Code: 10819
A large collection of WW2 letters.
Addressed to Mr, Geoffrey Smith & Ms, Betty Selman (later Smith ?).
Geoffrey has lots of letters from two of his mates, Royal Navy coder John Bradley and RAF air gunner/observer John Hammond.
RN John Bradley was a coder on HMS Welshman (M 84) a British cruiser-minelayer, and his letters start whilst still in port in England, 1941. They continue whilst he is on patrol over the next two years until they abruptly stop late around December 1942. This is due to the ship being sunk by a German U-Boat, U-617 on 1st February 1943, and John Bradley was one of those killed.
Geoff's other friend John Hammond in the RAF, started to write to him in December 1939, whilst he was still an aircraftsman under aircrew training. Qualifying as an air gunner/observer and promoted to Sergeant John, or Jack as he liked to be called, was posted to No. 9 Squadron operating Vickers Wellington bombers from RAF Honington. Jack's last letters were dated February 1941, and on the night of March 12/13 1941, Wellington N2744 with its crew of six were lost during a major bombing raid targeting the Focke Wulf factory in Bremen, Germany. Jack and three of his crewmates were tragically killed whilst the other two managed to bail out to become POW's.
Betty Selman (later Smith ?) letters look to be from her armed service admirers and friends, and these we have not researched, although there is one that we did notice. It is from the British 9th CRASC (supply unit) based in Alexandria, Egypt. It is a receipt for a donation that she sent for the tending of a grave for Corporal, J.J. Francis, and with this is an early War Graves Commission stamped receipt (see photos). Betty was in the ATS.
A very interesting lot of letters experiencing the early years of WW2, two with tragic results and many more in need of research. The envelopes have a good variety of wartime postage stamps and post office frank marks. Some research for Geoff's two mates who were KIA is included.
Not for sale to the EU.
