Airgraph No. 3 Electric light in the tent

 Airgraph NO. 3

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces

1^st Dec ‘43

 

Dear Mum,

                  Airgraphs are taking as long as sea mail to get here these days because yesterday I received one which was sent by you on 18^th Sept. I think that the plane carrying the original copies must have been lost & they must have made another copy of them.

I suppose the photos have arrived by this. At least I hope they have. You haven’t mentioned them as yet.

I thought Betty & Leo were going out to some place near Forbes to live but if they are looking for a house between Concord & Parramatta Leo must have got a job near there. I haven’t had a letter from Betty since before the wedding, not even an airgraph.

We have things organised a bit better in the tent these days. I told you some time ago that we had a wireless speaker in the tent, well now we have a couple 6 valve short wave radio & on top of that we have an electric light laid on. Shortly after the squad landed in Italy they obtained a portable electric lighting  plant & now it supplies electric light to every tent. There are so many wires running from it that it looks more like a sub-station.

I opened the cake last night for supper & it was lovely. You can send as many of those as you like. The chocolates in the other parcel were extra good.

Much love to Dad, Bet & Leo,         Lovingly Yours     Frank

 

 

Airgraph No 2 Parcel for home

 Airgraph N0 2

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces

27th  Nov ‘43

 

Dear Mum,

                  I posted you a large letter the day before yesterday telling you all about our leave & also a small booklet on the history of Capri. I’m sending you this to tell you that as soon as I get some cloth I will wrap up a parcel & send it home. Actually the main contents of the parcel is for Aunty Molly but there are also a few little things for you.

I was in town yesterday & I got hold of a big illustrated book about the Vatican City & although it is written in Italian, I thought Aunty Molly would like to have t to take up to the church. The book weighs 8 ½ lbs, is 18” x 12” & about an inch thick so you will know it when it arrives. No doubt Aunty Molly will be able to get someone to translate it into English.

There will also be a small oil painting (about 4” x 5”) in the parcel. you should be able to get a frame to put around it . Also a few post cards of the island.

It is nearly time for supper & to-night we have a kerosene can full of beautiful mushrooms so we are going to have them fried on toast.

I’ve been writing here all this time & I’ve forgotten to tell you that yesterday parcels 21 & 22 arrived. I haven’t cut the cake yet but it certainly looks good. Thanks very much for same.

Much love to Dad, Bet & Leo,  Lovingly Yours                              Frank

 

Air graph letter 110 Arrived back from Naples

 Airgraph Letter No. 110

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces

23rd  Nov ‘43

 

Dear Mum,

                  I arrived back from Naples last night & received three airgraphs from you written on the 12, 15^th & 22^nd October. I will send you a letter by ordinary sea mail & tell you about our leave.

                  Bundles of papers have been coming along rather regularly but it’s a long while since any parcels have arrived & if ever I could do with a parcel I could do with it now becase the food for the last month or six weeks has not been as good as usual.

                  When I write to you about our leave I will also write to Rex’s wife & tell her about it. I sent an airgraph to her a week or so ago. It’s very good of her to send me a parcel for Xmas.

                  I’m glad to hear at last that the parcels I had sent from Cairo arrived home ok. I suppose Betty’s pyjamas have arrived by now. By the way, I haven’t heard anything from Bet for months.

                  Some time ago I wrote  & told you that I wouldn’t need to get any money sent from home but now I find that I will need some, because my leave took nearly all I had in my paybook & now the squadron is starting another 14 days leave in Naples & so I will need a bit more than I can mount up in my paybook. You had better send me £40 Aussie. Pay it into my credit at the District Finance Office, Dymocks Buildings, George St, & they will send it on to me. If I don’t need it all I can always send it home again. Send me a cable as soon as it’s on its way. Much love to Mum, Dad, Bet & Leo

                  Lovingly Yours                      Frank