Letter from Pat Hogan to his father

Letter from Pat Hogan to his father

Writes about his leave in South Africa and going to the races.

One page handwritten letter

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EHoganPJHoganDH4402XX

Date [blacked out]
Dear Dad
We are fortunate to be on leave in ………South Africa. With it’s subtropical climate everything is verdant and the scenery in any direction is really beautiful. It is a land of plenty from foodstuffs to clothing and jewellery but our difficulties are trivial compared to theirs, which lie in entirely different directions. There are some beautiful residential areas and many beautiful buildings , parks and gardens etc. I went to the races on Saturday. It was a favorites day & I did a fiver. They ride with a much longer stirrup. The tote pays out on any stable mate of the winner and also pays a fourth place dividend for more than 16 starters. It’s pretty hot here but I’m fit enough. Troops are catered for fairly well in the city although we had a reputation to live down. The people are just beginning to warm up a bit.
The cathedral isn’t in a very nice part of the town but some of the statues and stone work inside is marvellous.
Love to all at home
Pat