Wartime letters in Southland homes

They were stoic and often the better story was not what appeared in beautiful scripted writing that made its way from battlefields to letterboxes at home.

We asked readers to share some of the treasured letters and what came in was quite surprising in how loved ones communicated during war times and while we could not include every letter we received, here are a few.

What a soldier could write was heavily censored but more than that, the stoic voices of Southland soldiers shone through as they talked about war in a matter of fact way.

But these letters should not be underestimated for the historic value they represent.

This small sample of the many letters shared with The Southland Times reflected insights to war.

JACK GEARY WWII 10538 LETTER TO HIS PARENTS

1941

NZASC Middle East Forces Dear Mum and Dad, Well I suppose you have been looking forward to the day when you get this letter and wondering if your sons got out of Greece safely.

I’m glad to say that both Frank and I are both safe and sound and in good health.

When you first hear of the evacuation you undoubtedly done some worrying over us, but I’ll bet it wasn’t half as much as we done ourselves … On Monday 14th I was carting a load of bread up to No 5 FSD.

I was one of the first trucks to arrive there, and I just missed a bombing raid by minutes.

I unloaded the bread and had just pulled out for camp when the planes returned and machine gunned the road and depot, so I escaped it both ways by a few minutes … Well on Tuesday 22nd April Lt McKenzie, our officer, called us around and told us that sad news, we have to evacuate Greece within three days.

It came as a great shock to us all.

We were to destroy all our gear except bare necessities, that meant take what we stood up in and blanket, ground sheet and overcoat, all the rest was to be cut up and buried ... It is getting near dark so I will have to close soon.

Give my love to the girls, and I hope they are both alright, Cheerio for the present, love and best wishes to you and Dad. I remain your loving son, Jack.

ALBERT DUFF WWI 9/268 Killed in Action August 7, 1915, aged 23 LETTER TO HIS SISTER.

SUNDAY 11/7/15 Gallipoli, Turkey

My Dear Sister,

Just a few lines to let you know I received your welcome letter today and I was very pleased to hear from you.

I happened to be in the trenches when I got it and I don’t mind telling you I was all wright [right] to get a letter from your Dear Sister in NZ. [I’ve] just seen a very pretty bit of shooting just a few minutes ago.

One of the gun boats has just been blowing up a bit of Turkey and it was a very pretty sight to see, especially when the Turks made me egery up with a tin of water this afternoon.

One of their shells burst within half a chain of me and an other fellow. It didn’t hurt us but I don’t mind telling you we didn’t look to see where it came from but got well out of it … Love from your ever-loving brother B Duff xxxxxxxxxx

ALAN JAMES NORTH WWII 15960 LETTER TO HIS SWEETHEART JESSIE SOPER

Wednesday 5th February My Darling Jessie,

I had a bit of a rush with the last letter as they had to be in and censored before we reached [censored].

We first saw land about 4 o’clock on Tuesday morning and by the time we had breakfast we were in the heads. Gosh it was a great sight. We stopped outside the [censored] and never went right in to the port.

We just stood and looked at the town all morning.

The [censored] [censored] [censored] came on and looked us over.

Motor boats went in and out to the ship all the time ... You know that it is a hard job to write a letter as there is no news … They make their own bread here and we got a small loaf each in the morning for breakfast and one for tea.

It is miles better than the Invercargill bread …

I hope I have some news next time dear.

Cheerio. Yours forever, Alan xxxxxxxxxx Continued next page.

STANLEY JOHN GALLAGHER WWI 37073 Letter to his mother

France 5/9/18

Dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know that I am still well and going strong.

We have had a pretty rough time lately but I managed to pull through all right without a scratch.

I only hope my luck continues, don’t you.

Well at the rate things are going over here just now I don’t think this war will last very long.

We’re giving Fritz a pretty bad nocking [knocking] about, as you will soon see by the papers and the Americans are coming over in thousands.

They will soon be able to hold the first front on their own … Well I don’t think we will be home this year but hope to be back before another is out.

I will be jolly glad when I get amongst the horses again.

I don’t suppose they will be looking so well now as they did when Len and I was working them …

With the best of love to all at home, especially yourself and Dad.

From your loving son

Stanley.

Find enclosed a German postcard, which I found in a hut occupied by them a few days ago.

JOHN STEWART WWII 406890 Letter to his sister Jean

June 22nd 1945

Dear Jean,

Was jolly pleased to hear that you had some from [mail] from me.

You must have had pretty worried time but there wasn’t much I could do about it.

I could kill Bourke for writing and saying I was badly wounded.

He never tried to find out anything about me. I never thought of him writing.

I was badly wounded but however I am well on the mend again and there is not much the matter now.

My leg gets a bit sore with walking yet but it is quite okay.

I’m not the cause of this shaky writing it’s the pen.

It’s a bitch of a pen.

Well I’ve been down to the office and made inquiries about G McAra.

He left here early last month and will be either at Bali or on the way home.

Hope he is nearly home. Was sorry to hear about him, his mother will be worried … You must have had a terrible season with rain.

I haven’t seen rain for months but will be glad to get back to old Southland all the same …

Lots of love to you all from Jock.

LESLIE JORDAN Letter to his wife Mollie.

3 June 1944

My Darling Mollie,

By the time this reaches you we will be ‘‘somewhere on the continent’’ as you will read in the papers.

We are on an American ship being very well looked after and fed.

Everyone is in very good spirits and looking forward to getting the last part of the job finished as soon as possible.

You need not worry about me my darling, except that I would rather be home with you.

I am quite happy. There is no doubt that everything is being done to make this a huge success and everyone is very confident.

I have not had any letters from you for several days so there is nothing I can add to my previous one.

I expect I shall get a bundle when they do come.

Above: Wartime letters have been kept safe in all sorts of ways, including being bundled up in an old war satchel.

Above: Another example of letters that have been kept. Right: In case letters fell into the wrong hands, they were heavily censored before they were sent out, as seen here.