Celebrating love in the middle of a war is a tall task, and one Abbotsford resident was reminded of that a few weeks ago after finding an old Valentine’s Day card written by her father.
Pauline McLean told The News she found the card, which she believes was originally written in 1944 or 1945, in an old box of her father’s belongings.
She said her father, Paul Dickson, would have been in the Navy at the time and was serving on a destroyer ship called the Brockville. Dickson and his crew would escort cargo ships between England and Nova Scotia during tumultuous times on the sea in the Second World War.
Dickson was a lifelong Abbotsford resident and graduated from Phillip Sheffield High School in Abbotsford in 1942. He also went on to work at Canada Post in Abbotsford from 1951 to 1980 when he retired. He also served as a volunteer fireman in Abbotsford from 1951 to the mid-1970s. He died in 2016.
The Valentine’s Day Card, dated Feb. 3, was sent to his parents and brother’s farm on Emerson Street in Abbotsford.
The letter states:
Dear mum, Dad & Derek
Well I’m in Boston now but will be leaving soon.
Had a couple of letters from you but will get some more when I get back.
Went to the show last night and saw Jimmy Dorsey in person. Sure was good.
I’m having a pretty good time. ? will have a good supper tonight downtown with a couple of boys and then go to a show. Well I haven’t got any thing to tell you now. I’ll write in about three or four days. Tell Tom
Peter
The inside of the card states that he is enjoying his time in Boston. (Submitted)
Paul Dickson is shown here in his graduation class at Phillip Sheffield High School in 1942. (Submitted)
