Letters to my father 1 of 4 -1942 to Feb 42(transcribed from the originals he kept)

Letter 4
Date : An unknown date — assumed 1942 early in war.
Senders Address BPt Parsons T/7044847,
‘A’ Platoon,
142, Gen. Army Tran. Coy.
RASC cmf
A.P.O. 1810
Dear George,
Here I am writing to you again and I am still at sea and up till now have not the faintest idea where I am going. I have started to number the letters so you will be able to see how the letters are reaching you.
Well, I am getting fed up of the sea now and thank heavens I am in the Army and not the Navy. I never thought there was so much water, although I suppose I shall soon be off this boat.
However the monotony has been broken by a few days leave at one of the ports of call and believe me it is a wonderful place. It is much more up to date than any place in England and it seems to be run on American lines with its high buildings and wide streets. It was quite strange at first to see all the lights on again.
There is any amount of fruit and we has some rare times with those forgotten fruits such as bananas, pineapples, oranges etc. The canteens were numerous and the food was quite good and cheap. The people of the town were very hospitable and they put in a tremendous amount of work for our benefit. The car trade seems to be and important trade here and they all have got some smashing cars out here, the streamline effect being right up to date.
There are of course quite a good few niggers here to, in fact I suppose they are in the majority. The weather was not very good, I think it rained most of the time, but with the various entertainments it did not make much difference. I cannot describe the place as I should like to. But I was amazed to see it, as when one thinks of these places you mostly think of wide open spaces and black people.
The cost of living seems pretty well the same as in England, although the wages here seem to be higher. Certain things are very cheap such as cigarettes and watches and jewellery. If I ever come back this way I will buy some. Altogether I had a very enjoyable stay there.
Well, there is not much more to write about so I will now finish, but hope that you are in the best of health and getting plenty of leave and that May is O>K> too.
Cheerio, and all the best./
Walter
P.S. Will you get something done about the car and the two lorries that are lying idle. You know that it is ridiculous to neglect money like that and although I have written and told her she might not make a move in selling them and you do not always get these opportunities. She will leave them lying there and the money will be very useful, so please let me know in your reply that you have made some move to get rid of them. I will rely on you to do something.
I do not know whether I told you last time but if there is any trouble do not hesitate to get rid of the rest as she might think she is doing something for me by keeping things going while she may be working at a loss, so will you find out what is happening as I do not want her to lose her money and I can easily start again. So if there is any trouble, make her see reason.

By Air Mail
Date 10/8/42 Passed by Censor 4158 15/08/42
To:- G. H. PARSONS (WRITER) M886830.
MESS 7
H.M.S. COCHRANE I
C/O G.P.O
London
ENGLAND
Senders Address T/7044847 L/Sgt Parsons W
‘A’ Platoon,
142, GEN. TRANS COY
RASC
MEF
Dear George,
Just a few lines hoping that you are keeping alright and in the best of health and you are getting home fairly often. Although I cannot phone home these letters and air-graphs are the next best thing and they do travel pretty fast.
Well, there is not much I can tell you here although this place is an experience and seeing is believing. The natives here are certainly a crowd on their own and I will have many things to tell you when I get home again, The climate has taken a bit of settling down to but I think I am getting used to it now, although I shall never want to go to the sea-side again to see the sand.

When the sand starts blowing about it is like being in a fog, but I think the most annoying thing is the flies. While I am writing this I am writing with one hand and knocking them off with the other. The most useful thing I have got here is the fly swatter and the dead flies are lying strewn on the floor of the wagon. Although I have killed about two hundred to-day there are still a few thousand others.
They have a different technique to English flies and zoom down on you like Spitfires and when you are eating food you clear them all away and then take a quick bite or they dive into your mouth.
However I am keeping quite well and if my letters do not arrive to regularly do not worry as I shall be quite alright. Hoping May is keeping O.K.
Cheerio, and all the best
Walter

By Air Mail
Date 10/8/42 Passed by Censor 4153 15/08/42
To:- G. H. PARSONS (WRITER) M886830.
MESS 7
H.M.S. COCHRANE I
C/O G.P.O
London
ENGLAND
Senders Address T/7044847 L/Sgt Parsons W
‘A’ Platoon,
142, GEN. TRANS COY
RASC
MEF
Dear George,
Just a few lines to let you know that I am in good health and everything is O>K> There is not much I can tello you although there is plenty to do out here. I hope that you are fit and well and getting home fairly often.
I am now getting more settled to this great expanse of desert although time does not mean very much. In fact we may often argue as to what day it is. I am afraid that we are quite a way from any towns and therefore cannot see the sights. I have had a bit of trouble with one of my eyes but it is alright again no, but I do wear sun glasses during the day.
Well I will now conclude, but hope everybody is alright at home.
Cheerio, and all the best
Walter
By Air Mail
Date 5/9/42 Passed by Censor 4158 15/08/42
To:- G. H. PARSONS (WRITER)
MX 86830 MESS 7
H.M.S. COCHRANE I
C/O G.P.O
London
ENGLAND
Senders Address T/7044847 L/Sgt Parsons W
‘A’ Platoon,
142, GEN. TRANS COY
RASC
MEF
Dear George,
Here I am writing a few lines again and hope that you are alright. I will write as often as possible and it generally works out about once a week. I have just received a letter from home and Min says she expects to be called up for service. Will you find out what the position is regarding her staying at home as I realise what a difference it would make to mother if she has to go away? Although they should know what steps to take.
I am keeping well and am now beginning to find my way around a bit of this desert although there are of course, various methods used, but once one gets to know the tracks it is not too bad. When I say a track I do not mean the sort of narrow road that you come across in England. It may be anything up to half a mile wide and the going may change many times within a couple of miles. One minute you are ploughing your way through soft sand, another time you strike hard ground, and then again you strike ground that reminds you of the big Dipper at Blackpool. However we manage to get through it alright.
At the moment it is fairly quite and we are not doing too badly, although we shall they say soon have winter here. The sooner the better if only to get rid of these flies. I have given up my pastime of killing them. It seems a waste of time there are too many to cope with.
How is Charlie keeping? I understand he has gone in for farming in a big way. I am afraid I must finish now as I cannot concentrate owing to these perishing flies, so
Cheerio and all the best
Walter

By Air Mail
Date 20/12/42 Passed by Censor 4158 15/08/42
To:- G. H. PARSONS (WRITER)
MX 86830 MESS 7
H.M.S. COCHRANE I
C/O G.P.O
London
ENGLAND
Senders Address T/7044847 L/Sgt Parsons W
‘A’ Platoon,
142, GEN. TRANS COY
RASC
MEF
Dear George,
A few lines in answer to some of your letters for the last three or four weeks. I am sorry I have not been able to write very often to you recently, but no doubt you can read that we are having a pretty busy time. However it is all to our advantage.
I have just collected about three weeks mail and newspapers, also two parcels from home and they all seem to be keeping well. They sent me a photograph of you, one which I think you will remember, taken while you were camping one year. I have now got quite a number of B’ham Mails to read and shall be able o gather up all the local news. Glancing through one, I noticed how they are working the fuel system, it does not seem to leave a great lot to spare. Mother does I see still keep up to date with her old friend Dandy.
My tells me that you have lost weight. I trust it is not due to the old game of mother saying there is plenty of time to catch the train and then find the clock is about half an hour slow. I have not heard much about the dancing lately although I suppose May and Min are now experts.
I was noticing the price of commercials and they are not so high as I thought they would be. Also car prices seem to be up fairly high. I hope that things are not going to badly at home. I did not realise how near it was to Christmas until I received the parcels, but of course I am afraid there will not be any late parties this year.
However things seem to be going very well for us out here and it may not be long before we are altogether again. I trust that you did manage to get home for a few days. I am feeling fit and in good health, and it is much better now that it is winter. It is still fairly warm during the day but it goes quite cold at night, but there is not so much dust flying about
I will now conclude hoping you are well and in the best of health
Cheerio and all the best
Walter

Date20/12/42
Day and month unclear
Xmas Greetings
To:- Mrs G. PARSONS
64A GRANGE RD
SMALL HEATH
BIRMINGHAM 10
ENGLAND
Senders Address T/7044847 Pte Parsons, 142, bay Army Tran. RASC cmf
To May/
Best Wishes Walter
Greetings from the Middle East

Military Airgraph Service authorised by Egyptian postal Administration
Date 04/02/43 Passed by Censor 4158 04/02/43
To:- G. H. PARSONS (WRITER) M886830.
MESS 7
H.M.S. COCHRANE I
C/O G.P.O
London
ENGLAND
Senders Address T/7044847 L/Sgt Parsons W
‘A’ Platoon,
142, GEN. TRANS COY
RASC MEF
Dear George,
A few lines to let you know that I am fit and in good health, and trust that you are the same. I was pleased to hear that you managed to get leave at Christmas. No doubt your visit at that time benefited all at home.
I was surprised to learn that you went to Halls. I had more or less forgotten them. Trust mother to bring a few bottles from somewhere. Out here of course it is the same as any other day and very often I do not know which day or what date it is, except perhaps Wed. when we have our free issue of cigarettes.
We have of curse been having a change of scenery, the last few months and at the moment it is fairly pleasant compared with some of the places. A few more weeks will I think see summer here again in full force. I have already started making a fly swat.
Wishing you all the best / Walter

By Air Mail
Date 18/02/43 Passed by Censor 4158 To:- G. H. PARSONS (WRITER)
MX 86830 MESS 7
H.M.S. COCHRANE I
C/O G.P.O
London
ENGLAND
Senders Address T/7044847 L/Sgt Parsons W
‘A’ Platoon,
142, GEN. TRANS COY
RASC
MEF
Dear George,
Just few lines to let you know that I am fit and in good health and trust that you are the same.
I have received some letters and papers from home recently and they seem to be in good health. I hope that they are not getting too much trouble with the motors now. I had two B’ham Mails but there was nothing outstanding as regards local news.
One thing I did see was that the rubber situation is serious, I do not know how you are getting over that difficulty. However I wish to remind you of what I wrote to you and mother if you find yourself in any difficulties. Do not hesitate to sell them.
Well everything seems to be going pretty good for us out here and we should soon see the end of this campaign out here. No doubt it will shorten the war by a considerable period. I often wonder if after this war it will be possible to carry on with the work as pre-war, although I suppose it will be possible to start again from where we left off.
I suppose that by the time you receive this letter you will be getting ready for your next leave. I hope you still get plenty of week end leave. You mentioned in one of your letters that you gave the neighbours the benefit of your musical talent. Although my musical days are over for a bit, I think I could still play ‘Love is All’ without much trouble. I hope you are not neglecting your snooker practice while I am away as I do not like playing one-sided games.
I will now conclude, wishing you all the best
Walter

Draft pencilled letter
Date — undated
Dear Walter
Pleased to hear you are still in good health — look after yourself, there will be a few more years to see through when this war is over. This is the position at home, so hold tight to the nearest lorry and prepare. We lost / were unable to keep the job at Lucas’s, being unable to keep the lorry in working order. The men — the only people available had as dunces are certainly no mechanics, not able to put right the smallest defect.
Although we had the engind re-bored and overhauled at Falletts? The dunces found it difficult to start, chiefly through lack of experience. These troubles combined with shortage of labour, petrol, spares and the moving? curtailed? prevented us from carrying on at Lucas’s. This job by the way has stopped sometime now.
Now for the coal trade.
Charlie of late had been lazy and inefficient only doing a small tonnage as a over a period showing little profit. He was sacked last December. We are now paying for the haulage of the coal which is delivered in 3 days and all the cash retained. Only cash deliveries are made now. Mr Hickman has put the idea over. This is a much better arrangement — a bigger tonnage, less expenses and certainly a better profit than before with no worry.
So everything is in the bag! You will notice I had not put my address on this letter. I am on the move and will let you know later.
All the best
George

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