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Letter home
Letter from Pte. Charles Frederick Dickens 53424914.
Introduction:
I am also trying to find out what happened to the 2nd Bn. in Burma. My mother's brother was out there. He died in 1956 and I have only vague
memories of him. However, I feel I owe it to him and the family to try and establish what he went through.
One very lucky find was the attached letter (tucked away in a photo envelope
and only found when I was clearing my parent's effects - actually found
on Armistice Day morning, which made it rather poignant). As far as I can
understand, this was written while the fighting was still intense albeit
coming to an end.
No. 5342491 Pte. Dickens .C.
No. 7 Platoon, "C" Coy.
2nd Btn, The Royal Berkshire Regt, S.E.A.C.
25th March 1945
Dear Daisy.
I am very sorry that I have not written to you just lately but it has been
an impossible task for all of us in this batt to write even the shortest
of notes home in this our present advance into Burma. In fact many of us
have have gone a long time without sleep and at times we have felt almost
too tired to carry on. At the moment we are having a slight rest which is
providing me with the time to wash clothes, bath and generally clean myself
up. You cannot realise how grand it feels to have a haircut and bath after
going without for a couple of months.
No doubt you have heard over the radio of the doings and that of the 19th
Indian division of which we are part of, and I think that the yellow sons
of heaven have felt the weight of our attacks too often to make them feel
comfortable. Possibly you have seen photo's in the paper of Mandalay still
with all it's pagodas and as it one of especial bridges which we captured
I thought you would like to know about it.
Time is now rapidly approaching for me to come home and I am looking forward
to it greatly. With luck I should be able to bring along one or two souvenirs
which will no doubt be of great interest to young David. I have been trying
to send you a parcel of silks etc, home but up in these parts it has been
a difficult job. If I cannot send anything shortly I will bring some presents
home home with me.
Hoping you are all keeping well and wishing you the best of luck in the future Don't worry about me I am keeping fit and well
Your loving brother
Fred
P.S. The writer hopes you will excuse the terrible scrawl but his hands are
swathed in bandages due to septic cuts.
Pte. Pte. Charles Frederick Dickens