Letter from Pat Hogan to his father

Letter from Pat Hogan to his father

Thanks him for cable and that he had just finished the last of his leave. Mention staying on base until the rest of his crew apart from one were buried at Harrogate. The other crew member's body was sent to Dorchester for a private funeral. Writes of his activities on leave mostly around London and Surrey looking up relations, friends and girl friends of his crew. Mentions visits to Brighton and Bognor Regis. Mentions that hanging around waiting for funeral was detrimental to his nervous system. Speculates on his future assuming he would be sent to a training unit to pick up a new crew. Catches up with news of colleagues and says that they should not worry about him and that he was convinced that the business was a matter of luck and that he would have another go without the slightest complex.

1945-03-17

Four sided handwritten airmail letter

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EHoganPJHoganDH450317

A436464 F/SGT HOGAN p.
RAAF AUSPO
LONDON
17/3/45

Dear Dad,

Thanks for the cable I picked up yesterday at Auspo. I'm just finishing the last of my leave at the moment & am feeling pretty fit. I waited around the station until the Friday when the boys were buried at Harrogate, [deleted] and [/deleted] except Wally of course, whose body was sent down to Dorchester for a private funeral.

I've spent most of my time in and around London. Some of the tasks I set myself in looking up friends, relatives & girl friends of the lads were not so good. I also went down to Sussex for a couple of days, struck beautiful weather & believe me it was grand to laze away in the sun on the sea fronts of Brighton & Bognor. Brighton has changed

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considerably of late, now they are clearing away mines, barbed wire etc. sewing new lawns, splashing a bit of paint around & opening the place up to the public.

I intended going down to Dorchester on return but squibbed it this time. Admittedly it is hardly in keeping with certain customs to be continually on the move seeing shows & going to dances etc. but I found whilst waiting for the funerals that hanging around by myself was definitely detrimental to my nervous system & hence I've given myself no further opportunity to mope.

I've got to start back sometime tomorrow & hence I should soon know what the future holds in store for me. I presume, though, that I'll be sent back to a training unit to pick up a new crew.

Bill Bullen & Roger Laing have to report straight back to another squadron on return from this leave. Apparently there is a crew there requiring two gunners in a hurry.

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There is not the slightest need to worry about me for I feel quite OK. However I'm quite convinced that this business is entirely a matter of luck & if necessary I'll have another go without the slightest “complex”.

I trust you are all pretty fit. Thanks for the prayers – keep 'em up. Ill write again when I know what my fate is.

Love to all at home.

Pat.

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AIR LETTER

Mr D.H. Hogan
67 Chapel St.,
Bendigo Vic
Australia.

Sender

A436464 F/S HOGAN.
RAAF AUSPO
LONDON.