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Letter's received by AirDrop while behind the lines
Address was: C/O No. 18 A.B.P.O (Advanced Base Posted Overseas)
From: 14214509 Pte. A. D. Hunter (Cousin)
Signal Section H.Q. Coy
6th Batt. Seaforth Hlds
C.M.F (Middle East)
Sunday 7th May 1944
Hello Aga (Cocky's nickname in the village)
Just a few lines to let you know how
things are going up this way, for I don't expect you will hear much in
India as regards the situation, anyway it ain't too bad. I expect it is
pretty hot out your way at this time, for it is bad enough here, although
we have been issued with KD, but haven't got into them yet.
How the hell did you manage to get
into that mob Aga?, for a crowd of your auld lot, The Rifles, came out
with us and joined their unit which is with us. You may be better off where
you are, as it has been hellish here lately, but as regards myself, I have
been lucky for I was in hospital for weeks and am only back a fortnight,
which has been pretty easy although the rest of the boys have had it pretty
tough. It's just like home here Aga, only that Jerry's along with
us and gives us a bit of shit now and again. When I read of the battle
of Sheriffmuir and how they fought on the hills, I didn't think it was
possible, but now I do, for it is all hills here.
I had a letter from you Mother today,
and all is well in Menstrie, also I expect you will know that Helen was
married to Jack in March. I was terribly upset with it at first but I have
let it pass, and thought no more about it (also) Mum and Dad are both well,
with the old boy doing a bit of gardening now and again to pass the time.
I wish the second front would hurry
up and open, as it would relieve the pressure from us and let us get it
over with, and let more boys join you out in Burma and get those yellow
bellied rats finished too, for I am fed up with the whole damn show.
I met Tommy Mach when I was in convalescent
camp in Sicily, he sure has a smashing job in the R.E, also David Stuart
and Ian Gentles are on the island too, but I didn't see any of them. Some
people are lucky, but I think that we will come out better in the end.
Bobbie Todd is with one of your lots
where you are, but of course India is a big place and you might never see
him (That's what he thought!! See biography).
Well Aga I think this is about all
the natter I have in the mean time, but will have more for your next letter
Will close for now
Your aye Gus
Xxxx
PS. Hope to hear from you soon also give the wife and
baby my regards, and lets hope it isn't long until we meet again, Gus
Received from:1566526 LAC McMillan (Pal from village)
No.8 Section
RAF Holmsley South
Nr Christchurch
Hants
1st March 1944
Dear old Aga,
I received your most welcomed letter
the other day, thank you very much. I was glad to hear you were fit and
well but sorry to hear you were in such a bad spot. You will see by my
address that I have been moved again. This is the 3rd place
in a fortnight, and I am expecting to move again soon, however if you drop
me a line to this address, it will follow me up.
The last station I was on, was very
interesting. That mob you wanted to join, the paratroops were there. I
won't say the name of the place for security reasons.
You say Gus is up in Italy, they did
not waste much time in getting him a job. Tam is in the 9th
Army now. I see his name in the paper here, it was all about the battle
of Akarit where his CO. won the V.C. The newsmen were giving a description
of the battle in the paper. Wull is getting married at the end of April,
so he has asked me to try and hold my leave till then.
Well Aga, how is the family? OK I
hope, it is a pity that you weren't in this country, as I might have come
down to Alma's house with you and give them a tune on my bag-pipes ha-ha
I bet that would be a scream eh? You might tell her and Doreen that I wished
to be remembered to them both.
Well Aga about the pipes. I told you
in my last letter that I brought a chanter back with me. I was trying to
learn it by ear, but it is no good, I must get someone to teach me. At
my last station there was a Sgt. Posted to our loft and he was mustard
at it. He is a Pipe Major in the Bathgate pipe band, so he promised to
teach me, but he came in the morning and was posted in the afternoon. So
that was a bit of bad luck don't you think?
I am still doing away over here but
leading a very quiet life, no women, no dancing and a thing I have never
done, drinking. So at the moment I feel very browned off just now, but
I suppose I mustn't grumble. I am still on the right side yet eh? Although
I would like very much to go abroad and see the World, as I think it broadens
the mind.
What kind of mob are you in Aga? I
never heard of that regiment before (Sherwood Foresters). Is young Wooten
still in the same mob? I suppose that he will have been looking if he can
see his Brother out there, it would be alright if they could meet out there.
There is quite a crowd of Menstrie lads out there but India is a big place.
Dawson is up in Burma somewhere but which part I cannot say. You say it
is like standing in front of the bake house ovens out there ha!, many a
time I cursed that place but now many a time I wished I was back, even
though old Shug used to do a bit of nagging. I bet I would be sure of an
apple tart anyway eh?
I see by your letter that you ain't
getting anymore flesh on your bones Ha ha, just like me, I don't think
I have put on an ounce since I joined up, although I haven't lost any.
I think we must be two of the Pharaohs lean cattle eh?
Well Aga, I am afraid I will have
to close now as I have no more to write about, and what I have written
is rather stale, so I will dry up now and slip into bed. So wishing you
all the very best of health and good luck Aga, cheerio for now
Your auld Pal
Liggie
P.S. Please write soon and put the date on your letter.
You never had it on the last one and I always like to see how long they
take.
"Cocky's younger brother
My Uncle Rab
14709336 Pte. R. H. Cochrane
"C" Coy. 14th Batt. R.A.O.C
Group 2. B Site
Tent 24
Coronet Camp
Didcot. Berkshire
29/7/44
Dear Wull,
Just a few lines hoping they find
you in the best of health, as for myself I am keeping fine, and I fancy
I will be seeing "Home Sweet Home" soon. It's six months now since
I saw home. How did you feel when you got your first leave Wull?
I myself am looking forward to it very much.
Rab Cochrane (Cousin) had a little
accident with a flash bomb, he burnt his hands and face, but it is a lot
better now thank goodness. I hope you have got my photo now (above),
and what do you think of it? Still the same old Rab eh?
Alma had a letter from you the other
day, she was very pleased too, in fact so was all the relations.
Do you ever get any mail from the Hunter family in Menstrie? I haven't
had a letter from them for over two months now. But that doesn't
worry me, as I can still live without hearing from them.
Alma seems too be having a great time
in Scotland just now. They were all at Causewayhead the other day,
and wee Margaret (Sister) and Ray (daughter) had them in stitches laughing.
Alma and Mum had some bother getting them out of the paddling pool.
I would have liked to have seen them, and the going to Portobello last
friday, so I don't know how they got on. Father was down the Manor
Powis (Coal mine) at the salmon, and he has finished his holidays now.
He wasn't anywhere special, except for Andy Bev's.
We are having a sing song in the canteen
just now, not bad! We had a film in the canteen on Thursday, Abbot
and Costello in "Ride 'em cowboy", good laugh it was. There is another
one this week, the same two in "Who done it?", I suppose that you will
have seen them.
Well I will close as I haven't anymore
news in the meantime. So cheerio and all the best, and may God bless
you always
Your loving brother, Rab
PS. Hope to see you soon, and I fancy it won't be
long now. xx
Thursday
31/8/44
Dear Wull,
I'm sorry I haven't wrote you sooner,
as I was busy before I went on leave, and busy for a few days after, so
I hope you will excuse me.
Well Pal, I've had my first leave,
and it was okay. It was a pity that you weren't home too, but never
mind pal, it won't be long till it's all over.
When I was home I managed to see the
"Vics" (Village soccer team) first game, but they got beat 8-1. What
could you expect?, as they played Geordie, Lewry, young Joe Denny, and
McMillan!
What do you think? Gandie Geddes
went over the "Heron Pond" without a leave, but you can't have it both
ways, as he got off for a wee while before getting called up.
The weather hasn't been very good
since i've come back from leave, it's rained all the time! but the grub
is a lot better.
Alma's two young brothers and sister
are up at our place just now. They were evacuated from London because
of these "Doodle bugs" or "Flying Bombs". I think it was today that
they were going to school. Mother has a pretty packed house just
now.
This is my day off and the mates and
myself were coming along the road and were stopped by a R.P (Military Police)
for being improperly dressed. We told him the usual tale and he didn't
do anything, but he is a marked man when the dark nights come in.
Have you met any chaps you know since
you've been out there? I heard that Charlie Wooten is coming home
with malaria. I hope it's not true, as he is only a young lad.
Rab Cochrane (cousin) is still in
this country, he's been lucky in a way (See biography about Rab).
Well Pal I will close, but I will
write you again soon. So cheerio and all the best, and God bless
you always,
Your loving brother Rab
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Bonnie Scotland, I adore thee"
Dear Wull,
I received an air mail letter from
you the other day, and was very pleased, but I couldn't make out the post
mark on it. By the way you wrote, it hasn't taken very long to come.
Glad to hear that you are keeping fine, you really deserve a rest and a
leave, a long leave. I don't think the War with the Germans can last
much longer.
You seem to have received my mail
alright, so I will try and send three a week now, when I get time.
When I get Rab Cochrane's address of his Mother, I'll tell him about you
not being able to write. I am getting Jock Luggy's address of Frank
in my next letter. As soon as I get it, I will send it on.
The way I want out of this mob is,
I don't agree with it! I'd like to get into something with a kick
in it. I'm giving it another week, then I'm putting in for a transfer.
I hope you have got my photo by this
time, if not, let me know and I'll send another one. I would be very
pleased to receive one of yourself.
Wull, I have only been to Alma's once,
there is a ban on that area just now, but as soon as it's lifted, I will
pay them a visit.
I had heard of the Chindits, but didn't
know much about them, as I never take much interest in War news in the
papers.
Does Mum still send you the papers?
I hope so. We moved into the huts last night, but I don't know the
number of it yet. This address will get me alright.
Well Pal, I will close now.
Hoping it finds you okay, Cheerio and all the best,
Your loving brother, Rab
xxxxxx
I'll write again soon, and please excuse scribble
3066693 Pte. R. Cochrane
D Coy 7/9th Royal Scots
Stonehaven
Kincardingshire
Scotland
Dear Bill,
I received your most welcome air graph
a few weeks ago, but I am sorry I couldn't answer it sooner, as I've been
busy with exercises and training for boxing.
I haven't had much time to do anything
Bill, but as I am on leave just now, I have plenty of time, for there's
nothing doing in this place. It's just the same as usual, f_cking
dead!
Well Pal, I was going to send an air
graph, but there's not much room, so it's just as well sending one of these
letters. You can get plenty of room, to let you know all the dope.
About D.Dale, I haven't seen him for
the past two months. He's in another Company just now and they're
billeted a few miles from D Coy, so I haven't a very good chance of seeing
him. Anyway, as soon as I see him, I'll tell him he's to write to
you.
Well Pal, here's a little news for you. I'm getting
married my next leave. I was going to get married this leave, but
I thought it would be better to hold on and get us a few pounds to get
us started. She is a nice girl Bill, and I know she's the one for
me.
She comes from Stonehaven and her
name is Jean Burnette. She is 20 years old and a nurse. That's
about all about her, only she's the nicest girl i've ever met. We
are definitely getting married, I don't think anything will stop us.
By the way, how are you getting on
yourself? I hope you are keeping well and in good health Bill.
Keep knocking the stuffing out of those wee slit eyed bastards. I
wish to f_ck I was beside you, I'm getting fed up staying in this place,
but I suppose it can't be helped. Anyway, I hope my turn comes soon,
for I would like to get a crack at them.
Well Pal, my brother James ran away
two days ago to join the Navy. I don't think he will get very far,
for he has f_ck all in his tail. If he only knew what like it is,
he would change his mind.
Your Brother Robbie seems to be enjoying
the Army life, and Alex seems to be enjoying the Navy life, but for me,
I would give both my b_lls to get out of it.
I'm sorry pal, but there isn't very
much space left, so I'll close here. Here's hoping this finds you
keeping the very best of health, and I hope you have a speedy return home,
Your old Pal, Rab xxx
PS Mum Dad and all the rest send their love,
ALL THE BEST
