大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by W. Jewitt of Wakefield Libraries and Information Services on behalf of E. Green and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

357 Squadron RAF KARNO S.E.A. Command

Dear Mum and Dad, I'm lying on my charpoy, (that's a bed)
Mosquitos, flies and other things are flapping round my head,
They just don't see the mossie nets, supposed to keep them out
And when we light the lamps, they just keep buzzing all about.

The monsoon started yesterday, the wet mud filled my welly,
They tell me it lasts weeks and weeks and everything gets smelly,
The Bearer who looks after me, is excellent it's true,
But curry, rice and rice and rice, can't beat Mum's dumpling stew.

The dhobi wallahs wash our shirts, the bearer takes them there,
Char wallahs bring our morning tea and the Napee cuts our hair.
We get a free supply of fags but I don't smoke it's sad,
I swap mine for their gin supply, it stops me going mad!

We don't know where we're going, I can't say where we've been
But we four lads who fly the plane, are fit and well and keen.
We put our trust in Wally, Ken plots the way to go,
While Ralph and Johnny pass the time with SEAC Radio.

Our mascot, Captain Reilly Ffoul is painted on the plane,
And Wally adds a bent cigar, when we get back again
We play cards every evening, crib, or brag or else pontoon,
We drool at Betty Gable and long to get home soon.

My love to Gran and Grandad, and to the girl next door,
I hope she'll still be waiting when I come home once more.

Love from Fred.

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