The following links are letters from Harold (John) Gregson to his sister Stella (above) in Liverpool. These were sent while he was serving in the Navy during World War 2. There are references to Arthur Johnson (above) who was Stella's husband, the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo's "Blitz Reporter" during the war.

In 2005 Trinity Mirror Merseyside published a book of Arthur Johnson's air raid records (Amazon link- Merseyside's Secret Blitz Diary- isbn 0954687191).

Click on the green links below to read the letters in full. With thanks to Michael Johnson for typing them up.-

Letter 1
"This is your pen I’m using and believe me it behaves itself quite well… It has grown out of the awkward age – it has shed the mantle of adolescence. No longer is it a badly behaved infant, an undisciplined, ‘do as I please’ child; now it has become my very good friend and I do not know how I should live without this small, black creature with the blue blood and the tongue of gold."

Letter 2
" How am I doing?’ you ask. Today – not bad at all,- it’s Sunday, I’m ashore in Pompey, I’m going to have tea soon and then see a movie (bang goes your 3/6)."

Letter 3
"I love being flattered – it’s a hell of a weakness, isn’t it? If anyone tells me I’ve got a way with women, I can feel my head swelling."

Letter 4
"And did I not have an overgrown interest in the cinema? - knew more about cinema than the average adult? Could name the directors and read books on film technique. And all my ‘outside’ life - away from home – I never felt that I was myself – always acting, I tell you – always watching myself – never being truly sincere."