Letter to Phillip Mathew's Mother from Air Ministry

Letter to Phillip Mathew's Mother from Air Ministry

The letter confirms her son is missing and advises she will receive an allotment of 7/- a week.

1944-10-24

Two typewritten sheets and an envelope

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EAirMinMatthewsA441024-0001, EAirMinMatthewsA441024-0002, EAirMinMatthewsA441024-0003

[postmark 24 OCT 1944]

Mrs. A. Matthews,
87, Woodland Road,
Northfield,
Birmingham.

[page break]

[Air Ministry crest]

F.A. FORM 143

AIR MINISTRY,
WHITTINGTON ROAD,
WORCESTER.

TELEPHONE: WORCESTER 3411

Any communications on the subject of this letter should be addressed to:-
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE,
and the following number quoted:-
Matthews/1204048/7.K.

24 October, 1944.

Madam,

[underlined] 1204048 Flight Sergeant P.M. Matthews [/underlined]

I have to refer with regret to the fact that your son has been officially promulgated as missing on 23rd September, 1944, and in these circumstances you will wish to be informed with regard to the voluntary allotment of 7/- a week at present in payment to you.

I am to state that the regulations permit of the continuance of payment at the present rate for seventeen weeks from the date the casualty was notified (i.e. four weeks as an allotment from the airman’s pay and thirteen weeks from public-funds). If your son is still missing at the end of this period of seventeen weeks, the payment may continue for a further period of nine weeks (i.e. up to and including order number 3 (due for payment on the 22nd March, 1945) unless in the meantime a further promulgation is made regarding him, in which event you will be notified of any amendment which may in consequence be necessary.

You should accordingly continue to cash the orders in your order book unless you are notified to the contrary, but in no circumstances may orders be cashed after number 3 and the order book must be returned to this Department immediately after that order has been cashed.

Mrs. A. Matthews,
87, Woodland Road,
Northfield,
Birmingham.

31M4895-1

P.T.O.

[page break]

When your title to the above allowance ceases, a further allowance may be authorised at the rate of pension (if any) which would have been payable had your son been reported as a fatal casualty. An essential condition for such an allowance is, however, that there must be pecuniary need arising from old age, or from infirmity or other adverse condition not being merely of a temporary character. If you consider yourself entitled, and wish to make a claim (having regard to the above condition), I am to ask that you will be good enough to notify this Department of your intention to claim at an early date, so that the necessary forms may be forwarded to you and full consideration given before your present allowance expires.

I am, Madam,
Your obedient Servant,

[signature]
for Director of Accounts.

WOR.1565

31M4895-1 D/d.8737 3000 7/44 PRP