Letter from Mrs Payne, mother of Flight Sergeant Malcolm Payne, to Doris Weeks

Letter from Mrs Payne, mother of Flight Sergeant Malcolm Payne, to Doris Weeks

Appreciates all that Doris is doing. Writes that the are being shabbily treated by Air Ministry and that others had been informed of their relatives fate they had not. They had received notification of presumed dead and that Malcolm was laid to rest in Court L'Eveque. This would have been a shock if they had not had letters from relatives of other crew members. Mention photograph of burial in France sent to her by another relative,

1945-07-15

Two page handwritten air letter

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EPayneMLWeeksD450715

Box 29
Yarrawonga
Watervale

My dear Doris

Was so glad to receive your air letter of July 1st yesterday and do so much appreciate what you are doing for us. I know only too well dear how you are feeling & the shock you must have got. I'll never forget opening Mrs Shaw's letter, every thing went black & just for one awful moment I was sure I was going to faint. Naturally we are feeling hurt at being so shabbily treated by Air Ministry - Air Board in Aust. is just as ignorant of facts as we ourselves but have set about making inquiries. As early as May 6th Mrs Grieve was notified of the facts yet it was June 6th when we were informed "that all efforts to trace our son being fruitless, he must now be officially presumed dead. Only last week we received the dear kids death certificate "officially presumed dead." The English & Canadian parents were notified by telegram before receiving letter of explanation & photo. Yesterday we had a note from War Graves Directorate (Melbourne) saying Malcolm was laid to rest at local cemetery of Court [sic] L'Eveque. Imagine the shock it would have been had we not had letters from Canada & England. Mrs Grieve has kindly offered to have a photo taken off hers for us & Peggy is having one done for Allen's parents

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It is most kind of Mrs Grieve. She said its a lovely photo & shows the French people standing reverently by & the caskets are covered with lovely flowers. She is going to France one day to see Allans grave & I'd love to press a lot of flowers from my garden dear & send her to take to Malcolm for me. His grave by the way is No 1. Little "Scottys" is No 3

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You will probably have had some details by the time this reaches you. He was wonderful to know & you tho you had him for so short a time, you have wonderful memories Sorry about cutting, I meant to have sent it before but will do so during week. Keith is on his way home will arrive about 20th. Now my dear, all our love, & be brave. Words are very futile but I think of you so often.

Fondest love,
M. Payne.

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AIR LETTER

[postage stamp]

[post mark]

Miss D. WEEKS.
37 HAWTHORNE Rd
BUNKERS HILL
LINCOLN
ENGLAND

Sender's name and address:

MRS F. PAYNE
Watervale