Sent by:Sidney Shipp
Sent to:Joan Shipp
Sent from:South Africa
Date of letter:26 January 1943
"Our tent is called "Hello Kitchen" but it ought to be called The Zoo, we've had all kinds of animal life in it."
I have quite a few Airgraphs which were sent to my mother from my father who was stationed in Burma (as it was called) from 1943 to 1945, his service record, also a Christmas Day menu with signatures of his friends on the back.
I was too young to read so some of them were his drawings of animals. I have them in an album in date order. I don’t want to part with them but will TRY to photo them if they are of interest to you.
Transcript:
26-1-43
My Own Precious Darlings,
I hope you are all keeping well & happy dear. I hope you've got some of my letters by now also the cable. I'm somewhere in South Africa Darling. I believe Sydney was here, on his way to the Middle East. I'm in a rest camp dear in tents, but I'm not a bit happy, we haven't been here very long but I've been flooded out twice all ready, the second time I woke up lying in 6 inches of water. Our tent is called "Hello Kitchen" but it ought to be called The Zoo, we've had all kinds of animal life in it, millions of ants & some frogs, lizards & some grass hoppers about 3 inches long. We have to lay all our kit out every day, if we didn't it would be eaten by the ants. I had my photo taken in a Rickshaw with a big Zulu Darling but the sun faded it, I'll have another one done & send it to you. I've been eating too much fruit love & its upset my tummy, wish you & Babs could have some of it. I'd love to see Babs eating a whole melon or pineapple. I wish I could get a letter from you Darling, it worries me an awful lot not knowing how you are. I expect its a bit cold in Durham now dear, its not bad here 80 degrees in the shade today. Can't write very much in these letters Dearest but I'd like to say I love you an awfull lot & am dying to be with you once again. Allways your true devoted Hubby & Daddy Sid xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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