Letter from Pat Hogan to his father

Letter from Pat Hogan to his father

Written on headed notepaper of canteen service department of California, veterans of foreign wars of the United States. From O.P.A 422 Auspost London. Tells of being discharged from ship's hospital on reaching Durban but subsequently continued with medical problems when back on board. Mentions having a good time in Durban. Tells something of conditions on board.

1944-03-05

Two page handwritten letter

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EHoganPJHoganDH440305

[veterans of foreign wars crest]

CANTEEN SERVICE
DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
OF THE UNITED STATES

[badge] 118

AUST 436464
Sgt P. J. Hogan
O.P.A. 4222.

AUSPOST
LONDON.

[deleted] 27 Feb 1944 [/deleted]

[inserted] 5 MARCH [/inserted]

[inserted] P.S. How does Jim like the new [indecipherable word] and what about Doreen at the college? We now have 3 masses daily on board but I’ve not been able to struggle down for a week now. Pat. [/inserted]

Dear Dad,

I’ve not written you since leaving Durban but have a fairly legitimate excuse. As I probably told you I was discharged from ships hospital on reaching Durban & was rather fortunate not to have any trouble whilst there - probably good meals and the gorging of tropical fruits. However as soon as I put my foot back on board here they started to make themselves felt and I’ve spent a fairly painful and torrid time ever since with quite a row of them.

At present my worst boil is on the knee and as I can’t walk I’m back in hospital and they now have me on a course of injections.

To change the subject to something more pleasant I must admit we had a great time in Durban but for the time being we’ll have to leave it an untold story for censorship is censorship.

[page break]

[underlined] 2. [/underlined]

You can probably notice that my address is written with a different pen. My beaut 30/- Conway Stewart which I managed to get in Adelaide is no longer mine. You see a few days ago the boys got an opportunity to run amok with fire hoses & do everyone who was on deck. We were all in [indecipherable word] & it was good fun while it lasted. However when I returned drenched to my cabin I found I’d lost my pen. Enquiries & advertising were unfortunately of no avail.

I’m rather fortunate to have a cabin this time for it has many advantages chiefly port hole & private bathroom which alleviates one queue at least. It is crowded to capacity this time & a more cosmopolitan mob I’ve never seen, almost every allied nation being represented. Meals now aren’t so hot but I guess we’ll get worse before we finish so why worry. The 3 canteens are sold out & there seems to be nothing left in the library so there are 4 queues we no longer have to worry about.

Endeavour to keep the usual weekly coming from home to keep me up with the news. We are still limited to 2 pages here. Did the girls receive the stockings. You had better buy something for Kev for his birthday on my behalf. Good watches were so cheap in Durban I’d have bought some had I had the gumption to bring away some extra money with me. Love to all at home Pat.