Description
Object description
248 cheerful and lively ms and ts letters and 22 telegrams to his parents written after he had been evacuated to South Africa in the summer of 1940 as a thirteen year old, containing details of his voyage out from England and arrival in Cape Town and with good descriptions of his experiences while living with childless foster parents in Johannesburg including school, sports and leisure activities, covering also the minimal impact of the war in South Africa on civilian life which comprised a few scarcities and practice blackouts (see early 1942), fundraising and morale boosting events such as the 'Liberty Cavalcade' (May 1942), 'Unite for Victory' parade (June 1943) and 'Speed the Victory Fair' (November 1944) and concern for relatives in the Forces (see 19 October 1942 for papers relating to his host's nephew, Lieutenant Locke Stirton MC of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment) and with interesting references to radio broadcasts to and by his parents (see 12 January, 19 October 1942 and 6 February 1944 for example), unrest between the various strata of South African society and attending his first political meeting (13 March 1943), meeting the organiser of the Children's Overseas Reception Board, Sir Geoffrey Shakespeare (17 September 1944) and VJ Day celebrations, as well as his service as a Gunner in the South African Artillery (February – December 1945) based principally at a training camp at Potchefstroom in the Transvaal with insight into conditions there, his options as an evacuee and a soldier and his preparations for his return to England; additionally: a ts transcript of his letters (covering also 4 lost originals) and associated research material (total 312pp); the contents of an album kept by him comprising mementoes of his residence in Johannesburg, military service and voyages to and from South Africa in the SS LLANSTEPHAN CASTLE (1940) and SS CARNARVON CASTLE (1945 - 1946) including an evacuee label, ms diaries of both voyages (44pp August – October 1940 with references also to his initial accommodation in a Jewish orphanage in Cape Town and 31pp December 1945 – January 1946 mentioning 3 tragic deaths among passengers and crew); a loose leaf album containing 26 ms letters and 5 telegrams sent by him between 20 August 1940 and 17 December 1945 and a letter from his foster father, Harold Stirton (22 May 1945), photographs, Army passes and school memorabilia; souvenir programmes, school reports and other documents collated while in South Africa; and a press cutting and photocopies of documents relating to Barbara Browne (née Turner) also evacuated to South Africa in 1940.
Content description
248 cheerful and lively ms and ts letters and 22 telegrams to his parents written after he had been evacuated to South Africa in the summer of 1940 as a thirteen year old, containing details of his voyage out from England and arrival in Cape Town and with good descriptions of his experiences while living with childless foster parents in Johannesburg including school, sports and leisure activities, covering also the minimal impact of the war in South Africa on civilian life which comprised a few scarcities and practice blackouts (see early 1942), fundraising and morale boosting events such as the 'Liberty Cavalcade' (May 1942), 'Unite for Victory' parade (June 1943) and 'Speed the Victory Fair' (November 1944) and concern for relatives in the Forces (see 19 October 1942 for papers relating to his host's nephew, Lieutenant Locke Stirton MC of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment) and with interesting references to radio broadcasts to and by his parents (see 12 January, 19 October 1942 and 6 February 1944 for example), unrest between the various strata of South African society and attending his first political meeting (13 March 1943), meeting the organiser of the Children's Overseas Reception Board, Sir Geoffrey Shakespeare (17 September 1944) and VJ Day celebrations, as well as his service as a Gunner in the South African Artillery (February – December 1945) based principally at a training camp at Potchefstroom in the Transvaal with insight into conditions there, his options as an evacuee and a soldier and his preparations for his return to England; additionally: a ts transcript of his letters (covering also 4 lost originals) and associated research material (total 312pp); the contents of an album kept by him comprising mementoes of his residence in Johannesburg, military service and voyages to and from South Africa in the SS LLANSTEPHAN CASTLE (1940) and SS CARNARVON CASTLE (1945 - 1946) including an evacuee label, ms diaries of both voyages (44pp August – October 1940 with references also to his initial accommodation in a Jewish orphanage in Cape Town and 31pp December 1945 – January 1946 mentioning 3 tragic deaths among passengers and crew); a loose leaf album containing 26 ms letters and 5 telegrams sent by him between 20 August 1940 and 17 December 1945 and a letter from his foster father, Harold Stirton (22 May 1945), photographs, Army passes and school memorabilia; souvenir programmes, school reports and other documents collated while in South Africa; and a press cutting and photocopies of documents relating to Barbara Browne (née Turner) also evacuated to South Africa in 1940.
History note
Cataloguer AC