A Letter from Egypt to a Pal, 17 February 1944

Introduction

This article is submitted on behalf of Mrs Frances McAlone (née McGuinness) from Whitehaven, Cumbria. In February 1944 Frances’ father Sergeant Pat McGuinness was serving with the 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps. At that time Pat’s unit was based in the Middle East.

On 17 February 1944 Pat wrote a letter to his nephew in Britain, Private Hugh McGuinness, 1st Battalion Border Regiment, at that time based at Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire. Pat had just completed two weeks’ leave in what was then officially known as Palestine. This is a transcription I have made of that letter. The terms of the “People’s War” website have been read and understood.

Later in 1944, Pat’s unit went to Italy. Unfortunately Pat was killed on 17 July 1944. He is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Ancona, Italy.

Hugh took part in the Arnhem campaign with the 1st Battalion Border Regiment. After some hard fighting, Hugh was taken prisoner and became a POW in Germany. Hugh survived the war and eventually returned to his hometown of Whitehaven.

Transcript of letter

(Military Airgraph Service authorized by Egyptian Postal Administration)
[Only minor editing has been done]

Addressed to:
PTE. H. MCGUINNESS 3597882
21 PLN — D COY.
1st BATT BORDER REGT.
WOODHALL SPA
LINCS
ENGLAND.

Written message:
3593603 — Sgt. P. MCGUINNESS — B Sqn — 7th HUSSARS M.E.F. Date: 17/2/44

My Dear Hughie,

Many thanks for your Air Mail received yesterday. I am pleased you are back in ‘Blighty’. You have certainly earned it. As a matter of fact I was going to write to you when you were in North Africa but I was told a lot of the Airborne Troops had gone home. I was hoping you would be among them.

Well Pal, I have just finished a fortnight’s leave up at Nathania leave camp in Palestine. I also had four days in Jerusalem, a few days in Bethlehem and also a run up to Nazareth and Galilee. I can assure you I enjoyed it very much indeed!

When I was at base a few weeks back, I met Bill Morris (big head). He was asking after you. I told him where I thought you were. You remember he used to be a bugler in the old 5th. He was helping to wrap up Christmas presents when I saw him.

Well Shipmate, I know just how keen you are to get cracking again and get this war business finished. Here’s wishing you all the best of luck and good hunting!

Give my regards to Charlie McCourt and any of the boys I know. Cheerio Pal.

Yours etc.
Pat

Conclusion

So far as I am aware, this is the only letter written by Pat that has survived until the present day. Pat’s handwriting is easy to read and it is a well-written letter.

I have used the spelling Pat wrote in his letter for the town where he went for the army leave camp (Nathania). There are different ways to spell this town and the best-known contemporary spelling is possibly ‘Netanya’. The town is on the Mediterranean coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Pat’s reference to ‘the old 5th’ refers to the 5th Battalion of the Border Regiment. Both Hugh and Pat were in that Territorial Army Battalion in the early part of the war. A large number of men from Whitehaven and West Cumberland who were in the 5th Battalion Border Regiment were called up at the outbreak of World War Two in 1939. As far as I am aware, Allied soldiers often used the phrase “good hunting” around this time, possibly originating with General Bernard Montgomery.

It has been a privilege to submit this article. I would like to thank Frances for sharing some memories of World War Two. Finally I would especially like to dedicate this article to the memory of Pat and Hugh McGuinness.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.