Sent by:Maurice Read
Sent to:Beryl Margaret Hawkins Read
Sent from:Batavia, Java (now Jakarta, Indonesia)
Date of letter:28 April 1942
"One thing, I think, which may effect my health or digestion is the amount of rice we are given to eat having it in some form or other for every meal, although I believe it is supposed to do one good!"
When my Mother, Beryl Margaret Hawkins Read, passed in 2005 following my Father Maurice’s death in 1992, we discovered an A4 box of moments including this first letter from my Dad.
There were also government pamphlets, photos and various bits and pieces.
VIDEO
Transcript:
1208213, LAC. Read, M.
28/4/42.
My Dearest Loved One,
Once again the time has come to write to you, my dearest, and not by any means too soon. I don’t suppose you have heard, at this date, anything definite about me and I pray you are not worrying yourself too much. It will be an enormous relief to you when you receive a letter from me but I hope to be home before then!! One of my greatest causes for worry is the fear that you are not keeping well as it must have been a shock to you to know I am a prisoner of war but you must keep your chin up as I have told you so many times. I, myself, am in excellent health and there is no need for you to worry on that account. One thing, I think, which may effect my health or digestion is the amount of rice we are given to eat having it in some form or other for every meal, although I believe it is supposed to do one good! If you ever give me rice when I get home, which will not be long, I shall come out [...] fast again!!! I shall bring a small bag home just in case you forget!
We are all naturally “browned off” with this life but on the whole have very little to grumble about even though we do. Concerts are [...] up pretty frequently those by the S.T.C (Special Technical Corps), who are [...] Indians and Chinese and were recruited in Malaya, being the best [...] are extremely versatile. They all speak English. We have football matches [...] every day and badminton and table tennis teams have been got up [...] competitions held. A sports meeting was held last week and running, [...] and the usual events included which the S.T.C won on points and [...] cup presented to them. We also have gramaphone recitals most of [...] fortunately, being classics. Lectures are held on various subjects [...] borough council procedure etc, etc., and I have taken up [...] German & Malay and am getting on quite well & hope, by the time [...] , to speak both fluently. My job is in the Orderly Room as [...] have therefore a comparatively light job for a little while, anyway. [...] has also been formed as also has a Tok “H” club and an Arts [...]. The library is small but we hope to get the cooperation [...] Library. So you see we have plenty to occupy our minds and I [...] full advantage of everything to keep mine active. We are issued [...] cigarettes per week which is useful though not enough but we [...] buying, if we have money, tobacco from the native vendors which [...] worth making nearly 75 cigarettes which [...]
Tagged:Asia , PoW
Contributed by:Veronica S Silander
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