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

Writes complaining of lack of information about grave and that the War Graves Commission were the only ones to write and they supplied little information. Malcolm was laid to rest at Court L'Eveque, Haut-Marne. Writes about possible inscription on headstone. Catches up with family news,

1948-07-28

Two page handwritten air letter

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EPayneMLWeeksD450728

[underlined] 28.7.48 [/underlined]
Box 29
Yarrawonga
[underlined] Watervale [/underlined]

My Dear Doris.
Was ever so pleased to rec. your letter of the 13th. I was feeling very sad that day, & had several telegrams from friends saying they were thinking of me. The year seemed to go very quickly but what untold suffering & grief was packed into it! I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed when you hear from War Graves Comm [Commission], Doris. They are the only people from whom we have heard & the letter contained no information except that Malcolm was laid to rest Court L’Eveque. Grave I. (Don is Grave II so they are sleeping side by side.). Mr Brown’s communication went so far as to say – “Court Leveque, in Dept [Department} of Haute, Marne, France.” There is something wrong, somewhere. More information should be forthcoming, but if Mrs Grieve’s dream comes true she hopes to visit this place & contact the people, so one day we may yet know the facts. We received the form to fill in, from War Graves Directorate, for inscription on the poor kid’s headstone. Only 43 letters may be used & they suggest “Duty nobly done” or some such. Preferring something a little more original we chose “Sleep well, Beloved.” Do you like it?
By the way, Doris, did the air ministry notify you at the time that Malcolm must now be presumed dead? I have often wondered & meant to ask you, because if they did it’s a wonder you did not receive this later news as did Mrs Shaw & the others

[page break]

Keith arrives home on 20th. Oh dear! He’s so long & lean & brown he looks like an Indian I tell him. They stayed 4 days with us then went to the city & on to Doris’s Jack for a few days & we expect them back tomorrow. Theres [sic] a letter from you for Doris she’ll be very thrilled. So the parcel arrived at long last. Fancy it has been nearly 5 months en-route. I hope your
BY AIR MAIL AIR LETTER [postmark] [postage stamp]
Miss D. Weeks
37 Hawthotne Rd.
Bunkers Hill
LiNCOLN.
ENGLAND.
Senders name and address:-
Mrs F Payne
Watervale
S. A
mother has an enjoyable holiday or what is more to the point, a good rest. I have received her letter & will answer same soon. Your photo has not come to hand yet but am looking forward to getting it very soon.
Now with all our love,
Yours lovingly,
Xxx M L Payne. xxx