Photographs – Page 14 – A Family History in Letters

November 11 1944

Indomitable service:

October 1944

15th Deployed with Task Group 63.3 for diversionary operations in Indian Ocean during US landings on Leyte (Operation MILLET). Six aircrew were lost.

17th Launched air attacks with HMS VICTORIOUS on Nicobar Islands. HM Cruiser PHOEBE provided fighter direction facilities and AA defence. Group was screened by HM Destroyers WHELP, WAKEFUL, WAGER and WESSEX.

19th Repeated air attacks on Nicobars. During retaliatory attacks by Japanese torpedo bombers, ten of the twelve enemy aircraft were destroyed.

November

20th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to launch air attacks on Belawan Deli. Cover was provided by HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE, ARGONAUT and BLACK PRINCE screened by HM Destroyers KEMPENFELT (ii), WHIRLWIND, WRANGLER, WESSEX and WAKEFUL. (Operation OUTFLANK).

(Note: Original target on Pangkalan Brandon could not be attacked due to weather conditions in the area).

22th Became part of British Pacific Fleet with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS VICTORIOUS.

*From http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-04CV-HMS_Indomitable.htm , accessed April 21 2020

[November 11, 1944? No date on letter – outside of envelope is marked 11/11 with Cec’s initials, post mark 1944}

P.S My complete address

Lieut C C Costain RCNVR

HMS Indominable

British Fleet Mail Office

Dear folks,

I’ve recently been told off for not writing you, but that’s not the only reason I am writing. For the first time in over a year I have time on my hands. The Captain was beginning to think I was folding up – he wasn’t far wrong, and I’ve been sent on a weeks leave. It’s marvelous cool, tennis, billiards walking. And marvelous food and service. It’s at an officers rest hostel, several of us are here and its grand.

I received several letters from you lately – two sea mail on the visit to Whitefox, and some more on the trip to B.C. & house painting. Things must be looking grand. I hope you don’t sell the place.

Wynne told me she had been over to see you and play with Carmens airplane. I think she enjoyed herself. I hear from her quite often and reply to each one – which means I owe you for letters.

The war seems to be dragging on and on, so I can’t see much point in sticking to the end of the war for a short leave. I expect to be home on leave this coming summer, but I don’t count on it too much. I’ll have three months due, so should get at least two. But I’m a long way away so it’s hard to certain. If I do, I’ll help get rid of some of your canning.

Bye for now

Love

Cecil

August 11 1944

Indomitable service:

July 5th With Eastern Fleet

H.M.S. Indomitable

Aug 11, 1944

Dear Folks,

Well I have had a surprise this past week. I received three letters from you, dated May 14, 28 sent to Norfolk, & one air letter (June 10 or 18,)?? So all in all I am fairly up-to-date. Glad to hear Lena passed her exams, you don’t know how glad. You mention her writing a letter from her new job, but where is she working and what is her address? Also Percy‘s address if he is still around. It was good to get news of the Bomfards, I’m glad they are doing so well. Percy may be putting on weight but I’m afraid I’m sweating a lot off.

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time with Les lately, talking over old times and new. It has given me a new lease on life so to speak to meet up with him. He seems pretty content but is thinking rather seriously of the Foreign Service which we are due. He’s going to apply, and may get it after awhile, but it’s doubtful. At least he has a much better chance than I have at the moment. He hasn’t changed a bit, but he says I have. I suppose he is right, certainly the responsibility hasn’t done me any harm, if it has bent my shoulders a little more.

I got one letter from Bid today, giving me — for not writing, but it’s not my fault entirely they take several months, and probably will be longer now. Your last air letter came in double quick time but I suppose soon winter weather will stop most of the mail flights. Since mine is just beginning to catch up that will probably make another three months gap, so don’t forget to get a few away before the bad weather. Parcels are pretty hopeless out here so to send letters instead.

You didn’t say anything about the kid’s exams how did they do and what grade are they in now anyway.

I close now & answer some more of your letters later

Love to all

Cecil

July 16 1944

Indomitable service:

May 1944 Completed refit and returned to UK to embark aircraft.

June Passage to Trincomalee.

July 5th Joined Eastern Fleet with HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS.

Prepared for operational duties with Fleet.*

*From http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-04CV-HMS_Indomitable.htm , accessed April 21 2020

HMS Indomitable

c/o GPO London

July 16, 1944

Dear Mother

I’m afraid I have neglected my letter writing for the past few weeks, but I felt I musn’t miss your birthday, and so, late as they are, Many Happy Returns.

I am in the in the Indian Ocean now, so mail is pretty poor. I have received one air letter from Wynne since I arrived, which took just under five weeks in transit, which isn’t too bad. I’ve got quite a stock of air letter forms, so I’ll use them and hope you will do the same. My mail hasn’t really caught up with me for three months but maybe it will settle down soon. Writing letters with nothing to talk about is a wee bit difficult.

But I have had a very interesting time lately. This is certainly the “other half of the world”. I’ve bought a few trinkets of various kinds including a nice leather briefcase for myself but I don’t know yet whether to risk sending them or not. I think shopping and bargaining is about our greatest relaxation. If I don’t do a fair amount I’ll always be sorry.

What are you doing for holidays this year. After working all spring you ought to take a good one. It doesn’t seem possible, but I suppose the kids are finished another year of school. Don’t I wish I was. As the war drags on & on my years of schooling ahead seem very formidable.

How did Lena’s exams go. I wrote to her some time ago but haven’t had any reply yet. She seemed to be having a good time down east but then she always did.

It can get pretty hot sometimes at home but nothing like this. I have stood the heat fairly well to date, and hope it hangs on the same. It may be a bad climate for heat rash etc. but ah the fruit. Fresh pineapple and oranges etc., really hit the spot. But I won’t make you jealous.

Well, that about exhausts me and my news so I’ll close now and hope to hear from you soon.

Love to all

Cecil

April 19 1943

Indomitable service:

April to May 1943

Deployed with Home Fleet.

Carried out trials with new radar equipments

¹ from http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-04CV-HMS_Indomitable.htm accessed April 21 2020

H.M.S. Indomitable

April 19, 1943

Dear Mother,

Here is another letter, late again. It seems three a month (altogether) is all I’m able to manage. I have received two letters from you since I last wrote, one on Les’s visit and one announcing my new nephew.

Thanks very much for the clippings. By the way, I knew Bill had got DFM* when I got his address from the Air Ministry in Feb. It is really grand, he sure deserves it, and so do most of them. Also, I don’t think I told you Dr. Orgfusson, who was killed on 25th it was the man I took my Indian arrowheads to in Varsity. He was grand chap.

I haven’t heard from Les yet. I hope you enjoyed his visit. He may have told you some things which had occurred, but he would have no idea (he may now) of the variety of life on board. It is extremely interesting, and I’ll come out of it as well qualified to be a steeplejack or father confessor as a physicist. I forgotten how to spell it.

Glad to hear Merle is getting on so well. I’d certainly like to be back to see John & Lorne. John is just at a cute age.** By the time I get back he will be getting “ornery”.

My congratulations to Jack Longstaff. This ROP business seems to have considerable attraction. I’ll have to watch my step – but I’m not worried.

I don’t get this business of my keeping secrets. Explain please.

I didn’t get or else dropped your clipping on Bob Bibby. What is he doing over here?

Joan is really getting up isn’t she? if she does take a commission it will be from private to officer in a little over a year. I think she will make a good “sarge”.

It is after midnight now so this is my “first anniversary”. The time has sure flown. This year has been much better than I even hoped, and the next should be equally as good. You know, I get Foreign service leave after two yrs (over here) so until July 1944.

Love

Cecil

P.S. Send graduation paper

*DFM – Distinguished Flying Medal

** My cousin John. He’s still pretty adorable.

Introducing Cec

Cecil Clifford Costain, my father, was born in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada, in 1922. His father, Henry Hudson Costain, was a teacher who had grown up on a PEI farm, gotten part of a university education, and gone west as many of their generation did.

I believe he taught and became principal of schools in the west, and in 1915 married a student who had been to Normal School (Teacher’s College) possibly taught by him- Mary Elida Eakin. Teaching did not support a family, so Henry moved from Ponoka, Alberta where Cec was born, to Saskatchewan and farmed near Saskatoon. Cec had two older sisters and two younger brothers. The Depression was hard on western farmers, although the Costains were better off than some since they raised poultry. Cec apparently said he hadn’t seen his father smile for ten years.

Whatever the hardships, the Costains raised their children to believe in education. The eldest, Merle, went to the University of Saskatchewan, Lena became a nurse, and Cec also entered the University of Saskatchewan at 16, and got his BSc. at 19.

By then the war had started.

Cec taught new officers,

Cec as Instructor: tallest one in white lab coat.

then joined the Canadian Navy and became a radar officer.

He was seconded to the British Navy (making more money than even the Captain of the aircraft carrier he was assigned to) and ended up in the Pacific on H.M.S Indomitable. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross when a late night check of his radar equipment enabled him to warn the fleet of approaching Japanese bombers in time for them to scramble their own planes. (In his last year, he said that he’d never expected to live to be 21, let alone have the life he had.)

Costains: Lena, Russell, Merle, Cec, their mother Elida, and Carman in front.

Some of his letters home survive from this period- assurances that he is well, comments on local surroundings, queries about his little brothers at school, censored or general bits of news. A few snaps of a skinny Cec show how young he was.

Friendly Faces

Although I do not know all of the people in the pictures here, Cynthia kept them with her wartime memorabilia, so they obviously meant something to her.

Cynthia’s friend from school, Jessie Muir, was the ‘officer’s wife’ Bobby apologized to in his last letter. Here, on a sunny day in August, are Cyn and Jessie with her daughter Zinnia.

Now, there’ll be a brief interlude with the focus off Cynthia: the posts will be moving to a Canadian mother of five, getting letters from her son on active service in the British Navy.