Letter from Burma 12

By jeand

Mon, 29 Feb 2016
  • 1520 reads
6 comments
 

Heinda Mine

Tenasserim

Southern Burma

March 30, 1935

 

Dear Mums,

You have probably heard about Jimmy Day's death from pneumonia. I knew he was ill, but didn't think he was going to die. Mark flew  over yesterday so I will be here without him for a week or so. I hope he will be able to see Rosalind while he is there.

I wonder where Mother Day will live from now on. Perhaps she'll move in with
Harold, or go to Una's in Somerst or John's in Stamford. We would love to have her with us, but do not think this climate or our way of life would suit her.

I feel sorry for Patrick, but I suppose he will continue at his boarding school, and
go to Mother Day for holidays, wherever she might be living.

I must send her a note, offering my sympathy. What do you know of Patrick?

 

Love,

Gwenllian

 

 

 

Heinda Mine

Tenasserim

Southern Burma

April 5, 1935

 

Dear Mother Day,

I am so sorry to hear about Jimmy's death. Mark should be with you by now, and
hopefully he will be useful in the days ahead - helping you cope with your next move. Do you have any idea where you will relocate?

Thank you for sending the clipping about Jimmy which just arrived. I hadn't
realised he was only 49. It is lovely to know how much he was loved by the boys at the school, and his colleagues. It says he taught in the prep department, but also that his degree was in Classics and History. Nice to know that he enjoyed his golf and was good enough to win trophys. Again, you would have thought the school would have used him to teach football - as he got his blue at Oxford. And it was good they mentioned his war career too. Being a Major in the Camel Corps in Palestine was quite a challenge, I should think.  To be called enormously successful is quite a compliment. How is Patrick taking
it? Did he get time off from his school?

I knew Patrick was at a boarding school, but couldn't remember which one. But now that I read Shrewsbury, I remember that I did know that.

Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time.

 

Much love,

Gwenllian

 

Certificate U
Story
Letters from Burma 1935
Historical Fiction

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

dying at 49. once thought relatively old. Classics and History. Sounds even older. I guess we've moved on so quickly. 

 

Submitted by jeand on

Thanks CM

I did some research on the camel corps in Palestine yesterday - thinking it might be worth writing a book about it. But it is hard to find a hook. I have pictures of him on his camel with his friends, but no details of his life - no letters from him.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Knowing that your letter would take awhile to travel, must have helped to give it thought, and must have been appreciated by the recipients, even though it meant there was little personal contact because of the long distances apart. Sad for Mark to lose his brother. Were you called 'Mother Day' aswell? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Thanks Rhiannon

No, I have never been called Mother Day. But I had to call my in-laws Ma and Pa - which I didn't want to do. I would have preferred calling them by their first names, but that was seen as rude. And my grandmother-in-law was always called Old Granny. I refused to let any of my grandkids call me Granny - so I am Grandma Jean.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jean,

you mentioned Somerset, my nan lived in Highbridge Somerset when she first got married funnily enough, just love it there but it's a very expensive place to live, so not much chance.

Another interesting read.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Jenny

Several of my husband's relatives ended up in Somerset, which we have visited several times. Lovely place.

Jean

Jean Day