "Mother", manuscript, 23 January to 19 October 1943, while Leslie is with 11th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, and 137/166th Newfoundland Field Regiment in North Africa. There are nineteen letters sent to Irene J. Young from Leslie G. Cairns describing his experiences in North Africa and his application, interview and...