Informing his that his son was missing as a result of air operations on night 7/8 June 1944 when his Lancaster in which he was flight engineer failed to return.
Excerpt (pages 7 and 8) from letter from CR Phillips to F Phillips. Writes he will be with her again soon and ambitions for after the war. Expresses his love for her.
Reports letters arrived and transit time. Agrees with suggestion it would be better to wait until the end of the war to make decisions on farming. Describes weather and local trees. Inside compound is like a desert after 700 of them have trampled it…
Writes about mail to relations and receiving book parcels. Asks them not to send any more money to person sending book as the ones she sends are rubbish. Writes about a play he saw and mentions sergeants' theatre. Mentions that there were some…
Writes about mail and catches up with family news. Mentions a photograph of all the South Africans of Schubin [sic] (XXIB) and plans to send it. Writes about friend in camp receiving letters and photographs as well as other gossip. Mentions planned…
Apologizes for being gloomy in his last letter. Mentions that there had been talk of sending long standing prisoners to neutral countries but does not think much chance as many had been there for over 3 years. Comments that no mail had arrived from…
Reports arrival of first two letters for two months and catches up with news from home. Mentions he is still getting letters from 'girlfriends' and that he thinks a lot of wives taking opportunity for a spot of fun while husbands are locked up.…
Hopes they had had a good Christmas and said his was good as they got drunk on raison wine. Mentions letter from home which made him homesick. Writes of prisoners getting flu and of cough caught as a result of recent weather. Catches up with news.
Dated incorrectly 6 January 1943. Greeting from 1944 and hopes to be with them by end of year. Catches up with news of friends in camp. Writes that the only really warm place is in bed and they are half way through winter with the worst to come.…
Reports arrival of letters and ask her to thank donor of pyjamas which had nor arrived yet but were expected in next parcel. Writes listing contents of previous parcel from Rhodesia House which would be useful for the next winter as he expected still…
Mentions writing previously to congratulate him on birth of daughter. Catches up with gossip from home and suggests he prepare for party when he gets home. Discusses farming and book he had read and speculates on his future employment. Writes he was…
Reports arrival of latest letters and catches up with news from home. Writes that his Christmas had not been very merry but they had had a good meal [two sections are blacked out by censor]. Mentions choir recital and church service.
Note that letter was undated but thinks it was December 1944. Says he was thinking of them on their birthdays. Asks them about their holiday in Cape Town and arranging for him to be sent a sweater. Speculates on future and catches up with other…
Feeling more cheerful with the first spring weather. Had received no mail from home. Discusses address of someone's relatives in England who had put him up and he had not thanked because he became a prisoner. Mentions attending lectures and that…
Addressed dear sweetheart. Catches up with news of friends in England. Mentions another trips still to do before leave. Mentions that they were shot up a and the navigator and wireless operator were wounded and they crash landed on return. Concludes…
Writes that he saw a friend of Harry's while watching a soccer match in another compound. Had not met him before but could not have long chat [censor blacked out]. Mentions seeing other acquaintance.
He tells her how pleased he is to hear good news regarding her husband. He imparts all the local news, including the birth of a baby boy. Mentions flying bombs giving friends a hard time in London.
Thanks her for letter and comments on how lucky she is to have his brother as husband. Mentions he would be leaving current location soon and has only a little night flying to finish. Writes he will be happy to get home as he has been away so long.…
From Red Cross prisoner of war department congratulating her on birth of her son and that they would cable through Geneva giving information about the birth to her husband.
From Red Cross prisoner of war department. Explains that football items of clothing must be sent in next of kin parcel as there was no special label for a sports parcel.