Rover Bulletin No. 43

NUMBER FORTY THREE. 30th March 1945

Dear Lads,

Events at home this month were outstanding.

First of all Jim (Frier) came home very suddenly on embarkation leave and is now in the B.L.A.

Bill (McKelvie) and Dorothy were presented with a son, great stuff!

Bill( McHaffie) has passed his final B.Sc. Civil Engineering exams.

Bruce (Bailie) was home and Gilbert (Williamson) is here now, and last but not least our wee Eckie, Alex (Wilson) and his wife Betty have arrived unexpectedly from South Africa, causing great excitement. Eck’s just the same, a little lighter if anything. Since they’re just home we haven’t had time yet to hear all their news. They’re here for good though so that’s grand.

Captain (Band) sent the news that Mr. Middleton at Dunoon has died and so. also has Mr. Gilbert Johnston. Those who frequented Dunoon will understand. Mr. Johnston fell down suddenly in the canteen which he founded at the beginning of the war. The captain is full of enthusiasm as usual and often thinks of Jimmy Johnston’s and Tommy Thomson’s possible release soon, Thank you skipper! Your spunk puts us all to shame!

The social and dazzling event of the month was Jack (Stewart)’s wedding at Broughton Place Church and afterwards at the Chimes Hotel. Lads it was a really good wedding and Jack made a very good speech. We wish you’d all been at home to form a bodyguard and give them personally your jolly good wishes. A wee P.C. received reveals that they are at Black Rock House, Corrie, a rare quiet wee spot. – such publicity photos appeared in the Dispatch and the News,

George (Simpson) is now at Eck’s old address and on another course but won’t be long before he joins David Gosman, with perhaps a leave in between, hope so George!

Ian (Moffat) has shifted but conditions are much the same. Lots of Glasgow lads and plenty who know Edinburgh, the heat is growing worse.

Campbell (McKellar) has arrived in India too and found a welcome Bulletin waiting on him. He was the only one, one day, who turned up for dinner when on board ship – green faces everywhere. Quite a lot of Edinburgh people aboard with a preponderance from Trinity (Lassies and lads). He hopes to contact David Gosman soon. Thank you, Campbell!

Alasdair (McKellar) finds himself at a very pukka place which crawls with gold braid – dresses for dinner etc. “A Lieut Cdr. and Padre spoke to me on seeing my R.S. badge and said ‘There’s A crew in the barracks’, so I’m going along” Good luck Alasdair!

Joey (Stewart) a little tired with the amount of flying to do, longs for the time when he will navigate the plane this way – with no awkward questions. He may get home shortly (?).

John (Baird) is much cheered by the pleasant change in weather and now by the great news of Monty’s break through.

Bill (McKelvie) Is as proud of his new son as can be. He’s been in action again – never had his boots off for three weeks – now in billets and enjoying the change and feeling very well.

Will (Taylor) is in sick quarters with skin trouble and we think counting the Time till the end of his tour. Ian’s home Will, and reciprocates your good wishes.

David (Gosman) notes we’ve been announcing one engagement per month and asks “How about it Jim, Robbie…. Give me the jungle any day” “If you take your mepacrine regularly, rub on your anti-mosquito cream every three hours, sleep under a net, and drink chlorinated water you’ve nothing to worry about. To all you India bound wallahs, you get 12 ½ % increase in your pay the moment you arrive plus Far East pay. You will be addressed as Sahib- Chorty as raja sahib – When you arrive all work finishes – kit carried, bed made, boots cleaned, socks darned, etc. etc. The fun, excitement, and the curiosity aroused makes you enjoy every minute of it. I wouldn’t have missed the experience for a fortune.”

Murray (Frier) still thinks of leave. The leave drum has produced no luck yet but he has one more chance, so ‘never say die”

Dick (Spaven) writes from hospital. “_ although not in the maternity ward I have given birth, not to a bouncing child, but to an ulcer. Ulcer, duodenal, mark 1 – discovered after a three days examination which made the Spanish Inquisition look like a sewing bee. The second day, they produced a thin rubber tube, put some ship grease on the end and said “Swallow that”. Well, half an hour later it touched the bottom and the nurse read off the fathoms. The third day was the ‘coopy dee tatty’, I was given a pill to suck which deadened my throat. A surgeon advanced with another tube about the thickness of a gas pipe. What made it worse was that with this down my throat I couldn’t tell them what I thought of them! What will happen after a month I don’t know!”

You do keep cheery, Dick, even with all your troubles, so here’s the best of luck!

Jim (Frier) writing from B.L.A. somewhere, says about Bill “Imagine another wee willie in the Cubs. Proud feyther should now get in training for the route marches that are ahead of him. Murray hopes to visit Jerusalem next month So I hope he gets in touch with Joey. Between the free travel, free issue of cigarettes, postages etc., I see I’m going to be quite wealthy, added to that, when I come home as a B.L.A. bhoy I expect passes for Football matches, theatres etc! You wouldn’t know there’s a war on here. The trip across was short and snappy and very comfortable, in fact I had the idea I was going to another Rover Moot. As a matter of fact I have a lot of the lads singing our Camp Song, written by Mr, Leask in 1926 “Let us gather round the Old Camp Fire”,

Cheerio, it won’t be long!