大象传媒

This story A8088366 is submitted by the British Schools Museum on behalf of Mrs Rosemary Ransome.

The following is the text of a letter from my father, John Arthur Monks, addressed to his mother, "Mrs B Monks, 'Heath Hey', Pensby Road, Thingwall, Barnston, Cheshire, England."

The letter is written in fountain pen on a folded Air Mail letter sheet. The date-stamp shows Egypt 96, Postage Prepaid, 19 MA 45. It is also stamped RAF CENSOR 46.
The letter reads:

鈥�523587 Sgt Monks J. A.
C.M.S.O. HQ RAF, S241 MEF
18-5-45

Dear Ma and all,
Hello folks it鈥檚 me again answering your ever welcome airmail which arrived yesterday, it鈥檚 dated May 10th. I had a pleasant surprise on Wednesday last as I received an airmail from Grandpa and Grandma Jones in answer to my letter to them, and it was very nice indeed for an old lady well over eighty, and I must answer it in during the next few days. I hope to receive a letter from Gwen tomorrow.

I see you were able at long last to get hold of the new air letter cards and after you had posted it on to me it was stamped with the Victory stamp, two bells with a V on top quite appropriate don鈥檛 you think. I had an idea that the V day celebrations would upset mail facilities somewhat, since it was a two days break to all but the essential few. It was the same over here too. I鈥檓 afraid Gwen will be a little disappointed if my mail to her was delayed which is quite likely, however I do hope she makes due allowance for the two days. No doubt things are back to normal again at home by now, here鈥檚 hoping so anyway. I daresay when you wrote in answer to Gwen鈥檚 letter you told her of the delay, in which case she should understand also about my mail.

I think the two days upset was well worth the good news, especially as it has been nearly six years since people were really able to let themselves go, and I don鈥檛 think two days was too long, of course there is always a percentage who kind of overdo things even celebrations, here鈥檚 hoping that nothing else suffered in consequence. It certainly would have been much nicer all round if the Far East theatre was finished also, but I honestly think that the boys out there would not mind two days celebrations at home, as their minds will be a lot easier now that the air menace to the South East of the home country is over at last. I reckon it sure is a load off their minds. I can of course guess that you folks at home were quiet enough and did not exactly approve of the noise so far into the night, and hope it doesn鈥檛 occur too often in future, if it does I guess you will be looking for another house. According to press reports over here the celebrations in the cities and towns were on quite a large scale and went on far into the night, and even you folks must admit it was a tremendous relief to everybody in the home country to know that at long last it was all over so near to home.

I am very pleased to know that a visit to Woodchurch church when there was an evening service on to celebrate the Victory gave you so much peace of mind. We over here in the mess asked the Padre to hold a service in the mess to start our celebrations off, and the Padre certainly was very pleased about it. There was nothing like the celebrations at home over here, but nevertheless it was a time of rejoicing. I did not hear the King鈥檚 speech, as I was in a cinema but I did hear Churchill鈥檚 short speech in the afternoon.

I quite understand why you did not write on the Tuesday or Sunday and reckon you did a wise thing not to have done. Glad to know that the weather is more like summer at home and hope it stays nice for some time, over here it is much more comfortable this last day or two since we have had two or three thunderstorms, they seem to have cleared the air considerably. I do reckon it must be nice at home for you to do without a fire. Good for you Pop for finishing the bathroom, and I do hope I can give you full marks, maybe in the near future I will be able to pass judgement, here鈥檚 hoping. Hope you can get a piece of glass to finish it off.

Have you, Pa and Ma Hitch and Gwen fixed up when you are each visiting who. In my last letter to Gwen I suggested to her that August and September were very nice months. All being well you should be reading this letter by next week-end which happens to be Whit weekend. I reckon the change will do you good especially now the European War is over, anyway here鈥檚 hoping it鈥檚 all settled by now.

Since I last wrote to you I have been to the cinema three times and to see a play. The titles of the pictures I saw are: - 鈥淢arie Walewska鈥� which was quite good, 鈥淣one but the Lonely Heart鈥� this also was quite good and the third one was 鈥淎 Song to Remember鈥� this was in technicolour and was also very good. I think you would like them all. The play was by Somerset Maugham entitled 鈥淭he Circle鈥� I enjoyed it if only for a change.

And now folks this is where I say cheerio and God Bless you all. Remember me to all friends and relations. Best wishes also to Pa Edwards and Pa Goodall. Love to Pop, Darling sister and Yourself Mother Dear from Yours as always our John xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx."

He has added an additional "for you sister, dear John xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.鈥�

My father's war-time story can be found on this website at Article A8090552.

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