From a troopship, July 1945
By Rhiannonw
- 2688 reads
The place – he’s in a troopship on the way;
the why? long journey home, he fills each day
recalling memories of years abroad
in war, his toil peripheral, and stored
in mind because of censorship, but now
writes to the one to whom he made a vow
while there in midst of conflict when her ‘yes’
had sealed a waiting hope in midst of stress;
details of daily circumstances were
then by necessity withheld from her:
impressions of these years he must record
– adjures she cease to read if she is bored!:
so eager and impatient to get home
this writing seems to speed the journey on.
He left these shores in Nineteen forty-one
just twenty-four in age, service begun –
North Africa with infiltrating sand,
then Palestine and India; Burma – land
of driving bumpy war-torn jungle ‘roads’,
hard toil and some comradely episodes.
He died in ’sixty-nine, and later on
I read this interesting letter long
– my father then as young as I was now
describing how he felt, what he went through,
and his anticipation of the sight
of home and family and friends – delight,
especially of one to be his wife,
an end to separation, and war-strife.
[IP: coming home]
A number of years ago I made a start at trying to summarise the letter, which was completed after getting back to this country:
https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/letter-war-%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%C2%A6
https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/letter-war-part-2
We long ago scanned it as it was fading, but now I am typing it up as it is so readable, I think my children might be fascinated at reading the words of their grandad (or, rather ‘Dadcu’) (whom they never knew) written when he was around their age!
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Comments
How fascinating, and what an
How fascinating, and what an original use of the Ip - I enjoyed this Rhiannon - thank you
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Those letters from long ago
Those letters from long ago are so precious. A wonderful use of the IP.
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This is so interesting
This is so interesting Rhiannon. My father was around the same age and was in Palestine - after being a paratrooper at Arnhem - I wonder if they ever met. He died quite young too. My partner's father was an officer in Burma. Wish I'd found out more when I could - but it was something noone ever spoke about. So pleased you shared this.
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All three parts are brilliant
All three parts are brilliant reading. I don't know anything about any of my family's war history. Thankyou for sharing yours
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War can only truely be
War can only truly be understood by letters and journals written for future generations of family.
An absorbing read Rhiannon.
Jenny.
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Yes. It's good to remember we
Yes. It's good to remember we are the same human beings all through history. Rising to challenges, agreeing peace, finding things that make us laugh and bring us together
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