Thursday 17 March 2022

Telegrams 3 and 4 June 1946 Arrived Fremantle

 Telegrams 3 and 4 June 1946

Searching through the suitcase of Dad's memorabilia, I found his record of apprenticeship as a refrigeration mechanic from Lovelocks P/L begun in July 1938 when he was 16 to Oct 1940, started again in March 1946, finished in May 1947. 

Inside the booklet of the apprenticeship were 2 fragments of telegrams from my mother, Tess Cooney.

                                                Arrived Fremantle   All my love Tess


                                        Sterling Castle Berthing Woolloomooloo AM June 20th
                                                Phone this office 19th  MO419




Telegrams 1 and 2

 This is the end of the letters, there are just a few telegrams to finish off the story. These from Dad to his mother




Air Letter , (3) 23.9.45 I don't know the date of the wedding yet

 

Air Letter , (3) 23.9.45


AUST. No 34171 
Cpl Cooney, JF., 
c/o AUSPOST KODAK HOUSE, 
KINGSWAY LONDON 
ENGLAND 

23rd SEPT. ‘45


            Dear Mum,

                        Sorry I have to write this in pencil but all my gear is packed up & I don’t know exactly where my pen is.

            The main reason I am writing to-night is to tell you that I am at present in transit camp near Hanover & waiting for a train to take me to Ostend where I will be getting a boat for England & from there to Aussie.

            I have to be at No 9 Holding Unit by the 27th. I don’t know when the boat is leaving but if it is before the end of next month I will be going AWL so that I miss the boat because I’m definitely going to get married before I leave & the Banns have to be read out for three weeks before the event so I won’t be getting on the boat before that.

            I don’t know what the date of the wedding is yet but I will write or send a cable as soon as I know definitely.

Don’t be surprised if the phone rings one morning, Mum & I answer because if possible I will ring from London & let you know what’s doing. If possible I will ring before lunch-time on a Wednesday or Thursday.

            I have a 23 hour train trip ahead of me to-morrow so I had better close & get some sleep.

                        Regards to Dad            Lovingly Yours

                                                                                    Frank

  

Air Letter , (2) 20.9.45 The most luxurious military establishment in the world

 Air Letter , (2) 20.9.45

AUST. No 34171 
Cpl Cooney, JF., 
c/o AUSPOST KODAK HOUSE, 
KINGSWAY LONDON ENGLAND 

20th Sept, ‘45


            Dear Mum,

                        I promised to write you a couple of days ago but have been too busy to settle down to writing at all.

            The camp we are in, I’m sure, is the most luxurious military establishment in the world. It is spread over several square miles of ground & laid out in a way that spells German system at every turn. To start off the living quarters are large two storey blocks & bedrooms contain 2 beds, 2 seven ft lockers, wash basin with hot & cold water, a table & the room is centrally heated. Adjoining each bedroom there is a private sitting room with lounge chairs, settee, card table, writing desk & a large open fire place & also a gas fire.

            In the centre of the living blocks there is a beautiful indoor tiled swimming pool 35 metres long & about 20 metres wide with diving boards, diving tower & all sorts of physical training equipment. The water in the pool is kept at body temperature the whole time. A door leads from the pool to the shower room in which there are 40 hot showers & the same number of foot baths. The pool opens at 7 o’clock in the morning & closes at 9.30 at night so we have a shower & a swim before breakfast & one before we go to bed.

            The hangars are large enough to hold about 30 Spitfires comfortably & are kept at s temperature of 80’F during summer & winter & the electrical equipment in them makes work a pleasure. We are living & working under conditions that are better than anyone else in the RAAF has ever had or likely to have.

            Calle is the nearest village of any size but I have only been in the once. In Calle cigarettes sell for £2.10.0 STG a packet of 20. It sounds incredible but it’s true. I don’t smoke as much as I used to.

I may be back in England & married sooner than I expected because to-day I had to go & see the Eng. Off re my repatriation. It was just to see whether I wanted to go home or not but at least it’s a start.

Unfortunately we are leaving this ‘drome next Tuesday & going to one about 10 miles from Hanover. I believe the quarters are very good but I don’t expect them to be as good as this place.

            From what I can see nobody wants us over here & I wouldn’t be surprised if we travelled from one place to another & eventually get pushed off to England.

            By the way the parcel containing the sugar, tea etc arrived here this morning. I may send the sugar & tea to Terry’s mother.

            Well, Mum, that’s all for now so I will close & get to bed.

                        Much love to Dad                     Lovingly Yours

                                                                                    Frank

 

Air Letter , (1) 17.9.45 Posted to Germany

 Air Letter , (1) 17.9.45

AUST. No 34171 
Cpl Cooney, JF., 
c/o AUSPOST KODAK HOUSE, 
KINGSWAY LONDON ENGLAND 

17th Sept ‘45


            Dear Mum,

                        I suppose I will be getting more letters from you shortly asking why I haven’t written for so long but this time I have a good excuse because a couple of days after I wrote to you last I went on eleven days leave but after eight days I received a re-call & when I arrived back I had 8 hours to pack up & we left England.

            I spent the first few days of my leave in Edinburgh & the rest of the time in Brighton & on the way back to camp I called out to see Cecil.

On my way through Edinburgh to Brighton I called into Kodak House & got all the papers for the wedding & when I got to Brighton Terry & I went around &B made arrangements for having the Banns read. I will have to give the vicar about a month’s notice as to when I will be able to get some leave here but I don’t think it will be for about three or four months yet. At least that’s the way it looks at present but of course, anything may turn up re my repatriation. To-day all fellows who came overseas before December ’41 were called up for repat. So my turn may not be far off.

            Terry & I are going to be married at St Marks at Brighton. I haven’t been inside the church yet but RAAF padre at H.P.D.R.C. said it’s a very nice place.

            Well, now for our trip. We left England by an invasion tank landing craft at 8 o’clock on the evening of the 11th& travelled all night & up until midday on the 12thwhen we landed at Ostend in Belgium from where we went to the transit camp in the big holiday resort of Blankenberghe where we spent the night. Next morning at 7.30 we caught the train & travelled all day through Belgium & Holland & got out at Hanover in Germany at midday on the 14th. From Hanover we went by road to our camp at Fassberg which is about half-way between Hanover & Hamburg.

            I haven’t seen much of the surrounding district yet because ever since we arrived here we have been moving from one billet to another & haven’t been off the station. However we are going to Calle (the nearest good village) to-morrow so I’ll write & tell you about it.

            I haven’t room to start telling you about the camp or what I saw from the train window so I’ll write again soon when I come back from Calle to-morrow.

            Much love to Dad                     Lovingly Yours

                                                                                    Frank

Air Letter 16 I've a lot of questions to answer about the loved one

 Air Letter , not numbered

AUST. No 34171 
Cpl Cooney, JF., 
c/o AUSPOST KODAK HOUSE, 
KINGSWAY LONDON ENGLAND 

22ndAugust ‘45


            Dear Mum,

                        When you read this letter you will think Dad is quite justified in thinking I have precious little common sense because in spite of all I said in my last letter I think Terry & I will still be getting married but it won’t be until I get my first leave from Europe & that won’t be for several months yet. We expect to be leaving here within the next few weeks & I’ve no show of getting off the squadron.

            I’ve a lot of questions to answer about the loved one so I had best hop into them from the beginning.

            Her name is Teresa Francis Bannon, stands about 5’5”, has dark hair as you will see from the photo which should have arrived before this because I sent it air mail in an ordinary envelope.

            Terry’s mother’s address is 45 Worcester Rd Bootle, Liverpool ENGLAND. Her father died in 1941 as a result of the blitz & in the last letter I had from Terry she said that her sister (aged 11) died on Sunday last. Monica, her sister who died, was in their home when it received a direct hit & the shock upset her heart. She has been in hospital almost continuously ever since ’42. We went to visit her when I was on leave & she was very sick then & I’ve been expecting Terry to write & tell me she had died for the past few weeks. Terry also has 3 or 4 other sisters – either one or two married, one in the land army & one at school & two brothers – one at school & one about 18 in the Merchant Navy. He may happen to get out to Aussie.

            Terry doesn’t know anyone in Aussie & don’t think any of her friends have married Australians. As for living in a better home than we have, I don’t think she has because they have never had much money. I can’t answer definitely because they have been bombed out two or three times & the house they live in now is one of those “take it or leave it type” & of course, they had to take it. I’m afraid house linen is scarcer in England than at home & also more heavily couponed. 

            Forgot to tell you that the money arrived OK. I opened an account at the C/wealth Bank with it. Also put more in it since.

            Don’t think Terry can cook very well yet but she has been going to cooking & sewing lessons for the last couple of months. She may seem a bit shy at first but really has plenty of life in her & is always talking & laughing about something. She also has a bit of a Lancashire accent. She tries to tell me she hasn’t but I often notice it.

            By the way, Terry is R.C. but in name only. Goes to church less often than Dad. We will be getting married in a C. of E. church. – Let me know if there’s anything else.

            Love to Dad

                        Lovingly Yours             Frank

 

Monday 7 March 2022

Air Letter No. 15 I’m not yet ready to get married

Air Letter No. 15

AUST. No 34171 
Cpl Cooney, JF.,  
AUSPOST KODAK HOUSE, 
KINGSWAY LONDON ENGLAND 

15thAugust ‘45


                  Dear Mum,

                                    I received three airletters from you on Friday but I didn’t answer them straight away because I was just leaving camp to spend the weekend at Brighton.

You asked me a lot of questions about Terry in your three letters but I have just finished writing a letter to Terry & called everything off. ‘ve been trying to do so for the last week or so but have only just got around to it. As a matter of fact I went down to do it at the weekend but somehow or other I just couldn’t.

                  I’ve thought about this marriage quite a bit & come to the conclusion that I’m not yet ready to get married & settle down.

                  As you can see from my new address I am no longer with 467 squadron so I will not be going to the Pacific but unless I can get out of this one I will be in Denmark by the first week of next month.

                  Now that the war is all over I’m hoping that 467 & 470 sqdns will break up & the fellows in those squadrons who have just come over from Aussie will come to this one & all of us with a fair amount of overseas service will be able to get home. Of course I don’t know yet what will happen but it looks as if it may finish this way.

                  In future just address my mail to Auspost etc. without any squadron No. on it because I may be shifting around  bit from now on. Not that I haven’t been doing so ever since I came to England but I hope to be in the PDRC at Brighton & then on the boat for home.

            Glad to hear George Brissett will be discharged shortly. Had a letter from Mr. Ebeling at Lovelocks & he told me he had applied to Air Board Melb. For my release so as soon as I can get away from here I should be a civilian again.

            I went out to British Thermostat Co. on my last leave & had a talk with the managing director & could have started work that day if I had wanted to but it was too far out of London so I went to Kelvinator Ltd & got a job there in the servicing dept. so if I can get out of this squadron I will work there until the boat leaves & get a bit of experience.

            No more for now but will write again soon.

 

Love to Dad

                                                            Lovingly Yours             Frank 

Air Letter No. 14 Glad you liked the sketch

  

Air Letter No. 14

AUST. No 34171 
Cpl Cooney, JF., 
467 SQDN RAAF 
c/o AUSPOST KODAK HOUSE, 
KINGSWAY LONDON ENGLAND 

17thJuly ‘45


Dear Mum,

            I thought I would be on leave by now but before any of us could get leave we had to have a full course of tropical needles. I have to have my last one tomorrow & I am going on leave on Thursday midday.

            When I got back from a small arms course today there was two letters from you on my bed (No’s 25 & 26)

            You needn’t be worried about my mail not getting here because it is addressed to 461 sqdn because so many Aussie squadrons have been broken up lately that every bit of mail is checked at Auspost & whatever squadron we are with the number of it is scratched across the front in blue pencil &, even if you put a sqdn no. on it, it is still checked.

            I couldn’t remember whether I had written & told you I was sending the book & ‘portrait’ or not so I didn’t write from here & tell you.

            Glad you like the sketch but I’m not really as fat in the face as I look in that ”photo”

By the way, I checked my height & weight a few days ago, I am exactly 5’11” tall & weigh just on 12st 4lbs.

            On my last three letters you may have noticed that just beside the number of the letter, at the top of the first page, I put 2 or 3 letters. If you put those letters together in their right order you will know where we are headed for when we leave here. At least, that’s as far as we know at present if it’s changed I’ll start numbering them again.

            I sincerely hope that the money I wrote & asked for has been sent long before this letter arrives because when I go on leave this time we are going to make definite arrangements & I will certainly need the cash. If it doesn’t arrive in time I will be able to get sufficient money from Stork & Beau.

            I’m still hoping my temporary release comes through before we leave here. I’m going to Kodak House when I’m on leave to see what can be done about it from this end. The camp commandant at H.Q. is an ex-3Sqdn adjutant & he always welcomes any of us like long-lost brothers so he will be able to tell me who I’ll have to see about it.

            Don’t think I’ll be able to see Mrs Turner’s friend at Newport ‘cos I’m at present stationed in Lincolnshire & that is a long way from Wales.

            Well, Mum, I’ve no more for now so I will close.

                                    Much love to Dad

                                                            Lovingly Yours             Frank

P.S. Haven’t heard from Betty for ages

 



Air Letter No. 13 The Occupational Release Scheme

  

Air Letter No. 13                                 No.3     W.A.

AUST. No 34171 
Cpl Cooney, JF  
c/o AUSPOST KODAK HOUSE, 
KINGSWAY LONDON ENGLAND 

12thJuly ‘45

Dear Mum,

            I’ll be going on leave again in 3 or 4 days so I’m writing to you now in case I don’t have the chance to do so whilst I’m away. This is not my pre-embark leave but I expect to be going on that about the third week in August.

            I have been trying to get off the draft for the last few days but as yet I have had little luck. However the officer from records will be coming up here & I may have more success with him.

            A letter came through to the Engineering Officer today regarding the Occupational Release Scheme & so to-night I wrote to Mr Hansen at Lovelocks & asked him to apply to Air Board Australia for my release. The general idea of the scheme is to allow servicemen the chance of learning more about the trade they were in before the war. It is only a six month temporary release but when we get home I believe it means an immediate release & that is what I want. The good things about it are, firstly, that I would be home in about eight months instead of eighteen &, secondly, the money side of it is very interesting. From the Air Force we get full pay plus 13/- a day allowance & also full wages from whatever firm we are with. I’m applying to to get with the British Leddington Co.

            Speaking of money, we heard on the Aust. Newsletter a couple of nights ago that the bill regarding gratuities had been passed in Parl. & the figures are 15/- a month for home service & 75/- a month for overseas service so with my deferred pay I am at present worth over £320 plus interest. By the way, with the £50 you have, I hope, drawn out of my bank, what is the balance.

            I hope you liked the photo I sent you of Terry, Mum, she really is a lovely type of girl. When I go on leave in a few days we are going to make some definite arrangements as to the wedding.

            Well, Mum, space is running out so I will close & if I get a chance to write on leave, I will do so.

Love to Dad

                                                            Lovingly Yours             Frank

 

 

Air Letter No. 12 Meeting with Cecil Cooney

Air Letter No. 12                         No. 2   I.N.A.

AUST. No 34171 Cpl Cooney, JF., 467 SQDN RAAF c/o AUSPOST KODAK HOUSE, KINGSWAY LONDON ENGLAND 

9thJuly ‘45

Dear Mum,

            Well, Mum, I hope my last letter wasn’t too much of a surprise for you but now I will tell you what I did on my last 14 days leave from which I returned last Tuesday.

            First of all we went to Edinburgh to have a look around Scotland. Bo & I only intended staying for three or four days but finished up staying a week because it was such a beautiful place. While we were there we went out to see Mrs Neil, the mother of one of our Scotty Bofor gunner friends from the desert & she gave us a marvellous time. Before I left she asked me for your address & she said she would write & tell you how I was looking etc. so if the letter hasn’t arrived yet you can expect it shortly. You may also get one from a Mrs Ronaldson, the woman we stayed with in Edinburgh.

            After we left Scotland Bo went to see his lass in Manchester & I went to Brighton to see Terry but she was home in Liverpool on leave so I went up there & stayed with the family for the rest of my leave.

            On my way from Brighton to Liverpool I decided to spend a day in London to see if I could find Cecil. I went first of all to Ealing Studios, about 15 miles from London, but he worked at Denham about 15 miles further out so I caught another train & went out there. When I arrived there everyone was at lunch so I had to wait around until two o’clock. At two o’clock I went & saw the fellow in charge of the cameramen & he told me that Cecil had just finished a picture & was at his home at Park Royal about halfway between London & Ealing so I went there & found him & his wife working in the garden.

            When I told him who I was he took me into the house & I sat there for about two hours telling him as much as I knew about the family which wasn’t very much. He told me that next time I get some leave he will take me out to the studios & show me around the place. He said that when I wrote to you to ask you to remember him to everyone.

            Well, Mum, that’s all for now but I will write again soon & let you know if there is anything fresh on this Pacific posting bit I think I won’t stand much chance of getting out of it.

            Will be anxiously awaiting an answer to Letter No. 1

                        Love to Dad

                                    Lovingly Yours             Frank

Please send money as soon as possible. 

Air Letter No. 11 I will probably be getting married

  

Air Letter No. 11                                             No. 1     OK

AUST. No 34171 
Cpl Cooney, JF., 
467 SQDN RAAF 
c/o AUSPOST KODAK HOUSE, 
KINGSWAY LONDON ENGLAND 

9thJuly ‘45

Dear Mum,

                        I was hoping to be able to write & tell you I would be coming home soon but that is just the opposite to what is happening to me. As you can see I am no longer with 461 Sqdn but in 467 & very soon I will be going on pre-embarkation leave & after that will be off to the Pacific.

            For certain reasons which I will explain shortly I will be flying out there & not leaving here until sometime in Sept. or Oct. I have been down to Kodak House for the last three days & having interviews with everyone of any importance to see if it is possible to get off the draft but I had no success at all. An officer from records will be coming up here in a few days so Stork, Bo & I will air our views to him & see what can be done but I’m not holding too much hope. At present Stork, Bo & I are the only ones with over three years service in the sqdn except a few sgts who have asked to be put on the draft.

            Now the reason I am in the flying party is that I will be probably getting married in August or early Sept. I know that will be rather a shock to yourself & Dad, but I asked Terry to marry me when I was on leave last & she said she would. You may think it’s sudden but, Mum, if you knew Terry you wouldn’t blame me & I know you won’t. Terry is 19 about 5’5” in height & a W.A.A.F.

            She is sweet & she loves me as much as I love her which is the main thing. I met her the second day I was in the country & I go down to see her every chance I get. I have a photo of her that I will send air-mail  at the same time as I send this letter.

            I went up a few days ago & cancelled my allotment so if it stops about the time this letter arrives you will know the reason.

            Another thing is that I’ll need some money to get married so will you draw about £50 out of my book & send it over. If you go to the Commonwealth Bank they will cable it to the Commonwealth Bank in London & I will be able to get it three days after you send it.

            We haven’t made any definite arrangements yet but as soon as I hear from you & I get the cash I will go down to Brighton & get the day fixed.

            Well Mum I will close this letter & write another one to tell you what I did on my last leave.

                                    Love

                                                Frank

 

Air Letter No 10 Dancing in the streets for VE Day

Air Letter No 10

AUST. No 34171 
LAC Cooney, JF 
461 Squadron 
R.A.A.F.,
AUSPOST LONDON ENGLAND 

28/5/45

Dear Mum,

               At long last I can settle down to write to you again. After I wrote to you on V. day we went up to London for the celebrations & believe me I’ve never had such a crazy time in my life.

    We had several beers to celebrate the victory & whilst in the pub we met a man & his wife & nothing would suit them better than to take us out to their home in “Bomb Alley”( the worst blitzed part of London) for tea. After tea we all went back to Piccadilly Circus & sang & danced in the streets until it was time to catch the 5.20AM train back to our transit camp at Brighton. Straight after parade at 8 o’clock we caught the train back to London & the celebrations were still in full swing & we stayed there that day & night & caught the 5.20am train back to camp & slept the round of the clock. What happened the following few days is still rather hazy because Brighton had a V-week.

Pubs were thrown open & as we hadn’t seen beer for about three years we certainly had our Quota. During the week we took part in a Victory parade in Brighton & the following day went up to London for a similar parade. We met about 15 of our pilots who had just been released from P.O.W. camps & of course had to have a 3sqdn reunion or two.

            Last Friday we were all posted & because the squadron we were posted to from Italy does not exist we were all split up. I went to 461with Bo & Ben Dodd & from what I have seen of the place it seems alright. We are on Sunderland Flying Boats & stationed at the most westerly point in Sth Wales.

            The first day we arrived we put in for leave with the result that I am now in Brighton again on 11 days leave. We are going to stay here until Friday or Saturday & then go up to Leeds or Manchester for the rest of the time.

Next time you write to Betty tell her that I may not have a chance to write whilst I’m on leave but will do so as soon as I get back to the squadron.

            By the way, our “working hours” at the squadron are 8.30 to noon, 2.30pm till 4.30 so I won’t be overworked 

                        Much love to Dad

                                    Lovingly Yours 

                                                Frank

 

 

Link to photo of the party in Piccadilly Circus on V day

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205125104

 

 

Air Letter No 9 We got here in time for V-Day

Air Letter No 9

AUST. No 34171 
LAC Cooney, JF.,  
AUSPOST KODAK HOUSE, 
KINGSWAY 
LONDON ENGLAND 

8/5/45 V.E. DAY

Dear Mum,

                        Well, here I am in England at last. We disembarked at 10 o’clock yesterday morning & arrived at the Aust. Transit camp last night at 7 o’clock & after we were cleaned up & had tea we went off to the pub for a few drinks.

For the first time in three years we were able to drink beer that had been drawn out of a barrel & it was good.

I can’t tell you much about our trip over except that the boat was very crowded & very, very slow but we got here in time for V-DAY & that’s the main thing.

I wont be able to finish this letter because it is now 10.20 & we have to be on parade at 10.30 & straight after that we are going up to London for the big celebrations & probably won’t be home until tomorrow or the day after.

            The squadron we are posted to does not exist. It was disbanded some months ago. The aircrew has gone home & theground staff is scattered everywhere so I have no idea what is going to happen to us as yet except that we are going to get two or three weeks leave soon.

            No more time now so will close. Excuse scribble

                        Love to Dad

                                                Lovingly Yours

                                                            Frank

  

Air Letter No 8 I’m posted to England!

  

Air Letter No 8

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

27thMarch ’45                                                            Don’t answer till you hear from me again

Dear Mum,

            When I arrived back from 10 days “duty” in Rome I had three air-letters & a sea mail letter waiting for me.

            I have more news about the party & that is you can cancel it for a long while yet. We had a visit from the Group Capt. In charge of repatriation & he told us that as there is now only half as many squadrons in this command as there was when the scheme first started we will now only get 50 replacements every two months instead of 100 & also told us that with a bit of luck we may get a boat in November or January but repeat but, he also told a few of us something that made us forget all about the repatriation scheme.

    The news is that this will probably be my last letter from Italy because something I have been waiting for for ages has at last happened. I’m posted to England! I don’t know exactly when we are leaving but it will be as soon as the next replacements arrive & they are due any day now. It also means two or three stripes will also be coming my way, I believe. I guess you can imagine how excited I am, I have given work at this squadron right away. Another good thing is that all my best cobbers are going with me, including Stork (sgt), BO, Kevin Harris, Ben Dodd & ten others.

            My fingers are just about fixed up now although they are still very tender if I knock them.

Dad was very lucky that the car was not smashed up properly when those sailors stole it. Has anything more been heard of them yet?

            I told you about the club the padre started for us at the last ‘drome, well at our new camp he has started a bigger & better one. He somehow managed to get a big refrigerator & ice-cream machine & I have got the job of making it work. A lot of parts were missing & so I went to Rome for ten days to see if I could get the spares. I managed to get most of them the first couple of days I was there so the rest of the time was leave. As soon as the gas arrives from Naples it will be working.

            The last couple of weeks the weather has been simply glorious & adjoining our room we have the best little sun verandah & most of the day I lay out there in a pair of shorts.

            Well, Mum, space is getting short so I will close & write again when I’m settled in England. Which I hope will be very soon.

                        Love to Dad

                                    Lovingly Yours 

                                                Frank

 

Airgraph No 14 The squadrons keep pretty much to themselves

 Airgraph No 14

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

3rd  February ‘44

 

Dear Mum,

                  It’s only two days since I sent you one of these airgraphs but to-day I received three letters from you & this is just in answer to them. The letters I received were No’s 105, 107 (1.12.43) & 107 (6.12.43). no doubt one of them is meant to be No. 106.

Glad to hear that the green material I sent Bet was suitable. Haven’t seen anything over here yet but may get hold of something shortly.

I haven’t seen Alan Sherwood lately. I must go down there one of these nights. The squadrons keep pretty much to themselves & the only times we see one another is at the two-up, & then it’s only a certain few.

Next time Tom Williams rings up tell him that, if I can get a couple of weeks home leave, I’ll change places with him anytime. Any of those boys who envy me can swap places too.

With a bit of luck I may get to see Johnnie Curtis shortly, seems as if we have a good chance.

Have you got all the letters that I have sent since I came over here? If so, hang on to them ‘cos I want to go through them when I eventually get home. No more now so I will close.

Much love to Dad & the family                                             Lovingly Yours                    Frank

 

 

Airgraph No 13 We look like staying here until it’s all over.

 Airgraph No 13

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

1st  February ‘44

 

Dear Mum,

                                    I haven’t much to tell you this time except that I am having a book sent to you. It is a book on the doings of the RAAF for 1943. I don’t know what it will be like but last year’s was rather good. We pay for it here & it is posted to you from somewhere in Aussie. Let me know if you receive it alright.

                  The couple of parcels that I sent from here should just about be home by now. I will be looking forward to an Airgraph saying that you have received them. Can’t understand what could have happened to Betty’s pyjamas & kimono. They should have arrived long ago. Should hate to lose them now after keeping them for so long.

I had hopes of being home in time for Betty’s blessed event but can’t see it coming off now.

We look like staying here until it’s all over.

Received an airgraph from Mrs Palmer to-day so must set to & answer it.

Much love to all at home.  Lovingly Yours                     Frank

 

Airgraph No 12 A cake from sisters in Wagga

 Airgraph No 12

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

24st  Jan ‘44


Dear Mum,

                  Your airgraph No 12 (9.1.44) arrived here to-day. Also received two from Betty. I woke up to the fact that letters No 91 & 94 were airgraphs I think I sent you an airgraph to tell you so.

Tell Dad that it’s been cold enough over here to give anyone chilblains but somehow I haven’t had any at all. The weather at present is very good the sun is quite warm & the nights are cold but not windy like they used to be. We were issued with leather jackets the other day & they keep us warm.

I received a cake to-day from a couple of sisters in Wagga. I wrote to them some time ago & told them if they didn’t send me a cake soon I wouldn’t write any more. I only said it as a joke but they up & made me one. I’ll have to try it on others.

If I have time to-morrow I will write & tell you about my leave. Had a rather quiet time so the letter won’t be a long one.

It’s good to hear that Bet is still keeping well I still keeping well I still have hopes of being home in time for the coming event.

            Much love to all at home                                      Lovingly Yours    Frank

 

Letter No. 113 Mt Vesuvius, typhus & a Hotel in Pozzoli

 Letter No. 113

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

22/1/44

 

Dear Mum,

                                    It is about a month since I sent you a letter by surface mail but that is only because there is so little news. I have my work cut out trying to fill an airgraph. This is just to let you know what I did on leave.

We expected to be away for two weeks but the army took over our hotel at Amalfi & so the leave was cut down to eight days so that everyone could get away.

    We had a very quiet time indeed because Naples was out of bounds owing to a typhus epidemic amongst the civilian population & so we spent most of our time at the hotel.

In peace times the hotel was a sanitarium for people suffering from gout, lumbago & similar ailments & in each room was a bath into which flowed hot mineral water straight from the hot springs on Mt. Vesuvius. It was good to be able to hop into a steaming hot bath anytime during the day or night.

    The hotel was at a place called Pozzoli, about ten miles from Naples & we spent our days just wandering around the town. We just used to walk down the street & buy a couple of pounds of walnuts or almonds & then sit on the sea-wall & eat them.

    I only went on two trips while I was there. They were to the top of Mt. Vesuvius & Sorento. It took us an hour & a half to walk to the top of Mt Vesuvius & about ten minutes to come down again. I wouldn’t like to see you try & walk it. It was almost too much for me.

    That is all I did for the eight days I was away. The weather was beautiful the whole time we were there & it has been pretty good since we returned.

    I spent the day to-day putting up a hut for our mess. It is about 15 ft wide & 30 ft long & stands about 10 ft high. It is made from galvanised iron & angle iron & just fell together.

Well, Mum, that’s all for now but I will write again soon.

Much love to all at home 

                                                      Lovingly Yours

                                                                                          Frank