THIRD ROYAL TANK REGIMENT ITEM 9

May 22 1941. Airgraph. MEF.
Dearest Eve,
the mail keeps on rolling in. I’ve just had two Postal Orders off Wedgwoods, a 5/- and a 7/6. It’s keeping me busy answering all these letters. The latest letter I’ve had off you was 25 March and the latest off Mother is 30 Jan. I know it’s not your fault at home, but I thought I would just let you know how things are.
The post has decidedly improved these last few weeks and it won’t be long before I shall be able to get a reply to a letter within 3 weeks.
Well, Eve, I’ve got myself fixed up in the way of personal kit. I’ve bought some hanks, toothpaste, brushes, etc, and as you see, a pen. I’m rather disappointed in it though, it writes too thick and I’ve tried many a time to get a fine nib, but the old Arab who sold it to me only has a very limited stock. I shall have to persevere until I get this spot of leave. The old watch is keeping up its reputation, in spite of the terrific heat and dust it keeps correct time. I’m so glad I have it. I’ve been lost without the time.
Those Craven A were delicious. It’s nice to smoke a cig that has come all the way from home and been packed by you, Eve.
I’m a regular film fan now. Since I’ve been here I’ve only missed once. There’s a fresh show every night. All the films are at least 10 years old so there’s no doubt as to whether I’ve seen them or not.
It’s terribly hot just now. I’m bathed in sweat although I only have a pair of shorts on, and the flies are the biggest pest I’ve ever known. They almost walk in one’s mouth or on one’s eyes and regularly up our noses. I suppose we shall get used to it before this lot is finished with.

How are things at home? Can you still meet the endless bills? Are you busy at the shop, and is Jerry troubling you much. We get plenty of decent grub, perhaps too many “cackleberries” (eggs) but I’m easy. This weather it’s too hot to argue.
Well, Eve, one more letter less. Give my love to Mum and Dad and Kathy. I hope Kathy is quite settled to her new job now.
Good afternoon, my darling. God bless you and keep you safe always. I love you, dear, yours for ever, Alb. Xxx.

May 29 1941. Airgraph. MEF.
My dear Eve,
I’ve just come back off leave. We had six days instead of five. It’s been wonderful. Every day I’ve had at least 3 choc eclairs and numerous others of my favourite cakes. It’s been a holiday of eating and sleeping, plus swimming, cinema going, souvenir hunting and, I may add, a football match, an Egyptian one. It was comparable with our 3rd Division football and I quite enjoyed it.
Yes, Eve, I’ve ventured to buy some more souvenirs. I hope I can hang onto them, and I have a dozen photos of myself. I’ll send one or two at a time, just to make sure of you getting most of them. I suppose you are curious as to what I have bought. Well, I may briefly tell you: an embroidered cushion cover of my hat badge; a wallet, old Moroccan leather; a crepe-de-chine thingamee, you know, I think - I’ve seen you wear one on your head; and a few beads and postcards.
There were two first class Services’ Clubs down town; both had radios, games rooms, spacious lounges and they served up some wonderful meals. I spent quite a lot of time there. I was presented with 4 letters when I got back to camp, but 3 were ever so old. Two off you dated 14 and 15 Nov 1940, one off Aunt Lily (Jan 1st) and lastly one April 9th off you.
It was heart-breaking to read your November ones where you were expecting me to come home on leave at any minute, and I need not remind you that I was on the boat at that time. Well, all that’s over now. The next time I see you this war will be finished; then we can get down to business.

Well, Eve, from what I can gather, old Jerry is fairly lenient with the old Home Town and you are able to get a fair share of sleep. I thought this bombing would be less after Christmas.

Eve, could you send me a snap of yourself. I’m without one now you know. I suppose some dirty old Jerry has our photos. I hope you and all at home are keeping well. Give my love to Mum, Dad and Kathy, and you can have all the rest of my love. (Sand, sand, sand). Bye-bye, darling. God bless and keep you safe, yours for ever Alb. Xxx

June 4 1941. MEF.
My Darling,
I feel I must write at every tiny opportunity, although I shall probably spread this letter over a few days or maybe a week. Eve, please note the new postal address, only a slight alteration, but enough to make my mail a few days later. I’ve been transferred to “A” squadron this morning. I always have faith in God and I feel that it is His way of going about things. Don’t worry Eve, about this slight change. I will slip across to HQ every day to get my mail I don't know just how many letters you have sent, but I somehow feel that I’ve had the vast majority. I told you about me having your Christmas cards in my last letter. Well, since then I’ve had two more letters and a Post card off you, duck. The letters are the 19 and 26 April, the PC believe it or not, May 13, only 19 days old. I feel like a king and I’m so very happy. I love your photo, duck, it’s extremely beautiful. I just have to keep on looking at it. It’s rather strange, and I’m sure it’s more than co-incidence, but when I write and ask you questions, the answers come before you get my letters. I asked you for a snap; a day after I get a photo. I’m just itching to get your letter with all the news in about this conductor’s job. I mustn’t ask what route, how many hours, what pay etc, because I’m sure all that’s on the way. It must be very hard work, Eve, I do hope you get on all right. I love you and I’m extremely proud of you. You’ve certainly got some pluck..
You know those Air-mail letter cards? Well as soon as they came to the office, I bought 12, and ever since then I have been unable to get any. I can’t understand why there’s such a lack of them. I’ve just got one left, and I’m taking care of that; it’s for you some day. Now these green envelopes are free; they are for private matters and personal affairs. We should get one issued every week, but we’re lucky if we keep to system. I managed to get four in Greece, and I just have one of those left. I shall have to send ordinary mail if things don’t improve. I’ll tell you who I’ve written to since May 17th. This is 6 and a cable to you. 3 to Mother, 1 and 3 postcards to Wedgewoods, Mrs Locke and Jack Cashmore, Uncle Ted, aunt Ethel, Uncle Levi, Bob Bills; that’s 20 isn’t it? I just have 2 more I simply must write to; there’s your Aunt Lily and Jimmy Daniels. They wrote to me about Christmas, but it’s only a few days ago that I received their letters.
I didn’t tell you much about Greece, did I? I dare say it will be OK now. (There was a cut coinage arrangement. “Drachmas” were the coin used, and up to 50 were of metal (I won’t say silver). After 5 came 10, then 20, 50, 100, 500 and so on. All these were paper notes, a drachma was worth ½d and a 500 note was approximately £1.what would you think if you dealt in coins valued at 1/10 of an ½d? Well, they do in Greece. I have a few of them. Just imagine a coin in England valued at 1/20 of 1d. Goodness knows what was bought with them, although I got some in my change on a bus.
I was lucky enough to get down to Athens a time or two. It’s a beautiful place very modern, and yet for a capital city it was only a flea-bite compared with our London. There were scores of examples of old Grecian examples of architecture. I can’t remember their names, only one, and that is the “Parthenon”, one of the 7 wonders of the world. I have a post card of it and 3 other post cards of ruins which I was able to get from a Greek newsagents when I was on leave. I got all my post cards replaced at this shop, you know the ones I lost in Greece. Athens was about all there was in Greece. I never saw any other town that would compare. Lamia. Larissa, Kozani, Florina and lots of others; even if they were all put together, they wouldn’t be able to hold a candle to Athens. (Mistakes, Ev, that’s with joining in a friendly argument. I love you.) the villages were very poor. We could have bought a village for £1. The local store would have had about 10/- worth of stock and the only other place would be the “pub”, which would have perhaps half a bottle of home-made wine and absolutely nothing else. It would be sold by means of tiny finger glasses at a cost of 1 or 2 Ds. Yes darling, I have tasted these naughty drinks. I hope you don’t think I’m going on the downward trail. You will be worrying for nothing if you do. I’m still exactly the same boy that left you over 13 months ago. I know you trust me, Ev, all I live for, and all I shall ever live for, is you, precious, and our home.

Looking at this writing it appears that a kid of 5 has been about; the trouble is, Eve, that the heat is so terrific that a fountain pen dries up before one can write the next word, and I am constantly dipping it into the old ink pot, resulting in very thick words at first and almost invisible words late. It has been hot today. One is soaked with sweat, even if only lying on the bed. Shan’t I be glad to get out of this country when the time comes. It’s far too warm for me, and so desperately dry. The drinking water supply is warm, never cool or cold. People in England don’t know what the word “pest” means, but they would do if they were here. I’m meaning the flies. I never thought such a little thing could be such a nuisance, and some have little and very sharp stings. Then there’s a number of mosquitoes getting around now. There were thousands of “mossies” in Greece. I think for anyone interested in flies, butterflies, moths and insects, Greece would be their paradise. There’s millions of varieties of colour and shape. I began to take a keen interest, but was rudely interrupted (naughty Jerry).
Ev, darling, I could go on writing forever, but only to you. I sometimes feel as though I am telling you my experiences, not writing, and you are sitting close to me, but when I stop and look up, it’s the same old scene of khaki and sand.
Eve, I had to give up rather suddenly yesterday. The old Major sent for me and I was with him rather a long time. It’s Thursday tomorrow, so I will send this letter by the next post, because I do believe we’re on the move again before weekend. That’s the best of this battalion, we’re always on the move. I don’t think we spend above 14 days in any one place. It’s just what I like; there’s nothing like a change.
Do you know how much this writing pad cost? 7½ piastres (about 1/7) and the last letter I sent you cost almost 2/- to send. The cost of living here is very dear, it seems much more expensive since we’ve come back. I was going to buy a couple of boot brushes of poor quality, but when the NAAFI bloke asked for 12 piastres, I just passed out; fancy 2/6 for a couple of 3d brushes. Then there’s the camp cinema, a wooden and canvas affair. We go in the very cheapest seats at 3 piastres. Honestly, I don’t know why we patronise the place, but every night finds it full. The morning paper is 1 piastre. I think the Gypoes think that our money is equivalent to a piastre for that’s how we have to pay for things. I’ve told we have 50 cigs, and now the Major gives me his, I get 100 a week, and pay is about 18/- a week, with colonial and 2 lots of proficiency pay, things aren’t too bad, are they?
I did tell you about these green envelopes, but I never told you the most important purpose of them. You see, every scrap of mail that leaves the squadron, no matter whether it’s air-mail or surface mail, letter, post card, letter card or cable, it will be censored definitely by your own officer; in my case it’s my boss, Major Wilson. These green envelopes do away with that. They probably get censored at a base. I say probably, because they may even escape it. Anyway, it’s not too nice to know the chap I work with reads all my mail, so, Ev darling, if you think, and I know they are, that my sure-to-be-censored mail is a bit cold, you will understand a little better now. Darling, every word I write means love, although it doesn’t spell it. I do love you. I try to dream about our happy home and family, but as soon as I go to sleep, it’s just a blank until reveille. Well, Eev darling, I will unwillingly draw to a close. Give my love and best wishes to Mum, Dad and Kathy. My best love to you, precious, God bless you and keep you always safe. Your ever true and loving hubby, Alb, xxx.

June 14 1941. Airgraph. MEF.
Dear Mother and Dad,
Back to the old squadron again. I feel mad that I altered my address now, but still it’s been done. As soon as I got to this camp, I was told I was going into the old squadron again. We’re on the move again in a couple of days to yet another camp. That will be 4 moves inside one month. I did hear our Regt referred to as “The Royal Tourist Regt. (RTR)” very appropriate I must say.
Yesterday I had a telegram off Eveline. I told you I had one off you about a week ago. Now today I’ve just had a letter off Eveline (April 29th) and still there’s none off you. I wonder what can be wrong. I had a terrific surprise when I was having dinner yesterday; we’re messing with the RHA (Royal Horse Artillery) and I noticed a chap sitting opposite. I thought I knew him but I didn’t like to ask. Then he would look at me and simultaneously we greeted each other. It was Harry Burton; you know him I am sure. He used to live at 17 Garibaldi Street. You could have knocked me down with a feather (I’m not that tough). He’s the first chap I’ve seen since I joined up, that has come from the old Home Town. It was good to see him, and now look what’s happening, we’re moving again. Just my luck. If you see his see his Dad off to work (he passes the shop) or his mother. You will no doubt mention it. We are both in the best of health and spirits.

We’re getting a variety of good cigs out here; Craven A, Players No 3, Major Dapkins Greys, Capstan Full Strength, etc. You can see we’re not too badly off, and as cigarettes form the main part of a parcel, that almost cancels parcels.
Eveline seemed surprised when she knew it was bitterly cold in the desert at night. Well, that’s only in the few months of winter around Christmas. At this time of the year it’s pretty near stifling, and we strip and lie on top of the bed
Well, Mother, time’s up again, remember me to all. Don’t worry. I’m OK in every way. Love to you, Dad and Levi, your loving son, Albert. Xxx.

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