Letter to L V Rosser from Dave Smith

Letter to L V Rosser from Dave Smith

Speculates on Rosser's current (civil/military) status and therefore addresses him as 'Mr'. Writes that he arrived in India some months ago but after the Japanese surrender and that he was flying transport on Dakotas from Rangoon. Comments on primitive living conditions, local people and plenty of alcohol. Catches up with news of old friends and states his demob was coming up and he hoped to go to England before returning to South Africa,

1945-11-21

Handwritten airmail letter form

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ESmithDCRosserLV451121

[underlined] SECURITY: THINK – BEFORE YOU WRITE!! [/underlined]
BY AIR MAIL
AIR LETTER
IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT BY ORDINARY MAIL

[post mark]

Mr. L.V. Rosser,
30 Oatlands Rd,
Oxford,
England.

[inserted] Dave Smith [/inserted]

I.A.F.F. – 1083

[page break]

[underlined] THIS LETTER IS FOR THE USE OF H. M. FORCES ONLY [/underlined]
Written in English (Language)

Sender's { No. 1007468
Sender's { Rank W/O
Sender's { Name Smith D.

[page break]

1007468 W/O Smith D,
267 Sqdn. R.A.F.
S.E.A.A.F.
21 Nov. 1945.

Dear Joe,

I am afraid I have taken rather a long time to answer your last letter but you know how it is, old man, and I hope you forgive me. I don't know whether you are out of the R.A.F. but just in case I'm addressing you as Mr. Congratulations on getting your F/Lt. I was glad to hear it.

I arrived in India a few months ago but too late to get tangled up in the Jap campaign. I am now doing transport work on Daks. We are based at Rangoon and go to Saigon, in French Indo China, and Singapore & I believe will soon be going to Hong Kong. It is not too bad out here really although the conditions we are living under are rather primitive and there is not much to do except down in Singapore. It is

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a wizard place & the Chinese women there have to be seen to be believed. They walk around in tight silk pyjamas and I think even you might be tempted to be unfaithful to Pat! We get plenty of spirits but beer is in short supply. Believe it or not I have gone nearly TT. and almost any night you can see me in the mess with my mug of lemon squash, but I don't know how long it will last.

I had a letter from Mac Mackae not so long ago. He is an [sic] F/O & the lucky devil is back in Canada. I haven't any news of any of the other boys, have you? I wrote to Red some months ago but have had no reply . I wonder what he is doing.

My demobbing Group should come through within the next six months and then I'm going back to S.A. But I expect to be in England first and I hope

[page break]

we can arrange a reunion.

Well, Joe, I have no more gen so I'll say cheerio but first I would like to wish you and Pat a very merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Hoping to hear from you soon.

Your old pal,

Dave.