"I have also two calendars above my charp but as yet no 'pin-ups' or other pictures!"
My father was a man who saved everything during his lifetime including from the time he spent serving with the RAF in India in WW2. I therefore have a large collection of letters, photographs, books, magazines etc all pertaining to the time he spent there.
He died 10 years ago followed by my mother in 2023. When I cleared their house I discovered this amazing collection of historical memorabilia.
He wrote this letter from Khurdabad in India to his parents in Kingswinford, West Midlands.
I have also sent with the letter a photo of my father whilst in India (he is on the far left).
Transcript:
My dear Mum & Dad,
Today I received a letter from the Bank of India stating that £5 had been sent from London or words to that effect. Thanks a lot. As soon as I receive the cash I will write to respective relations thanking them also. This has arrived just in time for leave I am going on the 10th of August. I have carried our expensive preparations such as buying new shirts & slacks. Having shoes repaired, Blue cleaned and pressed and many other odd items so you see the money has arrived just at the right moment.
Your newspapers and periodicals are coming through nicely now and I have received that April 22nd [unclear]. I had been trying to guess who the engaged couple were, I never guessed it was Aubrey Stokes & Barbara Simper.
Did I tell you in my last letter that I had moved to another hut? This one is much smaller and more homley. As soon as we were established I got cracking and have now just about my charpoy [= style of bed used in India], a bookcase, a little lower a small shelf where I put all my locket necessities and at the side of the charps I have fixed to wall a small table which is shared by my pal in the next charpoy & my self.
I have also two calendars above my charp but as yet no 'pin-ups' or other pictures!
Last week I was on another [unclear] course and again scored highest in the shooting. We had a T.V.E.T. As yet we have not heard the results but I think I answered every question correctly.
We also threw live grenades and one which the instructor thres failed to explode. At the end of the throwing they blew it up with gun cotton. Is this the correct way? On the last exercise we were told that a grenade could not be exploded by placing another grenade by its side and pulling out the pin. I suppose this applied equally as well to gun cotton. They said on the last [unclear] that it would only blow the grenade away and that the correct way to do it was to remove the base plug and place a new detinator in and fuse it. Could you enlighten me Dad?
I have just returned from the camp cinema where I saw Deanna Durbin in "Spring Parade". I thought it a wizard film. There was some lovely music in it too.
Thats the lot for now.
Tagged:Asia
Contributed by:Sally Turner
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