Airgraph 9 A good fight with snowballs, Airgraph 10, Airgraph 11 The Africa Star

 Airgraph No 9

AUST. No 34171 LAC Cooney, JF No. 3 Squadron R.A.A.F.,  Cent. Medit. Forces

5^th Jan ‘44

Dear Mum,

Received your airgraph No9 yesterday. Also received one from Mrs. Carter (Randwick). Surface mail seems to be taking a long while to get here these days if the latest you have received was written in August. Our Xmas mail was being sorted at one of the Post Offices when a gale struck the place & blew the tents down. From what we hear everything was wet & now it all has to be dried & sorted again. I hope our parcels weren’t damaged too much. Just received a “Via Imperial” Xmas cable from Lovelocks.

Had a heavy fall of snow this morning & a good fight with snowballs was started. Now a terrific wind has risen & the sea looks as if it may flood our camp any moment. A few of the squads were washed out last week. Our tent was badly battered in the last gale & so as soon as this wind drops we will put up a new one.

No more now but will write again soon.

Much love to Dad & “the Family”,                  Lovingly Yours     Frank

 

Airgraph No 10

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron R.A.A.F., 

 Cent. Medit. Forces

9^th Jan ‘44

 

Dear Mum,

                  About 40 bags of parcels & papers arrived here yesterday. I was expecting several parcels but the only one I got was from Mrs. Palmer. No doubt yours will arrive soon.

I received several bundles of papers & magazines including one from Lovelocks, also an airgraph from Norm Dunn & a cable from you saying that you had sent me £40. Thanks for same, will let you know when it arrives.

Next Wednesday I’m going to Naples & Amalfi for a couple of weeks leave. Expect to have a good time. May not write while  I’m over there but will let you know when it arrives.

I believe you now have to pay duty on smokes if I send them home. Try and find out what is charged per pkt of ten or twenty & if there is any limited quantity. Have thousand Cravens to send Pop.

No more now but will write again soon. Much love to Dad & ‘the family’

                                                      Lovingly Yours     Frank

 

Airgraph No 11

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces

21^st  Jan ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  When I arrived back from leave last night I received a fair amount of mail. From you letters No’s 96, 103, 104 & parcels 23,24 & 25 – they will be disposed of very quickly. To-day I received airgraphs 10 & 11. No. 11 was written on Jan 7^th which is rather smart work. I also receive two letters from Betty. One containing the wedding photos that I thought had been lost. In your letter 96 they cut out the name of the place that Tom Williams did his spec. Nav. Course.

The cold weather is still on although the sky has been clear during the day. The hills are still covered with about 8ft of snow & that doesn’t warm the place up very much.

To-day your favourite son received the ribbon & clasp of the Africa Star. Should look pretty good on the blue’s. don’t get the medal itself until after the war is over & with the new landing to-day it looks as if things will finish soon – I hope so anyway; I’ve had enough. The money hasn’t arrived yet but should come soon. Will write later & tell you about my leave.

Much love to all at home                    Lovingly Yours     Frank