Letter from Pat Hogan to Rev Jim Hogan

Letter from Pat Hogan to Rev Jim Hogan

Apologises for not writing sooner and describes activities as reasons. Describes recent leave activities. Complains about Yorkshire but says he is pleased to be on Halifax. Mentions mass every Sunday and acting as permanent altar boy. Comments on staying at the Australian forces club in London and going to the Brompton Oratory.

1944-12-02

Four sided handwritten airmail letter

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EHoganPJHoganJS441202

A436464 F/SGT HOGAN
RAAF AUSPO
LONDON
2/12/44.

Dear Jim,

Actually I've been intending to do this for sometime but somehow an other I never seem to get down to it. I also intended to cable you greetings before the 9th inst. & had the opportunity yesterday as I had a day off & got into Leeds. However I went to the pictures in the afternoon & remembered your cable when consuming my dinner & it was then too late. I can't send one from the station here so you will have to be contented with my rather belated assurance that I did think of it.

I don't know when I last wrote you but image it was sometime before I last went on leave. Needless to say I had a slashing time & particularly enjoyed the ramble Roger Johnson & I had through Kent & Surrey. Despite doodlebugs,rockets, shelling & everything else they've

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had, it is by far the most beautiful & picturesque part of England I've had the pleasure of seeing. That brings me back to the direct opposite & that believe me is Yorkshire. Still Marie at some time or other has no doubt handed on all my moans about this place so I won't bore you with it further. Besides I'm getting used to both the weather and the routine around here. We are getting a little flying but are so bored that we like quite a lot more. As a matter of fact we are all rather keen on the old Halifax & are very pleased about being on them.

We now get Mass every Sunday again & I seem to be installed here now as the permanent altar – boy & so far have been fortunate not to have had to fly on a Sunday morning. It is a little difficult to get away at times from the section but the 3 “Micks” in our crew have always managed it so far.

Whilst staying at the Aust. Forces Club last time I was in London, I went to Mass

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one morning at the Brompton Oratory in Kensington. It is an enormous Church run by the Jesuits & is a masterpiece in marble although I'd never heard of it before it is far more elaborate than such historical churches as Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, St. Paul's, Selby Abbey, York Minster, Lichfield Cathedral etc.

Eileen tells me she hopes to go to Sydney for Christmas & seems quite buoyed up in anticipation. So far I've not heard definitely how Doreen & Kevin faired in the recent exams but hope the went alright.

I've heard very little of you, lately, for that matter, apart from the fact that you'd been down to Bendigo for the retreat recently & did a spot of relief work on the way back. How's the car running lately? I was thinking of buying one myself over here but got too much leave, when I kept travelling around & staying at decent hotels instead of service clubs & consequently spent most of the money I had on hand. Still whilst on leave, one enjoys a few luxuries & taken all round it's probably worth it. Remember me in your prayers. Your loving brother, Pat.

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AIR LETTER

Rev. J.S. Hogan
St. Patrick's Presbytery
Wangaratta Vic
Australia

Sender
A436464 F/Sgt Hogan P.
RAAF AUSPO
LONDON WC2