Description
Object description
Illustrated ts transcript of letters (135pp) written to his family while serving as a pilot in the RAFVR during the Second World War; covering his training at No 4 Service Flying Training School, Abu Suier, Egypt and Habbaniya, Iraq (November 1939 – September 1940); and service at RAF Ismailia, Egypt (September – November 1940); service with No 47 Squadron RAF in Sennar, Sudan (November – December 1940) and at RAF Gordon's Tree, Khartoum (December 1940 – March 1942); and then with No 94 Squadron RAF in Egypt (March – April 1942). The letters do not contain many details of his location or duties, as he was very worried about breaching censorship rules, but they do include interesting descriptions of: the weather and conditions in Iraq; his hospitalisation for tonsillitis and quinsy; censorship of letters; the journey from Iraq to Sudan; Christmas celebrations; leave in Alexandria and Cairo; problems with the forces postal service; working in the Mechanised Transport section of the squadron; his opinion of the Iraqi army, and of the Italians in Eritrea; acting as Defending Officer for an airman who was court-martialled; being given command of a Flight and promoted to Flight Lieutenant; a letter dated 16 June 1941 includes a more detailed description of his experiences from the previous year, including the capture of Amba Alagi in Eritrea. The transcript also includes letters of condolence sent to his parents in 1942 after he was killed in action in the Western Desert in April 1942.
Content description
Illustrated ts transcript of letters (135pp) written to his family while serving as a pilot in the RAFVR during the Second World War; covering his training at No 4 Service Flying Training School, Abu Suier, Egypt and Habbaniya, Iraq (November 1939 – September 1940); and service at RAF Ismailia, Egypt (September – November 1940); service with No 47 Squadron RAF in Sennar, Sudan (November – December 1940) and at RAF Gordon's Tree, Khartoum (December 1940 – March 1942); and then with No 94 Squadron RAF in Egypt (March – April 1942). The letters do not contain many details of his location or duties, as he was very worried about breaching censorship rules, but they do include interesting descriptions of: the weather and conditions in Iraq; his hospitalisation for tonsillitis and quinsy; censorship of letters; the journey from Iraq to Sudan; Christmas celebrations; leave in Alexandria and Cairo; problems with the forces postal service; working in the Mechanised Transport section of the squadron; his opinion of the Iraqi army, and of the Italians in Eritrea; acting as Defending Officer for an airman who was court-martialled; being given command of a Flight and promoted to Flight Lieutenant; a letter dated 16 June 1941 includes a more detailed description of his experiences from the previous year, including the capture of Amba Alagi in Eritrea. The transcript also includes letters of condolence sent to his parents in 1942 after he was killed in action in the Western Desert in April 1942.
History note
Cataloguer ELG